Colombo airport transfer questions, answered locally

After you collect your luggage and pass customs, walk into the public arrivals hall at Bandaranaike International Airport. Your driver will be waiting there with a board showing your name. We also share the driver's phone number before pickup so you can contact each other if needed.

No. Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is at Katunayake, about 35 km north of central Colombo and roughly 12 km from Negombo. The expressway usually makes the drive to central Colombo about 45–60 minutes, but city traffic can add time during busy periods.

Send us your flight number when you book. We monitor the arrival time and move the airport pickup to match a delay, so your driver does not leave before you land. If the airline changes your flight number, message us with the new one as soon as you can.

Yes. Pre-booked pickups run day and night, including after-midnight arrivals. The arrivals hall is open for incoming flights, and your driver meets you after customs just as they would during the day.

Ride-hailing availability and pickup instructions can vary after midnight. A pre-booked transfer confirms the vehicle before you fly, tracks the arrival and gives you a named driver waiting in the public arrivals hall, which removes the need to arrange a car after landing.

The price depends on the exact Colombo address, vehicle size and requested stops. Ashi Travels sends one fixed quote for the agreed journey before travel; use the booking form with your hotel and luggage details for the correct figure.

The confirmed fixed quote covers the normal agreed route, including expressway tolls when that route is used. A detour or sightseeing stop is quoted separately before travel, not added without notice.

The taxi rank is useful for an unplanned short trip. Booking ahead is more predictable for a late landing, a family, several suitcases or a long drive because the price, vehicle and meeting point are agreed before you arrive.

Airlines commonly ask international passengers to arrive around three hours before departure. We work backwards from that check-in time and allow for the drive from your hotel. A central Colombo pickup is normally scheduled about four hours before the flight, with extra time when traffic is expected.

Typical direct drive times are about 20–30 minutes to Negombo, 45–60 minutes to central Colombo, 2.5–3 hours to Galle, 3–4 hours to Kandy or Sigiriya, and 5–6 hours to Ella. Times are estimates because traffic, weather and rest stops can change the journey.

A car is usually comfortable for one or two guests with two large suitcases. A van gives families and groups more room for luggage, while a minibus suits larger parties. Tell us the number of passengers and large bags on the booking form, and we will confirm the right vehicle before the trip.

Ask for a child seat in the notes when you book and include the child's age. We will confirm the suitable seat with your vehicle. Advance notice is important because a seat may need to be arranged specifically for your transfer.

Yes. You can request a meal, rest or sightseeing stop, including a stop on a longer journey to Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya or Ella. Add it to the booking form so the extra time can be included in your quote rather than arranged after departure.

Submit your pickup, destination, date, passengers and luggage needs through the website. We reply with a fixed quote for the agreed journey and vehicle. If you add a stop or change the route later, we confirm any price change before travel.

There is no online payment gateway on this website. Your request is not a confirmed booking until Ashi Travels replies with the vehicle, price and booking status. The confirmation message explains the payment arrangement for your journey.

Yes. Choose both travel dates on the booking form and describe the return pickup in the notes. We can arrange an arrival transfer, a departure transfer, or both, from hotels and addresses across Sri Lanka.