One of the most famous things to do in Sri Lanka is the train ride from Kandy to Ella. This train starts in Colombo, but the most beautiful part of the route starts in Kandy, where most of the tourists travel from. The route from Kandy to Ella takes approximately 7 hours and offers spectacular scenery. Along the way you will see beautiful waterfalls, tea fields, pass through picturesque villages, as well as over mountains and cliffs. You don’t even know how and you’re at the finish line! This is clearly one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.
However, you need to prepare for this experience in advance, so here’s a summary of all the important information you need to know about this ride.
Where to buy train tickets
You can buy train tickets in two ways – online via the official website. However, there are a limited number of tickets on the site and you may find that the portal shows that the train is sold out. You can still buy tickets on second-party sites such as Bookaway, 12go asia or Viator. However, you should expect to pay extra for these tickets. However, if you have no other option it’s definitely worth paying extra for them so you don’t miss your journey on this iconic train. If you didn’t get your tickets online, that doesn’t mean the train is completely sold out. You can still buy them in person at the train station in Kandy.
We recommend buying tickets in advance. It can easily happen that a few days before the train departs, all the tickets for the reserved carriages are sold out. You can easily miss out on one of the best experiences in Sri Lanka by being unprepared. Many people book these tickets several weeks in advance and tailor their entire itinerary in Sri Lanka to this ride.
Which type of train ticket you should buy
When buying tickets, you have several options to choose from. You can either travel in 1st class, where you are guaranteed a seat, air conditioning and comfort. Another option is to travel in 2nd or 3rd class without a seat reservation. These tickets are unlimited, but be prepared to most likely stand in the middle of the aisle most of the way, which may not be the most pleasant. The utilization of these carriages is really at its maximum, because besides the fact that many tourists travel by train, it is also the main route for locals. These train tickets cannot be purchased in advance.
The third, for us the best option, is to buy reserved tickets in 2nd class or 3rd class. There is almost no difference between the second and third class. The interior is almost identical, except that in second class the seats are a bit more comfortable. If you buy a ticket for a reserved carriage, you can be sure that you will be seated and also that your carriage will not be overcrowded, as no one will be allowed in without a ticket.
For those who don’t have the time to travel 7 hours by train, there’s the option to join the iconic ride in Hatton. It will save you half the time, but you will still be able to see the most beautiful part, which we personally consider to be the route between Hatton and Haputale.
Train tickets prices from Kandy to Ella
We paid 3.75€ per person for tickets with a reservation to 3rd class. We bought them at the station in Kandy. Ticket prices can range from 0.5€ in 3rd class and 1€ in 2nd class without reservation. You will most likely be able to buy a ticket through a second party, where tickets with reservations range from €15 per person.
Why not travel in 1st class
The biggest difference between the tickets is the overall train ride experience. If you want to enjoy the ride to the fullest, we definitely don’t recommend buying 1st class tickets. It is not possible to open a window or door in these carriages, nor to move from them to another part of the train. And the train ride in Sri Lanka from Kandy to Ella is all about that local experience! In second and third class you can travel with the window open, you’ll also enjoy local specialty vendors or musicians who will guarantee you won’t forget this ride! And the more adventurous can try what it’s like to sit in an open train door during the ride.
Train atmosphere
As we have already mentioned, the atmosphere in the second and third class is amazing. Even though it takes about 7 hours to get from Kandy to Ella, it went really fast for us. Every time you pass through the tunnel you will hear the joyful shouts of the passengers, every door will literally have people sticking their heads out of the train, but this is quite common in Sri Lanka. The train is moving at a pretty slow speed, so it’s not as dangerous as it seems at first glance. However, you need to be careful because in some sections there are rocks and trees very close to the train.
If you don’t manage to buy enough food and drink before your trip, don’t despair. You can buy everything on the train. Every now and then a number of vendors pass through the carriages offering coffee, tea, soft drinks, some snacks, as well as hot meals. There is also a toilet in each carriage. But of course, no luxury is to be expected.
Summary of tips at the end:
- Always buy tickets in advance
- Don’t buy 1st class tickets
- The best seats in the direction from Kandy to Ella are on the right
- Watch out for rocks and trees as you stand in the train doors!
- It is possible to buy food and drink on the train
So, are you packed already? 🙂
