Ella is one of those places that seems to appear on almost every Sri Lanka itinerary.
And after visiting Ella a few times, I can see why.
We’ve been to Ella before with our extended family, usually spending our time relaxing in the cooler weather, walking along the railway tracks and exploring the surrounding mountains. This trip was a little different. We had the kids with us and, for the first time, actually had a more classic tourist trip in Ella.
We stayed for two nights, which was enough to see a few of the highlights without trying to cram everything in.
If you’re planning a trip to Ella, here’s what we actually did, what we’d recommend and what we wouldn’t bother with.
Is Ella worth visiting?
Yes.
Ella is touristy, there’s no getting around that. The main town is full of cafes, restaurants, guesthouses and tourists, and some of the attractions can get busy.
But the reason Ella has become so popular is pretty obvious.
You’ve got mountains covered in tea, waterfalls, famous train rides winding through the hills, hikes, viewpoints and the famous Nine Arches Bridge.
It’s also a good stop if you want a bit of a break from sightseeing. You can spend a morning hiking and then have an afternoon by the pool or wandering through the tea fields.
You can make it as active or as relaxed as you want.
Where we stayed in Ella
We stayed at Sathkara Resort Ella, which we really liked for its setting.
The resort looks out towards the surrounding tea fields and mountains and feels much more like you’re actually in the Ella countryside than in the middle of the tourist strip.
There is also a pool, which is always nice.
One of the nicest things about staying somewhere like this is that you don’t need to have an activity planned every minute. We could just walk around the property and into the surrounding tea country. The included breakfast was also such a delicious spread of Sri Lankan favourites including string hoppers and pani pol rolls.
Day 1: Ravana Falls and Ella
We arrived in Ella from the south, travelling from Hiriketiya via Udawalawe.
On the way, we stopped at Ravana Falls.
It’s an easy stop because the waterfall is right beside the road, so you don’t need to set aside a huge amount of time for it. We had a look, took some photos and then continued on to Ella. Some people swim, would not recommend this and some people have also died doing this and there is clear signage advising not to. Don’t be that tourist.
Once we arrived at the hotel, we spent some time exploring and relaxing before heading into town for dinner.
Cafe Chill: is it worth it?
Cafe Chill is probably one of the most famous restaurants in Ella, so we had to try it.
Honestly, we found it a bit overrated.
The menu is mostly Western and international food, which can be nice if you’ve been travelling around Sri Lanka and need a break from rice and curry.
But it wasn’t a particularly memorable meal for us.
The bigger issue was when our Sri Lankan family members ordered lamprais. They were expecting traditional lamprais and were very disappointed with what arrived. They actually felt quite strongly that it shouldn’t have been advertised as lamprais because it wasn’t what they would consider the traditional dish.
So, if Cafe Chill is on your list because you’ve seen it recommended everywhere, by all means give it a try. But I wouldn’t make a special trip for it.
Nine Arches Bridge
On previous trips to Ella, we’d actually done a much longer walk along the railway tracks with our extended family.
This was one of my favourite ways to experience the area.
The railway line runs between Ella and Demodara and the walk from Ella towards Demodara is around 3 km, taking you through the hills and past Nine Arches Bridge.
It’s a completely different experience from simply getting dropped off at the bridge, taking a photo and leaving.
You’re walking through the landscape and seeing the railway line as part of the scenery.
We didn’t do that longer walk this time because of the kids. Instead, we asked our driver to help us find a shorter route that would work better for us.
That was much more manageable. We got the railway track hike, just mini.
Just remember that these are active railway tracks, so you need to be sensible and stay alert around trains.
The Ella to Demodara train
This was probably our favourite little Ella hack.
We wanted to experience the train going over Nine Arches Bridge, but we didn’t want to spend half a day on a train.
So we went to Ella Railway Station and bought tickets for the short journey from Ella to Demodara.
It’s only around 10 to 15 minutes, and the train travels over Nine Arches Bridge.
When we went, our tickets cost just 50 rupees, which is crazy cheap considering how famous these trains are.
If you’re short on time in Ella, I’d definitely consider doing this rather than booking a long train journey just for the sake of saying you’ve been on the famous Sri Lankan train.
