How to get fromElla to Nuwara Eliya

4 ways to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya

The 4 ways to travel the distance of 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Ella to Nuwara Eliya are by: bus (2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours), Shared minivan (1 hour 30 minutes), taxi (2 hours) and train (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours and the quickest way is by shared minivan. The lowest priced tickets start from 70 LKR ($0.20) for the bus.

When travelling by bus from Ella to Nuwara Eliya, you can choose between a local ordinary bus or a tourist bus. Below, we give you more details so you can decide which one is best for you.

The local bus is the cheapest way to travel from Ella to Nuwara Eliya at only 70 LKR ($0.20). However, it is worth noting that the only direct buses available are ordinary buses with wooden seats. They are not the most comfortable mode of transport for a journey of 3 hours, but the open windows and scenic views might make it worth it.

Bus #31 also has limited trips daily, so we suggest you ask your hotel for assistance on what time they will pass by Ella. Your last stop is at Nuwara Eliya Main Bus Station in the city centre.

If you’re not up for a 3-hour journey on a wooden seat, you can also travel via tourist bus for 3,610 LKR ($12.10). Travel time is 2h 45m, but it can take longer depending on traffic.

Brown Tours operates buses for this route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

• Departs at 14:10 from 39 Passara Road, Ambagollapathana, at Ella city centre
• Arrives at 16:55 at No. 01 Glenfall Road at Nuwara Eliya city centre

A minivan ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya costs around 4,030 LKR ($13.50). The minivan journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

On this route, Magical Sri Lanka includes stops at two popular tourist attractions: Ashok Vatika Hindu Temple and Seetha Amman Kovil Hindu Temple. You’ll have 5-20 minutes to explore each site.

They also offer free hotel pickup and drop-off, saving you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.

Shared Minivan options from Ella to Nuwara Eliya

The train ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya is the most scenic train route in Sri Lanka, followed closely by the route from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. It is a short journey at just 2.5 hours, so make the most of it by enjoying this beautiful view from the window or by catching the fresh winds while hanging out of the wagon (be careful though!).

Sri Lanka Railways offers several trips a day and if you’re lucky, you can buy a 1st class ticket for 1,000 LKR ($3.40) on the day of your trip at the train station. However, we recommend booking a slightly cheaper reserved 2nd class seat for the ultimate experience. Second-class cabins are not air-conditioned, but you can open the windows to let the fresh breeze in.

Tickets for reserved seats often sell out fast, especially for this famous route. If you really want to secure a good seat, we recommend booking a ticket online at least a month before your trip. Ticket prices start at 4,680 LKR ($15.70) when you book with BookAway.

PRO TIP: For the best views, take a seat on the left side of the train when leaving Ella and while nearing haputale, keep your eye on the right side.

The train departs from Ella Railway Station in the city centre and arrives at Nanu Oya Railway Station, 10 km west of Nuwara Eliya city centre.

From Nanu Oya, you have two options to get to the city centre: a tuk-tuk for 500 LKR ($1.70) or a bus for 20 LKR ($0.10). Tuk-tuks are easily available outside the train station. To take the bus, you have to walk about 50 m to the nearest bus stop, where buses pass by every 20 to 30 minutes. Travel time to the centre is about 20 minutes.

You can check the train schedules below and book your tickets up to 30 days before your travel date with the table below.

You can get a taxi from Ella to Nuwara Eliya for around 6,000 LKR ($20) via Uber, but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability. If you’re hoping to find the cheapest rates, you can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo. But, unfortunately, these apps have limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.

On the off chance that none of the above options is available, you can also book a taxi via BookAway for 11,000 LKR ($38).

Taxi options from Ella to Nuwara Eliya