Train in Ella, Sri Lanka Nine Arch Bridge

Sri Lanka Ella

How to get from Kandy to Ella

In this in-depth route guide, you can compare the best ways to travel the 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Kandy to Ella. Our team of indpendent travel experts researched each route — breaking down each option by travel time, price, and comfort. Plus, we’ll share the best booking options to help you get the best deal.

Written by Maarten - Trip Planning ExpertReviewed by Ela - Senior Travel WriterLast updated: November 11, 2024

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What are the 4 ways to travel from Kandy to Ella?

There are 4 ways to travel the 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Kandy to Ella. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan, taxi and train. The journey takes 4 to 10 hours and the quickest way is by taxi. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 3,640 LKR ($12.10).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Bus

4h 50m

From 3,640 LKR ($12.10)

Book Tickets

Train

6-10h

From 3,870 LKR ($12.90)

Book Tickets

Shared Minivan

From 9,100 LKR ($30)

Book Tickets

Taxi

From 20,000 LKR ($68)

Book Tickets

Where to stay in Ella?

Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Ella at the bottom of this page.

Kandy to Ella by Bus

Duration: 4h 50m

Costs: 3,640 LKR ($12.10)

Duration: 4h 50m

Costs: 3,640 LKR ($12.10)

There are no direct intercity buses operating from Kandy to Ella. But Brown Tours offers bus trips on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

They’re a bit more expensive than taking the train and costs 3,640 LKR ($12.10). Still, taking the bus is a good alternative if you don’t want to risk standing on the train for 6 hours.

Also, Brown Tours can bring you from Kandy to Ella in less than 5 hours, that’s an hour faster than taking the train. You can easily reserve a bus seat through the link below.

Departs at 08:00 from 702 Peradeniya Road, west of Kandy city centre
Arrives 12:50 at 39 Passara Road, Ambagollapathana, at Ella city centre

Check Bus Tickets

Kandy to Ella by Train

Duration: 6-10h

Costs: 3,870 LKR ($12.90)

Duration: 6-10h

Costs: 3,870 LKR ($12.90)

The train ride from Kandy to Ella is the most beautiful in Sri Lanka. It is also the busiest. Aside from locals, many tourists compete for highly-coveted seats on this famous route.

Booking your train ticket online will secure you a seat, but bear in mind that you need to book train tickets in Sri Lanka at least one month before your trip, when you book them online.

Although it is often still possible to book your tickets a few days in advance at the railway station, they might be sold out. If you miss the chance of booking a reserved ticket, be prepared to stand a part of this 6-hour journey. You can get a 2nd class unreserved ticket for 310 LKR ($1).

Online tickets start from 3,870 LKR ($12.90). They are more expensive, but worth it if you want to be assured of a good seat. First-class cabins are air-conditioned and ticket prices start from 6,700 LKR ($22). If you prefer open windows for your photo ops, you can go for second-class cabins at 5,200 LKR ($17.50).

Trains depart from Kandy Railway Station and arrive at Ella Railway Station. Both stations are in the city centre.

PRO TIP: This route is beautiful anywhere you look, but if you are free to choose which side to sit on, go for the right side when travelling from Kandy to Ella.

Train schedules from Kandy to Ella

Kandy

Observation Class

Ella Badulla

03:30

9h 59m

13:29

Sri Lanka Railway

3,870 LKR ($12.90)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy Train Station

Third Class Reserved Seats

Ella Train Station

08:53

14:53

11:03

17:03

Sri Lanka Railways

4,500 LKR ($15)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy Train Station

Second Class Reserved Seats

Ella Train Station

08:53

14:53

11:03

17:03

Sri Lanka Railways

5,200 LKR ($17.50)

Get Your Tickets

Peradeniya Train Station (Kandy)

Panoramic

Ella Train Station

12:25

19:25

Sri Lanka Railways

6,200 LKR ($21)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy

Second Class Reserved Seats

Ella

08:13

6h 28m

14:41

Sri Lanka Railway

6,400 LKR ($21)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy Train Station

First Class

Ella Train Station

08:46

15:46

11:00

18:00

22:00

05:00

Sri Lanka Railways

6,700 LKR ($22)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy

Second Class Reserved Seats

Ella Badulla

08:13

7h 40m

15:53

Sri Lanka Railway

7,700 LKR ($26)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy

First Class

Ella

08:13

6h 28m

14:41

Sri Lanka Railway

9,000 LKR ($30)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy Train Station

Second Class

Ella Train Station

08:10

14:10

Ella Odyssey

10,000 LKR ($34)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy

First Class

Ella Badulla

08:13

7h 40m

15:53

Sri Lanka Railway

10,000 LKR ($34)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy Train Station

First Class

Ella Train Station

08:10

14:10

Ella Odyssey

12,000 LKR ($39)

Get Your Tickets

Show 6 more operator(s)

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

Another train option which is only available on 12Go.Asia is the more luxurious Viceroy II. It is not as adventurous as a 2nd class train but it is a scenic ride all the same.

