Spotlight These 10 Things to Do in Ella, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka might be famous for its national parks filled with elephants and/or leopards (depending on which one you go to), but Ella is one of the best places to get your fill of the country’s natural beauty. Though it covers a relatively small area, there are tons of things to do in Ella, Sri Lanka. But instead of just blabbing on about must-sees only, I thought I’d recommend some lesser-known spots as well.

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Where To Stay in Ella

For a nice, cozy place to bed down, I’d suggest Ella Alpine Resort. This bed and breakfast sits on a hill near several of Ella’s most popular attractions, such as the Nine-Arch Bridge. It also offers a fantastic view of the valley between Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak. It’s a 10-15 minute steep walk from the city center—which might be a challenge if you’re having knee problems—but the peace and quiet you get is worth it.

Bright guesthouse bedroom with a wooden bed dressed in crisp white linens and turquoise accents, facing open balcony doors that reveal sweeping green mountain views. The airy hillside setting blends comfort with dramatic scenery, creating the kind of sunrise moment that makes slow mornings feel unforgettable.

Blue vintage car parked in front of a rustic wooden cabin in Ella Sri Lanka with its hood open revealing a small grill setup inside.

Clean and simple bathroom in a guesthouse in Ella Sri Lanka with white tiled walls, pedestal sink, toilet, walk in shower, and green towels neatly arranged. This bright and practical accommodation setup reflects the comfortable stays you will find while exploring Ella Sri Lanka and enjoying the relaxed mountain town atmosphere.

Open air guesthouse veranda in Ella Sri Lanka with wooden tables and chairs set beneath a metal roof, framed by carved columns and surrounded by thick green jungle. This laid back communal hangout spot reflects the charm of visiting Ella Sri Lanka, where scenic mountain stays and slow travel moments are part of the experience.

Golden sunrise over the misty hills of Ella Sri Lanka with warm light spilling through silhouetted trees and jungle foliage in the foreground. Catching views like this from a balcony or hillside lookout is easily one of the most unforgettable things to do in Ella Sri Lanka, where early mornings come with mountain magic and that slow travel high.

Are you planning a trip to Ella, Sri Lanka, soon?

Below are some of the best tours, hotels, and more!

Popular Tours & Activities in Ella:

Etili Village Tour (known as Ethiliwewa locally)
Buffalo Curd Making Tour
Demodara Loop

Top Places to Stay in Ella:

Luxury: Belmond Ella
Mid-Range: Ella Alpine Resort
Budget: Poomaz Peace Palace

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What To Do in Ella, Sri Lanka

See Demodara Loop’s Spiral Railway

Demodara Loop is the perfect mix of Ella’s natural beauty and unusual sights you can’t find anywhere else. Simply put, it’s a unique spiral railway design tailor-made to the region’s hilly terrain—which, while beautiful, is an engineering nightmare to navigate. This particular railway section was constructed in 1923 to transport tea from Uva Province to Colombo.

You can see the loop firsthand by taking a train from Ella to Demodara, or you can hike there via the Nine Arch Bridge. (Which, by the way, is another popular thing to do in Ella.) Or you can book a tour for the easiest route.

Get Tipsy with Toddy in Ella, Sri Lanka

Toddy, known as kithul raa in the local language, is a special Sri Lankan drink made from kithul palm tree sap. The sap is the base of all sweeteners in the regional cuisine, and suffice to say, it’s a pretty big product throughout Sri Lanka. It can be turned into flour, cubes, spreads, treacle—and the aforementioned beverage.

In beverage form, toddy is sweet and slightly alcoholic—kind of like a boozy version of maple syrup. And as far as things to do in Ella, this is one-of-a-kind. You’re not gonna experience it elsewhere. Personally, I like it because it fits everything I look for in a full day of travel: unusual and interesting, with a little drink on the side to keep you warm.

Need Something to Do in Ella? Pluck Some Tea

As much fun as toddy is, you have to remember, “When in Rome…” And when in Sri Lanka, where tea is one of the biggest exports, you should tour a couple of tea plantations. I would recommend booking a tour since, most of the time, you can’t just walk into a plantation willy-nilly.

In Ella, there’s the Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, and instead of just snoozing around a factory, you get to try picking the tea leaves yourself.

If you don’t mind going a little further out, you could also try the Dambatenne Tea Factory, built by Thomas Lipton himself in 1890. Learn about the tea-making process while enjoying the beautiful scenery of rolling tea fields.

Take a Half-Day to Make Buffalo Curd

Experiences for the average Westerner don’t get much more unique than this, but I promise, it’s really not as weird as it sounds.

Buffalo curd is rich and creamy. It’s basically the Sri Lankan equivalent of yogurt, just made with buffalo milk instead of cow milk. This curd-making tour isn’t super close to Ella—it’s about a two-hour drive—but considering how huge Sri Lanka is, it’s a very reasonable distance for a half-day trip.

