12 best things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka

When I started writing about the 12 best things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka, I didn’t expect to come up with such a long list.

That’s because I spent only two and a half days in the village in the middle of the tea plantations, and I can’t believe how many memories I managed to gather, especially thinking about how this adventure started.

This Naomi Campbell of the spiders, with infinite legs and eyes that shone brightly in the light of the bulb in our Airbnb, made us change our accommodation in Ella at midnight.

A mission that gave us some headaches. However, I wasn’t planning to spend my first night in Ella in the same room with the impostor mentioned earlier.

Fear not, the spider’s life was not in danger! He was even allowed to continue his night on the same curtain he was sitting on when I got scared of him.

What I use every time I travel:

To book hotels: Booking.com
To book tours: GetYourGuide.com

Ella is the third place visited in my one-week through Sri Lanka. A top destination in the tear-shaped island country. In my opinion, Ella is quite similar to the more commercial part of Ubud, Bali.

Nonetheless, besides the restaurants, cafes, and nightlife, Ella also has authentic and natural areas worth exploring.

Once you get to Ella, you have so many options to connect with nature. Whether you choose to walk through the tea plantations, visit a beautiful waterfall or climb a mountain top to enjoy the scenery, Ella is the perfect escape from the stifling heat of southern Sri Lanka.

12 BEST THINGS TO DO IN ELLA, SRI LANKA

1. Visit Nine Arches Bridge

One of the best things to do in Ella is visiting the famous Nine Arches Bridge, built of stone. Nine Arches Bridge is a symbol of the place, and I don’t know if there is a traveler who arrives in Ella and doesn’t go to see it and photograph it.

The image with the bridge that stretches over the intense green of the tea plantations at its base is a beautiful, mystical one, especially when the fog sets over the valley.

It is the most Instagrammable place in Ella because the pictures taken here are among the most successful. Remember, one of the best travel tips for Sri Lanka, and particularly for this place in Ella, is to make sure you get here either early in the morning or just before sunset. That’s the best way to get some beautiful photos.

During these two periods of the day, you get to enjoy the most beautiful light, and it’s not as warm and crowded as it usually is in the middle of the day.

If you want the red/blue train to be included in the frame, research the train schedule. The train from Ella is crossing the bridge about five times a day.

Don’t worry about the waiting time. Fill it with photo sessions of the most Instagrammable bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka, and cool off with some coconut juice.

Nine Arches Bridge falls into the category of engineering wonders since they didn’t use steel for such an enormous construction.

The bridge in Ella has a height of 24 meters and a length of 91, and it is located between Ella and Demodara train stations.

2. Admire Ravana Falls | 12 best things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka

There are two waterfalls that I added to this list of the 12 best things to do in Ella, and the first of them is Ravana. Ravana Waterfall is located very close to the center of Ella, and you can get here with a tuk-tuk, in just a few minutes.

It’s a popular tourist attraction among those who visit Ella, Sri Lanka, so don’t expect to have the waterfall just for you, no matter what time of day you get here.

Moreover, besides the curious tourists, you will also find here groups of monkeys. Don’t worry, they are quite peaceful, compared to others found in other places.

Ravana Waterfall has a drop of about 25 meters, and its name was inspired by King Ravana of Sri Lanka. Visiting it is one of the most beautiful things to do in Ella.

3. Take the train on one of the most spectacular routes in the world

It’s very well-known that a trip by train is one of the best things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka. I can’t fully support this idea, nor be against it since I chose the shortest train ride available.

Although most tourists choose to take the train to Kandy, I opted for the Ella-Haputale route. So, if you wish to have an alternative to the much longer and more famous Ella to Kandy train ride, maybe you should consider Haputale.

On this route, you can admire some of the most beautiful landscapes, and the trip is only one hour long. Which means you can make a round trip in one day. While the train trip to Kandy is around 7 hours one way.

Train comfort depends a lot on the chosen class. The prices are very affordable even in the first class. It generally costs under $5 regardless.

Initially, trains carried only tea from the mountains and hills of Sri Lanka to the capital Colombo. But today, this means of transportation is one of the cheapest and safest in Sri Lanka and one of the best attractions among tourists in Ella.

If your goal is to cross the Nine Arch Bridge by train, then you need to buy a ticket for Demodara, which is in the opposite direction.

There are three ways to buy train tickets in Sri Lanka

just go to the station and buy a few minutes before the trip. In this case, the tickets are much cheaper, but most likely you will not find availability for first class, it will be very crowded, and you will have to stand up
to purchase the ticket at least one day in advance. In this situation, the tickets are a bit more expensive, but you will have the advantage of safely securing a seat.
online reservations. The only downside, in this case, is that you will have to buy the tickets long before the actual trip.

