Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Nuwara Eliya
Ella
Wed, Oct 1
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Nuwara Eliya to Ella Destination Reviews

JO
We weren’t seated together, both of us were in aisle seats even though there were empty seats next to each other in the same carriage. Luckily, they let us change, but I don’t understand why we were placed separately and both in the aisle. Also, although it’s not the agency’s fault, the train was an hour and a half late.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1005 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 27, 2025
MC
Good and efficient service. Tickets were delivered to the hotel as requested. Highly recommended way of purchasing train tickets in Sri Lanka.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1007 Observation First Vagon, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 13, 2025
GW
Excellent train journey from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1126 Observation, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 11, 2025
AC
The train ride was beautiful and I got lucky to have a window on my seat (you can get none). The price I had to pay at this website for the ticket “12go.asia” is a scam for turists. The price I paid ($52) was ridiculous when the tickets are actually super cheap and you can buy them once in Sri Lanka ($5). Furthermore, the company changed my first option for a train of 4h ride instead of 2h, 2hours earlier than I wanted and made me pay an extra $15 for it. And I bought it as earlier as possible a month before. They made a mistake on 1 number on my passport and my guide had to talk to the inspector to fix it. Good that they brought the tickets at my hotel on time when I got there. The train ride is worth it. Don’t miss it!
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1126 Observation, Sri Lanka Railways, Aug 23, 2025
SR
Book the Train Tickets via 12go. Great service! Thank you very much.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1015 Third Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railways, Aug 17, 2025
AS
Too expensive. Thankfully they change the system and all the bookers cant block all seats in advance.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1027 Ella Odyssey Second Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Aug 17, 2025
CL
Very fun , despite 1 1/2 hour late due to the weather
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1005 Third Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railways, Jul 25, 2025
NB
Wrong impression that traintickets are booked vs will probably be booked. And later found that times are just changed due to unavailability
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1007 Observation First Vagon, Sri Lanka Railways, Jul 20, 2025
D
12Go were great, they booked us fantastic tickets. However unfortunately on the day, our observation car in Sri Lanka had the engine in front of it (and our observation car was at the front of the train, not at the back). It was also delayed but we were less bothered about that. So a real shame. But 12Go were great.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1126 Observation, Sri Lanka Railways, Jun 13, 2025
HG
Very nice blue train journey trough the green heart of Sri Lanka , highly recommended
Nuwara Eliya to Ella, Train #1126 Observation, Sri Lanka Railways, Jun 2, 2025
4.4
162 customer reviews
5
61%
4
25%
3
8%
2
5%
1
1%

Nuwara Eliya to Ella Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+25m
$30.00
  4.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
08:10
10:45
$34.50
  4.7
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
09:20
12:21
$37.38
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
09:45
12:21
$37.38
  4.5
Van
Magical Sri Lanka
Scenic Minivan
11:30
13:00
$10.00
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
12:02
14:41
$13.93
  4.9
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
12:30
15:00
$19.00
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
12:48
15:45
$17.41
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
13:09
15:45
$13.93
  4.9
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
14:30
17:00
$19.00
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
14:50
17:00
$4.18
  4.9
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Observation First Vagon
15:19
18:20
$19.06
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Observation First Vagon
15:49
18:20
$19.06
  2.5
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Observation class
16:50
19:50
$17.50
  4.3

Transportation from Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Facts about the transport from Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Cheapest Transport$5
Fastest Transport38m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure2:50 PM
Departures per day9
Distance32 kilometers
Transport CompaniesLakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar

How to get from Nuwara Eliya to Ella

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

  • 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 109.07. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 4.79.

How far is Nuwara Eliya from Ella?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. Your trip will be a total of 20 miles (32 km). The flying distance is 20 miles (32 km).

How long does it take to get from Nuwara Eliya to Ella?

The travel time from Nuwara Eliya to Ella can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 3 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Nuwara Eliya to Ella?

The cost of the trip from Nuwara Eliya to Ella varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Sri Lanka Railway: travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 4.79 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 109.07.

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

  • Train tickets - USD 4.79 to USD 22.99;
  • Van price : USD 14.04 - USD 82.27;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 55.18 to USD 109.07.

How many trips per day are there between Nuwara Eliya and Ella?

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

  • Vans from Nuwara Eliya to Ella depart during the day - there are approximately 3 departures a day.
  • Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 2 trains per day.
  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Nuwara Eliya to Ella any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Nuwara Eliya 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 55.18.

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 Nuwara Eliya 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 Nuwara Eliya 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 Nuwara Eliya to Ella

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Nuwara Eliya 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:

  • 93% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 6% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other