Ella to Colombo

Ella to Colombo

Ella
Colombo
Fri, Nov 28
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Ella to Colombo Destination Reviews

TM
The organising of the trip was good and the coach was modern with good air con but the driver seemed to put his foot to the floor on either the accelerator or the brake. No in between. This made a very jerry trip and the horn was going the whole time.
Ella to Colombo, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Nov 13, 2025
NP
Contact via WhatsApp was great, bus was really comfortable but during arrival and departure was such a rush that we cannot exit the bus because driver moved from the bus station before we leave! We departure on next stop the service man throw away our baggage and leave meanwhile I was questioning him where we are.
Ella to Colombo, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sep 24, 2025
SA
It came 30 mins late, they didn’t help to put the luggage, which was sad.
Ella to Colombo, Bus Luxury, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Jul 28, 2025
SC
I booked ticket and have my confirmation next day. Is good for booking one day in advance and not immediate. Good response with email
Ella to Colombo, Bus Luxury, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Jun 16, 2025
JO
All gooda and professional. The communication with the support team excellent. Whatever question I had the response came back within minutes. Tickets arrived on time. This is the second time I used 12go and I definitely recommend.
Ella to Colombo, Train #1006 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Mar 16, 2022
4.4
37 customer reviews
5
59%
4
22%
3
11%
2
8%
1
0%

Ella to Colombo Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Stef Lanka Tours
Comfort 2pax
Any time
+5h
$90.30
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Third Class Reserved Seats
06:30
15:15
$14.00
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
08:00
12:00
$15.00
  4.4
Train
Ella Odyssey
First Class
08:30
17:25
$40.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
08:54
18:20
$17.08
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Third Class Reserved Seats
09:20
18:05
$14.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
09:40
18:57
$9.56
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
10:00
14:00
$15.00
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Observation First Vagon
10:39
19:17
$19.06
  2.0
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
11:00
15:00
$15.00
  4.4
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
15:00
19:00
$15.00
  4.4
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
17:45
21:45
$15.00
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Third Class Reserved Seats
18:56
05:40
$15.89
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
21:40
06:55
$19.00
  4.5

Transportation from Ella to Colombo

Facts about the transport from Ella to Colombo

Cheapest Transport$11
Fastest Transport45m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure5:45 PM
Departures per day13
Distance440 kilometers
Transport CompaniesCeylon Roots, Cinnamon Air, Ella Excursions Tours, Lakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tours with Stef Lanka

How to get from Ella to Colombo

When you want to get from Ella to Colombo, 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 Flight. 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 270.99. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a taxi as a taxi ticket costs as low as USD 105.12.

How far is Ella from Colombo?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Ella to Colombo. Your trip will be a total of 274 miles (440 km). The flying distance is 397 miles (638 km).

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

The travel time from Ella to Colombo can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 9 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Ella to Colombo varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Real Lanka Holidays: travelling by taxi expect to pay as low as USD 105.12 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 270.99.

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

  • Train tickets - USD 10.16 to USD 13.75;
  • Bus tickets - USD 15.92 to USD 15.92;
  • Van price : USD 105.90 - USD 186.31;
  • flight+taxi price: USD 162.91. From Ella to Colombo starting from 00:00 Colombo Transfer until 00:00 Colombo Transfer
  • Plane tickets - USD 227.38 to USD 228.00;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 105.12 to USD 270.99.

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

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

  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Ella to Colombo any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Ella to Colombo. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 227.38.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Ella to Colombo

Cinnamon Air

Buses

Taking a bus from Ella to Colombo 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 Ella to Colombo. 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 105.12.

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 Ella to Colombo. 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 Ella to Colombo.

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 Ella to Colombo

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Ella to Colombo? 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:

  • 60% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 37% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% Other