Colombo to Ella

Colombo to Ella

Colombo
Ella
Feb 10, 2027
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2 Passengers
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Colombo to Ella Destination Reviews

MM
Mariyah M
Very smooth and clean transport, they stop on the way so you can get food , i would highly recommend!
Colombo to Ella, Van Van + Minibus, SL Highway Bus Service and Shuttle Transfer (Stef Lanka Shuttle), Jun 25, 2026
AH
Adrian H
On time. Very smooth and fast. Nothing to complain about. Just make sure to not drink or eat too much before the ride, it is non stop:-)
Colombo to Ella, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Mar 8, 2026
H
Helmut
The driver managed to arrive exactly 4 hours after departure. However this time frame is way too tight! You should allow 30 minutes more for this trip. The driver had to speed up and keep on overtaking other cars in a very scary way.
Colombo to Ella, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Jan 26, 2026
SW
Sylvia W
Excellent, but spoiled by having a terrible bus driver.
Colombo to Ella, Van Van + Bus + Van, SL Highway Bus Service and Shuttle Transfer (Stef Lanka Shuttle), Dec 13, 2025
TO
Tomer O
It was perfect, the communication was so great and they helped me make sure I could arrive on time after my plane landed on the other side of town. Such a great experience and I would 10000000% recommend to everyone.
Colombo to Ella, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Nov 5, 2025
HT
Hideaki T
Reservation confirmation and after-follow was excellent.
Colombo to Ella, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Nov 3, 2025
GA
Gary A
The booking process on 12go.asia was easy to follow and the confirmation instructions easy to understand. Our train tickets were confirmed and hard tickets delivered to our hotel along with confirmation of who at the property received them. All in all, the procedure was seamless and worked very well.
Colombo to Ella, Train #1015 2nd Class Reserved Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 19, 2025
LA
Lea A
The bus was very new and comfortable. The bus was on time, the booking was easy. Overall I recommend taking this bus:)
Colombo to Ella, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sep 9, 2025
BS
Bhavdeep S
The bus left on time. The journey was comfortable. We stopped on the route for tea/ coffee. Loved the vibe at the coffee place, it was buzzing! We arrive 20 minutes late. :-) Ho Hum!
Colombo to Ella, Bus Luxury, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Aug 20, 2025
4.7
60 customer reviews
5
73%
4
22%
3
3%
2
2%
1
0%

Colombo to Ella Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+2h 10m
$98.10
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:30
14:41
$25.01
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
05:55
15:17
$19.06
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
06:30
15:45
$25.01
  5.0
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
07:30
11:30
$9.44
  4.7
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
08:30
16:56
$19.06
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Observation First Vagon
09:45
18:20
$19.06
  4.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Observation First Vagon
10:07
18:20
$19.06
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
14:30
18:30
$9.44
  4.7
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Air-conditioned Large Coach
17:15
21:15
$15.00
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Air-conditioned Large Coach
18:30
22:30
$15.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
20:30
05:45
$19.00
  4.5

How to get from Colombo to Ella

When you want to get from Colombo to Ella, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Train ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 370.41. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus+van as a bus+van ticket costs as low as USD 24.14.

How far is Colombo from Ella?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Colombo to Ella. Your trip will be a total of 125 miles (201 km). The flying distance is 82 miles (131 km).

How long does it take to get from Colombo to Ella?

The travel time from Colombo to Ella can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 10 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Colombo to Ella?

The cost of the trip from Colombo to Ella varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is SL Highway Bus Service and Shuttle Transfer (Stef Lanka Shuttle): travelling by bus+van expect to pay as low as USD 24.14 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 370.41.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Colombo to Ella:

  • Bus tickets - USD 11.93 to USD 11.93;
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 18.23 - USD 25.32. From Colombo to Ella starting from 06:30 Colombo Fort Train Station until 16:00 Colombo Fort Train Station
  • Bus+Van price: USD 24.14. From Colombo to Ella starting from 09:00 Colombo until 16:00 Colombo
  • Train tickets - USD 28.76 to USD 28.76;
  • Van price : USD 97.24 - USD 171.08;
  • flight+taxi price: USD 148.22 - USD 181.16. From Colombo to Ella starting from 00:00 Mattala Airport until 00:00 Mattala Airport

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 132.82 to USD 370.41.

How many trips per day are there between Colombo and Ella?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • 2 by Bus+Van from Colombo to Ella starting from 09:00 Colombo until 16:00 Colombo
  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Colombo to Ella any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Colombo to Ella is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Colombo to Ella. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 132.82.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Colombo to Ella. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Colombo to Ella.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Colombo to Ella

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Colombo to Ella? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 48% decided to go for a bus.
  • 20% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 14% chosen Bus+taxi
  • 14% chosen Bus+Van
  • 2% decided to catch a taxi.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Colombo to Ella

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Ella

Cheapest Transport$12
Fastest Transport2h 10m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure6:30 PM
Departures per day20
Distance201 kilometers
Transport CompaniesCeylon Roots, Daytrip private transfer with English speaking driver, Lakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, SL Highway Bus Service and Shuttle Transfer, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tours with Stef Lanka