Quick answer
Day 5 of the 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary rides the scenic train from Kandy to Ella, roughly six to seven hours through tea estates and cloud forest, arriving in the mid to late afternoon. The shorter option drives from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via a tea factory and boards at Nanu Oya for the most scenic two and a half to three hours. Sit on the right-hand side for the best views heading to Ella, and let your driver take the luggage by road.
Key takeaways
- The Kandy to Ella train takes roughly six to seven hours and delays of an hour or more are common.
- Boarding at Nanu Oya, near Nuwara Eliya, keeps the most scenic stretch and cuts the ride to two and a half to three hours.
- The right-hand side of the train generally has the better views travelling from Kandy towards Ella.
- Reserved seats in the observation and second-class carriages sell out well ahead in the December to April season.
- A private driver carries the luggage by road and meets you in Ella, which makes the train far easier.
Day 5 of the 10-day itinerary at a glance
Day 5 of the 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary leaves Kandy on a morning train and reaches Ella in the afternoon, with the landscape changing from palm-fringed valleys to terraced tea, pine and eucalyptus forest and back down to the Ella Gap. It is a long day of sitting, but the kind people describe as the highlight of the trip.
Train times change, so check the current timetable when you book. The typical pattern is a departure from Kandy in the morning and an arrival in Ella in the mid to late afternoon.
- →Morning: tuk-tuk or driver to Kandy railway station, roughly 30 minutes before departure.
- →First two to three hours: Peradeniya, Gampola and the climb into tea country.
- →Middle section: Hatton, Talawakele and Nanu Oya, the stop for Nuwara Eliya.
- →Final two and a half to three hours: Pattipola, the highest station, Haputale, Bandarawela and Ella.
The full train or the Nanu Oya half on day 5
The full ride from Kandy is the traditional choice, but the lower section, while pretty, is not the most dramatic part of the line. The alternative drives roughly two and a half hours from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya with a stop at a working tea factory, then boards at Nanu Oya for the highest and most scenic stretch.
The shorter version suits families with young children, older travellers and anyone who gets restless on long journeys. It also keeps a train seat in play when Kandy departures are sold out, because some travellers book only the Nanu Oya to Ella leg.
- →Full train from Kandy: roughly six to seven hours; the classic experience.
- →Drive to Nuwara Eliya, train from Nanu Oya: roughly two and a half hours by road plus two and a half to three hours by rail.
- →Drive all the way: roughly four to five hours; for anyone who cannot get a seat.
Seats, classes and the best side of the train
The Kandy to Ella line usually carries first-class observation carriages, reserved second and third class, and unreserved carriages. Reserved seats go on sale a set number of days ahead and sell out quickly in the busy season, so the day 5 booking is one of the first things to arrange for the 10-day route.
Travelling from Kandy towards Ella, the right-hand side generally has the better views, including the long drops into the valleys after Haputale. Second class often has opening windows and doors, which many travellers prefer to the sealed observation carriage.
- →Observation class: guaranteed seat, large rear window, but often sealed.
- →Reserved second class: opening windows, a good balance of comfort and views.
- →Unreserved: cheap, often crowded, and a fallback if nothing else is available.
Staying safe on the hill-country train
The open doors of the Kandy to Ella train are famous in photographs, and leaning out of them causes serious injuries every year, including falls and collisions with trackside vegetation and tunnels. Enjoy the view from the window or the doorway without leaning out, and keep children well back.
Keep valuables in a small bag on your lap rather than in the overhead rack, carry water and snacks since catering is limited, and bring a warm layer, because the highest section above Pattipola can be surprisingly cold, especially in the morning mist.
The first evening in Ella
Ella is a small hill town in a gap between mountains, and because the 10-day route gives it two nights, the first evening can be easy. Check in, have a hot shower and a slow dinner, and save the walks for dawn on day 6, when Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak are cooler and quieter.
Many Ella guesthouses sit on the slopes outside the town centre with views across the Ella Gap. Ask your host about tomorrow's weather and train times at Nine Arch Bridge, which help plan an early start.
- →Check whether your guesthouse is reachable by car or needs a walk from the road.
- →Book dinner at your accommodation if it is outside town; roads are dark after nightfall.
- →Set an alarm: day 6 starts before sunrise.
Planning day 5 of the 10-day route
Book the train as soon as reservations open for your date, and have a fallback: the Nanu Oya leg, an unreserved seat, or a scenic drive. Pack a light day bag with water, snacks, a warm layer, a charged phone and your ticket, and let everything else go by road.
Lankan Stays & Trails books train seats for its guests and has the driver waiting at Ella station with the bags, so day 5 can be spent entirely at the window. The site's Kandy to Ella train guide covers the line in more detail, and day 6 of this series continues in Ella.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Kandy to Ella?
Roughly six to seven hours on the timetable, and delays of an hour or more are common. The most scenic part, from Nanu Oya to Ella, takes roughly two and a half to three hours, which is why some travellers drive to Nuwara Eliya and board there instead.
Which side of the train is best from Kandy to Ella?
The right-hand side generally has the better views when travelling from Kandy towards Ella, especially in the valleys after Haputale. Both sides get good tea-country scenery, and seats with opening windows in second class give better photographs than the sealed observation carriage.
Is it worth doing the whole Kandy to Ella train?
For train lovers and anyone with time, yes. For families, older travellers or anyone short on patience, the Nanu Oya to Ella section gives the best scenery in half the time, with a tea factory visit on the drive from Kandy. On the 10-day route both work well.
What happens if the Kandy to Ella train is sold out?
Try the Nanu Oya to Ella leg, which sometimes has seats when Kandy departures do not, or buy an unreserved ticket on the day and accept a crowded start. A private driver can also take the scenic road through Nuwara Eliya to Ella in roughly four to five hours.
Do I need to take my luggage on the Ella train?
Not if you have a private driver. The driver takes the bags by road and meets you at Ella station, so you only carry a day bag. Without a driver, large suitcases are awkward in crowded carriages, and a backpack or small wheeled case is far easier.
Is the Ella train cold?
The highest section, around Pattipola at roughly 1,900 metres, can be cool, damp and misty, particularly in the morning. Bring a fleece or light jacket. Kandy and Ella are milder, and most of the journey is comfortable in a T-shirt.