How to get from Ella to Kandy
What are the 4 ways to travel from Ella to Kandy?
There are 4 ways to travel the 140 kilometre (87 miles) distance from Ella to Kandy. You can choose between the bus, minivan, taxi and train*. The journey takes 3 to 7 hours and the quickest way is by taxi. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train* with tickets starting at 4,670 LKR ($15).
Ella to Kandy by Train*
*Important Update: The last time we checked (March 2026), the Ella to Kandy train route was still not fully operational following the railway disruption caused by Cyclone Ditwah. We recommend travelling to Ella by minivan or private car instead.
The train journey from Ella to Kandy is among the most beautiful in the world, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself with a lot of competition at the train station. This is going to be a very busy journey, with both locals and tourists trying to get a seat.
This is why we highly recommend booking a train ticket online, and you have to do that at least one month before your trip. Tickets for this route sell out really fast, and you’ll want to buy them before other travel agencies do.
If you miss that deadline, you can still try to buy reserved tickets at the train station even a few days before your trip, but don’t get your hopes up.
Although more expensive than local rates, online booking is your best bet for good train seats. Tickets start at 4,670 LKR ($15) when you book via BookAway.
Trains depart from Ella Railway Station and arrive at Kandy Railway Station, both located in the city centre.
PRO TIP: This route is beautiful anywhere you look, but if you are free in choosing which side to sit, go for the left side when travelling from Ella to Kandy.
Train schedules from Ella to Kandy
We recommend booking your tickets online through BookAway. Their site is intuitive, provides a clear picture of what you can expect, and offers great customer service. If you’re eyeing the best deals, you might occasionally find slightly cheaper tickets on 12Go.Asia.
Viceroy II
If you’re looking for a more luxurious train journey, you can book a seat with Viceroy II. This is a vintage train carriage that will take you back to Sri Lanka’s colonial era. Note that it is fully air-conditioned and not for those who prefer an open-air adventure.
Luxury doesn’t come cheap though, and the Viceroy II is among the most expensive options when travelling by train on the island. But it does offer plush seats, unlimited wi-fi, warm lighting, and a fully-stocked bar. You might want to bring your own food and drinks though as their rates are quite expensive. Overall, you are ensured of a very comfortable journey.
Viceroy II operates from Ella to Kandy on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Departs at 11:57 from Ella Railway Station in the city centre
- Arrives at 18:15 at Peradeniya, a suburb located west of Kandy’s city centre
- Tickets cost 6,700 LKR ($21.50). You can book your Viceroy II ticket via 12go.Asia or through the link below.
Unreserved seats
Your last option is to buy tickets for unreserved seats. These are available at the station on the day of your trip. Tickets for a 3rd class seat cost 125 LKR ($0.40) while 2nd class seats cost 310 LKR ($1). Unreserved tickets are unlimited so buying one should be easy.
Your main concern will be getting an actual seat in these jam-packed trains. If you’re not quick enough, there’s a great chance you’ll be standing for a huge part of this 6 to 7-hr journey.
You can find other train schedules beforehand on the Sri Lanka Railways website.
Ella to Kandy by Bus
There are very few direct intercity buses operating from Ella to Kandy. The few ones are ordinary buses that often get stuck in traffic and make too many stops along the way.
For these reasons, we recommend travelling with Brown Tours for this route. They offer 1 trip from Ella to Kandy daily. They use tourist buses, so you can expect them to be air-conditioned with reclining seats, good legroom, and charging sockets.
Travel time with the tourist bus is around 5 hours and a ticket costs 5,600 LKR ($17.90). It’s quite expensive, but much better than standing on the train for 6 hours. You can easily reserve a bus seat through BookAway. Just click the link below.
- Departs 14:00 from Oak Ray Hotel at Passara Rd. in Ella city centre
- Arrives 19:00 at Nishantha Wood Carvings along Peradeniya Road, west of Kandy city centre
Ella to Kandy by Minivan
Taking a shared tourist minivan from Ella to Kandy costs about 10,000 LKR ($32.50), with the journey lasting around 3 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours, depending on traffic.
Magical Sri Lanka and Tuktukdude Leisure runs this route and makes things easy by offering free hotel pickup and drop-off — no need to stress about finding your way to busy bus or train stations.
The best part? The minivan stops at several must-see tourist spots for 5 to 20 minutes each, so you can snap some photos and enjoy the views.
Here are the highlights:
- Ramboda Waterfalls
- Ramboda Falls View Point
- Tea Estate and Tea Factory
- The famous Red Post Office in Nuwara Eliya
- Gregory Park Lake, Nuwara Eliya
- Ashok Vatika Hindu Temple
- Seetha Amman Kovil Hindu Temple
Minivan options from Ella to Kandy
Ella to Kandy by Taxi
The taxi is the most expensive yet quickest way to reach Ella to Kandy. You can rent one via BookAway for 22,000 LKR ($71).
You also have an option to book with Uber from 10,000 LKR ($32), but we can’t guarantee their availability in Ella. Other options with possibly cheaper rates are PickMe and TaxiGo, although they also have very limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.
Taxi options from Ella to Kandy
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Ella to Kandy. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Ella to Kandy
What is the distance from Ella to Kandy?
The distance from Ella to Kandy is 140 kilometre (87 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Ella to Kandy?
The fastest way to get from Ella to Kandy is by taxi and takes 3 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Ella to Kandy?
The cheapest way to get from Ella to Kandy is by train* with ticket costs starting from 4,670 LKR ($15).
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