4. Go to the market for fresh fruits and vegetables

If you arrive in Ella, the hidden mountain village of Sri Lanka, you must visit the local market. It’s so full of the most delicious and healthy goodies.

With an explosion of colors and flavors, the market in Ella Sri Lanka has everything for everyone.

With a tropical climate, Sri Lankan markets abound in fruits and vegetables. You will find about 80 kinds of such foods on the stalls in Sri Lanka, respectively Ella.

The most popular fruits you should try in Ella are: thambili (a kind of coconut), naminam, red bananas, breadfruit (similar to jackfruit), papaya, rambutan (a delicious fruit), mongoose, jambu, and many others.

5. Tuk tuk ride | 12 best things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka

The tuk-tuk ride is an experience not to be missed in Southeast Asia and beyond, being the most common and practical means of transportation. These noisy little cars will take you anywhere you want in a short time and for very reasonable prices.

Many tourists even opt to rent a tuk-tuk throughout their trip to Sri Lanka. For this, I recommend you to check the Tuktukrental.com website.

In Ella, you will for sure need tuk-tuks. They will take you to different parts of the area, either to the Nine Arch Bridge or to the surrounding waterfalls, or even to the train station.

6. Visit Diyaluma Falls

The most beautiful discovery in Ella, for me, was the beautiful Diyaluma waterfall, formed on the river Oya. The impressive waterfall with a drop of 220 meters will leave you speechless.

Diyaluma is the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, after Bambarakanda Waterfall, and probably the most spectacular. In the upper part of the waterfall, several natural pools were formed.

So, if you are an adventurous spirit or you want to admire the waterfall from this perspective, please be very careful. Don’t risk too much for an Instagrammable photo!

Whatever you choose, you must add Diyaluma Falls to the list of best things to do in Ella.

Getting here will take you about an hour with a tuk-tuk. The waterfall is located about 30 km away from Ella.

Depending on the place from which you want to admire it, you have to choose between two final destinations. For the base of the waterfall, you have to go to Koslanda village, while the top of the falls is close to Poonagala village.

From there, you have to cross a portion of the jungle, but the route is very easy.

7. Visit the tea plantations

I am convinced that not many people have this info about Sri Lanka, but it is good to know that the number 1 export product of the country is tea.

Sri Lanka produces about 320 million kilograms of tea annually, so it is understandable that, according to statistics, more than one million locals are working in this field.

A quarter of the country’s surface is covered with tea plantations and some of the most productive factories are right near Ella.

Therefore, visiting a tea factory and a plantation is a must-do when you arrive in Ella.

If you follow my advice in point 3 of this article and decide to take the train from Ella to Haputale, then don’t miss Lipton’s Seat, the place that will give you a beautiful view of the plantations.

The tour of a tea factory goes like this:

go to the plantation to see the raw product
you enter the factory, where you witness the washing, drying, and shredding of the leaves
the last step is to put the tea leaves in the package
It is also the perfect place to taste tea

The most popular tea plantations and factories in Ella are:

Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory
Kinellan Tea Factory & Tea Centre
Ceylon Tea Factory

If you don’t have the time to see at least one of the tea plantations in Ella, then you can enter a store that sells tea bags.

Although a bit more commercial, the experience is very interesting in this case as well because you have the opportunity to test different types of tea and learn valuable information from experts in Sri Lankan tea culture. You can find such shops on the main street in Ella.

8. Cross the threshold of the coolest places in Ella | 12 things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka

As I said at the beginning of the article, Ella is quite similar to Ubud. This means Ella is a backpacker’s paradise, with cool cafes and all sorts of boutiques, hostels, music, and, in general, active nightlife.

If you are looking for such experiences, you should know that some of the coolest cafes and pubs are: Cafe Chill, Noname Coffee, Cafe One Love, Cafe UFO, and Cafe Eden.

9. Go souvenir shopping in Ella, Sri Lanka

One of the most enjoyable activities in Ella, Sri Lanka, is souvenir hunting. On the same main street with cool cafes and boutiques, you will find several souvenir shops, some of them with authentic pieces and hard to find elsewhere.

The most sought-after such store is R.M.S. Antiques & Brassware, a place with many handmade products, especially made of wood. Here you can find hand-carved statuettes or even masks (and I do not mean the ones we use in the fight against viruses).

