We were not so sure about visiting Diyaluma Falls at first. We didn’t do proper research so we had no idea what to expect. In addition, the weather was really rainy during our stay in Ella. When we woke up in the morning on the day of our potential trip the rain was pouring.
But we got a visit from the owner of the guesthouse where we stayed in the morning. She got a call from a friend of hers saying that it’s hot and sunny at the falls. We made our decision quick and before long a driver was waiting for us.
Let me tell you, it was the best decision ever! As soon as we got to the first natural pool at Diyaluma Falls we were blown away by the beauty of this place!
This is the perfect day trip from Ella, Sri Lanka. I would even say this adventure was one of the best things we did in Sri Lanka. Only 1.5 hours from Ella, the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, left us speechless.
One could easily spend a whole day in the area. The falls offer numerous natural pools where you can swim. The highlight of this trip is swimming in an infinity pool right at the edge of a 220-meter-high cliff. It’s a natural playground!
In this guide, we tell you how to get there, how’s the hike, entrance fees, what to do in the area, and much more.
Where is Diyaluma Falls?
Diyaluma Falls are located 40km from Ella, Sri Lanka, in Badulla District. The nearest town is Koslanda, approximately 6km away.
You can also save the location of Diyaluma Falls to your Google Maps app.
Best hotels in Ella
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How to get there
Parking fee: 100 LKR
Most people visit the waterfalls from the nearby town of Ella. No public transport is available to take you here. You can either get a car with a private driver, hire a tuk-tuk driver, join a tour, or rent a car for your Sri Lanka trip.
When hiring a private driver, expect to pay around 5,000 LKR to 7,000 LKR (~ 15 € – 22 €). The cars are usually spacious, so it’s the perfect option when you’re a larger group.
However, if you’re a solo traveler or a couple, you might prefer a cheaper tuk-tuk ride. Certainly not as comfortable as a car, but it offers a different kind of adventure.
Finding a tuk-tuk driver shouldn’t be a problem. This location is becoming more and more popular, so drivers in Ella know exactly where to take you.
Either ask around Ella or at your accommodation. Tuk-tuk drive to the foot of Diyaluma Falls takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Expect to pay around 3,500 LKR to 5,000 LKR (~ 11€ – 15 €).
Guided tour
Another option is booking a guided tour online. But keep in mind that this is more expensive than organizing the trip yourself. Yet we believe some people might appreciate the hassle-free experience. I understand that not everyone wants to walk around the town to find a driver.
The tour below includes transport to/from Ella, Bandarawela, and Haputale, a private guide, and parking fees.
Our experience
We tried to find someone on the street but the prices we got were a little bit too high. In the end the owner of the guesthouse where we stayed gave us a contact for a friend of hers, who agreed to take us there for a slightly better price.
He picked us up before noon. Since we departed so late, he even stopped for lunch in a town on the way. While the driver didn’t speak almost any English, he was a friendly guy.
He took us to the parking lot at the bottom of the Falls, where we paid the parking fee of 100 LKR. From the parking, we had amazing view of the Diyaluma Waterfall from the bottom. It didn’t take long before a local guide approached us offering us his services.
Diyaluma Falls entrance fee
Entrance fee: free
To enter the area or to hike around, you don’t need to pay any official entrance fee. It doesn’t matter if you go to Upper Falls and hike down or if you enter near the bridge and hike up.
Diyaluma Falls hike
When hiking to Diyaluma Falls, you can choose from two options – a shorter hike down from Poonagala or a longer hike up from the bottom of the waterfall.
Do I need a guide?
Elephants
Especially when starting the hike from the bottom, you will be offered a guide. Locals claim there are dangerous tigers and elephants in the area, so you shouldn’t go alone. From what I’ve read, there are almost no guides at the upper start of the trail.
This is partially true. One or two active elephants are living in the nearby forests. However, they’re mostly active early in the morning, late in the evening, and at night. Because of this, the chances of meeting them during the day are small.
But if you really want to see the elephants in Sri Lanka, visit Udawalawe National Park where you can watch them safely.
We decided we would feel safer with a local, who also helped us navigate the trail.
Finding the trail
We always use Maps.me on our travels, since they are full of helpful information and different spots are saved there. But this time, we couldn’t see the trail on the maps. Because of this, we were not really sure if we would be able to find the right path and get to the Upper Falls.
So after a short conversation we decided it would be a better idea to take a guide with us. Since it cost around 7€ I think it’s a good deal.
I think it was a good decision. Our guide was a young guy who spoke good English. He told us a lot about the local way of life, the whole area, and Sri Lanka in general.
We also appreciated his guidance at the falls. He showed us exactly where we can jump from the cliffs to the natural pools below safely.
