21 Best Things To Do in Ella {Sri Lanka} 2025
- Kate Colliety
- Jul 16
- 12 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Looking for the best things to do in Ella? We’ve got you covered, from the most scenic train rides in the world, to fantastic hikes, waterfall chasing and more. There’s so much to do in Ella, you’ll easily be able to enjoy a week in this tourist hotspot, whether you’re looking to find the best wildlife nearby or learn how to cook a traditional Sri Lankan dinner, Ella offers a diverse range of things to do for adventurers, nature lovers and holidayers.
Nestled in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province, Ella is a popular hill town made famous for its incredible landscapes, hikes and peaceful surroundings. This hub is a must-visit on your Sri Lanka Itinerary with a large choice of restaurants and cafes in the town, offering western and local dishes.
This blog includes everything we wished we had known before visiting Ella Sri Lanka, including the best things to do, a suggested itinerary, when to visit and more.
Best Time To Visit Ella
Peak Season (January to April)
The best time to visit Ella is between January and early April, when the weather is dry, sunny and ideal for hiking. This is the peak season for exploring spots like Little Adams Peak and Nine Arches Bridge, meaning there will be crowds, but clear skies and great visibility.
Off Season (May to August)
The worst months to visit Ella are during the southwest monsoon season which will bring heavy rain. While the scenery explodes with all shades of green and the waterfalls are some of the most powerful in the world, the rain will bring slippery hiking trails and heavy downpours throughout the day.
Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!
While driving around the country for 2-months, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited and were recommended in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure! Don’t miss out...click here to view for free!
Shoulder Season (September to December)
This is when we visited Ella and found it to be a great mix, offering mostly sunshine with the odd shower. It’s perfect for fewer crowds and the waterfalls, like Ravana Falls, are still extremely powerful due to months of rain.
For the best all-round experience, February or March is ideal: good weather, stunning views, and a comfortable climate without the biggest tourist crowds.
Where Is Ella?
Ella is a main tourist town located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, surrounded by endless tea plantations and world-class views. The town sits at just over 1,000 meters above sea level and is well connected on Sri Lanka’s most popular train line with connections all over the country. There are so many accommodations available, from luxury apartments overlooking nature to local homestays in the town, our guide on the best places to stay in Ella is a great resource.
3-Day Ella Itinerary - Hikes, Waterfalls & Tea
Day 1: The Classic Highlights
Hike Little Adam’s Peak for sunrise. Stop off at 98 Acres for a morning tea
If you’re up for an adventure, do Ella’s zipline!
Walk to see Nine Arch Bridge
Visit Ravana Falls, go swimming if you’re in season
Day 2: More Hiking or Shopping & Some Cooking
Hike Ella Rock or spend the day exploring Ella town’s best cafes, souvenir shops and restaurants
Learn how to make traditional Sri Lankan rice & curry from a local
Day 3: Tea Plantation or Diyaluma Falls
You can’t visit Ella without squeezing in a tea plantation tour, it’s what Sri Lanka is most famous for!
One of the best day trips from Ella is to Diyaluma Falls natural infinity pool
Then head south, we rented a tuktuk however the shared tourist vans are a great cheap way to travel without paying for a private taxi
Best Things To Do In Ella Sri Lanka
Hike Little Adam’s Peak
A relatively easy trek that will reward you with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and tea plantations. The Little Adam’s Peak Hike took us about 45 minutes to an hour and is best done during sunrise or sunset to avoid the heat of the midday sun. This was our favourite thing to do in Ella during our visit and the views at the top are well worth it.
Visit Nine Arch Bridge
This is guaranteed to be on every single blog posts list of top things to do in Ella, and no surprises it’s included here too… but with a slight catch. Nine Arches is a stunning bridge from the colonial era, these iconic arches are super popular and best viewed when a train passes over them, creating the picturesque scene on the front cover of every magazine.
We also recommend staying here a little bit longer once the train has left, having a cup of tea and actually exploring underneath the arches. The path is a little sketchy to get down but it really gives you a great perspective and appreciation of the arches. We parked our tuktuk here, and did a short hike through a forest path to get to Nine Arches Bridge but you can also go on a guided tour.
Climb Ella Rock
A more challenging hike compared to Little Adam’s Peak, reaching Ella Rock takes about 4 hours round trip. The summit offers breath-taking views of the Ella Gap and the surrounding countryside. We decided to skip this as we were told by our local homestay host that the path would be full of leeches, after being covered in leeches from our Knuckles Hiking Experience we decided it wouldn’t be worth it.
Watch out for locals along the path that seem to walk and talk with you as you hike, our friends had this happen to them and as they got to the top the local charged them for a “tour guide” fee. There was also another local asking for 1,000 LKR to see the view once you reach the top.
Explore Ravana Falls
Located about 6 km from Ella, Ravana Falls is a stunning 25-meter waterfall, especially impressive during the rainy season. It's a popular spot for both locals and tourists, the easiest way to get here is via tuktuk, just make sure to agree on a price before setting off.
