Explore more curated experiences in Galle
View all Galle toursElla Day Trip from Galle, Hikkaduwa or Mirissa with the Hill Country Sights
A long day from the south coast up into the hill country: Ravana Falls, Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge and a working tea factory, with hotel transfers from the Galle area.
Highlights
- The whole climb from the coast to the hill country and back in a day
- Little Adam's Peak and the view through the Ella Gap
- The Nine Arch Bridge, built in stone without steel during the First World War
- A working Uva tea factory with a tasting
- Ravana Falls, and hotel transfers from anywhere on the Galle-Mirissa strip
Ella Day Trip from Galle, Hikkaduwa or Mirissa with the Hill Country Sights: Key Facts
| Price | From $180 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 3 available options
From Ella / Tissa Area
From Tangalle/ Mirissa/ Weligama Area
From Galle or Hikkaduwa Area
Full description
Ella is about four hours inland from the south coast, which makes this a fourteen-hour day and worth being honest about. It exists because plenty of travellers spend a week on the beach and want one day in the hills, and doing it this way is better than not doing it at all.
The road climbs from sea level through Udawalawe country and up the escarpment, and the landscape changes completely twice on the way. By the time you reach Ella you are at a thousand metres and it is fifteen degrees cooler than the beach you left.
On the ground the day covers what Ella is known for: Little Adam's Peak, 45 minutes up a stepped path for the view out through the Ella Gap; the Nine Arch Bridge, a stone viaduct built without steel during the First World War; Ravana Falls beside the road; and a working tea factory taking the leaf from withering trough to grading table.
If your itinerary has any flexibility at all, two nights in Ella is a far better use of the same money. If it does not, this is the day.
Ella is a village at 1,040 metres in the southern hill country, reached by the train from Kandy that most people rate the finest railway journey in Asia, and its sights are all within a few kilometres: the Nine Arch Bridge, a brick viaduct of 1921 in a gorge of tea, which a train crosses several times a day; Little Adam's Peak, a 40-minute walk through tea to a ridge; Ella Rock, a harder three-hour climb; and Ravana Falls on the road down to Wellawaya. Mornings are clear and afternoons in the wet months bring cloud into the gap, so the walks are done early. Tuk-tuks are the transport, and every guesthouse can find one.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Pickup on the coast
A pre-dawn start for the drive inland.
Ravana Falls
The cascade below Ella.
Little Adam's Peak
The walk up and the Ella Gap view.
Nine Arch Bridge
The viaduct, timed for a train where possible.
Tea factory
The process and a tasting.
Return drive
Back down to the coast.
Drop-off
At your hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
Hotel pickup
Four hours each way. Eight hours of the fourteen are spent driving — that is the honest cost.
Little Adam's Peak
45 minutes up a stepped path. Shoes with grip; it is slippery after rain.
Nine Arch Bridge
A 20-minute walk down through tea. Trains cross roughly every two hours and run late routinely.
Tea factory
Closed on poya days, when an estate walk substitutes.
The coast
Drop-off at your hotel.
Includes
- Private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver-guide, hotel pickup and drop-off on the south coast, all driving and stops, fuel and parking.
Excludes
- Entrance fees where they apply, meals and drinks, tea purchases, gratuities.
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in Galle, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, Weligama or Mirissa; confirmed after booking.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
You might also like...
Traveler Reviews
I had such a great experience! The guide, Nil Nuwan was amazing, super nice, attentive to every detail, and really knowledgeable about the area. He knows all the best spots, takes great photos, and always found cool solutions whenever something unexpected came up. You can really tell that he knows the place and how to move around, which made the whole experience feel very easy and enjoyable. Sharing the experience with him was honestly so cool, and I would definitely recommend it! Also the driver Sangeeth, good driver. The first temple is quite simple, so I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, but everything else was great.
Had an amazing day with Nywna and Habije! They went above and beyond to make it the best experience and it was ! Can only recommend this tour 🏄♀️🦁🌊❤️ thanks again guys !!!
We had a great experience on the Sri Lanka Ella tour overall. The trip was smooth, enjoyable, and well organized, and our driver, Shamal, was kind, polite, and managed the itinerary very well. There was no actual guide provided, only a driver, so it would have been even better if he had shared some historical facts about the places we visited.
The experience was really good and mainly the driver was very helpful and skillfull when it comes to navigating the route.
Our driver was the best!!! Absolutely took care of us while giving us the space we needed. Felt no pressure at all during anytime in the trip. This is rare, his friendliness was so genuine . As to the program - it’s amazing if you want Ella in a nutshell but have little time. Great experience in the plantations too.
Despite the heavy raining, it was an amazing day. My husband and I saw so many interesting places within a day! Our driver, Nivod is not only a professional driver with whom we felt perfectly safe, but he was also attentive, making sure he was fulfilling all our needs.
The guide Shamal was excellent, very polite, took amazing photos of me and my girlfriend, while also accomodating all our needs, and requests. Drive was very comfortable as well. He even bought us postcards in Ella. Tour in general is worth the money, because nothing was rushed and you can also pick your activities. Probably the only dissappointment was the famous train, but that was due to huge crowds, and rude guides who would take photos of people hanging on the door, through the window where we were enjoying the sights and trying to film ourselves. We were informed about the huge crowd by the guide, but we didn't expect that much people. We saw a lot of unexpected wild animals like buffalos, peacocks, monkeys without ever visiting the Safari as well. Tea plantation is also a must, because they will explain everything about tea picking and production, while also having a fun activity of picking the tea leaves ourselves, and tasting afterwards. All in all, a day well spent.
We loved our day trip to Ella with our guide Shamal. He was professional and very friendly and made sure the day ran smoothly. His car was very comfortable, with the AC making the long drive so much better! We loved the tea factory where we were learning how the tea is made and also the train ride across the iconic 9 arch bridge. Shamal was very accommodating and made sure we go to see everything we wanted to without rushing! Thanks Shamal 🙏🏽
The trip was perfectly organized. Our guide, Shalam, showed us all the most beautiful places in the area that we were eager to see. The entire journey took place in a friendly yet professional atmosphere. If you want to visit Ella and enjoy a wonderful day at the same time, this trip is the perfect choice for you
Great trip. Our tour guide Shamal was very kind, helpful and experienced. We were absolutely satisfied.