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View all Kandy toursKandy to Ella Transfer with Hill Country Stops and the Nanu Oya Train
A one-way journey from Kandy to Ella that turns the transfer into the day itself — Ramboda Falls, tea estates and Nuwara Eliya by road, then the hill-country train from Nanu Oya with your ticket already booked.
Highlights
- Stop at Ramboda Waterfall on the climb out of Kandy
- Visit a working tea estate and taste the leaf where it is grown
- Pass through Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's old colonial hill station
- Reserved train ticket from Nanu Oya on the famous hill-country line
- Private vehicle carries your luggage on to Ella so you board with nothing
Kandy to Ella Transfer with Hill Country Stops and the Nanu Oya Train: Key Facts
| Price | From $50.02 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 hours |
| Group size | Up to 6 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
The Kandy to Ella train is the ride everyone wants, and it is also the one people most often get wrong. The full run takes the better part of seven hours, seats sell out weeks ahead, and the best scenery sits in the last stretch. This trip solves that by splitting the day in two: you drive the upper section with a private vehicle and stop wherever it is worth stopping, then board the train at Nanu Oya for the part that actually earns its reputation.
The road out of Kandy climbs through the Ramboda pass, where the waterfall drops in stages beside the highway and the air changes noticeably as you gain height. Tea replaces jungle. You will pass estate factories where the leaf is still withered, rolled and graded much as it was when the British planted the hills in the 1800s, and there is time to stop and see how it works over a cup drunk where it is grown.
Nuwara Eliya still looks like the hill station the planters built — a racecourse, a post office in red brick, hedges and a cool damp that catches visitors off guard after the coast. From there it is a short hop to Nanu Oya station, where your reserved train ticket is waiting.
The train section runs through Ohiya and Haputale into Ella, along ledges cut into the hillsides with tea pickers working the slopes below. Doorways stay open, vendors move through with vadai and tea, and the carriages are usually full. It is the single most photographed rail journey in Sri Lanka for good reason.
Your driver takes your luggage on to Ella by road and meets the train, so you travel light. Expect a full eight-hour day door to door — this is a travel day with excellent scenery, not a lie-in. The trip ends in Ella, so book your onward night there.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Depart Kandy
Hotel pickup and the climb into the hills through the Ramboda pass.
Ramboda Falls and tea country
Photo stop at the waterfall and a visit to a working tea estate and factory.
Nuwara Eliya
Time in the old hill station before the short drive to Nanu Oya station.
Train to Ella
Board the reserved-seat train for the scenic run through Ohiya and Haputale into Ella.
Arrive Ella
Your driver meets the train with your luggage and drops you at your hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
[{"time": "07:00", "title": "Kandy hotel pickup", "description": "Bags loaded; the driver explains the plan for the day and the train timing."}, {"time": "09:30", "title": "Ramboda Waterfall", "description": "Roadside stop for photographs where the falls drop beside the highway."}, {"time": "10:30", "title": "Tea estate and factory", "description": "See withering, rolling and grading, then taste a cup on the estate."}, {"time": "12:00", "title": "Nuwara Eliya", "description": "Drive through the town — racecourse, colonial post office, Gregory Lake — with time to stretch and eat."}, {"time": "14:00", "title": "Nanu Oya station", "description": "Driver hands over your ticket and takes the luggage on by road."}, {"time": "14:30", "title": "Hill-country train", "description": "Roughly three hours through tea slopes, tunnels and hillside ledges to Ella."}, {"time": "17:30", "title": "Ella", "description": "Met at the station and transferred to your accommodation."}]
Includes
- Private air-conditioned vehicle from Kandy with English-speaking driver; reserved train ticket from Nanu Oya to Ella; hotel pickup in Kandy; luggage transfer to Ella by road; fuel, tolls and parking; bottled water.
Excludes
- Meals and drinks; tea factory entrance fee if charged; entrance fees at any optional stops; gratuities; accommodation in Ella.
Important information
Meeting point
Pickup from your hotel in Kandy; the driver will confirm the time the evening before.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
We had Dhanu, who was an excellent guide. He was flexible and knowledgeable about the areas he took us to. We definitely recommend travelling with him for a tour from Kandy to Ella.
Ramzan was a very good driver who got us to the train on time. He was fast and yet drove safely (we didn't want to leave until 9:00 AM, which in retrospect was perhaps a bit tight). But Ramzan managed to get us to the train on time. We stopped at a tea plantation and a waterfall along the way. With Eminem, he hit the nail on the head with our musical taste! Thank you for the great experience!
Malik was our driver, and we were super happy! The whole tour was very, very great. Unfortunately, we had a little rain in Nuwara Eliya, but it was still a very nice tour! We would really recommend it. Malik carefully picked us up from the hotel earlier as an add-on so that the day wouldn't be so packed, and so we had more time. The tea plantations and especially the tea factory were really beautiful and interesting! The viewpoints and the waterfall are great!:) Best of all: Malik gave it his all on the train to Ella and went through the crowd for us and reserved a seat for us, and he also got the tickets. His commitment and that of his colleague from Get You Guide was really unbelievably great!!! We are super happy!
Our guide Sanath was amazing and very helpful - he adjusted the trip to our preferences and we managed to see a lot of places and local areas. Thank you!
Mr. Danu took me by tuk-tuk to a scenic spot in the Nuwara area. I was very satisfied because I was able to see many beautiful tea plantations. He also helped me get from Nanuoya to the train, and he taught me how to get on, so I was able to get a good seat by the window and enjoy a ride with a spectacular view. Thank you very much. By the way, for those participating by tuk-tuk, the Nuwara area was quite cold, so a hoodie or similar is essential. Lol
Everything was fantastic. Sura was incredible - professional, attentive, kind and organized. The experience went beyond expectations and it was not something I could have handled myself without his assistance. Would recommend to all.
A truly unforgettable private tour! 😍🚗 We were lucky enough to have Ramzan Abdul as our driver. He was super kind, friendly, and helpful, and his cheerfulness made every moment even more special. He accompanied us to discover beautiful places, always with a smile and a lot of friendliness. With laughter, views, and many wonderful experiences, it was a really enjoyable and fun day! ❤️ Thank you so much for making our tour so wonderful. Absolutely recommended!
We had a wonderful day with our guide Danu. I would recommend it to my friends.
I experienced car sick and my driver help me to cope with my symptoms. He is very kind and understanding. He rearranged the activities base on our interests. The ride is very comfortable and nice.
Very good driver, he was super nice and gave us perfect explanations throughout the day. Also, he gave us a huge help to catch our train ! Thank you Dhanu !!