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View all Kandy toursElla Day Trip from Kandy via Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls and a Tea Factory
A long private day from Kandy through the tea country to Ella and back, taking in Ramboda Falls, the Bhakta Hanuman temple, a working tea factory, Nuwara Eliya and the Nine Arch bridge.
Highlights
- The full hill-country road from Kandy to Ella and back in one day
- Ramboda Falls and the Bhakta Hanuman Ramayana temple above it
- A working tea factory, from withering trough to tasting
- Colonial Nuwara Eliya at 1,900 metres
- The Nine Arch bridge at Ella, built in stone without steel
Ella Day Trip from Kandy via Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls and a Tea Factory: Key Facts
| Price | From $125 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 1 available option
Ella Day Tour from Kandy with a Tea Factory Visit
Full description
Ella is five hours from Kandy by road and doing it as a day trip means a long day — but the drive is the attraction rather than the price of it. The road climbs 1,400 metres through Gampola and Pussellawa, and about halfway up the forest gives way to tea and stays that way for the rest of the journey.
Ramboda Falls comes first, a 100-metre drop beside the road with a short walk to the base. The Bhakta Hanuman temple above it is a Ramayana site, one of a chain across the hill country associated with Hanuman's search for Sita, and it is busy with Indian pilgrims rather than tourists.
A working tea factory follows: the leaf from the withering trough through rolling, oxidation and firing to the grading table, in about forty-five minutes, ending with a cup. Then Nuwara Eliya, the hill station the British built at 1,900 metres, with its racecourse and its cold air.
Ella itself is the turning point. There is time for the Nine Arch bridge — a 30-metre stone viaduct built without steel during the First World War, reached on a twenty-minute walk down through tea — and for Ravana Falls on the way in. Then the long drive back, arriving in Kandy in the evening.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Pickup in Kandy
An early start for a long day.
Ramboda Falls and Hanuman temple
The falls and the Ramayana temple above them.
Tea factory
The process from leaf to grading, with a tasting.
Nuwara Eliya
The lake, the town and the colonial buildings.
Ella
The Nine Arch bridge and Ravana Falls.
Return drive
The long road back through the hills.
Kandy
Drop-off at your hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
Hotel pickup
Ten to twelve hours door to door. Sleep on the first leg.
Ramboda
The falls are a short walk from the road; the temple is above, shoes off at the entrance.
Tea estate and factory
Factories close on poya days, when an estate walk replaces the tour.
Nuwara Eliya
Gregory Lake, the post office and the racecourse are all close together.
Ella
The Nine Arch bridge is a twenty-minute walk down through tea. Trains cross roughly every two hours.
Drive back
Four to five hours, mostly in the dark on the later stretch.
Kandy
Drop-off at your hotel.
Includes
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, hotel pickup and drop-off in Kandy, all driving and stops on the route, fuel and parking.
Excludes
- Entrance fees at the tea factory or any site that charges, meals and drinks, gratuities, personal expenses.
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in Kandy; the exact address and time are confirmed after booking.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
The friendly and calm driver Menuka did take me to the attraction in an efficient and safe way. There where no problems to suit the tour for my special needs. I had a great day.
It was great, the tour guide was professional and fun. The tour is a bit exhausting, it starts at 6 am which means you wake up at least 30 mins earlier and it ends around 8 pm but it was worth every single mins The tour has a lot of activities and covering all taste Climbing, outdoor activities like zip lining, nature sightseeing waterfalls and lakes, the incredible nature beauty is everywhere Tea factory and observing the full process of making a tea The famous 9 arch bridge is truly a masterpiece
Had a great tour with Malshan. He was very relaxed, supportive and funny while hiking the little Adam’s peak and down to the bridge. Enjoyed the day a lot even though we started very early (6am) in the morning. Had nice chats, felt very well taken care of and got interesting information about the country and the people. You’re lucky when you’re able to do that trip with Malshan. The only minus would be the organisational part before the trip as the overall prize I had to pay was too expensive from my point of view and the last minute time change the night before was also a bit too late. (Start was supposed to be 8am and at 11pm the night before I got the email that it will start at 6am)
We had the pleasure of meeting our guide Mohamed over three different itineraries. On this particular day, because of the intense rainfall from the prior day, Mohamed found alternatives to make up the inability to reach the Ambuluwawa Tower due to the landslide such as to see the Royal Tuskers. As our main goal for the day was to visit the Tea Plantation we were very satisfied and we were grateful for Mohamed to help us with personal chores such as navigating laundry services and such. Thank you Mohamed.
We had a very nice day with Induwara! He took us to the Ambuluwawa tower, the herbal en spicy garden, tea factory and de Kandy viewpoint. He was very polite and friendly. He made our day!
This tour was fun! We had a chilled ride to the tower and saw a lot of places on the way. Iduwara made sure I was happy and feeling good. He told informations about Kandy and near areas. He even went with me to the tower and all the way up. :D I can really recommend this tour
Jehan is an excellent guide with great knowledge on Sri Lankan culture and nature. He really goes the extra mile to make sure his guests are happy.
Sachintha was a very nice and very safely driver. He asked us at the beginning of the tour what we actually want to do. We decided to visit the Tower, the Spice and Herbs Garden and the Tea factory. The tower ist really pretty, the Garden and the Tea factory were interesting. You have the Chance to buy at all places Sri Lankan made goods. At the end of the tour we asked Sachintha If he could drop us of at the Kandy City Marked. He was so lovely to wait for us and drove us back to the hotel afterwards, which was awesome because it was raining cats and dogs.