Riding the Colombo to Ella train is an adventure that has been on our bucket list for a long time. We’ve heard all about one of the most beautiful train rides in the world! When we started planning our Sri Lanka itinerary, this was our priority.
Most people spend a lot of time on the coast enjoying one of many of Sri Lanka’s beaches, such as Weligama Beach. But we recommend heading inland for the most unforgettable memories and experiences.
The train traverses through incredible landscapes that left us speechless. We traveled through lush green jungles, misty hills, charming villages as well as tea gardens. It’s without a doubt one of the highlights of our Sri Lankan adventures.
We couldn’t wait to enjoy the stunning views, pass surrounding villages, and watch the local’s lives from behind the window during this iconic train journey.
In this comprehensive travel guide, we provide all the necessary information for your trip. You’ll learn how to buy tickets, schedules, and ticket prices, and how to get the most out of your train ride.
So get your camera ready and prepare for an unforgettable ride through one of Asia’s most breathtaking landscapes.
Key Highlights
⭐️ Duration: from 8.5 – 10 hours
⭐️ Ticket Price: from 1300 LKR
⭐️ Shorter alternative: Nuwara Eliya to Ella
⭐️ Recommended stops: Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
⭐️ Where to buy ticket: booking office, official web, 12Go
Where is Ella
Ella is a beautiful sleepy mountain town in the south of Sri Lanka. It lies in the Badulla district. The elevation is 1041 meters. Since it’s surrounded by hills and lush green jungle, the temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas.
Kandy is 140 km from here and Colombo is 311 km far. Other nearby towns are Nuwara Eliya, Wellawaya, and Dambulla.
Save the location of Ella to your Google Maps.
Best hotels in Ella
Check availability
Colombo Fort railway station
Colombo Fort is the main station in Colombo city. Just a few platforms serve many commuter and intercity trains that enter the station daily. From the outside as well as from the inside the station looks rather old.
You can find a few restaurants around as well as directly at the station. There are also free public toilets, too. The schedule can be found on electric screens at the station. The booking office can be found here as well.
If you have a long waiting time, you’ll be happy to hear there are plenty of benches around.
Despite a lot of traffic, we felt pretty safe at Colombo Fort railway station.
All you need to know
Colombo to Ella train schedule
There are 4 connections departing daily. The destination of all of them is Badulla. Occasionally there are some special trains added.
Make sure to check the official Sri Lanka Railways website for the most up-to-date schedule.
| Train name | Departure from Colombo Fort | Arrival to Ella |
| Podi Menike (1005) | 05:55 | 15:38 |
| Udarata Menike (1015) | 08:30 | 16:59 |
| 1007 | 9:45 | 18:26 |
| Night Mail (1045) | 20:30 | 06:38 |
Train duration
Below you can see the train duration for each section of the journey. I only mention those stops where many tourists stay for a day or two. If your destination is not included, you can also check the official Sri Lanka Railways website.
The travel times are just approximate. Trains are often delayed. So when planning your trip, make sure to leave some extra time in your schedule.
Also note that for traveling to Nuwara Eliya you must get off at Nanu Oya. From there it’s 8 more kilometers to town. You have to go by a bus or car.
We traveled to Kandy first, where we spent a night. From there, we continued to Nanu Oya for two nights before making our way from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
| Colombo | Kandy | Nanu Oya | |
| Colombo | – | – | – |
| Kandy | 2.5 – 3h | – | – |
| Nanu Oya | 6-7h | 4h | – |
| Ella | 8.5-10h | 7h | 2.5h |
Buying the tickets
There are 2 options where you can buy your train tickets.
The first option is to buy the ticket in a booking office at Colombo Fort station. Optionally, you can buy your tickets at any other booking office in the country.
However, it’s important to note that this train is super popular, and tickets might be sold out when booking last minute.
Another option would be to buy the train tickets online. I highly recommend doing so. You can always buy your reserved train tickets for the next 30 days only.
Sri Lankan Railways have an official website for booking your tickets. You need to fill out passenger information, including travel document information. It’s possible to pay online with your card.
It’s also possible to book train tickets via 12Go. It seems like it allows you to book a ticket in a bigger time window, so you’re not limited to those 30 days.
We personally use 12Go most of the time when traveling around Asia. You can also use the search form below.
Ticket price
3rd class reserved: from 1300 LKR
AC Saloon: from 2800 LKR
The ticket prices seem to vary a bit throughout the year. Depending on the month of your travel, you might be able to buy tickets for less or on the other hand, they might be more expensive.
As of now, the cheapest option is buying the tickets at the official website. 12Go has slightly higher prices. But it’s an amazing alternative in case you’re not able to proceed through the website, as it might be too slow or not loading properly at times.
Remember that it’s also way easier to talk to 12Go customer support than that of the official Sri Lankan Railways. That’s the main reason why we always prefer to use 12Go unless the price difference is not worth it.
