The small town of Ella definitely has my heart. Ella is easily the most beautiful place to visit in Sri Lanka. You can find many awesome things to do in Ella. it is one such place that you should definitely include in your itinerary.
The hilly regions of the town have rich in biodiversity and diverse flora and fauna. Take one of the most beautiful train rides of the world from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. It is one of the must-do things in Sri Lanka.
Usually, it is recommended to stay for 3-4 days, but most of the travelers end up staying for more than a week. Ella should be firmly included in your Sri Lankan itinerary.
So let’s hop into my list of amazing things to do in Ella.
The Best Things to do in Ella
1 – Take a Train Ride from Kandy to Ella
Experience the most scenic train routes in the world. The most famous route starts at Kandy up to Ella. This route takes around 7-8 hours but costs less than 20$. Honestly speaking the scenic stages of the ride starts from Nanu Oya till the end.
The views are mesmerizing with misty mountains, tea plantations, numerous waterfalls and streams, beautiful towns, and locals nestled into the hills and more.
You would find it difficult to get tickets during the peak season. Therefore I recommend booking your tickets in advance.
Visit My Full Blog – Worlds Most Scenic Train Journey
2 – Visit the Famous Nine Arch Bridge
Just outside the town, the nine arch bridge attracts tourists globally in large numbers. It is astonishingly the most famous tourist place in Ella, Sri Lanka. The bridge is covered with forests and tea plantations. On misty days, the places look so moody and majestic.
The Nine Arch Bridge is an engineering marvel. The height is around 24 feet. You can also visit many places nearby. Since it’s private land, you could require permission for some places to visit.
The place provides a lot of photography options. I would recommend you to visit the place early as it gets crowded as the day passes.
3 – Climb the Little Adam’s Peak
While the elder and the famous Adam’s peak is mostly visited by the tourist, the Little Adam’s peak also provides amazing views similar. It is a place to relax, and meet with fellow travelers.
The hike to the little adam’s peak would take you about 40-45 minutes depending on your fitness. The hike is easy and passes through tea plantations and local villages. The views are very scenic.
You can visit both spots if you could include it in your itinerary
4 – Hike the Ella Rock
The Hike to Ella Rock provides spectacular views from the summit. It is easily one of the most awesome things to do in Ella. you can spot the little adam’s peak and Ella gap from the vantage point. Trust me you don’t want to miss these views.
Although the hike to the Ella Rock under the scorching heat of the summer can be tough. It is not recommended to trek in monsoon for precautionary reasons.
You can follow the marked path laid all over the trekking route. This makes it easy to reach the summit. The hike could take around 2-3 hours to complete the round trip. I recommend you pack enough snacks and water for the hike. You are definitely gonna need it!
5 – Quick trip to the Mighty Ravana Falls
The ride to the Ravana waterfalls is a quick 10-15 minutes ride from Ella Town. it is a very popular tourist site in Sri Lanka. Even the locals stop-b to enjoy this part of nature. The Ravana falls are just next to the road hence easy to take a dip in the falls.
The Ravana falls is an amazing place to visit in Ella. highly recommended by many people who have visited the waterfall. If you make the hike to the top of the waterfall, the views over the valley are very impressive. Although the hike is only recommended to attempt in dry seasons.
I recommend visiting the falls early in the morning due to the place of getting crowded as the day goes by.
Other places to visit in Ella
6 – Diyaluma Falls
The Mighty Diyaluma Falls is the second tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It’s an absolute beauty to watch the falls up close. You can visit the falls by hiking to a slightly offbeat path, but totally worth it.
You will be treated with natural infinity pools and epic views. It should take around 1-2 hours to reach Diyaluma falls. Surely not to miss it.
Easily into the bucket list for everyone!
7 – Views from the Lipton Seat
Tea is an essential product in Sri Lanka. The name Lipton is related to tea worldwide. This famous viewpoint in Ella was well visited and compensated by Sir Thomas Lipton. Hence the name of the place.
The visit to the Lipton Seat would take you a round trip of 3-4 hours. Unfortunately for me, I was not able to visit these places as I had planned to stay fewer days in Ella.
I regret it!
8 – Visit Tea Plantations in Ella
The hilly town of Ella has been known to have tea plantations all over the region. You can also visit many tea factories around the town. For a tea lover, it is similar to paradise.
9 – Join Cooking Classes at Ella Spice Garden
The spices produced in Sri Lanka are widely known globally. Learn about the various uses of these spices and ingredients and create some local delicacies.
Weather In Ella, Sri Lanka
The weather varies throughout Sri Lanka. There are warm days and cooler nights in Ella. There are showers of rainfall but it lasts for a short time apart from the monsoons. The best time to visit Ella is from January to April.
Places to Stay in Ella, Sri Lanka
Most of the hotels provide scenic views all over in Ella. There are all types of rooms available depending on your budget. Ella welcomes backpackers all around the world. You can find hostels, guest houses, and 5-star hotels all over the town.
Visit my Instagram for Highlights of my Sri Lanka Tour.
Read my Full Blog Post on Best Places to Stay in Sri Lanka.
Where Did I Stay?
I choose to stay at Ella mount Heaven hotel. The views from the Hotels were astonishing. I was searching for a room in the midst of the hills. The vibe and food at the restaurant were just amazing. It was really worth staying here.
Check out their website for more information – Ella Mount Heaven
Look at these views!
How to Reach Ella, Sri Lanka?
There are a couple of options to reach Ella.
1 – By Car
It will take Approx. 230Km from Colombo via the shortest roadway, 5-6 hours to reach Ella. You can opt for a private car for around 5000-6000 LKR which also depends on your luggage if you get fellow travelers to join you can split the cost per person. This would be cheaper and not a bad option.
If you happened to visit Dambulla first, it would take 3-4 hours by car.
2 – By Bus
You can also catch a bus from Colombo to Ella, no idea about comfort but it takes around 7-8 hours for the journey. The bus fare will cost you around 250-700 LKR. If you have a very tight budget you can take this option into consideration.
3 – By Train
It is one of the best ways to reach Ella. I would definitely recommend taking the Kandy-Ella train ride. The views that this route provides are difficult to skip. View the blog for full details about this train ride.
You can travel from Colombo, but I would suggest dividing the journey to Colombo-Kandy-Ella.
4 – By Tuk-tuk
You can rent and drive your tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka. It’s a lot of fun to drive around in Tuk-tuk. Most of the backpackers choose to travel by renting Tuk-tuk. The cost of the rental depends on the rental company, but the average rent would be around 3500-4000 LKR per day.
Read my full blog on 18 must-do things in Sri Lanka in one week.
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