The chillest town in Sri Lanka: Ella.

There are tons of beach-goers running to this part of Sri Lanka to experience a cosy stay in a lush green setting and taste authentic Sri Lankan food.

Honestly, I had some of the best food in Sri Lanka here. If you love coffee plantations, cool weather, hiking and exploring hidden and random trails, Ella is quite the place to be.

At first glance, the stunning Instagram cafes reminded me of Thailand as it kinda has a similar vibe going on when you think of Pai or Chiang Mai.

But as you peel the layers; it’s crazy how this little town blends nature and tradition so well. Ella comes from the Sinhala word called ‘waterfall’. It essentially means waterfalls and is basically known for the Ravana Ella falls which are located in the surrounding areas.

Some are hard to get to but some can be easily arranged with a Tuk-Tuk.

All in all Ella sometimes felt a little like a tourist bubble — and I think 3 days was just the perfect amount of time to explore this part of Sri Lanka.

Here are some of the best things to do in Ella on your itinerary if you have three days to spare.

Firstly, How To Get To Ella

here’s what to do in ella: first hop on the train from kandy to ella or nuwara eliya to ella

If you’re coming by train, the best way is to hop on the Kandy to Ella train ride. You can absolutely book your tickets in advance at the railway website OR have it taken care by a tour agent who helps you book the first class ticket.

If you’re coming from the beaches like Mirissa to Ella, the easiest way is to ofcourse get a car or taxi to take you which will take around 3.5 hours as it covers 172 km. There’s even a private transfer option that takes you straight from Mirissa to Ella and the Yala National park.

You could also check for shuttle connections from 12Go.Asia.

Also Read: The Kandy To Ella Train Experience: Why Start From Nuwara Eliya Instead?

Where I stayed in Ella

For the most home-cooked meals and a private verandah. Stay in Ella Silloam

a really cosy space to stay if you’re on a budget in ella

We stayed here and the host was so lovely — making homemade meals for us and even arranging transportation or cooking classes if you need. The internet was super fast and if you want a nice place to chill without bursting your budget, this is the spot.

For the luxurious ones who want to live it up. Stay at Tea Cabins or Nine Skies

the wonderful tea cabins of ella (PC: tea cabins)

The Tea Cabins and Nine Skies are some of the most dreamiest places to stay in Ella. You can laze on the terrace lounge or jump in the pool and gaze at the jungle mountain. It is truly that breathtaking.

Other awesome places to stay:

What I did in Sri Lanka: The Best Things To Do

1. Visit the 9 Arches Bridge and hike to the viewpoint

visit the 9 arches bridge — one of the best things to do in ella

The 9 arches bridge is the most defining factor of Sri Lanka. There are multiple paths to get to this place. Some of them is a view from the above as you wait for the train to pass, and another is a hike through the jungle to view the 9 arches bridge.

This is a beautiful trail to the train tracks that so easily accessible from Ella town. You can start from here. It takes about 15-20 minutes to hike to the track and it is far better than getting a TukTuk.

A bit of information: The Nine Arch Bridge is also known as the Demodara Bridge. Where does it get its name from? This is because of the nine stone arches.

The bridge was built during the British colonial era and is an impressive example of engineering from that time.

2. Have the best brunch with rooftoop views of the bridge at Cafe Soul Ella & Asanka Cafe

entering asanka cafe - the next best spot to view the 9 arches bridge

Now that you’ve visited the actual bridge — this was another off the beaten path to get a stunning bird’s eye view of the train.

The best way is to just follow the route towards Asanka Cafe & Cafe Soul Ella.

A cheap option is at Asanka where you can come early at 6am and have some nice eggs on toast and drinks.

For a sit-down brunch with some windswept views, go further and chill at Cafe Soul Ella. Try the coconut honey pancakes and enjoy the views without the crowds.

3. Diyaluma waterfalls

Diyaluma waterfalls is one of the most stunning falls that’s not touristy at all. It is the second highest in Sri Lanka from what I heard. It is one hour away from Ella — you could hop on a tuk-tuk to get here or ride a motorbike.

Alternatively, you can take a bus from Ella to Wellawaya and then a bus to the waterfall. It's less than 600 lkr for the whole trip.

There is an entrance fee of 350 lkr when entering and you could opt for a guide. But I think there’s no need to get one. Download maps.me and use it to navigate.

