9 Things to See in Ella, Sri Lanka: Adventure among Waterfalls and Mountains

Ella is one of the best-known villages in the highlands of Sri Lanka, located in the southeast, between Kandy and Tissamaharama (where the Yala national park). In her you will find a quiet and economical place, with many options to stay and above all, impressive waterfalls and mountain routes.

Still don't know what to see in Ella? Don't worry, in this article I'm going to tell you first-hand everything about Ella: where find the best waterfalls, what are the mountain routes, recommended accommodations and restaurants.

Famous for its mountain and nature routes, Ella has two of the most epic and photographed hikes in the country. This is the route to Ella Rock and the popular little Adam's Peak, or rather Little Adams Peak.

Little Adams Peak is located very close to the center of Ella, it will not cost you anything to get around by tuk tuk if you stay there. Due to its proximity to Ella and its incredible panoramic views, this route has become increasingly famous among visitors.

It is a moderate route, which could be divided into two sections, a series of steps at the beginning of the route and the ascent and descent of three different peaks. I know it sounds very difficult, but don't worry, The route in total is 3km long and can easily be completed in 1 hour and a half. In my case I had the pleasure of completing it on two different occasions and here read the article I wrote about my experience hiking Little Adams Peak.

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Ella Rock is one of the most well-known trekking destinations to see in Ella, Sri Lanka. The route offers you one of the most impressive views of the surrounding landscape, including valleys, tea plantations and distant mountains. The trail to get to the top of Ella Rock is a bit challenging and can be confusing, I recommend you start early in the morning and guide yourself with a detailed map, for example using the alltrails app. The reward for the effort is a spectacular panoramic view that many consider one of the best in all of Sri Lanka, The route lasts approximately 2 hours.

There is no exact number that documents all the waterfalls to see in Ella and surrounding areas, but I can assure you that if it existed this number would be more than two figures. We were amazed when we looked for waterfalls in Ella, here I am going to mention the most important ones that we ourselves visited. In addition, you will discover some very little-known waterfalls that you certainly cannot miss on your trip through Ella.

They are the second largest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, but without a doubt the most impressive to see in Ella. Are located 1 hour from Ella, very close to the town of Wellawaya and has a series of natural pools at the top that will leave you speechless.

Through a dirt road you can access the top of the waterfalls, The entrance will cost you about 300 LKR (less than €1) and the walk does not last more than 20 minutes. Once at the top, in addition to the natural pools, you will enjoy impressive views of the forest that surrounds the waterfalls.

My travel companions and I were able to enjoy these waterfalls, although a storm hit us right at the end of the day. Here you can read my recommendations and experience in Diyaluma to make your visit memorable.

These waterfalls They are the most popular among locals and tourists, are located very close to the center of Ella, about 20 minutes by Tuk Tuk. Being well known and easily accessible, locals take advantage of the visit to bathe, wash clothes and set up food stalls around, so you can observe their behavior first-hand.

There is a bridge that crosses the waterfalls where you can park for a quick visit, although we took the opportunity to climb them and take a swim at the top. (Spoiler: it's illegal to climb them, don't do it, we almost got fined).

This hidden gem is not at all known among tourists and is often mistakenly overshadowed by the other waterfalls that are more popular. However, the Pellawela waterfalls were a discovery for us, hidden in the jungle but easily accessible. They find each other about 30 minutes by Tuk Tuk from Her.

You will have to park your vehicle on the side of the road and follow a dirt road until you reach the entrance. The waterfalls have several natural pools and rappelling activities are organized that you can reserve upon arrival, they are not offered on any online platform.

In addition to waterfalls and trails, there are also other things to see in Ella, for example, the famous 9 Arch Bridge and the Flying Ravana Activity Park. Both are located very close to the center of Ella, it will be a piece of cake to get there by Tuk Tuk.

The Nine Arches Bridge, locally known as the "Navathanna Bridge", is an iconic bridge located in Ella, close to the Little Adams Peak trail.

Here you can walk across the bridge and enjoy the panoramic views of the surroundings. We also decided to take photos of the bridge from my drone; The prospects are impressive. It's definitely a sight to see in Ella, especially being so close to Little Adam's Peak, as the bridge is only 15 minutes from the start of the hike. You can easily do both activities on the same day, even on the same morning.

Flying Ravana consists of a zipline which offers the opportunity to experience Ella in a unique way. The zip line stretches for more than half a kilometer, offering spectacular views of the mountains and green valleys that characterize the Ella region.

In addition to the zipline, Other activities such as rock climbing are organized around Flying Ravana.either. It is located right at the beginning of the Little Adams Peak route, you can't miss it. If you are interested, you can do both activities the same morning without any problem.

To visit everything there is to see in Ella, I definitely recommend renting a motorcycle or a Tuk Tuk if you want to make your experience unique. We opted for a tuk tuk as we were three people, and it was one of the best decisions we made during our stay in Ella.

Driving the tuk tuk was quite an experience, even though we didn't have much of an idea how to do it. But this allowed us to move freely around Ella and visit all the waterfalls and routes that we had prepared for our visit.

The cost of the tuk tuk was 5000 LKR per day, the same as a motorcycle costs. They will ask you for your driver's license and you will have to deposit your passport or ID as a deposit. Finding a place to rent a motorcycle in Ella is simple, you just have to ask in any store and they will give you directions, many individuals rent their vehicles. As for the tuk tuk, it can be somewhat more complex. If you are looking for this option, I recommend visiting our friend Shani at Backpackers Hostel Ella. Shani is the owner of the hostel and he also rents tuk tuks (he taught us how to drive for free, he's a genius), this is his phone number: +94756942028.

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that we had lunch and dinner here practically every day we spent in Ella. This is Rotti Hut, a local cuisine restaurant located in the center of Ella, on the main street.

By now you are probably tired of the food on your trip, tired of curry, rotti, kottu and basically all the local food. But believe me, it's worth it, in this restaurant the food is delicious, and the price is super affordable. You can enjoy a smoothie and any dish for less than €4.

Choosing good accommodation in Ella is not a complicated task, however, there are some options that stand out from all the others. I'm going to tell you which are my favorite places where you can stay in Ella according to your budget and interests.

My experience at Ella was so good that I had to repeat. Yes, as you heard, I stayed at Ella on two separate occasions during my time in Sri Lanka. Its cozy atmosphere and nature full of life captivated me. In addition, we must add to all this that Ella is a relatively inexpensive town compared to other places on the island.

On my second visit my friends and I rented the Tuk Tuk to tour Ella and this was a total change in our experience. Thanks to the Tuk Tuk we visited many of the places we had on our travel list, such as the Diyaluma waterfalls.