Sigiriya, Kandy, the Ella train and Galle Fort
This is leg 2 of 3.
Travel leg · Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast
Kandy to Ella
Kandy and Ella sit about 66 km (41 mi) apart in a straight line, with Ella to the south-east. It is leg 2 of 3 on our Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast itinerary, an 11-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 66 km · 41 mi
- Est. road distance
- 79–92 km
- Est. drive time
- 60 min – 1 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading south-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 79–92 km (49–57 mi) and 60 min – 1 h 45 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Most travelers hire a car with driver between stops. After Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025, trains between Kandy and Nanu Oya were still suspended in October 2026, so drive from Kandy to Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya) and take the scenic train from there to Ella. Tuk-tuks cover short trips.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Ella
Hill village of tea estates, waterfalls and easy hikes. Stay 2–3 nights.
Nanu Oya to Ella train
Three-hour ride over the high plateau via Ohiya and Haputale, through tea country, tunnels and cloud forest.
Nine Arch Bridge
Colonial-era stone railway viaduct set in jungle and tea fields.
Little Adam's Peak
Easy 45-minute hike through tea to a ridge with views down Ella Gap.
Matey Hut
Tiny family kitchen with rice and curry spreads that draw lines nightly.
Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory
Working tea factory above Ella with short tours and a tasting of Uva teas.
Ella Rock
Harder half-day hike along rail tracks and through forest to a cliff-top viewpoint.
Before you leave Kandy
The hill capital and its sacred Buddhist temple by the lake. Stay 2 nights.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist site, housing a tooth of the Buddha beside Kandy Lake.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
147 acres of palms, orchids, giant bamboo and a vast Javan fig tree.
Kandyan dance show
Evening performance of drumming, acrobatic dance and fire-walking at the Kandy Lake Club.
On this curated route
Where Kandy → Ella sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Ella to Kandy is the same 66 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in March, when Ella averages highs 4°C cooler than Kandy.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kandy high | 26° | 28° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 27° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 26° | 26° |
| Ella high | 23° | 24° | 26° | 27° | 26° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 23° | 22° |
| Kandy rain | 116 | 89 | 96 | 155 | 133 | 73 | 62 | 70 | 101 | 228 | 279 | 243 |
| Ella rain | 144 | 106 | 102 | 155 | 128 | 62 | 50 | 64 | 112 | 221 | 289 | 262 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Ella month guides.
Kandy to Ella: questions travelers ask
How far is Kandy from Ella?
Kandy is about 66 km (41 mi) from Ella in a straight line, with Ella to the south-east. By road, we estimate 79–92 km (49–57 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Kandy to Ella?
An estimated 60 min – 1 h 45 min, assuming 79–92 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Kandy to Ella?
Our Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast itinerary includes this leg. Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast runs about 11 days across 4 stops, best in Dec – Apr.
Onward from Ella
- Ella to Galle 130 km
Getting to Kandy
Guides for both ends
- Kandy travel guide
- Kandy weather best time to visit
- Ella travel guide
- Ella weather best time to visit
Ella by month
Plan Kandy → Ella with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.