Ella day trip with train ride and Lipton's Seat: All-inclusive

The train runs on a bridge built in nine arches, and you cross it during the ride.

A full-day tour of Ella and the surrounding highlands with hotel pickup, combining a hike to Little Adam's Peak and Rawana Falls, a tuk-tuk safari through tea plantations to Lipton's Seat viewpoint, and a one-hour train journey through mountain scenery. You choose between a morning or evening train departure. Lunch, water, snacks and all entry fees are included. The guide speaks English.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ella and Lipton's Seat

• Hotel pick-up and meet representative
• Visit Rawana Falls
• Hike Little Adam’s Peak
• See Nine Arches Bridge
• Tuk Tuk safari through tea plantations
• Visit Lipton's Seat viewpoint
• Enjoy one-hour scenic train ride from Ella

The experience

You start with hotel pickup and travel to Ella, where the day splits between two main routes. First comes the hike to Little Adam's Peak or Ella Rock (a marked trail that climbs the mountain without technical difficulty) plus a visit to Rawana Falls. Then you ride a tuk-tuk through active tea plantations, where you can watch tea pickers at work and try fresh tea yourself, before reaching Lipton's Seat. This viewpoint sits at the edge of a tea estate and overlooks the valley. A life-sized statue of Thomas Lipton, the Scottish businessman who developed the estate in the 1890s, stands on a bench where you can sit and take in the panoramic view.

The train ride is the centerpiece. The track leaves Ella Railway Station and climbs through Kandy's suburbs into the mountains, passing bright green tea plantations, waterfalls and tropical forest. The route crosses the Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial-era railway viaduct built on nine stone arches: one of the most recognizable structures in Sri Lanka. The journey takes one hour and runs through some of the most photographed train scenery in the world. You pick either a morning or evening departure when you book, which shapes the rest of your day.

Your guide travels with you throughout and speaks English. Lunch is a Sri Lankan rice and curry meal. Bottled water and evening snacks are provided. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and all entry fees and taxes are covered in the price. Hotel pickup is included, and the tour runs 14 to 16 hours depending on which train session you choose and the traffic on the route back.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• lunch of Sri Lankan rice and curry.
• bottled water and evening snacks.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• a live English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Session of the evening train rideGuide in English · No fixed timeFull-day tour lasting 14 hours in a Luxury Wagon, accommodating up to 3 passengers with 5 pieces of luggage; pickup is included

Session of morning train rideGuide in English · No fixed timeEvening visit to Ussangoda for sunset (additional charges may apply). Lasting 12 hours, this full-day trip includes a morning train ride from Demodara Railway Station to Ella Railway Station through the Nine Arch Bridges. Luxury Wagon for up to 3 persons with 5 pieces of luggage; pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (6 to 13 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by SL Wayfarers

Is this one for you?Choose the morning session to hike the peaks before your train ride, or the evening session to travel through the landscape in afternoon light: both cover all four stops in one day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 13 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is the hike to Little Adam's Peak actually like?

Little Adam's Peak is a marked trail up the mountain that does not require climbing experience. The path is easy to follow and the peak can be reached without technical difficulty. Most visitors complete the hike as part of the morning itinerary before the train ride.

Can I see tea being picked and try it myself?

Yes. During the tuk-tuk safari through the tea plantation on the way to Lipton's Seat, you watch tea pickers at work and have the chance to try fresh tea yourself. The tour also includes a picnic stop in the plantation where you meet local workers, not other tourists.

What does the train journey pass through?

The one-hour train ride from Ella climbs through Kandy's suburbs into the mountains, passing tea plantations, waterfalls and tropical forest. The track crosses the Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial-era railway viaduct with nine stone arches, which is one of the most photographed structures on the route.

Do I choose the morning or evening train when I book?

Yes. You select either the morning train ride session or the evening train ride session at checkout. The choice affects the order of the day's activities and when you return to your hotel.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, private transportation throughout the day, lunch (Sri Lankan rice and curry), bottled water, evening snacks, all entry fees and taxes, and an English-speaking guide are included. The vehicle is air-conditioned.