Explore more curated experiences in Colombo
View all Colombo toursElla Day Trip from Colombo: Tea Factory, Hill Train and Nine Arch Bridge
A very long day from the coast up into the hill country: a working tea factory, a short leg on the Ella railway, the Nine Arch Bridge and the climb up Little Adam's Peak.
Highlights
- A working Ceylon tea factory at Halpewaththa, seen mid-production
- A leg on the Kandy to Badulla mountain railway, one of Asia's great train rides
- The Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara, a stone viaduct built without steel
- The hour-long walk up Little Adam's Peak, overlooking Ella Gap
- Hotel pickup from Colombo, Negombo or the southwest coast, all transport included
Ella Day Trip from Colombo: Tea Factory, Hill Train and Nine Arch Bridge: Key Facts
| Price | From $182 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | Full day |
| Group size | Up to 6 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
Ella sits about 1,000 metres up in the Uva highlands, four and a half hours of hill driving each way from Colombo. This trip fits the highlights of the hill country into one sixteen-hour day. It works, but the start is early and the finish late, and if you have the option, two days with a night in Ella is a better version of the same route.
The drive climbs through the tea districts, and the first stop is a working tea factory at Halpewaththa. Ceylon tea is still processed the way the British set it up in the nineteenth century after coffee blight destroyed the previous crop: withering lofts, rolling, oxidation, firing and grading, all in one building. Seeing it in operation, with the smell of the withering leaf, explains more about the country's economy than any museum.
The train leg is short but it is the reason many people come. The Kandy to Badulla line is one of the great mountain railways, cut through tea slopes and cloud forest, and even twenty-five minutes of it with the doors open gives you the view. Trains here run late routinely, and the operator may adjust which leg you ride depending on the day's timetable.
At Ella the walk up Little Adam's Peak takes about an hour up and back, and the summit ridge looks straight down Ella Gap. The Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara nearby is a stone viaduct built during the First World War without steel, and the walk along the track to it goes through tea and forest.
There is a stop at the Ravana Pool Club for a drink with a view, and a tea tasting in Ella before the drive back. Expect to get home late. Pickup covers coastal towns from Negombo down to Galle, so confirm your location when you book: driving time varies a lot between them.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Coastal pickup
Collected from Colombo, Negombo or one of the southwest coast towns.
Drive to the hill country
Around four and a half hours climbing into the Uva highlands.
Halpewaththa Tea Factory
A working factory tour through withering, rolling, oxidation and grading.
Scenic train leg
About 25 minutes on the Kandy to Badulla mountain line.
Little Adam's Peak
A two-hour stop for the walk up and back, with views over Ella Gap.
Ravana Pool Club and Nine Arch Bridge
A break with a view, then an hour at the Demodara viaduct.
Tea tasting and return drive
Tea in Ella, then the long drive back to the coast.
Detailed Itinerary
[{"time": "02:30", "title": "Pickup", "description": "An early start from your hotel on the coast."}, {"time": "07:00", "title": "Halpewaththa Tea Factory", "description": "A tour of the working factory and an explanation of Ceylon tea grades."}, {"time": "09:00", "title": "Train", "description": "Around 25 minutes on the hill railway, subject to the day's timetable."}, {"time": "10:00", "title": "Little Adam's Peak", "description": "Two hours for the walk up the ridge and back, at your own pace."}, {"time": "12:30", "title": "Ravana Pool Club", "description": "A break for a drink and the view over the valley."}, {"time": "14:00", "title": "Nine Arch Bridge", "description": "An hour walking the track to the viaduct at Demodara."}, {"time": "15:30", "title": "Tea in Ella", "description": "Forty-five minutes for a tea tasting before the drive."}, {"time": "16:30", "title": "Return drive", "description": "Four and a half hours or more back to the coast, arriving late."}]
Includes
- Air-conditioned car with driver and fuel; train ticket for the scenic leg; hotel pickup and drop-off from the listed towns; tea factory visit and tea tasting; bottled water.
Excludes
- Meals and drinks, including at the Ravana Pool Club; entrance fees where charged; gratuities; personal purchases.
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in Colombo, Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Bentota, Kosgoda, Hikkaduwa or Galle.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
You might also like...
Traveler Reviews
Ranga and Gajan were our drivers and looked after us on this trip.. had a wonderful day and the views are breathtaking.. very long day, would definitely consider an overnight stay in Ella
Amazing day! very long one, but was worth:)) Visited so beautiful places and the guide was very friendly.
A great trip, although a bit tiring due to the number of hours spent in the car, but the views and time spent on the spot make up for everything. I had the opportunity to be with the guide Kajan, a great man, I recommend 🔥
Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. Nevertheless, it was a lovely trip, and we saw everything except the tea factory, just in the rain. Our guide, Dashi, did his best to make the day as enjoyable as possible despite the weather. He told us a lot about the country and its people and took us everywhere. Sadly, Ella and the surrounding area are very crowded, but the scenery is beautiful.
The tour was fantastic and our guide Kajan was very attentive and friendly. We had a great day, even though there was a slight language barrier. Despite that, he went above and beyond and fulfilled our requests. Thank you so much!
We had a good day visiting the tea factory, nine arch bridge, riding the train, and climbing little toms peak. It was a long day and if we were to do it again we would definitely do the 2 day tour, although it was set out and timed well, it would have been nice to spend more time visiting places. Dinesh was a great guide, kept us to date with what was going on and ensured there were time for rest stops during the long travel there and back.
The day trips were fantastic, and you got to see a lot in one day, well worth the money. Krish was our guide, and on this day, we were the only ones on the tour, so we got a private tour. He was very happy and friendly in every way, and behaved in a professional manner. A tough day, many hours, but worth it if you're not in Sri Lanka for that long. The train ride, Little Adam's Peak, and the zipline were the highlights.
Krish was a fantastic tour guide! He has a bubbly, friendly attitude and his attention to detail to personalise the itinerary to make the most of the day was second to none. I had a great day and saw everything I wanted to. Even when I was nervous to go down the zipline, his encouragement got me through! Overall, this day is going to be a highlight of my trip! Highly recommend
A great trip. I highly recommend this agency. Great communication, helpful, and always smiling. The driver and guide were the best I've ever met—there was no problem at all throughout the day. My guide, Ranga, is a very professional man. He always tried to make sure everything was as perfect as possible. Ranga, thank you so much for a wonderful day. I truly recommend him.
The day trip was absolutely fantastic! 5 stars! ***** We had a brilliant time. An action packed day, full of great sights and experiences. Our guide, Rangi was wonderful. What a lovely man. He was so hospitable, and went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed everything today. He was amazing. We can highly recommend this day trip. THANK YOU Rangi! All the best, Christine & Philip. UK. P.S. enjoy the Yorkshire tea👍