10. Walk the streets in Ella Town

On the streets of Ella, you will find the atmosphere of a mountain resort full of tourists, noisy tuk-tuks, cafes full to the brim, puppies, monkeys, stalls stretched to the side of the road, signs with advertisements at hotels, and tours available nearby. In short, a typical place in Southeast Asia.

It is a bit too commercial for those who expect to find peace, but civilized enough not to feel disturbed by the crowd of tourists and locals gathered in the same place.

Take a walk along the main street in Ella and the side streets to better understand how the daily life of the locals unfolds and to get to know Ella as well as possible.

11. Hike to Little Adam’s Peak

Let’s talk first about Adam’s Peak before moving on to the “little” one. Adam’s Peak, also known as Sri Pada (sacred steps) or Samanala Kanda (butterfly mountain), is a peak with a height of 2 243 meters, located hours away from Ella, Sri Lanka.

This means that I can’t add it to the things to do in Ella, but it can be a good stop on the way to other destinations in Sri Lanka, such as Colombo.

Well, Little Adam’s Peak is a kind of younger brother Adam’s Peak, located much closer to Ella (about 45 minutes from town) and with a slightly lower height.

From here, you can see Ella Rock (another incredible viewpoint in Sri Lanka) and Udawalawe National Park.

The best times of the day to come here are either early in the morning or near sunset, to avoid the sun and to enjoy a colorful sunset sky over Ella.

12. Take some cooking classes

I admit it’s not one of my favorite cuisines, but traditional Sri Lankan food has its well-deserved place in the tops of many other travelers. And I can respect that.

So, for those who want to learn to cook well, Ella is the perfect place.

Where to stay in Ella

In recent years, more and more accommodation options have appeared in Ella, Sri Lanka. You can find very cheap and clean hostels, hotels, and guesthouses where you can enjoy your room at a decent price or even luxury accommodation, some of them with superb views over the tea plantations.

Here are 3 accommodation recommendations for Ella, Sri Lanka, with a superb view and ranked according to each person’s budget:

budget: Eminence Ella – garden, terrace, gorgeous view, clean & cozy rooms, AC
mid-range: Romance in Ella– free Wifi, delicious breakfast, clean room, beautiful view, balcony
luxury: CHILL VILLE, VIEW POINT HOTEL– pool, free Wifi, restaurant, free parking, bar, amazing breakfast

Where is Ella, Sri Lanka?

Ella is located approximately in the center of the country, about 200 km from the capital Colombo, in the province of Uva, Badulla district.

When is the best time to visit Ella, Sri Lanka?

The temperatures are welcoming almost all year round. There are two seasons in Ella: dry and wet.

Therefore, the best time of year to get here is in the dry season, from January to May, when temperatures are higher, and humidity is slightly lower.

But, of course, all tourists find out about these things and want to visit Ella at about the same time. Therefore, it will be a little crowded also.

How to get to Ella, Sri Lanka

To travel to Sri Lanka, you have several options. You can opt for a train, bus, or tuk-tuk/rented car. I opted for the last option because it seemed to be the fastest and with the fewest headaches, but it is certainly not the cheapest.

And not the safest, given the traffic on the streets of Sri Lanka. If you do not have enough experience behind the wheel, especially in places with crazy traffic, where the rules are followed too little at all, I recommend you stay away from this option.

To get to Ella, you usually either leave the capital Colombo, or Kandy, or south, the beach area of Mirissa. So, let’s take the three situations in turn:

Colombo to Ella: by car, you will do around 5-6 hours, depending on the chosen route. By train, you have to prepare for a much longer journey, maybe even 10 hours. The bus is a slightly more expensive choice, but faster and maybe even more comfortable. Of course, you will not have the same landscapes. And if you choose a taxi, you can share the costs with your group, and it can be a perfect choice in this case. This route can cost you around $ 100 in total
Kandy to Ella: you have about the same options above, but I suggest you choose the train trip for the beautiful landscape
Mirissa to Ella: between the south and Ella, there are about 3 hours by car or 5 hours by bus, if you do not want to rent a car. The train option is missing here, so you have to decide between the two.

Weather in Ella

Being located at an altitude of over 1000 meters, the weather in Ella is a bit colder than in the southern part of the country, where it is so hot all year round.

However, the temperatures remain positive throughout the year in Ella, and you will not be cold, no matter when you decide to come here. The warmest months are March-May and the coldest November-December.

There are practically two seasons in Ella, one rainy and the other dry. Of course, you want to carry out various activities once you get here, so you should know that the dry season runs from December to the end of April. But the days are quite short in Ella, the sun setting at 6:26 PM at the latest.

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