Visiting Diyaluma Falls is the perfect day trip from Ella, Sri Lanka. I would even say this adventure is one of the best things to do in Sri Lanka. Only 1.5 hours from Ella, the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, will leave you speechless.
One could easily spend a whole day in the area. The falls offers 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.
In this guide, you’ll find information about getting to the falls, the hike, swimming, entrance fees, and much more.
Where is Diyaluma Falls?
Diyaluma Falls are 40km from Ella, Sri Lanka, in Badulla District. The nearest town is Koslanda, approximately 6km away.
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Best hotels in Ella
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How to get to Diyaluma Falls
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.
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 €).
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 – hike down from Poonagala or up from the bottom of the waterfall.
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 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, 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.
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 you enter the area, local guides will stop you and navigate you to the parking lot. While it’s not officially necessary to have a guide, it is highly recommended.
Unlike other places where guides try to scam you, this is where they are really useful. The way to the waterfall has a lot of turns without any clear path or markings. You won’t even find the path in Google Maps or Maps.me. Because of this, it’s easy to get lost.
We were lucky and met an incredible guide who spoke good English. He was able to tell us many interesting things about Sri Lankan culture.
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 with no success. The trail passes rubber tree plantations and a simple factory used to make rubber.
You will also cross a small remote village, where people often fight the elephants. You can see multiple damages caused by elephants’ visit to the area. Our guide showed us different plants along the way, and we even tried local fruits.
As you get higher, you will be rewarded with lovely views of the valley. Soon, you’ll hear sounds of rushing water, indicating you’re getting close. Before you’ll realize you will have reached the first natural pool.
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.
At Diyaluma Falls
We hiked to Diyaluma Falls from the bottom and decided to start with the Upper Falls. The first natural pool along the way is very lovely, with water deep enough to swim in it. There’s a small “waterfall” which you can use as a waterslide.
The next stop is at the top of a multi-leveled waterfall. Each level has a lovely infinity pool. Some levels are hard to get to. From the top, it’s also possible to jump to the lower pool. It’s approximately a 7-meter jump.
Moving on to the next waterfall. You’re gonna walk down to the bottom of the cascades. A cascading waterfall ends in another natural pool. During dry months, there’s not enough water to swim in. But you can certainly take a dip here if you wish.
The last stop is the highlight of the whole trip – the infinity pools perched at the top of a 220-meter tall cliff. You’ll find a few smaller pools here where you can swim. The last one ends at the very edge of the cliff.
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.
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.
Best activities in Ella
Other places to visit near Ella
Nine Arch Bridge
This place needs no introduction. Nine Arch Bridge might be the most famous attraction of Sri Lanka. A 30-minute walk through a lovely jungle will take you there.
The 30-meter-high bridge is a fascinating piece of architecture in the middle of Ella’s highlands. Climbing down to the valley below gives you a chance to walk along the tea fields and enjoy views of Nine Arch Bridge from a different perspective.
When timing your visit correctly, you can witness a train passing through the bridge. This train links Ella with Badulla. The same train also connects Kandy to Ella, which is known as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.
Read: We wrote a complete travel guide about Colombo to Ella train as well as getting from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. Both articles include Kandy to Ella train ride, one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.
Nine Arch Bridge can be visited on your own or as a part of Ella Highlands tour.
Little Adam’s Peak hike
Little Adam’s Peak is an easy hike that will reward you with incredible views. A guide is not required, and there’s no entrance fee either. The hike is suitable for anyone. The trail passes a small local village and Flying Ravana zipline.
Combine Little Adam’s Peak hike with Nine Arch Bridge visit and make it a perfect half-day tour.
Udawalawe safari
One of the best things to do in Sri Lanka is a jeep safari and a visit to one of its incredible national parks. Udawalawe safari offers encounters with water buffalos, different bird species, and elephants. Udawalawe can also be visited as a day trip from the coastal towns such as Weligama or Mirissa.
Best Restaurants around
When we visited this place, a local guy was selling some snacks as well as fresh coconuts around the 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 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. 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.