Discover the best things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka, from scenic train rides and tea plantations to hikes, ziplining and family-friendly activities in the hill country.<\/p>\n Set in the lush green hills of Sri Lanka\u2019s tea country, Ella offers a completely different landscape to the coast. Think rolling plantations, misty mountains and cooler temperatures that feel like a breath of fresh air after the heat and humidity.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also one of the most popular stops on a Sri Lanka itinerary, particularly with backpackers, so it does feel a little busier and more developed than some of the quieter coastal towns.<\/p>\n But despite this, we all fell a little bit in love with Ella.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a fun, laid-back vibe in the bars and restaurants in the evening, the scenery is absolutely stunning, and there\u2019s so much to do here. <\/p>\n We packed a lot into our three days, and all of our kids agreed that Ella was one of their favourite stops in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning your trip, don\u2019t miss our full 2-week Sri Lanka itinerary for how to fit Ella into our wider route.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n We spent\u00a0three nights in Ella<\/strong>, and it felt like the perfect amount of time.<\/p>\n That gave us enough time to do the main highlights, like hiking Little Adam\u2019s Peak, visiting a tea factory, taking a train ride and seeing Nine Arch Bridge, without feeling rushed. We also had time to slow down a little, enjoy an afternoon at the Pool Club, and soak up the relaxed atmosphere in town.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re short on time, you\u00a0could<\/em>\u00a0squeeze Ella into\u00a0two nights<\/strong>, but it will feel quite busy and you\u2019ll need to prioritise some activities over others.<\/p>\n Tip: <\/strong>If you\u2019re short on time and want to squeeze in as much as possible, booking a tour like this one that includes several activities<\/a> is a good idea. <\/p>\n On the other hand, if you love hiking, scenery and cooler temperatures, you could easily stay\u00a0four nights or more<\/strong>\u00a0and use Ella as a base to explore more of the surrounding hill country.<\/p>\n Our tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Don\u2019t try to rush Ella. It\u2019s one of those places that\u2019s just as much about the vibe as it is the sights, and it\u2019s worth slowing down and enjoying it.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s everything we squeezed into our 3 days in Ella.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The train ride to or from Ella is often described as one of the most beautiful journeys in the world.<\/p>\n At the time of our visit, the popular Kandy to Ella route was closed due to a landslide, but the Ambewela to Ella route was still open. This ride takes around two hours in one direction.<\/p>\n As we were just doing the train ride for the experience, we opted for a shorter journey from Ella to Badulla instead. This took around 40 minutes and was still a highlight of our trip to Ella. Our driver met us in Badulla and we continued sightseeing from there.<\/p>\n This shorter route is a great option if you\u2019re travelling with kids. It\u2019s shorter, less crowded, and still delivers those iconic views of tea plantations, rolling hills and jungle. Plus, this section includes going over the famous Nine Arch Bridge. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Visiting a tea plantation was surprisingly fun (and educational). We headed to the\u00a0Halpewatte Tea Factory<\/a>, where we learned how Sri Lanka\u2019s famous tea is made, from leaf to cup.<\/p>\n We all loved getting hands-on and trying tea picking ourselves, and the tour finished with a tea tasting overlooking the hills. <\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> There is usually the option to tour the factory also, but as we visited on a public holiday, the factory wasn\u2019t operating. However, with kids, I think the plantation tour is more fun as you get to try your hand at picking, which was definitely the highlight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This is the most popular hike in Ella, and for good reason. It\u2019s easy to reach from the centre of Ella, it\u2019s not too<\/em> strenuous and offers great views. <\/p>\n The trail is mostly steep steps winding up the hillside, but it\u2019s very doable, even with kids (we saw everyone from aged 5 to 75 doing the hike).<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t take too long (it took us around 30 minutes, plus the walk from town), and the views at the top are worth it, with sweeping panoramas over the tea plantations and mountains.<\/p>\n Tip<\/strong>: If you\u2019re up for a more challenging hike, Ella Rock is another popular option, offering incredible views, but it\u2019s longer and less clearly marked than Little Adam\u2019s Peak. It\u2019s not recommended for kids. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Right next to Little Adam\u2019s Peak, you\u2019ll find the\u00a0Flying Ravana Zipline<\/a>, Sri Lanka\u2019s first mega zipline.<\/p>\n It stretches over 500 metres and is perfect if you\u2019ve got older kids or teens who love a bit of adrenaline.<\/p>\n There are also other activities here, including a skywalk, rock climbing and ATV rides, so you can easily turn this into a fun half-day outing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If your accommodation doesn\u2019t have a pool, the\u00a0Ravana Pool Club<\/a>\u00a0is the perfect place to cool off.<\/p>\n Set on the side of the mountain, it has a bit of a beach club vibe, but with incredible hill country views instead of the ocean.<\/p>\n There are various packages available that include access to the pool, swim-up bar, and poolside service for food & drink. It\u2019s a really fun place to spend the afternoon, and families are welcome. <\/p>\n It\u2019s located next to Little Adam\u2019s Peak, so perfect for cooling off after the hike. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For those of you who don\u2019t know, I also have a food blog<\/a> where I share all my favourite recipes. So whenever I travel to a new country, I always look out for a cookery class so I can learn to recreate the local food at home. <\/p>\n Cookery classes are also a really fun way to spend time together as a family \u2013 plus you get to eat great food! <\/p>\n We booked into this cookery class in Ella<\/a>, which included a tour of the spice garden and learning to cook local Sri Lankan dishes the traditional way. <\/p>\n We had a really fun evening, although it wasn\u2019t as hands-on as some classes we have done, for example the one we did during our trip to Bali<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The\u00a0Nine Arch Bridge\u00a0is one of the most iconic sights in Sri Lanka and is just a short walk from Ella town centre. <\/p>\n Set in the middle of the jungle, this beautiful colonial-era railway bridge is especially impressive when a train passes over it.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Check train times and try to time your visit to coincide \u2013 it\u2019s when everyone gathers here to get \u201cthat shot\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Packed with cafes, restaurants and shops, Ella is a lively place to hang out in the evenings. It\u2019s also a great place to pick up a few Sri Lankan souvenirs.<\/p>\n Take a stroll up and down the mainstreet and you\u2019ll find plenty of choice for places to relax, eat and drink. <\/p>\n We especially loved Chill Cafe<\/a> for its excellent margaritas, fun staff and good choice of food. Other good options are Dream Cafe and UFO.<\/p>\n For local Sri Lankan food, check out Matey Hut and Claypot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For our three nights in Ella, we stayed at the Newburgh Ella,<\/a> a 100-year old tea factory transformed into a mountainside resort.<\/p>\n The hotel offers stunning views over the countryside, and breakfast on the terrace was a real highlight. The hotel offers spacious rooms (including family rooms), and excellent buffet breakfast and has an onsite bar, restaurant and spa. Plans are afoot for a swimming pool and gym.<\/p>\n Newburgh Ella was brand-new when we stayed, and they were definitely experiencing a few teething problems (fuse kept blowing in our room, our friends got locked in their room, phones not working, bathroom door not shutting). <\/p>\n However, the location was excellent, the staff were amazing and those views are hard to beat.<\/p>\n Click here to check prices and availability for the Newburgh Ella<\/a>. <\/p>\n Other good options for Ella Accommodation<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mumonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ella-rock-ella-sri-lanka.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nHow Long to Spend in Ella<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nTake a Scenic Train Journey<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nTop Tips for taking the train to Ella<\/h3>\n
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Visit a Tea Plantation or Factory<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHike Little Adam\u2019s Peak<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nBrave the Flying Ravana Zipline<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSpend the Day at a Pool Club<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nTake a Sri Lankan Cookery Class<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWalk to Nine Arch Bridge<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nExplore Ella Town<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nOur Accommodation in Ella<\/h2>\n
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