Once you’ve arrived at the falls you can admire it from the bridge, climb onto the rocks and even go for a dip in the pools at the base if the waterfall isn’t too strong.
Visit a Tea Factory
Ella is surrounded by tea plantations, and taking a tour is one of the best things to do in Ella in the rain. Visiting a local tea factory offers insights into the tea-making process and an opportunity to sample fresh Ceylon tea.
Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory is a great spot to learn about how the tea is grown, packed, dried and prepared for sale. You’ll get to try some of the different teas in the cafe and have the opportunity to buy some souvenirs to bring back home.
Ravana Cave
To visit Ravana Cave in Ella, you’ll need to take a short tuktuk drive from Ella town to the Maha Ravana Viharaya temple where you’ll then need to climb the 650 steps carved into the rock to reach the cave. The climb isn’t easy and you’ll want to do it on a dry day with some water on hand! To fully appreciate the history of the cave you might want a guide, or just hike up and enjoy the view.
Try the Flying Ravana Zipline
For the adrenaline junkies, the Flying Ravana Zipline is the best thing to do in Ella to get your heart pounding. The zipline stretches half a kilometer over the lush landscape of Ella which you can do in the superman position or seated. We did this with our friends and the views were truly incredible, located halfway up the hike to Little Adam's Peak, it’s also a great way to get down without the walk!
Grab a Coffee and Ice-Cream
Ella town is full of lovely artisan coffee shops (with aircon) offering a great break from the midday heat and chaos of Sri Lanka. One of our favourite things to do in Ella was to catch up on some work in Isle of Gelato, a really nice Ice Cream shop with comfy sofas upstairs. Phone connection isn’t always great in Sri Lanka and this coffee shop has good WiFi, tasty coffee and amazing Ice Cream.
We wished we bought an eSim before landing in Sri Lanka to avoid swapping sim cards all the time!
Take a Sri Lankan Cooking Class
One of the best ways to sample the local dishes is to learn how to cook them yourself in a Sri Lankan Cooking Class. Over the course of two or three hours, you’ll learn how to make the famous rice and curry dishes alongside other travellers.
Ravana Pool Club
On the way to Little Adam’s Peak you’ll walk past the Ravana Pool Club, with music playing and cocktails being served all throughout the day. This place looks incredible to relax and go for a swim after hiking up to the viewpoint. Although not our sort of thing, if you’re looking to relax poolside for the day, this pool club looks perfect. Location.
Ella Swing
Somewhat similar to the Bali Swing in Ubud, Ravana has a giant swing for adults to get their photo taken while swinging out over the lush green valley below. This is a very touristy spot and we chose not to do it, but it certainly makes for a great Instagram photo. Location.
Train Ride
Probably the most popular thing to do in Ella is ride the train through the world famous landscape however most people go all the way from Kandy to Ella which takes around 8 hours, a long day out! Instead, why not break up the train journey and visit Nuwara Eliya, another quaint mountain town of Sri Lanka nicknamed “Little England”.
You could also ride the train from Ella to Badulla, a 1-2 hour train ride that goes straight over the Nine Arches Bridge Train Tracks.
You can book your train tickets from Ella online to reserve seats. In peak season, tickets can be hard to come by because it’s such a popular thing to do.
Lipton’s Seat
In the nearby town of Haputle is the home of the world-famous Lipton Tea, Dambatenne Tea Estate. With surreal views of the surrounding area, this hike is one of Ella’s best viewpoints especially before 10am where you’ll skip the crowds and get to see the iconic Sri Lankan misty fog rolling over the hilltops.
Diyaluma Falls
Another spot out of Ella Town is the world-class Diyaluma Falls, sitting at 720 feet tall being Sri Lanka’s second highest waterfall. Although it’s an hour's drive away from the main town of Ella, it’s a great opportunity to stop off on your way down south, with two routes available, the upper and lower trek. Dramatic views over the cliff and a natural infinity pool offer one of the most breath-taking viewpoints in all of Sri Lanka.
Safari
Although Ella itself isn’t a major safari hub, you can reach the popular Udawalawe National Park on a daytrip which is best for herds of 100+ elephants, water buffalo and crocodiles.
If your next stop is the south coast, such as Mirissa, many tourists choose to go via Yala National Park which is the most densely populated area for leopards in the whole world, although now the whole world knows that and visits! It’s a great option to combine your transport and safari in one trip.
While Ella itself isn’t amazing for wildlife spotting compared to Arugam Bay, you will come across loads of birds, monkeys and monitor lizards with the occasional snake. Also watch out for the unwanted leeches on hikes!
Souvenir Shopping
Ella Town is full of souvenir shops, from handmade bags to custom surfer tuktuk tote bags and ceylon posters. Our favourite shop was the I Love Ceylon Gallery, which is home to a variety of custom Sri Lankan drawings and inspired us to create handcrafted Philippines Souvenirs. There are tea stores, as well as boutique clothes stores and general souvenir stores. We drove around Sri Lanka for two months and this is one of the best towns to buy souvenirs.
