Kandy to Ella
The train on this stretch is famous, and worth doing. A vehicle solves the parts the train does not: luggage, sold-out tickets, and stopping wherever the view is best.
- Distance
- approximately 140 km
- Typical drive time
- about 4 hours
- Vehicle
- Car, van, or SUV depending on group size and luggage
What to know about this route
- Train tickets in reserved class sell out weeks ahead in season.
- Nine Arches Bridge and Ravana Falls sit near the road end of the route.
- Some travellers ride one leg by train and send luggage by vehicle.
Worth stopping for on the way
Ramboda Falls
on the route
Roughly a third of the way, on the climb.
Ravana Falls
on the route
Close to the Ella end and directly on the road.
Nine Arches Bridge
about 20 minutes off the route
Check train times if you want to see one cross.
Common questions
How long does the drive from Kandy to Ella take?
Kandy to Ella is roughly 140 km and takes about 4 hours. Traffic and the route the driver takes both move that, so treat it as a planning figure rather than a promise.
Should I take the train instead?
Ride it if you can get a seat — it is the best rail journey in the country. A vehicle solves the parts it does not: luggage, sold-out tickets, and stopping where the view is best.
How pricing works on this route
Post your Kandy to Ella trip with your dates, passenger count, and any stops. Verified vehicle owners then bid on it, and you choose the offer and the vehicle. There is no fixed tariff to accept and nothing to negotiate at the roadside.