Check the current timetable at the station because train times can change.
MeeKiri
Another little Ella find that we really enjoyed was MeeKiri.
If you haven’t tried Sri Lankan curd before, this is a fun way to do it.
Traditional Sri Lankan buffalo curd is thick and creamy, usually served with kithul treacle. MeeKiri serves it frozen, so it’s almost like a Sri Lankan version of frozen yoghurt.
I really liked it.
It’s simple, but it’s something different from the Western-style desserts you’ll find all over tourist areas.
The business also has a charitable component, which made it even better.
Little Adam’s Peak
We also did Little Adam’s Peak during our time in Ella.
It took us around 45 minutes and we went in the morning before the heat really set in.
The walk itself isn’t particularly difficult if you’re reasonably active, and the views at the top are beautiful.
I wouldn’t automatically put this in the “easy activity for young kids” category, though. The fact that something is a short hike doesn’t necessarily mean it’s enjoyable when you’re carrying a toddler.
For us, we were able to do the hike while family looked after the kids, so it worked well.
If you’re travelling without young children, I’d definitely add it to your Ella itinerary.
It’s also close to the Flying Ravana Mega Zipline and Ravana Pool Club, so you could easily combine a morning at Little Adam’s Peak with some of the other activities in the area.
What about the tea plantations?
We actually skipped doing a dedicated tea plantation visit in Ella this time.
That was deliberate because Nuwara Eliya was next on our itinerary, and we knew we’d be spending more time in tea country there.
If you’re not going to Nuwara Eliya, though, I’d definitely add the tea plantations to your Ella itinerary.
You don’t necessarily need to book an elaborate tour. There are plenty of opportunities to walk through the tea fields, visit a tea factory or just stop somewhere with a good view over the plantations.
If you have more than two nights, there are plenty of other things you can add:
Ella Rock
This is the one to do if you actually enjoy hiking.
It’s considerably more challenging than Little Adam’s Peak and takes much longer, but the views are worth it.
Little Adam’s Peak
A shorter hike with beautiful views over the mountains and surrounding tea country.
Go early before the heat sets in.
Tea plantations
Definitely worth doing if you’re not continuing on to Nuwara Eliya.
Flying Ravana Mega Zipline
A good option if you want something a bit more adventurous.
How long should you spend in Ella?
For us, two nights was enough on this trip.
We managed to see Nine Arches Bridge, take the train to Demodara, visit Ravana Falls, do Little Adam’s Peak and have some downtime at our hotel.
But we’ve also spent longer in Ella on previous trips, and if you enjoy hiking, you could easily spend three or four nights.
Is Ella good with kids?
Yes, but I’d be selective about what you do.
We found it quite easy to travel around Ella with the kids because we had a driver and could choose shorter walks when we needed to.
But some of Ella’s most popular activities are hikes, and I wouldn’t try to force young children through a hike just because it’s on every travel blog.
There are plenty of things you can do as a family, and there are also things that are easier to do when you have another adult around who can stay with the kids.
For us, that meant we could still do some of the hikes we wanted to do without turning the whole day into a struggle.
Our honest take on Ella
The tourist attractions are popular for a reason. Nine Arches Bridge is genuinely impressive. The short train ride is a great experience. Little Adam’s Peak has beautiful views. The tourist strip can get very buzzy and be a vibe.
But if you have the time, I’d also get away from the main strip.
Walk through the tea country. Do a longer hike. Walk along the railway tracks. Stop at a little station. Take a local train.
That’s the Ella I remember most.
And if you’re heading to Nuwara Eliya afterwards, don’t worry about trying to do all the tea experiences in Ella. Save some for Nuwara Eliya.
Our two-night Ella itinerary
Day 1
Ravana Falls → check into Sathkara Resort → relax and explore the surrounding area → dinner in Ella
Day 2
Nine Arches Bridge → Ella Railway Station → short Ella to Demodara train → MeeKiri → explore Ella
Day 3
Little Adam’s Peak in the morning → breakfast → leave Ella for your next destination
If you have another day, I’d add Ella Rock, a tea plantation visit or a longer walk through the railway tracks and surrounding countryside.
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