Sri Lanka charges foreign visitors substantially more than residents at its major sites, and the gap has widened sharply. Sigiriya is around US$35 for a non-SAARC adult. The Taj Mahal, for comparison, is about US$16. Horton Plains approaches US$30. Pigeon Island is US$50 before you have paid for a boat.
Travellers notice, and increasingly they complain. Some now look at Sigiriya from the outside and climb Pidurangala next door instead. We think that is a reasonable response and we will tell you when we think a fee is not worth it.
Current fees at the sites our trips visit
Published entrance fees for a foreign adult visitor
Rates as published in 2026 for a non-SAARC adult, and they move. Where a trip covers a fee, it is marked on that trip’s page.
What else you will spend
- Meals outside your inclusions: a rice and curry at a local place runs a few dollars; a tourist-facing restaurant on the south coast, considerably more.
- Tipping: not obligatory, widely appreciated. Your driver-guide is with you all day, every day, and is the person who makes the trip work.
- Alcohol: expensive relative to everything else, and restricted on Poya days and election days. Hotels and tourism-licensed bars continue to serve.
- Souvenirs and tea: buy tea at a factory or a supermarket rather than the airport.
Independent travellers doing Sri Lanka themselves spend broadly £50 to £95 a day mid-range and £120 or more at the luxury end, covering accommodation, food, transport and activities. Our trips sit above that, and the difference buys a private vehicle, a driver-guide who knows the roads, and somebody answering the phone when something goes wrong.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22. Fees and policy change, so tell us if you find something out of date.
Still not sure how this applies to your dates?
Tell us the month you are coming and who is coming, and we will say plainly which version of the island is open to you.