Why go to Ella
Ella is a small village in the hills at around 1,000 metres, surrounded by tea estates, waterfalls and cliffs. It is the most popular stop in the hill country because everything is close: you can climb a hill before breakfast, see the Nine Arch Bridge mid-morning and be back in a café by lunch.
It is also the end of the Kandy to Ella train, one of the most beautiful rail journeys in Asia.
How many days
Two nights covers the highlights. Three nights lets you add Ella Rock, a cooking class or a lazy day, and gives you a buffer if rain spoils a hike. Many people find Ella is where they finally relax, so an extra night is rarely wasted.
Best time to visit
January to April is usually the clearest and driest time. Ella can be visited all year, but expect mist and afternoon rain from about October to December. Mornings are almost always clearer than afternoons, so hike early.
Getting there
- By train from Kandy or Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya station): the classic route. Kandy to Ella takes about 7 hours.
TODO: verifycurrent timetable and seat classes. See our Kandy to Ella train guide. - By car from Kandy: about 5 hours with stops, through tea country.
- From the south coast or Yala: about 2.5 to 4 hours by car.
Top things to do
- Little Adam’s Peak. An easy 45 to 60 minute walk up through tea bushes, with big views. Go for sunrise.
- Nine Arch Bridge. A colonial-era stone railway bridge in the jungle. Walk there along the tracks or by path, and check train times first.
- Ella Rock. A longer and more confusing hike (around 3 to 4 hours return). Go with a local guide or a reliable offline map, and start early.
- Ravana Falls. A roadside waterfall just below the village. Best after rain.
- Tea factory visit. Several estates near Ella offer tours and tastings.
- Cooking class. Ella has some of the best home cooking classes in the country, often in family kitchens.
- Lipton’s Seat near Haputale, a day trip for one of the best viewpoints in the hill country.
Where to stay
- Main street area: walkable to everything, lively, but can be noisy at night.
- The hillsides around the village: guesthouses with views, quieter, a short tuk tuk ride from the centre.
- Near Little Adam’s Peak / Passara Road: bigger hotels with views, further out.
Local food to try
Try a home-cooked rice and curry, roti with spicy coconut sambol, string hoppers for breakfast and fresh Ceylon tea where it is grown. Ella’s cafés also do good Western food if you need a break.
Mistakes to avoid
- Walking on the tracks with headphones on. Trains are slow but real, and the bridge has narrow sections.
- Starting Ella Rock in the afternoon. Clouds roll in and the path is easy to lose.
- Only staying one night. You will spend most of it travelling.
- Expecting a quiet village in high season. Book rooms ahead from December to April.