The train journey from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The journey takes about 7 hours and treats you to scenic views of green hills adorned with tea plantations, waterfalls, and breathtaking vistas. The train chugs along at a leisurely pace, making numerous stops at small mountain villages. The doors and windows remain open throughout the journey, allowing passengers to enjoy the views from the doorways. This train journey is a remarkable experience that attracts travelers from all over the world. However, that last part has become a tad problematic. Because while the train ride should be one of the highlights of your journey through Sri Lanka, without proper preparations, it could easily turn into your biggest frustration. In this comprehensive article, you’ll find our tips to avoid this.

The Different Train Classes in Sri Lanka

First and foremost, it’s essential to know that there are different tickets available in various classes for train travel in Sri Lanka. The price difference is negligible, but it mainly concerns the level of comfort and whether the windows and doors can be opened.

• • 3rd class: Combination of hard benches and standing room – fans – open windows and doors
  • 3rd class reserved seat: Exactly the same as 3rd class but with reserved seats
  • 2nd class: Comfortable seats – fans – open windows and doors
  • 2nd class reserved seat: Exactly the same as 2nd class but with reserved seats. Doors are usually open here. Otherwise, you can ask a conductor
  • 1st class reserved seat: Comfortable seats – air conditioning – closed windows and doors
  • Observation class: Also a 1st class cabin with reserved seats. This is located at the front of the train with larger windows for viewing outside, but unfortunately, these windows cannot be opened

With a reserved seat ticket, you’re guaranteed a seat for your entire journey, and no one else will take your place if you want to take a stroll or stand by an open door. When you purchase a ticket for a regular class, you’re not initially assured of a seat. Secondly, you’ll definitely lose your seat if you get up when it’s crowded. Therefore, reserved seats are the most popular. Unfortunately, there are only a few compartments available, and the demand for them is extremely high.

Note: The 1st class and 2nd class reserved seats are separated from the 2nd and 3rd class. Therefore, you cannot move back and forth between the 2nd and 3rd class to sit by the door. If you want to hang out of the train, you’ll need to be in the 2nd and 3rd class. If you’re not there, you can try switching to another class at a station if the crowding allows. Since the train stops almost every quarter-hour, you can easily return to your own compartment.

The Different Trains per Day from Kandy to Ella

The train for the route between Kandy and Ella departs at various times throughout the day. The morning train is the most popular because you’ll have beautiful light throughout the entire journey, allowing you to enjoy the stunning landscape. There’s often another train at the end of the morning and one in the afternoon. Sometimes there are also night trains on this route, but you’ll miss out on the beautiful views. For current departure times, you can inquire locally as this schedule changes regularly.

Good to know: It’s not uncommon for trains in Sri Lanka to be delayed, sometimes by several hours. You can ask at the station when they expect the train, but in case of delays, they usually don’t have an answer. They’ll just tell you something to reassure you, so don’t get upset if this information turns out to be inaccurate.

How to Buy Train Tickets in Sri Lanka

If you’ve considered all the options above, you’ve probably already decided which class and which train you want to take. You can now let go of that idea because here’s where the challenge begins. It can be quite challenging nowadays to obtain reserved seat tickets for the train journey from Kandy to Ella, regardless of the class. Due to the immense popularity of this train journey, a sort of ticket mafia has emerged. Large parties buy up all the tickets when they become available and then sell them at exorbitant prices. Fortunately, these prices are still quite affordable for travelers. But the biggest challenge is actually getting your hands on such a ticket.

Pre-Booking Train Tickets Online

The reservation system for train tickets officially opens 30 days in advance by the government. However, many major parties allow you to make a reservation more than 30 days in advance so that they can start working on it when the tickets become available. They say that ‘the earlier you reserve, the greater the chance of securing your seats,’ but this still doesn’t guarantee your tickets.

Option 1: Pre-book your train tickets online at 12go.asia

Of all the providers, 12go.asia is the most reliable travel agency specializing in booking bus and train tickets throughout Asia. This gives you the best chance of getting a ticket.

For some trains, they offer e-tickets with immediate confirmation, while for others, you’ll receive confirmation within 24 hours. There are also paper tickets, which need to be delivered to your hotel or picked up at their partner’s office. If your preferred time and class are not available, tick the box indicating that you want to book flexibly. They will then check if they can secure another reserved seat for you in a different class or on a different train on the same day. There’s still a chance they may not be able to get a ticket for that day, in which case they’ll contact you to discuss options, and you’ll get your money back if it doesn’t work out.

Option 2: Book your train ticket online via the Sri Lankan Railway ticket website.

Tickets become available here from 30 days before, although they are usually snapped up immediately by other parties. So, you often won’t see any available tickets here.

Option 3: Haven’t found tickets yet? Check other providers like Bookaway. Keep an eye on all websites during your trip; sometimes, a ticket may become available last minute.

Option 4: Inquire about reserved tickets at Colombo Fort train station or Kandy train station

It used to be possible to buy reserved seat tickets at the stations in advance, but this seems to be becoming increasingly difficult nowadays. I couldn’t find a clear answer if this is no longer possible, but it’s worth a shot! If you pass by a train station during your trip, just ask about the possibilities.

Practical Tips for Pre-Booking Train Tickets

• Online reservations always need to be converted into a physical ticket. Pay attention to your confirmation email for instructions. Some providers require you to print your ticket at the station, while others will have your tickets delivered to your hotel on the day of departure, or you may need to collect them yourself. Sometimes, they’re printed at the main station in Colombo, and you’ll need to pick them up there or have them sent to your accommodation for a small fee. So, read the conditions carefully to ensure you have a physical ticket.
• Keep in mind that the time and class you booked may not always be final with what you ultimately receive. Providers sometimes sell tickets online first but then still need to collect the physical tickets themselves, so they are also dependent on availability at that time. Therefore, you might end up with a ticket for a later train or in a different class. But with a reserved seat, it’s easy to walk around the train a bit because your seat remains yours.
• You cannot choose a seat when booking your ticket. It will be assigned to you on your ticket.
• If you’ve already ordered tickets online and happen to pass by Colombo train station, they may be able to print your train ticket for you there so they don’t have to send it later on your trip.

