Ella is a small town located at a higher altitude in central Sri Lanka and is therefore particularly known for its cooler climate and beautiful scenery. In this part you will find many beautiful hiking trails, waterfalls and tea plantations.
Among other things, you will also find many great restaurants, cafés and bars or hotels that offer spectacular views. This is one of the reasons why this town has become one of our favourite places in Sri Lanka.
2-3 nights is plenty of time to explore the beauty of this area. However, we liked it so much that we extended our stay and spent a total of 5 days in the area.
How to get to Ella
The most popular way to get to Ella is by the iconic Kandy-Ella train. Read more about this experience in our article Sri Lanka train journey from Kandy to Ella.
However, if you decide to skip the iconic train ride, you can book a private driver to bring you here. You can book one at getyourguide, viator, or directly at the tourist centres or your accommodation.
Where to stay
The best area to live in is definitely Kithal Ella Road. It is located just 1 km from the city centre and since it is an area on a hill, the hotels offer spectacular views. A great place to stay, for example, is the Homestay – Nest of Peak, which is where we stayed.
The accommodation includes a private terrace with a spectacular view, where you will be served the most delicious local breakfast every morning. Nest of Peak was definitely one of the best accommodations we have had the opportunity to stay in Sri Lanka.
How to get around Ella and its surroundings
To explore the beauty of this city and its surroundings, you definitely need a means of transport that will give you flexibility throughout the day. We would not rely on public transport in this area. While it is one alternative that may save you money, it certainly won’t save you time.
We got around on a scooter, which we think is the best choice. We rented a scooter directly from the owner of our accommodation for 5.50€ per day.
Another alternative is also to rent a tuktuk, which is very popular in Sri Lanka. As the weather in this area is very unpredictable, this form of transport can save you from getting soaked to the skin many times. However, it is important to take into account that this is a slower mode of transport than a scooter.
Another alternative is to hire a driver with a tuktuk who will take you to places you agree with him in advance. It is very easy to get in touch with such a driver. On our first ride from the train station to our accommodation, the driver who drove us already offered his services.
The last option is to rent a car. This is both the most comfortable and the most expensive option. Also keep in mind that some places are simply not accessible by car (like the car park at 9 Arches Bridge, or the starting point at Little Adam’s Peak).
What to see in and around Ella
9 Arches Bridge
9 Arches Bridge is one of the most famous places not only in Ella, but in the entire Sri Lanka. That is why it is visited by hundreds of tourists every day. It is a unique part of the train route from Ella to Demodara.
If you want to enjoy this place to the fullest, we recommend you to come early in the morning and see the first train that crosses this bridge at 6:30. The interesting thing is that you don’t have to pay any fee to visit this place.
Trains cross the bridge several times a day at 6:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5:30pm. You can park your motorbike about 10 meters from the bridge and it is free of charge.
What you definitely need to watch out for, however, is flying the drone. Even though it’s not prohibited at this location, you need to be very careful. There are huge bee hives under the bridge. If you irritate the bees, they can attack you.
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Little Adam’s Peak
A relatively easy hike in the Ella area is the ascent of Little Adam’s Peak, which stands at 1,141 meters. You don’t need a guide to do this trail and it’s very easy to do with children. The trail is very well marked and you’ll mostly follow stairs and a concrete path.
The starting point of the trail is 98 Acres Resort Spa, from which it will take you about 20 minutes. This place offers spectacular views and many people choose to visit it just at sunrise, when you can enjoy the really beautiful scenery at the top without the crowds.
Flying Ravana
While visiting Little Adam’s Peak, you can also stop for an adventure called Flying Ravana. This is a zipline that is over half a kilometre long and travels at speeds of up to 80 km/h over beautiful scenery. You will pay about 30€ for a ticket. You can buy your ticket on the spot or on this link.
Ella Rock
A very popular hiking trail in the Ella area is the Ella Rock hike. This is a more challenging hike than Little Adam’s Peak, as the entire trail is about 10 km long. It will take you about 4 hours there and back, and you’ll definitely need proper footwear and plenty of water for it.
The starting point of the hiking trail is at Kithahella railway station. Many people choose to climb this peak at sunrise. However, in this case, we recommend choosing the guided alternative as there may be elephants on the trail at night.
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Tea plantations around Ella
There are also many tea plantations around Ella that are definitely worth a visit. Some of the most famous include the Halpewatte Tea Factory, which is just 6 km from Ella. You have the choice of taking a tour of the factory or the tea plantations, for which you will pay around €10.
Also very popular is Lipton’s Seat, where the famous Lipton tea is produced. From Ella you can get here in 1 hour by car, 1,5 hours by motorbike or 2 hours by train. If you also want to visit the Lipton tea factory, keep in mind that it is closed on Mondays.
Ravanna Falls
In the vicinity of Ella you will find beautiful views and tea plantations, as well as beautiful waterfalls. Our favourite was Ravanna Falls, located just 10 minutes from Ella. These waterfalls reach up to 25 meters high and are considered to be the widest waterfall in all of Sri Lanka. The waterfall is located right on the main road and there is no entrance fee. There are small shops nearby where you can buy souvenirs or snacks.
There are other waterfalls in the vicinity of Ella, which you can read more about in our E-Book.
Gastronomy in Ella
Another great thing about Ella is that there are many local as well as international restaurants and cafés. So it’s up to you what you choose. One of the most famous restaurants is Caffe Chill, where you can find a wide range of local and international dishes. In the evening you can enjoy a drink with live music.
If you are just in the mood for something quick, we definitely recommend ROTTI HUT. These are snack stalls where they will prepare wraps with meat or vegetables on the spot.
If you want to enjoy home cooking and atmosphere, we definitely recommend Bees Honey Cookery and Restaurant. It is a tiny local restaurant with a beautiful view, where you will enjoy the right atmosphere. Among other things, they also offer cooking classes, for which they have the best reviews.
For a great coffee or breakfast, we recommend visiting Rainbow Cafe, Barista Cafe or The Barn by Starbeans.
You can buy the e-book at a special price here.
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