Choosing the right class
There are 3 different classes: first class, second class, and third class. Let’s take a look at the differences of each class.
Third class (reserved or unreserved)
The third class on the train has both reserved and unreserved seats. The seats are not as comfortable as in other classes. There is no AC; however, each carriage has fans. Also, windows are always open. So are the doors.
Tickets could only be bought on the same day. But when checking now, I noticed they’re also sold online in advance.
It’s the cheapest and probably the most authentic option, too. This is the class that most locals use.
Second class (reserved or unreserved)
We chose 2nd class, which is the best one for this ride! When traveling in 2nd class, you can either buy a reserved ticket ahead of time or an unreserved one on the same day.
As well as the 3rd class, the 2nd class has no AC. But once again, fans and open windows provide enough cool air to circulate in the carriages. Because of this, we didn’t feel hot during the journey.
Another bonus is that the seats are reclining. They’re also more comfortable.
In this class there’s a nice mix of tourists and Sri Lankans, offering a more authentic experience.
TIP: The biggest advantage of traveling 3rd and 2nd classes is the possibility to open the windows. Most of the time the door is open as well. You will not get that in 1st class. For that reason, I would avoid traveling 1st class. Hanging out the train door is an experience you don’t want to miss.
First class (reserved)
The first-class carriages are all equipped with AC, which is great. The biggest disadvantage is that all the windows as well as doors are closed the entire time. That means you won’t be able to get that photo of you hanging out from the train.
Another disadvantage is that almost all the passengers traveling first class are foreigners. This significantly changes the whole experience. It feels like you’re traveling in some sort of a tourist bubble.
For this reasons, we recommend avoiding the first class.
Facilities on the train
All the trains are equipped with toilets. You can even choose if you prefer to use a squad or a western toilet. Don’t forget to bring your own toilet paper, since it’s not provided.
When it comes to food, there might be a few vendors walking around the train selling samosa, snacks, tea, or other drinks. But definitely bring enough food in case they don’t show up. Count with possible delays. This way you can avoid being stuck in the train with an empty stomach.
At some stops people try to sell you snacks through a window, too.
Power outlets and wifi
When traveling by second or third class, there’s no power outlet available on the Colombo to Ella train. But I believe the first class has some.
Regarding wifi, don’t expect any. Purchase a local sim card if you need an internet connection. But you’re likely gonna spend most of the time hypnotized by the incredible views anyway.
Colombo to Ella train stops
The train starts in the capital and goes all the way to a place called Badulla. Despite being called an express train, it actually stops every 15 minutes.
All the trains on this route have at least 30+ stops. Most of them are small towns and villages unknown to international tourists.
The train also passes some of the famous tourist cities such as Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. I would certainly recommend breaking your beauiful train journey into multiple parts and stopping along the way for a day or two.
After all, since the travel time is more than 10 hours, you’ll certainly appreciate the option to split this trip into a few parts. The landscapes are so beautiful it would be a pity to only enjoy them from a passing train.
Here are the recommended stops.
Kandy
After flying into Bandaranaike Airport, we took the first-morning train to Badulla and traveled to Kandy. We planned a one-night stay there, which is more than enough to see the town.
Once in Kandy, you should visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Royal Botanic Gardens. We also enjoyed an evening stroll along the Kandy Lake. You can prolong your time here and plan a day trip to visit Sigiriya and Dambulla.
Early in the morning, we took the train again and continued to Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya
To get to Nuwara Eliya, we had to get off at Nanu Oya. From there we took a taxi to get to town.
The area is known mostly for its spacious tea plantations. The most famous one which we also visited is Pedro Tea Estate. We recommend taking the tea factory or tea plucking tour. Another famous attraction worth a visit is Lover’s Leap waterfall.
What we loved about this area the most was how lush green everything was. The air is so fresh! If you’re a nature lover, you’ll certainly fall in love with Nuwara Eliya. It’s a very laid-back place, too.
Should you only go from Kandy to Ella?
While many people only choose to travel Kandy to Ella section on the train, I suggest doing the full route.
The views on the section to Kandy might not be as good as later on, but it’s still worth it! After all, it’s also a great way to travel between the destinations. So if you plan to explore Sri Lanka in that direction, using this train is a convenient option.
But if you’re short on time, opt for the Kandy to Ella section only. It will be more than enough and you won’t be disappointed.
Travel Insurance
One of the worst things you could do is travel without insurance. We never go on a trip without travel insurance. Anything can happen during your adventures.
Our go-to company is SafetyWing. They will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
If you purchase the insurance through our link, you still pay the same, and we will earn a small commission. This helps us run our blog. Thank you ❤️
Best side for views
For the best views along the way try to get a seat on the left side of the train when leaving Colombo.
