Ella Waterfall Tour & Nine Arch Bridge: 10 hours

Swim in natural pools beneath two waterfalls and walk across a century-old railway viaduct.

A 10-hour guided tour of Ella covers two major waterfalls, natural bathing pools, the Nine Arch Bridge and Ella Rock, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. You'll swim in pools carved by Ravana Falls, one of Sri Lanka's widest waterfalls, and explore a second waterfall 220 meters high, the country's second tallest. The Nine Arch Bridge, completed in 1919, stands as a feat of colonial-era engineering built entirely by local labor.

Step-by-step itinerary

Waterfalls and Nine Arch Bridge tour

• Visit Nine Arch Bridge
• See Ravana Falls
• Explore highest waterfall and natural pools

The experience

The day starts with the Nine Arch Bridge, also called the Bridge in the Sky. This viaduct was designed to handle a nine-degree curve and steep gradient, built entirely by local workers under British supervision and finished in 1919. The concrete and locally produced sand-cement blocks have held through the decades, and you'll walk across it to see how the engineering solved the terrain's challenges.

From there you move into the waterfalls. Ravana Falls drops 25 meters from an oval-shaped rock outcrop and is one of Sri Lanka's widest waterfalls. You can bathe in one of the natural pools beneath it, and the best one sits on the cliff edge so you see the surroundings while you're in the water. The second waterfall is 220 meters high, the second highest in Sri Lanka, and has its own set of natural pools where you can swim and rest.

The tour also takes you to Ella Rock and moves through the town itself. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your hotel and carries you between sites, with bottled water provided throughout the day. The guide speaks English and moves at a pace that lets you experience each stop rather than rush through it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• bottled water.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SEE LANKA TOURS

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you'll follow the commentary and the history of each site without translation. A moderate level of physical fitness helps, as the day involves walking to waterfalls and climbing to viewpoints, but the pace is set to let you experience each stop fully rather than rush through it.

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Top questions

What is the Nine Arch Bridge and why does it matter?

The Nine Arch Bridge, finished in 1919, is a railway viaduct built entirely by local labor under British supervision to handle a challenging nine-degree curve and steep gradient. It stands as one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in Sri Lanka, with innovative engineering like concrete cornice blocks for arch support and locally made sand-cement blocks for facing.

Can you swim in the pools at the waterfalls?

Yes. Ravana Falls has multiple natural pools where you can bathe, and the best one sits on the cliff edge so you see the landscape around you while you're in the water. The second waterfall also has natural pools for swimming and relaxing.

How high are the waterfalls on this tour?

Ravana Falls measures approximately 25 meters in height and is one of Sri Lanka's widest waterfalls. The second waterfall is 220 meters high, making it the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

What does the tour include besides the waterfalls and bridge?

The tour also visits Ella Rock and takes you through the town of Ella itself. Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle for the full 10 hours, bottled water and an English-speaking guide are included.