Be prepared that Viceroy II costs twice the amount of a 1st class cabin from the regular Sri Lankan Railway train.

In return, you will get an air-conditioned train, soft seats, wi-fi on-board, and pleasant lighting, reassuring you will have a very comfortable 6-hour journey. It also has a fully-stocked bar, but as drinks are a quite expensive, think of bringing your own food and drinks for the journey.

Viceroy II operates from Kandy to Ella on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Departs at 12:35 from Peradeniya, a suburb located west of Kandy’s city centre
Arrives at 18:27 at Ella Railway Station in the city centre
Tickets cost 7,300 LKR ($24). You can book your Viceroy II ticket via 12go.Asia or in the link below.

Unreserved seats

If you missed all changes to book a reserved seat, you can also buy a ticket for an unreserved seat from Kandy to Ella at the train station on the day of your trip. You can find the exact schedules beforehand on the Sri Lanka Railways website.

Tickets for a 3rd class seat cost 125 LKR ($0.40) while 2nd class seats cost 230 LKR ($0.80). These are unlimited so buying a ticket should be easy enough.

PRO TIP: For the best chances to get a seat, consider to board the train one station before Kandy, which is Kadugannawa. A lot of passengers are expected to get off in Kandy and when they do, you will be able to get their seats before the mass of passengers in Kandy Station get inside the train.

Kandy to Ella by Shared Minivan

Duration: 5h

Costs: 9,100 LKR ($30)

Duration: 5h

Costs: 9,100 LKR ($30)

Magical Sri Lanka offers minivan transfers from Kandy to Ella with a unique twist—stopping at seven tourist spots along the way!

You’ll get 5-20 minutes to explore each of these locations:

Ramboda Waterfalls
Ramboda Falls View Point
Tea Estate and Tea Factory
Red Post Office in Nuwara Eliya
Gregory Park Lake in Nuwara Eliya
Ashok Vatika Hindu Temple
Seetha Amman Kovil Hindu Temple

The trip costs around 9,100 LKR ($30) and includes free hotel pickup and drop-off. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.

Shared Minivan options from Kandy to Ella

Kandy - Any hotel

Scenic

Ella - Any hotel

07:00

12:00

Magical Sri Lanka

9,100 LKR ($30)

Get Your Tickets

Kandy to Ella by Taxi

Duration: 4h

Costs: 20,000 LKR ($68)

Duration: 4h

Costs: 20,000 LKR ($68)

The taxi from Kandy to Ella will cost around 20,000 LKR ($68). You can order one online on BookAway or use one of the taxi apps.

Ordering a taxi with Uber costs less at around 10,000 LKR ($33), but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability.

If you want to do everything in order to find the cheapest rate, you can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo, but unfortunately, these apps have very limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.

Taxi options from Kandy to Ella

Standard

Standard Car 2 PAX

Price per person = 10,000 LKR ($34)

Magical Sri Lanka

20,000 LKR ($68)

Get Your Tickets

Standard

Standard Minivan 5 PAX

Price per person = 7,600 LKR ($25)

Magical Sri Lanka

38,000 LKR ($125)

Get Your Tickets

Best places to stay in Ella

Will Guest Homestay - Budget Friendly

An exceptional homestay with stunning mountain views. You will feel right at home here with the friendly and welcoming staff. Bike and car rentals are available on-site and breakfast is included with your stay.

The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the views are absolutely breathtaking. You won’t want to check out of this homestay!

Breathtaking mountain views
Breakfast included
Clean and comfortable
Extremely friendly and helpful staff

Private room starts at $23 per night

Check Available Rooms

Frequently Asked Questions about Kandy to Ella

What is the distance from Kandy to Ella?

The distance from Kandy to Ella is 140 kilometers (87 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Kandy to Ella?

The fastest way to get from Kandy to Ella is by taxi and takes 4 hours.

What is the cheapest way to get from Kandy to Ella?

The cheapest way to get from Kandy to Ella is by bus with ticket costs starting from 3,640 LKR ($12.10).

Rounding it up

We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Kandy to Ella. 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!

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About the author(s)

Maarten

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

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.