here is the perfect way to spend your time in ella
Ella will without a doubt be top of your list during your visit to Sri Lanka. It can be a journey to get there (a beautiful one at that), so here’s how you can make the most of your visit.
Day 1
For ease, we’ll count this as your first full day. Generally speaking, people visit Ella from Kandy. This train ride, while worth it, is a long one! Most people arrive into Ella during the evening.
Begin your day with a visit to Little Adam’s Peak. From the main street to the peak is about a 45 minute walk to the top. Take the turn off the main street at the tourist information centre and the walk up is very well signposted from there. There is nothing little about these indescribable views you get at the top. Go early in the morning and bring plenty of water to combat the heat!
Enjoy the Main street and chill at one of the great Cafés. You’ll deserve it after exerting yourself all morning. Our favourites were Rainbow Café, Café Chill, and Café Samsara and Kiri Kopi.
Head back to your accommodation and shower- a no brainer, but its always good to factor in time for this during the day; a lot of people stay a bit outside Ella town.
Take a cooking class in the evening. We took a class at Ella Spice Garden and it was one of the best things we did on our trip. Very well organised, fun, and incredible food. The owner will give you a tour of the spice garden from which you get ingredients for your cooking. Best of all, you get to eat your dinner here! You will be stuffed.
Have a drink in Café Chill. This place is always buzzing during the evening and has a great atmosphere.
Day 2
See the waterfalls. Ella’s scenery is some of the best we’ve ever seen. Ravana Waterfall is a 15 minute drive from the main town and is absolutely breath-taking. You can get there and back using the local bus for a very affordable price. There is no particular timetable but they were very frequent and went along the main road out past the waterfall. Taking a tuktuk is also an option, but will set you back a bit more money. Kuda Ravana Ella is another one worth seeing. Easily walkable from the Kithalella Railway station, but be sure to ask a local or your homestay host how to get there- we tried a few ways ourselves and failed!
After having lunch at one of the spots at the main street, you can head to see the Famous Nine Arch Bridge. Take the same turn at the Tourist Information Centre and its a 40 minute walk. You walk through forest to get to the bridge itself, but its relatively well signposted, and there will no doubt be others walking to the same destination. We also recommend seeing the bridge from a viewpoint. These can be tricky to find- we found Asanka Cafe. The owner and his son were so friendly, and we got to enjoy a refreshing drink with an incredible view!
By now, I’m sure you’re ready to collapse after all of the activity! We recommend enjoying a well-deserved dinner at the town. There are countless good spots to eat and drink here.
Day 3
Personally, we used the third day to relax and to enjoy the views and good energy Ella has to offer. A day café-hopping is a great way to come down from all the activity and adventure from the few days beforehand.
Optional Activities
Ravana Pool Club is a stop on the way up to Little Adam’s Peak. The views are incredible, but of course it’s overpriced as places like this usually are. We didn’t visit but if you do, head early in the morning to enjoy before it gets too crowded. This trail to the peak also has a Zipline- perfect if you want to end your trip with a thrill!
Climbing Ella Rock is something on many people’s itineraries for Ella. In all honesty, we were too exhausted to climb it during our trip! As its a much harder climb, you may wish to go with an organised group or tour, such as this well-rated one from Viator. From what we know, its a lot more challenging than Little Adam’s Peak and we recommend climbing at dawn to ensure you beat the heat!
Ravana Pool Club is a stop on the way up to Little Adam’s Peak. The views are incredible, but of course it’s overpriced as places like this usually are. We didn’t visit but if you do, head early in the morning to enjoy before it gets too crowded. This trail to the peak also has a Zipline- perfect if you want to end your trip with a thrill!
Many people come to Ella to visit a Tea plantation and factory. Lipton has plantations across the whole of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, they still have a reputation for underpaying their workers. We recommend asking your homestay host about more local and independent plantations you can visit. Most walks around Ella such as the one to Little Adam’s Peak will give you great views of these plantations if you wish to view them.
Another Top Tip for Ella
Ella, as busy as it is, is quite remote and can be tricky to get around due to its mountainous terrain. We recommend asking your homestay host for a tuk-tuk’s WhatsApp number to have in case you need it. We used this Tuk-Tuk service and found it extremely reliable! You can discuss fares to and from your accommodation at the beginning so you won’t have to worry about being overcharged each time.