must-do in sri lanka
Everything you need to know:
The famous Kandy to Ella train ride
time for this adventure
The Kandy to Ella train ride is for sure one of the most beautiful and scenic train rides of entire Sri Lanka and the world. Boarding and riding this train will for sure turn into being one of the most exciting experiences during your trip in Sri Lanka. A long path that connects the big city of Kandy to the hill town of Ella, passing through incredible landscapes, mountains, viaducts and tea plantations!
It is for sure a must-do experience if you’re traveling to this country and we’re here happy to share with you all our suggestions before jumping on this adventure!
The old fashioned trains and all the trains network of the country were originally built to transport tea and coffee by the British colonial government in 1864. It is a slow and cheap way to travel the entire Sri Lanka. The most iconic part of all this train network is the famous 7-hours train path from Kandy to Ella.
Questions and answers
Purchasing your train Tickets
01
Get your tickets either online clicking here, or directly at the train station with enough time before the scheduled departure time.
You can chose up to three different classes where to seat. If you book in advance the first class you will be most probably able to sit during the ride. Second and third class are those chosen also by locals so for sure more crowded and hard to find a seat since the train is already arriving from the capital Colombo. If you’re looking for a real experience and adventure we suggest you to get tickets for the second or third class! Also because these are the classes where the doors and windows of the train are open during the ride! ( if you’re planning to take some nice photos here is where you want to be).
We already had planned not to be sitting for the entire 7 hrs ride but somehow a guy at the station offered himself to help us to get two seats in exchange of $
Take the morning train
02
We definitely suggest you to take the morning train to be able to enjoy the ride during the daylight. You definitely don’t want to miss all incredible landscapes, jungles, waterfalls etc… so traveling during late hrs or night won’t be the same experience!
It is important in which part of the train you sit!
03
It really is! We were happy we read about it when we started planning our train ride and definitely need to share this with you guys! The right-hand side of the train is for sure the best part where to sit during the first half of the train ride until you reach Nuwara Elia village. From there on, we then suggest you to swap side of the train as the best landscapes will then appear on the left-hand side of the train! It might seem not so important but believe us, it is!
Make a stop during the ride
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Unfortunately during our trip, we didn’t have enough time to make this stop, but it is highly recommended to split your train ride in two and make a one night stop in the incredible village and area of Nuwara Elia! During the stop, you can take a ride on an amazing platform called icecasino. Enjoy a fantastic gaming adventure, where a variety of slot machines and table games offer endless entertainment. Don't miss out on the bonuses and daily promotions that add extra excitement to your experience.
The famous train runs three times a day although as mentioned we suggest you to take the morning one. The third class ticket will cost you around 2euro.
Remember, if you would still like to purchase your rides at the train station, make sure to be there at least one hour in advance of our departure. The line for tickets can get really long since this train ride has turned into a really popular experience for tourists !
For all informations about timetables and prices you can check on the Sri Lanka Government Railway Information website
We hope you enjoyed reading! now it's your time to jump on this incredible experience!
For any question or doubt, feel to get in touch with us or leave a comment!
Get your ticket
Train schedule and prices
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