The 12 Best Ella & Hill Country Tours

1.Tea Factory, Train, and Nine Arch Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 98 reviews · 16 hours · from $140Our pick

Travel from Sri Lanka’s southwest coast to Ella with a guide and air-conditioned transport. You’ll see Ravana Waterfall, ride the train for about 25 minutes, walk to Nine Arch Bridge, climb Little Adam’s Peak, visit a tea factory, and have time at Ravana Pool Club. Ziplining is optional and costs extra.

“Krish was a fantastic tour guide! He has a bubbly, friendly attitude and his attention to detail to personalise the itinerary to make the most of the day was second to none. I had a great day and saw everything I wanted to. Even when I was nervous to go down the zipline, his encouragement got me through! Overall, this day is going to be a highlight of my trip! Highly recommend”

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2.03 Days Highlights Of Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya , Ella & Udawalawe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $265Top rated

This private 3-day circuit links Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, and Udawalawe from Colombo. Expect an early start, long drives, two hotel nights, an English-speaking driver-guide, and extra fees for major sights and the safari.

“I joined a 3-day tour through Sri Lanka and absolutely loved it! Everything was perfectly organized – efficient, reliable, and very professional. Our guide Aaron and the driver were a fantastic team who made the trip smooth and enjoyable. TRead more”

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3.3 Days Tour to Kandy Nuwara Eliya & Sigiriya from Colombo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · from $250

Travel by private air-conditioned car from Colombo to Kandy, the tea country and Sigiriya over three busy days. You will visit the Temple of the Tooth, tea estates, Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla and Sigiriya, with two hotel nights, breakfasts, dinners and a driver-guide such as Krish or Keerthe.

“It was a last minute plan to visit this part of the world, in conjunction with our 18th year anniversary. The private tour itinerary is arranged to suit our request and flexible timing is what we liked most. A good introductory trip to start with in Sri Lanka.”

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4.4 Days Tour to Kandy, Sigiriya & Nuwara Eliya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $325

Travel privately from Colombo with an English-speaking chauffeur guide, visiting Kandy’s Tooth Relic Temple, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Minneriya National Park, a tea factory, and Nuwara Eliya. Mohamed is one named driver associated with the tour, while safari guide Nishanta leads the wildlife outing.

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5.Airport Transfer to Colombo Ella Galle Sigiriya Kandy and More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews

You get a private airport pickup in Negombo with an English-speaking chauffeur, air-conditioned vehicle, water, highway tolls, and room for about 50kg of luggage. Drivers such as Lasantha, Kuma, Anurudda, and Mr. Fernando have handled longer Sri Lanka routes for this service.

“We covered Colombo, Kandy, Bentota, and Nuwara Eliya, and the entire experience was excellent. Our driver, Lasantha, and tour coordinator, Shanil, were extremely helpful, professional, and knowledgeable throughout the trip. We did not facRead more”

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6.6Days Hill country Private Tour in Sri Lanka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $590

Travel from Colombo Airport through Sri Lanka’s hill country by private car, with stops in Kandy, tea country, Ella, Bentota, and Colombo. You’ll ride the Nanu Oya to Ella train, stay in 3-star hotels, and travel with a licensed guide. Guides such as Palith and Anura have handled past Roxaval trips.

“It was a great experience with Roxavl Travels. We spent quite comfortably hours throughout our journey and covered lots of beautiful places & attractive cities. Roxaval travels services were excellent and fulfilled all commitments by providing mRead more”

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7.Sri Lanka Private 2-day Tour: Train Trip, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $275

Travel privately from Colombo through Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, with a three-hour blue train ride, the Temple of the Tooth, Peradeniya gardens, a cultural show, and a tea factory visit. Guides such as Sunny may tailor stops, but train seats are not guaranteed.

“I got a completely different experience than almost every other review here. My guide wasn’t really a guide at all but more like a private driver. He didn’t really say a word the entire 2 days to me as he didn’t speak english well. But he was a great driver, always on time, and dropped me off and picked me up everywhere like clockwork. I accepted that I basically paid for a private chauffeur for two days which is fine. Still had a good time seeing all the sights, and as promised, they took care of all train tickets, hotel, etc.”

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8.Day Tour to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy by Lux Tours Lanka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $160

Travel privately from Kandy toward Nuwara Eliya with Lux Tours Lanka, stopping at Gregory Lake, Ramboda Waterfall, Victoria Park, and Hakgala Botanic Gardens. Drivers such as Laxman, Chanakya, Chanaa, and Jack have helped shape flexible sightseeing days, but confirm your pickup point before booking.

“I came to Kandy with no plans whatsoever.. then I ended up meeting Mr. Laxman from Lux Tours Lanka and my entire trip was sorted after that .. not only he showed me all the wonderful places in Kandy but also guided me and didn’t take a penny and gave me so many Read more”

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9.7 Day Colombo Galle Yala Ella Kandy, Sri Lanka Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews

Travel privately with guide-driver Sujeewa on a packed seven-day circuit from Colombo through ancient cities, hill country, waterfalls, Yala, Mirissa, and Galle. Expect scenic road travel, temple visits, hikes, tea-country stops, and many extra costs for admission, hotels, safaris, and meals.

“More than just a driver, basically a good friend! Very professional and friendly. Our Sri Lanka's tour was beautiful, even better thanks to Sujee! 100% recommended!”

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10.Nuwaraeliya (Nanuoya) to Ella Reserved Train Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $20

Book the famous Nanuoya to Ella train in advance and receive a paper ticket at your hotel. Choose between two daily departures, then enjoy a reserved second or third-class seat, opening windows, tea estates, mountain views, rivers, and waterfalls during this 2 to 3-hour ride.

“Very good views and it was a memorable ride. Seats were comfortable. A little anxiety for not receiving the physical tickets earlier but it was still on time. It was confusing to find the seat numbers but we reached out to the uniformed staff to ask. Overall, the train ride really opened up our hearts to see endless hills and beautiful scenary of Sri Lanka.”

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11.Colombo to Kandy, Ella & Yala 3 Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $5Best value

This private three-day trip links Kandy’s Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya to Nanu Oya train, Nuwara Eliya, Ella’s waterfalls, and Yala National Park. An English-speaking driver, hotel pickup, and air-conditioned transport are included. Guide Terens is named in the tour information.

“In this three day trip excellent tour in my life and the friends also enjoyed well and good hotels. Guide also supported us well. Good all arrangements. I recommend it more friends.”

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12.Udawalawe Safari Day Trip from South Region & Transfer to Ella

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $180

You’ll travel from Sri Lanka’s south coast to Udawalawe National Park with a private driver-guide, then switch to a safari jeep for 3 to 3.5 hours among elephants, deer, monkeys, crocodiles, peacocks, and dry-zone birds. Lunch, entry fees, bottled water, and the Elephant Transit Home visit are included.

“We did our day trip in December 2023. We were cruising at that time and were picked up from the port. Everything was organized very well. The cars were waiting for us in the designated area and were easy to find. The car was clean, the driRead more”

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