If the buffalos are feeling calm that day, you can try milking one yourself. The entire curd-making process, with straining, boiling, treating, and so on, takes about 8-10 hours, but they’ll have things prepared so you can jump to different points in the process in about an hour and a half.

It’s pretty common to pair kithul treacle with buffalo curds. (I told you kithul would show up again!) And yes, the above tour includes a chance to eat the curds with kithul treacle.

Take a Scenic Train Ride to Ella

Okay, this one is probably the most obvious thing to do in Ella. In my defense, I’ve tried it myself, and it’s popular for a reason. Ella is one of those few places where the way in is an attraction all by itself. The train from Kandy to Ella is the very definition of scenic.

You don’t have to hop on that exact 8-hour ride to be wowed by the passing mountains and forests, though. Personally, I was staying in a town about 2 hours away and got a sweet eyeful of the sights without being stuck on a train the whole day. And frankly, if the only thing you have time to do in Ella is ride by on the train or take a day trip, jump on that chance.

A quick word of warning: if you’re going on the Kandy–Ella line, that route isn’t just for sightseeing. It also serves as a commuter train for the locals, and it can book up fast. Make sure to book this at least a month in advance and get first or second-class tickets. You won’t regret it!

Explore Local Villages and Farms

There are a lot of small villages near Ella, each with their own unique character and plenty of unusual and interesting things to do.

If you want to make the most out of your visit, find a good tour to guide you through one or two to get a taste of authentic Sri Lankan rural life. There are a lot of agricultural tours that are well worth checking out.

If you want a genuine peek into the traditions and culture of the area, there’s no better way to do it.

Adventure to Ravana Falls & Nil Diya Pokuna

Ravana Falls is a huge waterfall surrounded by fascinating rock formations, and behind the falls is Ravana Cave. Both were named after a legendary king, who apparently kidnapped Princess Sita and hid her in the caves in a secret underground palace.

Consequently, there is evidence of people living in the caves dating back 25,000 years, but whether or not it was actually a palace or a kidnapped princess living there is up for debate. I mean, nuttier things have happened, so maybe?

Now, Nil Diya Pokuna is at the very end of the Ravana Cave system. It’s an underground pond known for its vivid blue waters and is a breathtaking sight. However, you have to keep in mind that the hike through the cave is not for the faint of heart and 100% needs a guide, so be sure to book one if you want to go.

Interior view from inside a colorful tuk tuk in Ella Sri Lanka with worn leather seats, open side door, and another rickshaw parked just outside on a dusty roadside. Hopping in a tuk tuk like this is one of the classic experiences in Ella Sri Lanka, adding a little chaos and charm to your hill country adventure.

Fresh king coconuts stacked in a bucket with their tops sliced open and bright green straws ready for drinking, set beside a tree stump and machete on a dusty roadside in Ella Sri Lanka. Stopping for sweet coconut water like this is one of the simplest pleasures and a must try experience when exploring the hill country and soaking up the local flavors.

Lush green hillside in Ella Sri Lanka dotted with colorful guesthouses and multi level homes tucked between tall palm trees and dense jungle foliage. The layered mountain setting captures the scenic charm of visiting Ella Sri Lanka, where hillside stays and panoramic views are part of the adventure.

Small rural train stop in Ella Sri Lanka surrounded by dense jungle, with locals gathered near the tracks and colorful tin roof buildings tucked beneath tall trees. This off the beaten path moment captures the everyday charm of exploring Ella Sri Lanka, where even waiting for a train feels like part of the adventure.

Maroon train carriage stopped at a small station platform in Ella Sri Lanka with open doors and a conductor leaning out beneath a metal roof. Riding the scenic train through the Sri Lanka hill country is one of the most iconic things to do in Ella Sri Lanka, where jungle views and slow travel vibes roll past your window.

Unmissable Experiences and Hidden Gems in Ella, Sri Lanka

Ella may be small, but the range of amazing things to do Ella Sri Lanka packs into those green hills is ridiculous. You can sip toddy straight from the source, pluck tea leaves on a working estate, hike to waterfalls with ancient legends attached, or just lean out of a train door and let the scenery do the heavy lifting. It is the kind of place where nature, culture, and a little bit of debauchery overlap in the best way possible.

And the best part. Ella is only one chapter of a much bigger story. Use it as a jumping off point to shape your full Sri Lanka itinerary, then head south for an Udawalawe National Park safari to trade misty mountains for elephants and open plains. If you are craving water instead of hills, the Madu River boat safari delivers a completely different side of the island.

Bottom line. Come to Ella for the views. Stay for the oddball experiences. Then keep going. Sri Lanka rewards travelers who do more than just check boxes, and Ella is the perfect place to start.