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Ella is a staple of Sri Lanka itineraries. This small mountain town has become one of Sri Lanka’s most famous destinations, mainly for the scenic railway that passes through it.
It’s honestly hard to comprehend how much smaller Ella is than cities like Kandy and Colombo, and how tourism has put its name on the map. Similar to Sigiriya, you won’t find an exhaustive list of things to do in Ella, but what you can do absolutely makes the most of its mountain setting. Here’s how to get the most out of visiting Ella and why it doesn’t take much to do so.
How to get to Ella
Ella sits in the mountains south of Sri Lanka’s center.
And it’s those mountains that mean Ella is a lot farther to reach than it may look on a map. But those mountains also provide the incredible scenery that trips to Ella are known for.
The best way to get to Ella is to take the famous Kandy to Ella train or the shorter Nuwara Eliya to Ella train, as I did, which leaves from Nanu Oya station. You can find a lot of information online about the different ticket classes and where to sit, but honestly, being on the train and booking tickets in advance is what matters most.
People talk less about how to reach Ella from the coast.
I highly recommend booking a special safari transfer to visit national parks on the way to visiting Ella. They turn a half-day of travel into a combined day trip/transfer, allowing you to see all sorts of Sri Lankan wildlife. You can take a transfer via Yala National Park or via Udawalawa Park, and they pick up from all the beach towns between Galle and Tangalle.
I took a safari transfer in the opposite direction. It was a long day, but such a great way to see more and still get between Ella and the coast.
The only other likely route you might want is to take a bus from Colombo or to organise a private taxi transfer from wherever you’re coming from.
Now, when you arrive, it can be a bit of a walk from Ella train station, depending on where you’re staying in Ella. You’ll find many local tuk-tuks waiting for train passengers, but they have collectively avoided PickMe, so you’ll have to arrange a ride the old-fashioned way.
Where to stay
As a tourist hotspot, you’ll discover a huge range of choices among hotels in Ella, not to mention local guesthouses.
Most accommodation in Ella is hidden away on quiet side streets off the main road through town. Even a one-minute walk from the main road, you can feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, with no streetlights and sometimes even unmade roads.
My stay was at Green Lantern, a small guesthouse tucked away in the forest. While rather basic, the setting is fantastic with monkeys scampering through the trees. The host is very warm and kind, plus the breakfast served each morning is massive.
But, other highly-rated and potentially fancier places to stay in Ella include:
Tours from Ella
Beyond experiencing the main Ella highlights, you can also enjoy day tours and other activities to fill extra time during your stay.
Below are the most common tours and activities when visiting Ella that add to your overall experience. They mainly explore more of Sri Lanka’s nature and landscapes, such as places like Nuwara Eliya, but you will find the occasional cultural activity as well.
- Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class
- Private Ella Rock Sunrise Hike
- Yala National Park Safari Tour in a 4×4
- Lipton’s Seat and Tea Fields Tuk-tuk Tour
- Visit Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya from Ella
Things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka
When planning your Ella visit, start with a few main places to visit in Ella, as together they perfectly fill 1-2 days in town. Remember, if coming by train, it could be dark by the time you arrive, so don’t expect to get much done the day you arrive.
While most attractions, tours, and activities in Ella are rather outdoorsy, the local focus on tourism means the town is full of restaurants, bars, and day spas, if you want a quiet day. But I think those comforts are really just bonuses to the attractions below, as they’re why you visit Ella in the first place.
Travelers short on time can experience all of the below in just one day with this sightseeing tour, although you can explore independently, like I did.
The Nine Arch Bridge
The main highlight of Ella is the Nine Arch Bridge.
This landmark just outside town is an iconic part of Sri Lanka’s highland railway. The viaduct bridge dates from the country’s colonial era and spans a deep valley, hidden among the forest.
Importantly, you don’t actually ride across the bridge on the Kandy to Ella train. For that, you need to take the train to/from Demodara, north of Ella. But I’m not sure how much you really see, especially with tunnels at either end.
It’s much simpler to just visit the bridge by following the Nine Arches Bridge Trail or by hiring a tuk-tuk to drive you.
