Sri Lanka›From Nuwara Eliya›Ella
Nuwara Eliya to Ella by train, bus or road
About 58 km. The private car is fastest at 2.3 h; the bus is cheapest, from ₹60 per person.
Fastest
Private car
Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle
2.3 h door to door
Cheapest
Bus
Bus via Welimada to Ella
from ₹60 per person
Best value
Bus
Bus via Welimada to Ella
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Hill-country train from Nanu Oya to Ella | 3.5 h | ₹270–₹500per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Private car | Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | 2.3 h | ₹2,860–₹4,860per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Bus | Bus via Welimada to Ella | 3 h | ₹60–₹220per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
- Train, Hill-country train from Nanu Oya to Ella: Reserved seats (1st-class observation and 2nd reserved) go on sale 30 days ahead at eticket.railway.gov.lk and sell out within hours in season; 3rd class is unreserved and bought at the station on the day. Sit on the right-hand side towards Ella for the best views.
- Private car, Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle: Via Welimada; or by Horton Plains and Haputale on a sightseeing day.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Train · Hill-country train from Nanu Oya to Ella | ₹540–₹1,000 | ₹1,080–₹2,000 |
| Private car · Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | ₹2,860–₹4,860 | ₹2,860–₹4,860 |
| Bus · Bus via Welimada to Ella | ₹120–₹440 | ₹240–₹880 |
Once you’re in Ella
- Best time: January – April
- Typical stay: 2 days
- November: Mixed month: November is outside the recommended season (January – April). Against it: Inter-Monsoon Storms.
Related
Plan Nuwara Eliya and Ella
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.