Ella is known for 3 iconic spots: the Nine Arch Brigde, Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock. You can easily combine Little Adam’s Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge in one morning as they are fairly close to each other. Visit these two must-visits in Ella with our tips.
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Leaving early is recommended
The mountain village of Ella is higher than sea level, so it is not as hot as other places in Sri Lanka. Still, the sun can also burn quite a bit in Ella, so it is advisable to leave early for Little Adam’s Peak and Nine Arch Bridge. We ourselves walked to Little Adam’s Peak first and then to Nine Arch Bridge, but of course you can do it the other way around.
Visiting Little Adam’s Peak from Ella
From Ella Town you first walk about 20 minutes on the road towards the tea fields. When you arrive at the tea fields you immediately experience peace, how wonderful to walk through nature here. Along the way there are probably small stalls where you can score a local breakfast. We really love these contacts with the locals. We can definitely recommend eating coconut roti for breakfast here, delicious!
Then you walk on and pass the Ravana Pool Club, where you feel a bit like you’re in Bali: a large building with a pool where you look out over the mountains, beautiful. You’ll also find a Bali swing here, of course, where you can swing with a long dress and a garland of flowers in your hair.
As you continue walking, you also pass by the Ravana Adventure Park, where you can zipline and rock climb. Can you imagine in 2014 and 2018 when I – Noëlle – was here, there was nothing here at all? You only found tea fields here and had to find your way up that way. What a difference from how it is in 2025.
Next, the climb begins. From here you climb the steps and will have to go through the tall grass at the end. But after about fifteen minutes of climbing you will be at the top, with a view of Ella and Ella Rock. Enjoy a well-deserved fresh coconut and marvel at the beautiful view.
From Little Adam’s Peak to the Nine Arch Bridge
Then you walk down part of the same road again. After this you are at an intersection where you can turn left or right. We walked both routes and they both end up at the Nine Arch Bridge, so you can choose which one you want to follow. Do you turn right? Then you’ll pass a beautiful resort, namely the 98 Acres Resort & Spa. If you want a few days of total pampering with a pool and a view of Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock, you can book a room here. You get great value for your money and when you are completely rested you can continue your Sri Lanka itinerary.
Follow Google Maps to direct you to the Nine Arch Bridge. If you’re lucky, a train will just come over the tracks, making for an extra nice picture. Be aware that the Nine Arch Bridge is terribly crowded, so don’t get your hopes up of a quiet photo op. But it’s still a beautiful bridge that makes you wonder how they ever built it.
Where can you sit at the Nine Arch Bridge?
All around Nine Arch Bridge, you will find small shops or restaurants where you can take a seat to enjoy the view. At Nine Arch Tree House you can grab a nice lunch, with delicious Sri Lankan Kottu, or have a smoothie at Cafe Soul Ella. Whether a train passes by or not, it’s still a wonderful place to sit back and recover from the hike.
How do you get back to Ella Town after the Nine Arch Bridge?
There are several roads that lead to Rome, and so are several roads that lead to Ella.
- Through the forest. The trail through the forest is called the Nine Arches Bridge Natural Road. You’ll find the entrance across from Nine Arch Tree House. Not many people know this trail, so you can still hike here fairly quietly.
- Via the other side of Café Soul. If you walk from Café Soul further down from the Nine Arch Bridge you will also reach the road. From here follow the road to Ella Town.
- Across the train track. Finally, you can also walk on the train track. This is very common in Sri Lanka and you can see locals doing this throughout the country. The trains often travel a maximum of 30 kilometers per hour and you can hear them from far away. They honk a lot to warn people to get off the tracks. This makes it not dangerous, but rather a very nice way to get around. It does get incredibly hot when you walk on the tracks. After all, you are walking in full sun with no shade, so bring plenty of water in advance and apply sunscreen.
Be sure to stay a day or 4 in Ella because there is more than enough to do in this delightful village – besides hiking to Little Adam’s Peak and Nine Arch Bridge. Discover the 15 best activities in Ella here.
