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View all Ella toursElla Waterfall Abseiling Adventure with Hotel Pickup
Four hours abseiling down two waterfalls in the hills around Ella, with instructors, all technical gear and pickup from nearby hill country towns.
Highlights
- Abseil down two waterfalls in the hills around Ella, guided by trained instructors
- Full ground training and a practice descent before the first drop
- Harnesses, helmets, ropes and all technical equipment provided
- Suitable for beginners with a reasonable level of fitness
- Pickup and drop-off from Ella and the surrounding hill country towns
Ella Waterfall Abseiling Adventure with Hotel Pickup: Key Facts
| Price | From $57.71 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Group size | Up to 8 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Mini Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
Ella sits in the Uva hills where the escarpment drops away towards the southern plains, and the streams coming off that edge produce a run of waterfalls within a short drive of the town. This trip uses two of them for abseiling, descending the wet rock on a rope with instructors managing the system from above.
It starts on the ground with the part that matters: harness fitting, helmet, how the descender works, how to hold the rope, and how to walk your feet down a slab rather than swinging into it. You practise on a low section until the instructors are satisfied, then move to the first drop.
Abseiling a waterfall is different from abseiling dry rock. The stone is slick, water runs over your hands and down your back, and the noise means you take instructions by hand signal for the last stretch. It is genuinely exciting and it is also entirely controlled: you are on a fixed line with a backup, and the instructor can stop you at any point from the top.
Two falls of different heights are used so that the first works as a build-up and the second gives the longer descent. Between them there is a short transfer and a walk in, some of it on wet, uneven ground through tea land and forest.
One thing to be clear about is location. Ella is in the hill country roughly two hundred kilometres from Colombo, five to six hours by road or a long ride on the Kandy to Ella train. This trip picks up from Ella and the nearby hill towns, so plan it as part of your time in the highlands rather than as a day trip from the capital. Water volume varies with rainfall, and after heavy rain the operator may switch falls or postpone.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Pickup
Collection from your accommodation in Ella or one of the nearby hill towns, then a transfer of up to forty-five minutes to the first site.
Safety briefing and training
Harness and helmet fitting, an explanation of the system, and a practice descent on a low section.
First waterfall
Your first abseil, on the shorter of the two falls, with the instructor controlling the line from above.
Transfer to the second fall
A short drive of around twenty-five minutes and a walk in over uneven ground.
Second waterfall
The longer descent, with time for photographs at the base.
Return
Hand back the equipment and transfer back to your accommodation.
Detailed Itinerary
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Includes
- Certified abseiling instructors, harness, helmet, ropes, descender and all technical equipment, safety briefing and practice session, return transfer from your listed pickup point, and drinking water.
Excludes
- Meals and drinks, photos and video, towels, personal clothing and footwear, tips, and travel insurance covering adventure activities.
Important information
Meeting point
Pickup from your accommodation in Ella, Bandarawela, Haputale, Demodara, Beragala, Halpe, Heel Oya, Balleketuwa or Kithalella, agreed with the operator when you book.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
It was great and i really enjoy the activity, but it was to short for me. Going down out of the waterfall tooks just 10 minutes and i couldn’t go the second time. The driver was professional and very helpful.