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Tea bushes covering a misty hillside, dotted with tall shade trees
Nature · Hill country

Nuwara Eliya tea country and the train to Ella

Two days in the hill country: tea estates and waterfalls on the way to Nuwara Eliya, then the hill-country train to Ella and the Nine Arches Bridge.

Duration
2 days, 1 night
Pickup
Pickup from your hotel or home in Colombo; Negombo on request
Group
Private car for your group; shared train carriage
Languages
English and Sinhala; Tamil on request
Cancellation
Free up to 7 days before pickup
Confirmation
Within a day, once the hotel and train seats are checked
  • A blue train crossing the Nine Arches Bridge through thick forest near Ella
  • Rows of tea bushes under tall shade trees on a hill estate
  • A traveller sitting on a rock looking out at the green hills around Ella
  • Ella Rock and the forested ridges of the hill country under clouds

Highlights

  • Tea estates and a tea factory visit with a tasting
  • St Clair’s and Devon Falls on the road up
  • A night in cool Nuwara Eliya, by Gregory Lake
  • The hill-country train from Nanu Oya to Ella
  • The Nine Arches Bridge in the forest near Ella

Why you’ll love it

  • The hill-country train

    Three to four hours from Nanu Oya to Ella through tea estates, tunnels and forest, on one of the island’s most scenic lines.

  • Tea from leaf to cup

    A working tea factory shows each stage, from withering to drying, and ends with a cup of fresh tea.

  • Your bags go by road

    Ride the train with just a day bag: your driver takes the luggage round by road and meets you at Ella.

  • A cool night in the hills

    Nuwara Eliya sits almost 1,900 metres up, a cool change from the coast, with Gregory Lake and red-brick colonial buildings.

How the tour runs

  1. Day 1, 6:00 am

    Pickup

    We collect you from your hotel or home in Colombo and head for the hills through Kitulgala and Hatton.

  2. Day 1, 11:30 am

    Waterfalls

    Photo stops at St Clair’s Falls and Devon Falls, above the tea estates near Talawakele.

  3. Day 1, 1:00 pm

    Tea factory

    Lunch at your own expense, then a tour of a working tea factory, from withering to rolling and drying, with a cup of fresh tea at the end.

  4. Day 1, 4:00 pm

    Nuwara Eliya

    Check in at your hotel, then walk by Gregory Lake and past the town’s red-brick post office. Dinner at the hotel.

  5. Day 2, morning

    Train to Ella

    Board the hill-country train at Nanu Oya for a ride of about 3 to 4 hours through tea estates and forest, past Pattipola, the highest station on the line.

  6. Day 2, 1:00 pm

    Ella

    Your driver meets you at Ella station. Lunch at your own expense in the village.

  7. Day 2, 2:30 pm

    Nine Arches Bridge

    A short walk through the forest to the colonial-era Nine Arches Bridge, and a wait for a train to cross if the timing works.

  8. Day 2, 4:00 pm

    Return to Colombo

    Drive back to Colombo, about 6 hours with a dinner stop, and drop-off at your hotel or home late in the evening.

What’s included

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off in Colombo
  • Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver guide for both days
  • One night in a comfortable hotel in Nuwara Eliya, with dinner and breakfast
  • Reserved train seats from Nanu Oya to Ella, when available
  • Tea factory visit

Not included

  • Lunches, and dinner on day 2
  • Personal expenses and tips

Good to know

What to bring

  • Warm layers and a light rain jacket
  • Comfortable shoes for the path to the Nine Arches Bridge
  • A small overnight bag
  • Travel sickness tablets for the winding roads
  • Cash for lunches, snacks on the train and tips

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users (train steps and forest paths)
  • People who find long car journeys hard (5 to 6 hours each way)

Know before you go

  • Trains on the hill line often run late, so the times on day 2 can shift by an hour or more.
  • Nights in Nuwara Eliya are cold, especially from December to February.
  • Mist and rain can come in at any time of year in the hills.
  • The roads up to the hills are narrow and winding: if you get car sick, take a tablet before setting off.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 7 days before pickup. From then until 48 hours before, the hotel night and train tickets are charged; after that, and for no-shows, the full price is charged. If the train is cancelled, your driver takes you to Ella by road and we refund the train fare.

Questions

Why is this a two-day trip?

Nuwara Eliya is about 5 hours from Colombo by road and Ella about 6, so a single day would be spent mostly in the car. Staying the night lets you see the tea country properly and take the train for one of its most scenic stretches.

What if the train is full?

Reserved seats on this line sell out early, especially in the holiday season, so book as soon as you can. If they are gone, you can ride in unreserved second class, or your driver can take you on to Ella by road.

What should we pack?

Warm layers. Nuwara Eliya sits at almost 1,900 metres and the nights can be cold. A light rain jacket helps too.

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