Riding the famous Kandy to Ella train, Sri Lanka

The Kandy to Ella train ride is synonymous with the adventure trail when visiting Sri Lanka. The picture perfect journey takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery Sri Lanka has to offer. From cloud covered tea plantations, mountain ranges sprayed with mist and vibrant farming villages, the lush green hues are everywhere you look.

But before you snap that iconic, hanging out of the train shot, there are lots you need to know! You can find it all here.

The train

There are three classes to choose from – first, second and third class. While first class may seem like the luxe choice to view the scenery on your journey, keep in mind that there are no opened doors or windows. This means you are unable to capture that iconic hanging out of the doors or window shot. If this isn’t of interest to you however, the cabin is air conditioned and clean.

If you do do want the experience of leaning out of the door way or sticking your head out of the windows than opt for third or second class. We went in third class. I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that I envisioned wooden slats with chickens running around the train. But we were pleasantly surprised when I found leather seats, tables, head racks and suitcase areas with available toilets. However, it is at the end of the train which can prevent you from capturing some gorgeous shots of the trains curvature of the landscape. In hind sight I would have booked earlier and went for second class.

Getting a ticket

Due to the popularity of this train it books out quickly. For this reason, it is recommended you purchase your tickets months in advance, or at least a few weeks. The sooner you book, the better the seats, and cabin you will likely have.

The tickets are very affordable, and shouldn’t exceed more than approx $7 AUD per person. You can book tickets here!

First class ticket – 3000 LKR
Second class – 600 LKR
Third class – 300 LKR

The journey

Ella is just 62 kilometres south from Kandy, however due to the mountain ranges and highly variable topography, the trip takes a whopping 7.5 hours to complete. Although there are plenty of stops, these are often no longer than 1 minute in duration, making it almost impossible to get any snacks or liquids from stops. Furthermore, the latter of the trip becomes clustered and busy. This can make it extremely uncomfortable, especially in the humidity.

There is a toilet in each class, however like many other places in Sri Lanka, there is no toilet paper available. So if you’re wanting to make your toilet breaks as comfortable as possible, I recommend bringing abroad some toilet roll or hygiene wipes.

While it is not recommended that you depart the train for food due to the stops being brief, there are local vendors who walk around the train with food and tea for sale. Ensure that you bring a large bottle of water to stay hydrated as there is no other drink options in second and third class.

Despite this temporary state of discomfort, the journey is well worth it. Starting out from Kandy train station, the train sweeps through the outskirts of the city before climbing into steep mountain range. Despite the first half of the journey being stunning, it doesn’t compare to the sheer natural beauty of the second half. This is where the train clings to the cliffs of mountains that overlook breathtaking misty views. There are hundreds, if not thousands of tea plantations that mottle every crevice of rolling landscape. This can be seen for approximately 3 hours before swooping into the pleasantly warm Ella.

Taking photos

The best places to take photos are in both second and third class. As mentioned, this is due the doors and windows being open, making for that magical shot that everyone is after. I recommend getting a snap in before the last 3 hours of the journey. This time becomes busy and everyone is looking for the same opportunity, cramming the doors for long periods of time. While some people are considerate and let you quickly jump in, others can be rude and linger around the door for almost the entirety of the train trip. These people are mainly fellow tourists.

The locals on the other hand are well acquainted with this journey and will often move temporarily for you. If you’re travelling solo and wanting someone to trust with your phone or camera to snap a photo, the clergy on the train can be trusted.

Lastly, be careful! While this may seem obvious there have been many deaths, two being within the month I wrote and posted this blog post. While people tend to lean backward out of the train, be mindful that there are plenty of trees, branches and cement structures such as underground bridges that can easily be fatal if you come in contact.