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View all Colombo toursElla and Haputale Private Day Trip with Hill Country Train Ride and Tea Factory in Colombo
A private all-inclusive day to Sri Lanka's hill country, combining a stretch of the Haputale to Ella train line with a working tea factory, Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge and Ravana Falls.
Highlights
- A scenic stretch of the hill country railway between Haputale and Ella
- Guided visit to a working tea factory and a walk in the plantation
- Little Adam's Peak, a short climb with a view over the Ella Gap
- The Nine Arch Bridge, a stone viaduct built without steel during the First World War
- Ravana Falls, a roadside stop on the way down
- Private vehicle and driver for the whole day, with the route adapted to you
Ella and Haputale Private Day Trip with Hill Country Train Ride and Tea Factory: Key Facts
| Price | From $234 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 in the southern edge of the hill country, and the honest starting point is the distance. It is several hours from Colombo in each direction, and this trip leaves in the small hours so that the day at the top is worth having. If you would rather not spend that long in a vehicle, the same route is better done as an overnight; if you only have one free day, this is how it gets done.
The centrepiece is the train. The line from Haputale down to Ella is the most photographed stretch of railway in the country: it follows the contour of the hills through tea gardens and eucalyptus, in and out of short tunnels, with the carriage doors open. Your driver takes the vehicle round by road and meets you at the far station, so you ride the good section without the eight-hour full journey.
Tea is the other reason to come up here. A visit to a working factory covers withering, rolling, oxidation and firing, and a walk in the plantation puts the two-leaves-and-a-bud rule in front of you rather than on a sign. Sri Lanka's high-grown teas come from exactly this altitude band, and the gap between what is graded here and a supermarket teabag is obvious once you have tasted both.
The rest of the day is on foot. Little Adam's Peak is a gentle climb of around forty minutes with a wide view over the Ella Gap. The Nine Arch Bridge, built in stone and brick during the First World War when steel was unobtainable, is a short walk from the road and best timed to a passing train. Ravana Falls drops beside the road toward Wellawaya and needs no walking at all.
As a private trip the order can be reshuffled around your interests and the train timetable, which does shift. Expect a very long day, an early start well before dawn, and a late return to Colombo.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Departure from Colombo
A pre-dawn hotel pickup for the long drive into the hill country.
Haputale and the tea factory
Tour a working factory and walk into the plantation before boarding the train.
Train to Ella
Ride the hill country line through tea gardens and tunnels while your driver meets you at the far end.
Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge
A short climb for the Ella Gap view, then the viaduct in the forest below.
Ravana Falls and the road home
A roadside waterfall stop before the long return drive to Colombo.
Detailed Itinerary
[{"time": "02:30", "title": "Pre-dawn pickup", "description": "Your driver collects you in Colombo. The exact time depends on the train you are booked onto."}, {"time": "02:30 - 08:00", "title": "Drive to the hill country", "description": "The long leg of the day, climbing steadily from the coastal plain."}, {"time": "08:00 - 09:00", "title": "Breakfast stop", "description": "A break on the way up, usually at a hill town along the route."}, {"time": "09:00 - 10:30", "title": "Tea factory and plantation", "description": "Withering lofts, rollers and firing, followed by a walk among the bushes and a tasting."}, {"time": "10:30 - 12:30", "title": "Haputale to Ella by train", "description": "The scenic section of the line, with your vehicle meeting you at the arrival station."}, {"time": "12:30 - 13:30", "title": "Lunch in Ella", "description": "A break in town before the afternoon walking."}, {"time": "13:30 - 15:00", "title": "Little Adam's Peak", "description": "An easy uphill walk of around forty minutes each way for the Ella Gap view."}, {"time": "15:00 - 16:00", "title": "Nine Arch Bridge", "description": "A short forest path down to the viaduct, timed where possible to a train crossing."}, {"time": "16:00 - 16:30", "title": "Ravana Falls", "description": "A roadside stop at the waterfall."}, {"time": "16:30 - 22:30", "title": "Return to Colombo", "description": "The long drive back down to the coast and your hotel."}]
Includes
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the full day, hotel pickup and drop-off in Colombo, hill country train ticket, tea factory and plantation visit, stops at Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge and Ravana Falls, drinking water.
Excludes
- Meals and drinks unless confirmed by the operator, gratuities, tea purchases at the factory, personal expenses, travel insurance.
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in Colombo, with the departure time set by the operator to catch the hill country train.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
Highly recommend this tour it was the absolute highlight of our Sri Lankan trip
Bentota Travel Mart arranged a wonderful trip for us and sent us all the details beforehand. Everything was well planned & timed. Top highlight was train journey. The scenery was spectacular. Very comfortable car & safe driver. Thank You Bentota Travel!