Ella full-day tour: Nine Arches Bridge, tea tasting, waterfalls

Eight hours across Ella's tea plantations, waterfalls, and colonial-era bridge

A full-day private tour of Ella in Sri Lanka's Uva Province, traveling by tuk with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. Visit Nine Arches Bridge (a 1921 brick and stone railway viaduct), Little Adam's Peak viewpoint, Ravana Falls, the Secret Falls for swimming, an organic tea garden with tasting, Nil Diya Pokuna's underground cave pool, and Mahamewunawa Buddhist Monastery. You set the pace at each site. The guide handles the route and logistics.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ella's top attractions

• Visit Nine Arches Bridge
• Hike Little Adam's Peak
• See Ravana Falls
• Relax at Ravana Pool Club
• Swim at The Secret Falls
• Tour Ella Organic Tea Garden
• Explore Nil Diya Pokuna Cave
• Visit Ravana Cave
• Experience Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

The experience

Eight to nine hours means you move through Ella without rushing. The private tuk picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Nine Arches Bridge first: a 91-meter span built in 1921 without steel, standing 24 meters high above tea plantations. From there, the guide leads you to Little Adam's Peak, a 30- to 45-minute hike at 1,141 meters with views across rolling hills and the Ella Gap. The route then drops to Ravana Falls, a 25-meter cascade in the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, where the water runs strongest during rainy season.

The tea garden experience sits in the middle of the day. You walk through an organic tea plantation surrounded by the same green slopes you saw from the peak, learn how the leaves move from plucking to packaging, and taste freshly brewed tea while you're still standing in the fields. Afterward, the tuk takes you to the Secret Falls: a quieter waterfall tucked into jungle, where you can swim in clear water away from the main tourist crowds. Nil Diya Pokuna comes next: a cave tunnel descends to an underground pond with deep blue water, believed connected to the Ramayana legend of King Ravana. The guide stays with you through the narrow passage.

The day ends at Mahamewunawa Buddhist Monastery, where the grounds offer a shift in pace before the drive back. Hotel drop-off is included, so you arrive without needing to arrange onward transport. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The itinerary suits all fitness levels, though the cave descent and the Little Adam's Peak hike involve some scrambling.

What’s included

• Private tuk transportation throughout the day.
• live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entry to the tea garden with tasting.
• access to all nine sites including Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, Ravana Falls, Secret Falls, Nil Diya Pokuna cave, and Mahamewunawa Monastery.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Operated by TRAVRI

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private tuk-tuk that adapts to your pace at each site: linger at waterfalls or tea gardens as long as you wish, with your guide adjusting the route to match your interests rather than following a fixed itinerary.

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Top questions

How long does the hike to Little Adam's Peak take from Ella town?

Little Adam's Peak takes 30 to 45 minutes to reach from Ella town. The trail is relatively easy and ends at 1,141 meters, where you get panoramic views of tea plantations, rolling hills, and the Ella Gap.

Can I swim at the waterfalls on this tour?

Yes, the Secret Falls is a designated swimming spot with clear, refreshing water. Ravana Falls also allows swimming, though the water flow is strongest during the rainy season.

What is Nil Diya Pokuna and how do I reach it?

Nil Diya Pokuna is an underground pond with deep blue water accessed through a narrow cave tunnel. The guide leads you through the passage to see the crystal-clear water and rock formations inside. It's recommended to visit with a guide for safety.

Is the Nine Arches Bridge still used by trains?

Yes, the Nine Arches Bridge is part of the Badulla–Colombo railway and remains in use. Built in 1921 from brick, stone, and cement without steel, it spans 91 meters and stands 24 meters high, surrounded by tea plantations.

What does the tea tasting at the garden involve?

The tea garden offers a guided tour of an organic tea plantation where you learn the cultivation, harvesting, and production process from plucking to packaging. The tasting includes freshly brewed organic tea served while you're in the garden with views of the surrounding hills.