There are 5 ways to get from Salem to Colombo by plane, bus, ferry, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Salem (SXV) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)plane SXV - CMB
5h 35mRs 43,477–119,459Train, ferry
cheapest- Take the train from Salem Jn to Nagappattinamtrain
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Forttrain
22h 47mRs 24,654–34,503Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Salem to Thanjavurbus
- Take the bus from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu to Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadubus
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the bus from Kankesanturai to Pettahbus
21h 6mTrain, ferry via Tiruchirappalli
- Take the train from Salem Town to Vridhachalam Jntrain
- Take the train from Vridhachalam Jn to Tiruchchirapalitrain
- Take the train from Tiruchchirapali to Nagappattinamtrain
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Forttrain
21h 34mRs 25,064–37,795Bus, ferry via Kumbakonam
- Take the bus from Salem, Tamil Nadu to Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadubus
- Take the bus from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu to Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadubus
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the bus from Jaffna to Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminalbus
26h 45m
Salem (SXV) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Salem to Colombo is to train and ferry which costs Rs. 24000 - Rs. 35000 and takes 22h 47m.
The fastest way to get from Salem to Colombo is to fly which takes 5h 35m and costs Rs. 43000 - Rs. 120000.
The distance between Salem and Colombo is 565 km.
The best way to get from Salem to Colombo without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 21h 6m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 35m to get from Salem to Colombo, including transfers.
There are 1411+ hotels available in Colombo.
What companies run services between Salem, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka?
IndiGo Airlines and Helitrans fly from Salem (SXV) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) 3 times a day.
- Website
- goindigo.in
Flights from Salem to Bandaranaike International Airport via Madras
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 35,000–110,000
Flights from Salem to Bandaranaike International Airport via Bengaluru
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 57m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- Rs 35,000–110,000
- Phone
- 14646
- [email protected]
- Website
- irctc.co.in
Train from Salem Town to Vridhachalam Jn
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 500–4,100
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 500–650
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 1,400–1,900
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 2,000–2,500
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 3,200–4,100
Train from Vridhachalam Jn to Tiruchchirapali
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 41m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- Rs 500–4,000
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 500–650
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 1,400–1,800
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 1,900–2,500
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 3,200–4,000
Train from Tiruchchirapali to Nagappattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 18m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 500–4,100
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 500–650
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 1,400–1,800
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 1,900–2,500
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 3,200–4,100
Train from Salem Jn to Nagappattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- Rs 750–6,000
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 750–950
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 2,000–2,600
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 2,800–3,600
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 4,700–6,000
- Phone
- +917303093510
- [email protected]
- Website
- intrcity.com
Bus from Salem to Thanjavur
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 1,400–4,700
- Book at
- intrcity.com
- Sleeper
- Rs 3,400–4,700
- Seat
- Rs 1,400–2,000
- Phone
- 022 - 22026666
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 22,232
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 22,232
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 22,232
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 22,232
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
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