Purchasing a Train Ticket at the Station

If you haven’t been able to reserve a ticket, you can always go to the station on the day itself to buy an unreserved ticket; these don’t sell out. But beware, because seats are limited. Even if you manage to get a ticket at the station, the train may still be so full that you simply can’t fit in anymore. Many people opt for this option, so it can be incredibly crowded, with the possibility of standing the entire journey in an overcrowded train. Of course, you never know, and you can always try. Sometimes someone vacates their seat right in front of you, and you can sit down. Sometimes you’re out of luck and end up standing for hours like sardines in a can. You never know, and that’s exactly what makes it difficult.

Practical Tips to Avoid Crowds

• Arrive at the station on time if you want to buy a ticket, at least an hour before the train departs, and be prepared for a line at the ticket counter.
• There are more 3rd class compartments than 2nd class. So statistically, with a 3rd class ticket, you have a better chance of getting a seat on the train.
• Consider boarding one station before Kandy, at Peradeniye. Some people travel from Colombo to Kandy and get off there. If you board at Peradeniye, you have a better chance of getting a seat from someone who just got off.
• It’s often recommended to take the morning train because you’ll have daylight for the entire train ride, so most people aim for that train. Therefore, trains later in the day may be quieter. Also, try to avoid weekends because trains tend to be extra crowded then, as well as the month of December because many locals are on vacation.

Extra Handy Tips for Train Travel in Sri Lanka

• Keep your train ticket safeWhen leaving the station in Ella, you’ll need to show your train ticket again. So, don’t throw it away!
• Bring toilet paperThe train toilet is as you’d expect on a train in Sri Lanka; dirty and without toilet paper. In addition to the hole in the ground, there are occasional Western-style toilets, but chances are you’d prefer to use the hole considering you don’t want to sit on the Western-style toilet.
• You can make a stopoverThe entire journey from Kandy to Ella takes about 7 hours. That’s quite long, especially if you have to stand the whole time. Nuwara Eliya is a nice stopover to break up your journey. You can get off at Nanu Oya station. Nuwara Eliya is a relaxed town with a beautiful surrounding area full of tea plantations.
• Buy sandwiches and drinks at Kandy stationBring enough food and drinks for the journey. Occasionally, vendors board the train and offer some snacks, but it’s nothing compared to the sandwiches you can buy at Kandy station. On the 1st platform in Kandy, you’ll find a small bakery on the right. They sell delicious filled rolls. Also, don’t forget to bring enough water because some of these sandwiches can be quite spicy.
• Sit on the right sideIf you have the choice to choose a seat, you naturally want to sit on the side with the best view. From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya station), that’s on the right side, and from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, it’s on the left side.
• Bring warm clothesThis train journey goes through the mountains, and the weather can change suddenly. One moment it’s nice weather, and the next it’s cold and foggy. Since the doors and windows are often open, it can be windy in the train and it can cool down significantly. So, bring a sweater and long pants just in case.
• Be careful when hanging out of the trainA fairly obvious tip but definitely important. Be careful when hanging out of the train, sticking your head or camera out of the window, or sitting with your legs out of the train door. Along the way, there are many poles with signs along the tracks, you pass through tunnels, and plants grow everywhere, which can cut you badly. It still happens regularly that people get injured or even fall out of the train.
• Keep track of when to get offUsing the maps.me app, you can download the map of Sri Lanka and navigate offline. They don’t announce in English which station you’re at on the train, so this way you can keep track yourself.

Alternative Travel Options between Kandy and Ella

If all the above options for getting a train ticket haven’t worked out for you, or if you simply want to avoid the crowds and uncertainty, there are a few other fun ways to travel between Kandy and Ella.

Alternative 1: From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya by tuk-tuk or minivan, and then take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. The first part of the route, between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, is also beautiful to travel by road. It takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours by tuk-tuk. This is the fastest option, and you’ll also enjoy a stunning view. Another great alternative is the scenic minivans! You’ll spend half a day in a minivan, stopping at several beautiful sights along the way to Nuwara Eliya, such as the Ramboda Waterfalls and a tea factory. After your stay in Nuwara Eliya, you can then try to take the train from there. Usually, the train is less crowded by then because many people have already disembarked.

Alternative 2: Go directly from Kandy to Ella by scenic minivan, and then take the train back to Nuwara Eliya. Since the roads between Nuwara Eliya and Ella are quite bad, we don’t recommend taking the public bus on this route. Instead, opt for a tuk-tuk or a minivan, as they navigate the mountains a bit easier. With this scenic minivan, the journey takes about 5 to 6 hours, and you’ll stop at no less than 7 attractions along the way.

Alternative 3: Take a short train ride from Ella to Badulla. Skip the entire train journey between Kandy and Ella and do it by tuk-tuk or scenic minivan instead. To still experience this train journey, you can travel from Ella to Badulla by train. Then, you can relax for a while in Badulla and return to Ella by bus, tuk-tuk, or train at the end of the day. This route even passes over the famous Nine Arch Bridge, where many people are likely to be waving as the train approaches.

Top Things to Do in Ella

Once you arrive in Ella, the next adventure begins. Ella is perhaps our favorite spot in all of Sri Lanka due to its pleasant atmosphere and stunning surroundings. We’ve been there four times in the past few years. Curious about what you shouldn’t miss in Ella? Check out our tips for Ella!