Yoga
Head to the Ella Yoga Center and relax on a terrace overlooking the valley below, one of the best outlooks for yoga we’ve ever seen. A local guide will take you through a flexibility routine, relieving stress and tension. Definitely one of the best relaxing things to do in Ella.
Stay in a Hillside Resort
A standout experience and one of the most luxurious things to do in Ella is staying in one of the hillside resorts overlooking some of the best views Sri Lanka has to offer. 98 Acres Resort & Spa is the most luxury of them all, nestled on a 98-acre tea estate, hence the name. Its thatched chalets, open-air stone bathtubs and reclaimed timber decks overlook misty plantations and Little Adam’s Peak. It has a pool, the best spa in Ella, yoga and a free tea tour, the perfect treat.
If you're on a budget like us then these are some alternative hillside resorts:
EKHO Ella ($$$): A more affordable hillside retreat (compared to 98 Acres) just minutes from Ella town
Mountain Heavens ($$$): Perched on the hills near Ella with a private balcony overlooking the surrounding valleys
Ceylon Adventure Tours
If you’re an adrenaline junkie like us and have the budget then Ceylon Adventure Tours are one of the most exciting things to do in Ella, take a motorbike tour through the surrounding area or even across the whole of Sri Lanka. Ceylon Adventure Tours have off-road CRF bikes and Enfield motorbikes, although they’re more expensive than a rental scooter you’ll definitely find adventure. Location.
Tuktuk Rental
This is something we did and would highly recommend it, Tuktuk Rental in Ella is an amazing way to see the surrounding area and feel like a local immersed in the culture. You might get some funny looks from locals and stall a couple of times but that's all part of the fun! We drove our tuktuk for two months across Sri Lanka and would change it for the world. You can also use the code “KandM” for a discount on your rental.
Ella Town Nightlife
Because Ella is located right on the main tourist loop of Sri Lanka, nearly every traveller passes through it, meaning there is a fairly recently formed party scene with bars and restaurants playing music and serving cocktails. If you’re looking for a night out, you’ll definitely find one in peak/shoulder season. Our favourite spot was Cafe Chill, with downstairs pool tables, darts and shuffleboard.
How To Get To Ella
By Train
The train journey from Kandy to Ella is often hailed as one of the most scenic in the world. This route meanders through rolling tea plantations, dense forests, and picturesque villages. Our friends who did this train ride loved it, however they warned us it was busy, so busy that they stood for 4 hours, so we recommend booking a ticket with seats.
Trains depart from Colombo Fort and Kandy stations multiple times daily, with the journey from Kandy to Ella taking approximately 6–7 hours.
By Car or Taxi
Hiring a private taxi is by far the most convenient option, offering flexibility and comfort which is ideal for families with young children. The drive from Colombo to Ella typically takes around 4.5 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. These can be booked online ahead of time as well as shared options to make it cheaper.
Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!
While driving around the country for 2-months, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited and were recommended in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure! Don’t miss out...click here to view for free!
By Bus
Sri Lankan buses are complete chaos and a backpackers best friend as they’re cheap and cheerful. Buses to Ella are available from major cities like Colombo, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya. While buses are the cheapest option, they’re undoubtedly less comfortable and take longer due to frequent stops and crazy roads.
Rental Car or Tuktuk Rental
If you’re looking to do a road trip around Sri Lanka then a rental car is a great way to get around, you can stop where you want and travel at your own pace. We chose to rent a tuktuk for our two month trip and fell in love with the adventure, the locals couldn’t believe their eyes as we drove by. You’ll spot roadside elephants, waterfalls and more, an opportunity to travel Sri Lanka from a very unique perspective.
Use Code “KandM” for a special discount on your Tuktuk Rental!
Cafe Chill: A popular spot offering a mix of local and international cuisines in a relaxed setting.
Matey Hut: Known for its authentic Sri Lankan dishes served in a cosy environment.
AK Ristoro: Offers a fusion of Italian and Sri Lankan flavours, set in a charming garden ambiance.
Read more for a comprehensive list of the best places to eat in Ella.
Best Ella Tours
Ella Travel Tips
The Kandy to Ella train is one of the most scenic trains in the world, but is 7 hours and very busy. For a similar, less busy experience, head from Ella to Badulla
Hike Little Adam’s Peak for sunrise for amazing views with minimal effort
Time your visit to Nine Arches Bridge around the train schedule (ask your homestay)
Learn how to cook rice & curry to fully appreciate the dishes
Eat at Matey Hut, one of Ella best restaurants for local Sri Lankan food
Don’t miss a day trip to Diyaluma Falls Natural Infinity Pool from Ella
Cash is king, there are ATMs in the town. Airalo’s e-Sim is a great internet option.
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
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