Sri Lanka’s hill country: tea, trains and Ella
Tea estates, waterfalls, cool air, Horton Plains and the hiking village of Ella.
South of Kandy the land rises into the hill country: steep green hills covered in tea, waterfalls, small towns and cool evenings. Ceylon tea has been grown here since the 1860s, and the hills are still dotted with tea factories and old planters’ bungalows. Parts of the Central Highlands, including Horton Plains and the Knuckles range, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nuwara Eliya
At around 1,900 metres, Nuwara Eliya is the highest town in Sri Lanka. The British built it as a cool retreat, and you still see colonial buildings, a golf course and Lake Gregory. It is a good base for tea factory visits and for Horton Plains.
Horton Plains National Park is a high plateau of grassland and cloud forest. A walking loop of about 9 km leads to World’s End, where the cliff drops several hundred metres. Start early: the view is best before the clouds come up, usually by mid-morning.
Ella
Ella is a small village in a gap between the hills, with views down to the plains. It has become popular with travellers, with many cafés and guesthouses, but the walks around it are still beautiful.
- Little Adam’s Peak: an easy walk through tea gardens to a viewpoint. About an hour there and back.
- Nine Arches Bridge: a stone railway viaduct in the jungle, built during British rule. Most beautiful when a train crosses.
- Ella Rock: a longer, steeper hike. About four hours there and back; go with a guide or a good map.
- Ravana Falls: a waterfall right next to the road below Ella.
The train
The railway through the hills, from Kandy via Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) to Ella and Badulla, is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. It was badly damaged by Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025 and is being repaired in sections. Since June 2026 trains run again from Nanu Oya to Ella and Badulla, which includes some of the most beautiful scenery. The section from Kandy was still closed in October 2026. We check the current situation for your dates; read the train to Ella for details.
How many days?
Three to four nights in total: one or two in Nuwara Eliya or a tea estate, and two in Ella.
Best time to visit
February and March are usually the driest months. The western slopes (Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains) get more rain from May to September, while Ella on the eastern side is often drier then. October and November are wet everywhere. Bring a warm jacket: nights can be cold, especially in Nuwara Eliya.
Read more: Ella: the best things to do · Hiking the Pekoe Trail · The train to Ella
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Want to see this yourself?
Tell us your dates and what you like. Ravindu or one of our team will send you a personal route and price, usually within 24 hours.
Private round trips from US$700 per person for 7 days