Support the economy
And another thing to consider is that you also support locals this way! It’s especially important and appreciated after the huge crisis they faced in the recent years. So unless you’re really trying to keep your budget super tight and don’t even have 1€ to spare, I would say go with the guide.
Hike down from Poonagala
Hiking from the top to the Lower Falls is the easiest option. The hike only takes 20 minutes. If you decide to choose this route, this is where the trail starts. According to the reviews, there shouldn’t be any guides, meaning you are not asked to pay anything.
People who want to avoid the strenuous hike usually choose this option. However, I want to highlight that the hike from the bottom is a lovely trail with awesome views along the way. So, if you have time and energy, it’s worth starting from there.
Based on reviews, you can expect longer grass in some sections and good footwear is a must. Avoid early morning and late evenings since there might be elephants in the area. Lovely as they are, you don’t want to meet them alone in the wild.
For some reason, drivers and guides sometimes claim it is only possible to hike from the bottom. We were stopped by local guides claiming the road to get to the top was damaged.
Since we weren’t sure where we were going and our driver didn’t really understand us, we just parked down there.
To be honest, this was probably just their way of making us hike from the bottom so they could earn something. If you really wish to hike from the top of the Falls, just insist on going further.
Hike up from the bottom
Guides usually charge around 2,000 LKR to 3,500 LKR. The amount of people doesn’t change the price.
The second option is to start your hike from the bottom of the waterfall near this bridge. As soon as we entered the area, local guides stopped us to navigate us to the parking lot.
We had a short conversation with one of the local guide whether we really need him or not. Obviously, he kept persuading us it’s much better. After a while, we decided to take him on the hike with us.
If you’re a hiking enthusiast, you should also not miss Ella Rock sunrise hike!
The trail
Surprisingly, wild elephants live in this area. We tried to spot some elephants on the way and entered their territory but with no success. The trail passes rubber tree plantations and a simple factory used to make rubber.
The beginning of the trail was almost flat, with a small incline at some sections. We met a few local farmers along the way and passed some small houses and huge jackfruit trees.
Soon we crossed a small remote village, where people often fight the elephants. Our guide showed us multiple damages caused by elephants’ visit to the area. He even told us more about the local farmer’s live and the different fruits they grow here which we’ve never heard of.
Soon he climbed a small tree to get us some strange fruit which we found very sour and bitter. To my disappointment, it was more of a torture and we had to spit it out. But our guide didn’t take it as an offense, he was just laughing at the funny faces we did.
As we got higher, we were rewarded with lovely views of the valley. The incline was getting more and more difficult. We met a few people who were already on their way back down. After seeing their happy faces, we couldn’t wait to get there!
Soon, we could hear the sounds of rushing water, indicating we were getting close. Before we realized it we reached the first natural pool.
One thing to be aware of along the trail is leeches. There are many of them, but wearing long clothes to avoid them is impossible in the heat. So just make sure to check your body after this trip. You might find some unwanted visitors.
At Diyaluma Falls
We hiked to Diyaluma Falls from the bottom and decided to start with the Upper Falls.
Tip: It’s up to you to decide if you want to start at the Upper Falls and hike down to the 220m cliff or the other way. We recommend starting at the top, where the pools are less stunning (but still incredibly beautiful). You will be more impressed each time as you make your way closer to the last infinity pool. Save the best pools for the last.
The first lagoon & waterslide
The first natural pool along the way was very lovely. The water was deep enough to swim in it. I was surprised how clean it was. I could see my feet clearly all the time! Two levels are found at this spot. We climbed to the upper one, which is just around 1.5 meters higher.
While the pools there were not as deep and spacious, we could still sit in the water and relax. On the right side, there was a short natural waterslide, which we used to get back down.
The first infinity pool
The next stop was only a few minutes away at the top of a multi-leveled waterfall. Each level has a beautiful infinity pool.
But some levels are hard to get to. We stopped at the uppermost section first. If you zoom in, you can see me sitting on the edge of a small pool at the top on the photo below. The first pool is not as spacious, but its highlight is the possibility to sit at the edge of it.
Cliff Jump
From the top, it’s also possible to jump to the lower pool. The water below is deep enough in a few parts for a safe landing. I think it’s approximately a 5-meter jump.
We had a guide who told Juraj exactly where it’s gonna be fine and helped him navigate the area. Thanks to him, we knew it was a safe spot to jump.
But if you’re coming here alone, without a guide, make sure to first check with other locals whether it’s safe and where to land.
It’s a natural waterfall, which means the water level can change a lot during different seasons. Another option is to first climb down and check how deep is the water. Don’t forget to look for possible huge rocks at the bottom.
