Trade the coast for cool mountain air on a day trip to Ella — home of the Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, and endless tea country — with all the driving handled for you.
Ella sits high in Sri Lanka's hill country, a world away from the beaches yet reachable as a long day trip from Hiriketiya. The landscape here is all misty peaks, plunging valleys, and terraced tea estates. Its signature sights are the photogenic Nine Arch Bridge, the gentle hike up Little Adam's Peak, the Ravana Falls, and viewpoints that seem to stretch forever on a clear morning.
This is our most ambitious day tour: the drive climbs inland for around four hours each way, so we start very early to make the most of the daylight. Along the route you can stop at a working tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made — and taste it at the source — before reaching Ella itself. Your driver knows the best places to pause for photos and a proper meal.
Because it is a big day on the road, many guests prefer to turn it into an overnight trip, spending a night in the hills and returning refreshed. We are happy to arrange either. If you would rather keep it to a single day, we will plan the timing carefully so you see the highlights without feeling rushed.
- Duration
- Long day (~12 hours) — overnight option available
- Price
- from $130
Itinerary
- 1Very early pickup from Hiriketiya
- 2Scenic drive up into the hill country
- 3Tea factory visit and tasting
- 4Ella highlights — Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, Ravana Falls
- 5Return transfer to the coast (or overnight in the hills)
Highlights
- The iconic Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak
- Working tea estates with tastings at the source
- Ravana Falls and sweeping hill-country viewpoints
- Comfortable private transfer for the long mountain drive
- Can be extended into a relaxed overnight trip
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a long day — roughly four hours' drive each way — but very doable with an early start. If you would rather not spend so long on the road in one day, we can arrange a relaxed overnight trip instead.
The Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, and Ravana Falls are the highlights, along with the tea estates and viewpoints on the way up. We will fit as many as the day allows.
Yes, and many guests prefer it that way. Spending a night in the hills means a gentler pace and time to enjoy a sunrise or sunset over the mountains.