What to do in Ella?

Ella is that little mountain village where every backpacker ends up getting stuck. And with "stuck" I mean: you come for two nights and stay five. The combination of green hills, tea plantations and genuinely great hostels does its thing.

Here is the no-bullshit list of what you actually have to do in Ella. Not ten identical "must-sees", just the hits.

Hikes

Little Adam's Peak

The easy sibling of that other famous peak. 45 to 60 minutes up, no technical climbing, and the view over the valley is absurd for the effort you put in.

Do it before sunrise or sunset. At sunrise you basically have it to yourself; at sunset you share it with half the hostel population.

Ella Rock

The serious version. 3 to 4 hours return, partly along the railway tracks (yes, you just walk on the rails), with real climbing at the end.

Important: the signposting is a running joke. Locals will deliberately point you the wrong way and then "help" you out for ridiculous prices. Use Maps.me or an app like AllTrails for the offline route. You do not need a guide.

Nine Arches Bridge

A railway bridge from 1921, built without a single gram of steel. Sounds dry, looks absolutely stunning. Short walk from the village.

The photo you want is with a train going over it. Check the train times beforehand (ask at your hostel or check at the station), otherwise you will be standing there for two hours waiting for a train that never comes. You can also head up to a cafe on the hill like Cafe Chill for a great view.

Waterfalls

Diyaluma Falls

The second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. About an hour's drive from Ella. Most people stop at the bottom for a photo and drive on again. Wrong move.

Hike to the top. Up there you will find natural infinity pools you can swim in with views over the entire valley. One of those places your photos will never do justice.

Ravana Falls

Right on the main road, so fine for a quick stop. Nice, but do not expect any peace and quiet. It is usually packed with monkeys, locals and busloads of tourists jostling each other for the same photo.

Honestly: 10 minutes and you can move on.

Cooking & culture

Cooking class

One of those things I said "meh" to beforehand and afterwards was badgering everyone in my hostel to do it too.

At Ella Spice Garden or Matey Hut you learn to work with local spices and cook 4 to 6 curries yourself plus coconut sambol. Then you get to eat it all, which can be the best dinner of your trip.

Book ahead. Both places fill up regularly. Stopping by a day in advance usually does the trick.

Tea plantations

Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory is the most interesting one in the region. You see the full process from leaf to cup and end in the tasting room. Bonus: the drive there is already half a tour through the hills.

Eating & drinking

Cafe Chill The hotspot of Ella. Wooden architecture, lounge vibe, a bit on the pricey side but deservedly so. Order the Lamprais (rice and curry steamed in a banana leaf).

Matey Hut Tiny, local, cheap. The best Rice & Curry in the village. There is almost always a queue. Just join it.

AK Ristoro For when you cannot look at rice anymore. Good pasta, tapas and even sushi. A different pace from everything else.

Rainbow Cafe Trendy spot for good coffee, smoothie bowls and vegan options. Co-working vibes with decent wifi.

Sleeping

Ella has two hostels worth your time, each with a completely different feel.

Hive Ella Hostel is where I stayed for a few nights because Wild Bee was not available for my full period. Best decision I did not make myself. Every evening the whole hostel ate and drank together, with the owners steering things along without it feeling forced. Within a day you know half the people there. The friends I made there I kept running into for the rest of the trip, even after I had moved to Wild Bee.

Wild Bee Hostel is technically a hostel but you have to let go of that word the moment you arrive. Yes, you sleep in a dorm, but beyond that there is not much hostel about it. The breakfast is disproportionately good, the bed too, and the view from your room is the kind of view other hostels would charge extra for. They also offer yoga if that is your thing. Quieter than Hive, more on your own terms if that is what you are after.

If you only have one choice for Ella: check first whether Wild Bee is available for your full period. If not, fill in with Hive and you lose nothing. More options are listed in the overview of the best hostels in Sri Lanka.

Practical tips

• How to get there? Take the train from Kandy to Ella. One of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and that is not marketing speak. At the time of writing (May 2026) part of the track is unfortunately broken, but you can travel from Ambewela to Ella. That still covers the most beautiful stretch by train.
• Climate. Ella is in the mountains. Warm during the day, cool in the evening. A jumper or cardigan is not a luxury.
• Local transport. You can rent a scooter, but the roads are winding and local drivers are fond of hair-raising overtaking manoeuvres. No experience? Take a tuk-tuk but agree on the price beforehand, not after.
• Leeches. After rainfall they come out on the hiking trails, especially towards Ella Rock. They do not hurt but love sticking to your ankles. Long socks, a bit of DEET or a bag of salt in your pocket works wonders.

Final verdict

Ella is not a place to tick off a list. It is a place to spend a few days without any plans. Do one good hike, one waterfall, one cooking class, and spend the rest of the time hanging around with a cup of tea while the mist rolls through the hills.

And cancel your accommodation back home. Because you will stay longer than you thought.