After the first jump, Juraj also decided to jump to the other pool which was right underneath. In the photo above, it’s the third level from the top.
Getting back up might be a little bit difficult due to steep terrain, but nothing Juraj couldn’t manage easily. He actually waited below since we continued further along the same trail.
The cascading waterfall from below
Moving on to the next waterfall. We walked down to the bottom of the cascades. You can see the spot in the drone photo above – it’s at the very bottom. A cascading waterfall ends in another natural pool.
But during dry months, there’s not enough water to swim in it. The waterfall is also not that impressive, but it’s still nice. You can certainly take a dip here if you wish. We decided to only take a few photos and move on to the best part of this whole trip.
The last infinity pool
The last stop was the highlight of the day – the infinity pools perched at the top of a 220-meter tall cliff. A few smaller pools are leveled here and we could swim in all of them. If I remember correctly, three pools can be found here.
They’re not big enough for a proper swim, but it’s a perfect place to stay in the water and enjoy the views. Since it’s at the edge of the huge cliff, we had awesome views all around the surrounding valley.
This was also the busiest section of the whole place, with many locals enjoying swimming here, too.
The most interesting pool is the last one, which is at the very edge of the cliff. From there the water keeps falling for 220 meters. What I found the most fascinating was the fact that you can sit at the edge “safely”.
To be honest, I was a bit too scared to get close to the edge. You feel the water stream pulling you forward slightly, and it’s not for everyone. If you’re really scared of heights you’ll probably not want to get in that last pool.
In addition, it’s also possible to stand at the edge of the cliff. Once again, be extremely careful here. One slip can be fatal.
Swimming at Diyaluma Falls
The highlight is the number of natural pools, infinity pools, natural slides, and cliff jumps. We couldn’t believe what nature created here – an incredible water playground! You could easily spend the whole day here without getting bored.
There are multiple levels, and you can swim almost anywhere! The water is nicely refreshing but not too cold. So definitely don’t come here without a swimsuit.
If you’re worried about the cleanliness of the water, I was really surprised by how crystal-clear it was. But this also widely depends on the rain. Obviously, when it’s raining a lot or during the rainy season there’s a big chance the water will have more brown color.
However, during the rainy season, it might be too dangerous to swim. Due to heavy rains, the water level rises, and the current gets too strong. Because of this, ensure it is safe to enter the water. Ask locals for advice since they know this area the best.
Additionally, when swimming in the last infinity pool at the cliff where the waterfall falls 220m down into the valley, be extremely cautious. There are no safety precautions on the cliff, so do not get close to the edge.
Safety at Diyaluma Falls
During the rainy season, it might be too dangerous to swim here. Due to heavy rains, the water level rises, and the current gets too strong. Because of this, ensure it is safe to enter the water. Ask locals for advice since they know this area the best.
Additionally, when swimming in the last infinity pool at the cliff where the waterfall falls 220m down into the valley, be extremely cautious. There are no safety precautions on the cliff, so do not get close to the edge.
What to pack
Here is a list of a few useful items you should not forget before coming here:
- Sunscreen – the most important item to have with you all the time
- Quick drying towel – you’re gonna spend a lot of time in the water, so having a towel that can dry quickly is much appreciated
- Swimsuit – an obvious one, do not come here without a swimsuit
- Cash
- Enough water and snacks
- Extra T-shirt to change for the ride back, since yours is likely gonna be sweaty after this hike
- Waterproof camera
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.
Best Restaurants around
When we visited this place, a local guy was selling some snacks as well as fresh coconuts around the last pools. Apart from that, you can buy some food and water at the parking lot. However, there are just a few small grocery stores in the area.
You won’t find any proper restaurant near Diyaluma Falls, so make sure to bring everything you might need with you.
Best time to visit Diyaluma Falls
Dry season: December – March
Rainy season: May – August
It’s impossible to say what is the best time of the day to visit Diyaluma Falls. It’s a day trip, and you will spend a few hours in the area. Since the journey from Ella takes around 2 hours and you need to hike for another hour, start your trip as early as possible to get the most out of it.
Diyaluma Falls can be visited all year round. But if you come during the dry season, you can fully enjoy everything the falls have to offer. From cliff jumps to relaxing in one of many pools.
But during the rainy season, it might be too dangerous to enter the water. The river current can be too strong, so be very careful. Check with locals if it’s safe to swim.
Final thoughts on Diyaluma Falls
If you read this whole guide you can probably imagine how incredibly beautiful this place is. I’m surprised it’s not more popular and touristy! This place certainly deserves some attention.
It was the best decision we made to come here. I think it was the best thing we did in Sri Lanka nad it’s certainly a highlight of our holiday. So if you’re still hesitant about coming here, trust me, you won’t regret it.