Most people start at the top and go down to the lowest point where the view is so stunningly beautiful. There are little pools to swim around and it was serenely magical.

4. Ravana Falls

I would say this is the more touristy part of Ella because it is accessible and directly facing the highway. The fact that it is 5km from Ella is probably the only reason to visit Ravana falls.

I mean there’s a steel viewing deck now for photos. And some people are seen bathing at the bottom.

But the place is unfortunately untidy because of garbage thrown by visitors and it is not as serene as what you’d imagine it to be.

5. Climb Little Adam’s Peak

climb little adam’s peak — i am literally enveloped by mist

If you can’t get to the famous Adam’s Peak (which by the way is very crowded), the Little Adam’s Peak is equally beautiful.

Here’s the kicker: the trek starts near the Ravana pool club and some Instagram stunts that makes it look like it’s not a real trek and all.

Soon the terrain changes with stairs and it starts feeling like a real hike towards the end. There’s even a second peak you can reach by climbing down and up towards a narrow ridge.

We saw a few monks doing that and thought it would have been worthwhile to do it if you had more daylight hours. The best time to be here is at sunrise and sunset.

The hike is really not long just 25 minutes but the views are spendidly beautiful! In fact, much better than Big Ella Rock.

6. Hike Ella Rock Viewpoint

hike ella rock’s viewpoint - a great way to burn those calories

If you want a total body challenge, it is absolutely worth climbing the Ella Rock. It takes around 3-5 hours and it is moderately challenging trek with a total of 10km round trip. This is the gpx file route.

The trail is relatively flat initially along railway line but once you leave the track it starts to climb and becomes quite steep.

There are lots of natural steps such as rocks and roots but you need to watch your footing on the way down.

There is a fee to pay at the top in order to see the great views like 1000 LKR. The trail can also be infested with leeches during rainy season.

7. Taste Ceylon Tea at the Kinellan Tea Factory

In Sri Lanka, it is considered incomplete if you have not visited a tea factory. This Kinellan Tea Factory in Ella town is perfect and easy to get to — you get to see how they pack tea, meet the ladies who pluck the tea leaves and sample so many different types.

Getting a tea packet here is also really cheap. It is just 400 rupees for 100 grams of tea.

The entry for the tour is around 1500 LKR per person.

What was shocking to learn is that the minimum daily wage for Sri Lanka’s tea workers his about USD 4.5 per day. On average, a tea plucker gets USD 112 a month which is crazy!

I guess savoring the tea becomes a little bittersweet when you know the story behind it.

It’s hard to fully appreciate a cup without thinking of the people who made it possible, often working long hours in tough conditions for very little pay.

8. Take a day trip to Udawalawe National Park

a day trip to udawale national park if you’re in ella

It is about two hours away from Ella but this guided trip takes you to the national park and the elephant safari.

You can also see spot crocodiles (swimming around looking for their next prey), different kinds of birds, buffalos and monkeys.

There’s another national park like Yala National Park if you’d like to visit it as well but from what I heard it tends to get a bit overhyped. Whether you can see leopards on your trip, really depends on your luck.

9. Visit Lipton seat in Haputale

Lipton’s seat in Sri Lanka is definitely worth a visit — you could absolutely take a tuktuk ride which is way faster than a car and goes up through mountain roads to Haputale.

The ride can take you about 1.5 hours but the views are stunningly gorgeous.

The highlight is visiting the Dambatenne tea plantations. You can early in the morning and hike up to the viewpoint — the sky can be glorious or hidden by fog (it all depends on which season you’re at!)

Where To Eat in Ella (My suggested spots!)

the best food at house of kitchen in ella : look at that coconut sambol

For views of the best jungles with amazing juices, eat at Cafe Eden. It is away from the busy trip and their lamprais and veggie thali dishes is so yummy and amazing.

Now for the one and only place — it has a 5 star rating on Google simply because the food is made with a lot of love. The place is called House of Kitchen.

Everything is fresh and homemade from scratch even the coconut oil used to cook everything.

You can pick your own curries but the flavours that melted in my mouth were mostly because of the mango curry, pumpkin and coconut sambol. It was simply out of this world.

The coconut rotis were fluffy too. The place is simple but the food is incredible.

Also read:

Sri Lanka

Why I Chose These Things To Do in Ella: My 3 Days Itinerary