Jump to:
- Why Kandy to Ella by Car Is a Great Alternative
- How to Book & Price
- Kandy to Ella by Car: Important Information
- Key Stops Between Kandy & Ella
- Kandy to Ella by Car Final Thoughts
Why Kandy to Ella by Car Is a Great Alternative
Travelling from Kandy to Ella by car is a great option, allowing you more comfort, flexibility and freedom to explore attractions along the way compared to taking the train. You can stop where you want, visit stunning viewpoints and explore at your own pace. The drive is very scenic and you’ll pass waterfalls, rolling tea plantations and charming towns such as Nuwara Eliya.
How to Book & Price
Surprisingly, hiring a private driver isn’t much more expensive than booking a 1st or 2nd reserved class seat on the Ella Odyssey train through a travel agent. We paid £55 for the whole journey, including the stops on the way. We recommend Mountlanka Tours – we had a fantastic driver that told us a lot of interesting facts along the way. Our hotel in Kandy helped us arrange the transfer – we messaged them through Booking.com. However, you can book via TripAdvisor or message Mountlanka via Whatsapp number they list on their Facebook Page.
There are also shared vans going from Kandy to Ella, however if there’s at least 2 of you sharing, they won’t be much cheaper than a private car. The whole journey took around 7 hours, including the time spent at the attractions.
Kandy to Ella by Car: Important Information
Due to the bad weather in November 2025, the Ella to Kandy train service is currently (January 2026) not operating along the full route as part of the track remains damaged. This means more people are currently choosing to get to Kandy to Ella by car, making the route busier than in previous years. We recommend setting off early in the morning to beat some of the crowds and make the most of your time.
Be aware that the roads are fairly windy so the drive is not ideal if you suffer from motion sickness. However, it wasn’t too bad, so don’t let this put you off! Some sections are still under repair after recent landslides, but most places are easily accessible without any major issues.
Key Stops Between Kandy & Ella
There’s many great spots to stop when travelling from Kandy to Ella by car. You will see some stunning waterfalls, picturesque towns and scenic tea plantations. Ideally, you will only need to visit 1 or 2 tea plantations to get some insight into the tea making process. However, we included all the main ones on the route.
The Rothschild Tea Estate
Within 20 minutes of leaving Kandy, we passed multiple tea plantations and we saw some waterfalls from the distance. We decided to stop briefly at The Rothschild Tea Estate which is one of the biggest and oldest tea plantations in Sri Lanka.
We only stopped for a picture and for the views but they also offer tours of the tea factory, tea tasting and you can also grab a cake and some food there. The views are stunning, with endless hills covered in lush green tea fields.
Oak Ray Tea Factory
Oak Ray is a Sri Lankan-owned tea factory that’s slightly smaller than some of the larger estates in the area. Visitors can also take a tour of the tea plantation and taste some freshly picked tea. There’s also a shop onsite where you can buy a variety of teas and locally made souvenirs.
Poonaella View Point
Just next to Oak Ray Tea Factory, there’s a great viewpoint where you can see panoramic views of Rambada Falls, Puna Ella Falls and endless rolling hills covered in lush green tea plantations. We highly recommend stopping there as the scenery is truly breathtaking.
Rambada Falls
Rambada Falls is one of the most popular stops when driving from Kandy to Ella. The falls are truly impressive and very powerful. The lower falls can be accessed directly off the road, so you won’t need to hike there. Normally, there’s a trail taking around 15 minutes to the upper falls, however it remains inaccessible due to the bad weather in November 2025. Despite this, we still recommend stopping off as the falls are truly stunning and there’s no entrance fee to visit.
Labookellie Tea Factory and Lounge
Labookellie Tea Factory and Lounge is one of the best tea factories to visit when travelling to Kandy to Ella by car. Located over 2,000 meters above sea level, it’s also one of the most scenic tea factories in the region. This factory is one of the largest, employing over 1,000 people, and is among the oldest, with a history dating back to the 19th century.
They offer a free tour of the tea factory, followed by complementary tea tasting. Our guide was excellent and very informative. In just around 10 minutes, we learnt a lot about the tea production process. After the tour, we sat upstairs in the tearoom with amazing views of the tea plantation. The tea is free, and cakes are available for around £1 each, while a large pizza costs approximately £10. There’s a shop onsite where you can buy some locally grown tea.
Nuwara Eliya Town & Post Office
Nuwara Eliya town, often called ‘Little England’, is one of the most picturesque towns in Sri Lanka. It’s known for its scenic tea plantations, colonial architecture and cooler climate. When we arrived the town was very busy and finding a parking spot was pretty challenging.
Nuwara Eliya Post Office is definitely worth visiting. This Tudor-style, red brick building was built in the 19th century and it’s the oldest post office in Sri Lanka. It’s completely free to visit and you can buy and send postcards directly from there.
Nuwara Eliya Victoria Park
Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya is a well-maintained public park known for its colorful flower beds and peaceful walks. It’s located right in the centre of the city and it’s a popular spot for relaxing. Bear in mind that there’s a £3 charge for foreigners to enter.
Single Tree Hill View Point
Single Tree Hill View Point offers panoramic views over Nuwara Eliya town and the surrounding hills. Even on a foggy day, the scenery was still great and well worth a visit. There’s a temple at the top called Single Tree Temple and a large Buddha statue. You can walk to the viewpoint from Nuwara Eliya town or drive all the way to the top.
Gregory Park Lake
Gregory Park Lake is a man-made lake and a scenic attraction in the heart of Nuwara Eliya. You can hire a boat to go around the lake or simply just take a walk along the lakeside. There’s also a £3 entrance fee for foreigners.
Bomburu Ella Waterfall
You need to take a slight detour to visit Bomburu Ella Waterfall, however it’s definitely worth it. It’s one of Sri Lanka’s widest waterfalls, surrounded by lush greenery and misty hills. There’s a short hike to the waterfall from the parking lot and foreign visitors pay a £2 entrance fee.
Hakgala Tea Estate
Hakgala Tea Estate would be one of the last stops when driving from Kandy to Ella. It’s a picturesque tea plantation where you can learn about the tea making process and enjoy the panoramic views of lush green hills.
Kandy to Ella by Car Final Thoughts
Going from Kandy to Ella by car is a great alternative to taking the train, allowing you to travel more comfortably and enjoy great stops along the way. You won’t miss out on amazing scenery driving past plenty of tea plantations, stunning waterfalls and charming towns. We hope this guide has helped you to plan your stops between Kandy and Ella.
I’m very pleased to uncover this website. I need to to thank you for ones time for this particularly wonderful read!!
I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you saved as a favorite to check out new things in your site.
Thank you, David 🙂