In Kandy, the train actually turns around. So if you sat on the left side, you want to be sitting on the right side from Kandy to Ella. For that section, that’s the more scenic side of the train.
After Passing Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya), once again left side offers better views.
As you can see, it always keeps changing. So if it’s more crowded, you might have a hard time changing the side all the time.
But the fact it’s not the same during the whole journey is also good news. If you’re stuck on one side only, you’ll still get better views at some point.
Essential travel tips
Since no power outlets are available in the second and third classes, make sure your camera and phone are fully charged before the trip. Having a powerbank is also essential if you plan to take a lof of photos.
Another thing you must bring with you is enough water, especially during hot days. Don’t forget to bring some snacks and toilet paper. You won’t find any on the toilets.
We also recommend starting this trip as early in the morning as possible, choosing the first train if you can. So even if you get some delays, you won’t arrive to late.
And the most important tip we can give is to buy your tickets as soon as possible! Only a few trains are scheduled daily and the demand is high. This results in constantly sold-out tickets. Last-minute booking is almost impossible.
Our experience
It’s not possible to choose the exact seat. So you don’t really know which side you’ll get. We were really unlucky during our trip. We took the train three times and this was our route: Colombo – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella.
The first section was really great. We got great seats right next to a window with nice views. The whole ride went without any problems, and the weather was nice.
When we located our seats from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, we were more than disappointed. We got the seat which is right in between two windows. That only means one thing – almost no views! Because of this, we spent most of the time sitting on the stairs right in the door.
Luckily the train was not too crowded, so it was not a problem. We couldn’t stop staring outside and marveling at the exceptional views unfolding in front of us. It was a lovely sunny day, too!
After this experience, we really hoped to get better seats for the last section from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. I mean, what are the chances of getting the same seats again, right? and guess what? We did get the same seats!
In addition, the weather didn’t work in our favor either. It was really foggy most of the time, which means zero views. Occasionally, we could see the tea plantations and hills peaking through the sea of clouds.
And later on, it also started raining. So, taking any photos on the train door was impossible. And uncomfortable, since the rain hitting our faces at that speed was slightly painful.
But all in all, we definitely enjoyed the whole Colombo to Ella train route, and we would certainly love to come back one day and do it again! It was without a doubt the most scenic train ride of our lives.
Frequently asked questions
You can choose between the first, second, and third classes. Furthermore, you have a choice between reserved and unreserved seats.
The first and least convenient way is to buy the tickets in booking offices at the train stations. But the chances are they will be sold out due to high demand. Because of this, we recommend buying the ticket online using 12go.asia or the official website. But the last option only allows you to buy tickets a maximum of 30 days in advance.
Officially, the ride duration is between 8.5 to 10 hours. But you should always count on some delays since they’re pretty common.
The best choice is the second class. It’s a great compromise between comfort and the price. And most importantly, you can open the doors as well as the windows. This is not possible in the first class.
Between Colombo and Kandy, it’s the left side. On the section between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the best views are on the right side. And once again, between Nuwara and Eliya, the best views are on the left side.
This depends on your preferences. I would say a minimum to see the best highlights is two days. If you want to explore the area more and try different hiking trails, three or four days is a plenty.
What to expect in Ella
Ella is a beautiful sleepy town surrounded by incredible lush green jungle, misty hills, and awesome views. It has a very laid-back and peaceful vibe, which we loved the most! Locals are friendly and helpful, too. I would say it’s a calm paradise for nature lovers.
Despite that, you’ll find a few different hotels for each budget type. The choice of restaurants and bars is also generous.
The most famous attraction that attracts many tourists each year is without a doubt the famous 9 Arch Bridge. After an early morning visit, we continued with a short and easy hike to Little Adam’s Peak. At the top, we could marvel at incredible views of the valley and majestic mountains.
We recommend adding an extra day in Ella and visiting Diyaluma Falls. This natural waterpark is full of water slides, and cliff jumps, and the cherry on the top is an infinity pool at the top of a 220m high cliff.
From Ella, it’s also easy to continue to Udawalawe and visit Udawalawe National Park on a jeep safari.
Best activities in Ella
- Yala National Park Golden Hour Safari – Spot leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and other wildlife when they’re most active. Golden Hour makes for incredible views and encounters!
- Udawalawe National Park Jeep Safari – The best place to watch elephants on a private 4WD Jeep tour.
- Diyaluma Falls day tour – A guided tour to Diyaluma Falls, full of natural infinity pools. It includes transport and a guide.
Colombo to Ella train – conclusion
This was an unforgetable adventure that will stay in our hearts forever. This scenic train trip is a must!
While we were not as lucky when it came to views, we still enjoyed it to the fullest. From incredible views to lovely interactions with the locals. This was certainly one of the highlights of our Sri Lankan trip.
If you liked this post and found it helpful let us know in the comments. Also, check our other blog posts for more travel tips.