The trail walk has some steeper sections, which you feel with the humidity, but it’s mostly a pleasant stroll. Its views of the bridge are ok, but the better bridge views are from the far side.
Walking across the bridge and peering over the edge is a neat experience. Just keep an ear out for whistles, which mean you need to clear out for a train.
The ultimate spot for views of the bridge is from one of the cafes in the surrounding hills, such as Cafe Soul Ella, where I drank a fruit smoothie while waiting for the next train. On that note, it’s wise to look at the train timetable before your visit and plan things so that you see the bridge with a train passing through.
Hike Little Adam’s Peak
For another look at Ella’s landscape, this time with even more distant views, you really need to visit Little Adam’s Peak.
This mountain is southeast of the town center and much more of a hike than the walk to the Nine Arches Bridge. It’s also only a short walk from the bridge trail to the road where you find the Little Adam’s Peak trailhead.
You’ll know you’re on the right track when you see signs for the Flying Ravana Adventure Park and pass lots of roadside stalls. This part of the walk is already very scenic, with views over to Ella Rock.
Walk until you reach the Flying Ravana Adventure Park. It offers various activities such as zip lines and a giant swing.
The hike really starts, though, once you climb the stairs away from the park. It takes a lot of stairs to reach the first peak and its viewpoint, emerging from the forest onto exposed hilltops.
Here you can see how Ella town fades into the forest, look down along the valley, and even spot distant waterfalls.
Across from this viewpoint stands another peak, with a lone tree. Those with energy or curiosity won’t be able to resist, despite the very steep and uneven path down and then up. You share this Little Adam’s Peak viewpoint with far fewer people.
Don’t let it deceive you; in that humidity, it’s an effort to do this extra bit at the end. That said, the views are fantastic, though.
Ravana Ella Waterfall
On the Little Adam’s Peak, that waterfall you see is the very top of the Ravana Ella Waterfall. You immediately appreciate how large it must be.
Ravana Ella Waterfall is deceptively far from Ella town. With the wiggling mountain road, it’s a long walk, so I hired a tuk-tuk for an hour or so to take me. Again, this tour includes a visit to this waterfall.
The huge waterfall is right by the valley road out of Ella, and is impossible to miss. While the best view of Ravana Ella Waterfall is from a small bridge on the road, you can get closer.
I couldn’t resist, so I went over to the viewpoint below the falls. The problem is you’re really staring straight up at it, so the view isn’t as picturesque. You also have the issue of a little rock hopping to reach it, which is awkward when people are going both directions.
Just enjoy the bridge view, you’re not missing out on much.
After visiting Ravana Ella Waterfall, you can also see the “Secret Waterfall” farther down the hill.
Yes, that’s how it’s described, despite tourist maps and road signs that reveal its location. The Secret Waterfall isn’t as impressive as the Ravana Ella Waterfall, but it’s not much further down the valley, so you may as well.
Secret certainly applies to the well-hidden stairs you need to reach it. A short walk later, you reach one level of this three-tier waterfall. By the time I arrived, it was wet, muddy, and drizzling, so I didn’t bother trying to find the other levels.
Avid waterfall hunters may want to seek out Pallewela Waterfall, near the Secret Waterfall, which seems to be a local spot for abseiling.
Other things to do in Ella
Even with two full days visiting Ella, I missed some things to do there.
It didn’t help that we had hours of rain on my last day, which put me off outdoor activities. I still visited the waterfalls, but on a good day, I could have managed more.
The place in Ella I’m most disappointed I missed is the Ella Rock hike. I love hikes, and wonder what the area looks like from that side of the valley. To start that experience, you need to get around to Kitha Ella station — train or tuk-tuk.
Two other spots are the Ravana Cave and the Kuda Ravana Ella waterfall. They both highlight that Ella is mostly about outdoor scenery. While they look close to Ella Rock on the map, Ravana Cave and the Kuda Ravana Ella waterfall are accessible from the valley road.
Other than these places, you need to go even farther from Ella to find more things to do. That includes visiting Haputale, a place on my list for next time.
