Every country has a town or village you fall in love with as a traveler. For most travelers in Sri Lanka, this is the delightful backpacker village of Ella. It has since become a popular place for tourists and locals too. As a result, there are quite a few fun activities to do in Ella. Read on soon for answers to the question “what things to do in Ella?” with the 15 best tips for Ella.
Content of this blog:
Hikes in Ella
The mountainous surroundings of Ella are known as a perfect place to do a lot of hiking. We ourselves have now spent over 3 weeks in Ella – in 2014, 2018 and 2024 – and have done all the hiking in the area. We have also seen Ella grow from a village with 2 restaurants in 2014 to a tourist hotspot in 2024. We have mixed feelings about this but the fact remains that Sri Lankans can make good use of the money from tourism.
1. Pekoe Trail 16: from Ella to Demodera
The number one thing to do in Ella? People will usually tell you to climb Ella Rock. This is also a very cool activity in Ella, but as far as we are concerned, the number one tip in Ella is to hike Pekoe Trail 16: from Ella to Demodera.
The Pekoe Trail is a 300-kilometer hiking trail through the central highlands of Sri Lanka. You can walk the entire Pekoe Trail, which leads you from Kandy via Hatton and Ella, to the terminus in Nuwara Eliya. Pekoe Trail stage 16 is one of 22 stages that you can hike and thus can also do as a separate day hike. The most enjoyable and beautiful part of this activity is that you walk across the Nine Arch Bridge and then through the tea fields without other tourists. You follow the orange dots and arrows on the trees while being surrounded by the sounds of nature. As far as we are concerned, this tip in Ella is another real hidden gem!
The hike is 8.8 kilometers long and takes a little over 2 hours. At the end, you’ll end up in Demodera, where you can catch the train back to Ella. A ticket for this costs 100 LKR (€0.33). Keep in mind that this train crosses the Nine Arch Bridge, which is of course super cool but therefore also very touristy. It takes a lot of cramming to get on the train and as you approach the Nine Arch Bridge there are – fairly rude – people pushing everyone aside to take the perfect picture.
2. Climbing Ella Rock
In addition to the Pekoe Trail stage 16 hike, another great activity is, of course, to climb Ella Rock. The iconic highest point in Ella offers insane views of the surrounding area and is also just a really nice hike to do. You start the hike on the train track. In Sri Lanka, it is very common to walk on the train track to get from one place to another. The trains often only travel a maximum of 30 kilometers per hour, besides, you can hear them coming from far away with lots of honking. So you have plenty of time to step aside and let the train pass.
Because you can get lost fairly easily during the hike to Ella Rock, we have described the route and photos in detail in this article: Climbing Ella Rock: route and tips! By now I have climbed Ella Rock 3 times already and 2 times I got quite lost, so please read the article carefully 🙂
3. Little Adam’s Peak
Another fun hike in Ella is to climb Little Adam’s Peak. Located in Dalhousie, near Hatton, the “big” Adam’s Peak is a pilgrimage for Buddhists, Hindus and Christians. That’s a hefty trek where you climb 5500 steps. Fortunately, Little Adam’s Peak in Ella is a bit easier.
From the village of Ella you walk +/ 20 minutes along the paved road to the tea fields. Once here you immediately experience the tranquility of nature, how nice! You walk further along the tea fields, until you arrive at the Ravana swimming pool and zipline park. Here begins the (short) climb to the top of Little Adam’s Peak. Fifteen minutes later, you are looking at the fantastic view with a red and sweaty head. You’ve climbed Little Adam’s Peak!
4. Nine Arch Bridge
The Nine Arch Bridge is the icon of Sri Lanka. The more than 30 meters high bridge is a true phenomenon and a must visit in Ella. From Ella you can walk in about half an hour via the train track or through the forest to the Nine Arch Bridge. You can then walk across the bridge, take pictures and have a drink at Café Soul Ella or Asanka Café where you have the best view of the bridge. You can also easily walk to the Nine Arch Bridge from Little Adam’s Peak. Read this article about Little Adam’s Peak and Nine Arch Bridge for the fun route.
Photo point at the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella
There is a “famous” photo point, from where you can take a cool photo among the tea fields, with Ella’s Nine Arch Bridge in the background. If you walk to this Google Maps point, you’ll see an opening where you can descend down among the tea fields. Follow this path for a bit and you’ll see plenty of points where you can take a nice photo. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. there are many tourists at the Nine Arch Bridge and then you may even have to stand in line for a photo….
5. High tea at the Hide Ella Hotel
For the most fun high tea in Ella with a beautiful view, Hide Ella Hotel is the place to be. A combination of sweet and savory bites, with a pot of delicious tea made from freshly picked tea leaves from the area makes for a wonderful afternoon. Finally, you also have a view of Ella Rock and the beautiful surroundings, which you can never get enough of. You can book this high tea in Ella in advance by walking by, or booking on the official website. It costs only $9, so that’s another fun, inexpensive activity for an afternoon in Ella.
6. Visit the Ravana waterfall
Ravana waterfall is over 100 meters high and attracts many travelers as well as locals. From the road you can see the impressive waterfall well, but you can walk a little closer over the stones. You can’t swim at the Ravana Waterfall, so don’t even try.
7. Pallawela Waterfall ~ alternative to Diyaluma waterfall.
Yep, more waterfalls in Ella! Pallawela waterfall is an undiscovered gem in the mountains of Sri Lanka. The route to this waterfall goes right through the green tea fields, which is fantastic. There are a few different levels at the Pallawela waterfall, so you can still walk around and enjoy the coolness of the water.
The Pallawela waterfall is a good alternative to the better known Diyaluma waterfall. This is the third highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, which makes it more impressive, but also a lot more crowded and further away from Ella. It takes about an hour from Ella to get to Diyaluma Falls.
8. Visit a tea factory in Ella
Sri Lanka – formerly known as Ceylon – is, of course, known for its tea. Everywhere in the central highlands of Sri Lanka where you go hiking or driving you will see miles of tea fields. So you can’t have been to Sri Lanka without visiting a tea factory. From Ella, you can visit Halpewatte Tea Factory. This tea factory in Ella is still in operation, especially in the morning you can closely follow the production of tea leaves. You can take a tour here all day, so come whenever it suits you. And of course drink a cup of fresh tea afterwards.
9. Take a cooking class in Ella!
One of the best things to do while traveling is to take a cooking class. That way you will know exactly how those delicious local dishes are made. Once you get home you can surprise everyone with your cooking skills. In Ella you can follow a very nice cooking class where you will get explanations about the ingredients and the traditional way of cooking in Sri Lanka. You will learn to make all the local (delicious) dishes: rice & curry, string hoppers and roti. You can book the cooking class in Ella here, choosing either a lunch or dinner cooking course.
10. Take the train to the next village and walk back
Another fun hiking activity in Ella is to take the train and then hike back. It is best to do this early in the morning, as there is no shade anywhere on the tracks and the sun can burn quite a bit. We ourselves took the train to ‘Heel Oya’ station, got off there and then walked back along the track. If you have rented your own tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka and are cruising through the country, this is a nice way to experience the train ride.
11. The world-famous train ride from Ella to Kandy or vice versa
Whenever you ask people what things to do in Ella, they will always tell you that you must take the train ride from Ella to Kandy or vice versa. This train ride takes 7 hours and travels through the central highlands of Sri Lanka. For miles you will experience the beautiful views of the mountains and tea fields of the interior. We recommend scheduling one stop, in Nuwara Eliya, which also offers many fun activities. Read more about the train ride from Ella to Kandy here: which side of the train to sit on for the beautiful views and how to get tickets.
12. Visiting Lipton’s Seat
Feel like taking a ride in the tuktuk? Then pay a visit to Lipton’s Seat. Even though it’s only 27 kilometers away, you’re more than 1.5 hours away by tuktuk because of the bad, winding mountain roads uphill. Still, this trip is already super fun as you drive right through the tea fields and enjoy the beautiful nature.
At Lipton’s Seat, you can enjoy the sweeping views of the surroundings, tea fields and mountains of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a cup of hot tea – it’s a bit cooler here because it’s so high up.
13. Ravana zipline
On the route to Little Adam’s Peak, you will pass the Ravana Adventure Park. Here you can do rock climbing and ziplining, among other things. It’s not a very impressive zipline, but if you’ve never done it before or are traveling with kids who love this, it’s fun to do in Ella.
14. Ravana Pool Club
Near the adventure park, you’ll also find a large pool – one of those you see a lot in Bali. The Ravana Pool Club has it all: a thatched roof, infinity pool, luxurious beds and sweeping mountain views. It’s a beautiful place where you can have a good day of relaxation. If you’re taking a tour of Sri Lanka and it still fits your budget, we definitely recommend spending a day relaxing here. The cheapest option is 2 hours access to the pool (no bed, that is). You pay 4,000 LKR (€13) for this.
15. Explore the cozy center of Ella ~ Café Chill
The center of Ella has changed a lot in recent years. Anno 2024 you will find many hip restaurants where you can eat great food and even go out well. Café Chill is originally the place where backpackers gather to have a nice evening. Therefore, this remains our favorite – Western – place in Ella.
Stroll along Ella’s main street, have a drink at a cozy cafe and enjoy a nice evening. Note that because Ella is so popular with many travelers (and they stay there for a long time), the good accommodations get booked up quickly. We’ve written down 3 of our favorite accommodations in Ella for you below. Check soon if they are still available and book them well in advance, otherwise there is often no place left.
