The 8 Best Sri Lanka Train Journeys Tours

1.Ella: Tea Factory, Train, and Nine Arch Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 98 reviews · 16 hours · from $140Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Colombo, Galle, Negombo and other pickup towns for a full day in Ella. Expect Ravana Waterfall, a short train ride, Nine Arch Bridge, a 45-minute Little Adam’s Peak hike, tea tasting and an optional zipline. Guides including Krish, Dinesh and Ranga have led past departures.

“Krish was a fantastic tour guide! He has a bubbly, friendly attitude and his attention to detail to personalise the itinerary to make the most of the day was second to none. I had a great day and saw everything I wanted to. Even when I was nervous to go down the zipline, his encouragement got me through! Overall, this day is going to be a highlight of my trip! Highly recommend”

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2.Ella Private Day Trip with Train Ride & Tea Factory-All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $190Top rated

Travel from selected south coast towns to Ella by private car with a driver-guide, stopping at Rawana Falls, Little Adam’s Peak, Nine Arch Bridge and Demodara. The day also includes a scenic train ride, lunch, entry fees and a guided visit to Kelliebedde Tea Factory. It is a long, early-starting trip, with a private pace and hotel pickup.

“A wonderful day trip exploring the sights around Ella. This let us experience the beauty of Sri Lanka away from the coast. Pradeep was our driver and guide for the day and was superb at his job. He was friendly and made sure everything was jRead more”

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3.Colombo to Kandy Train Tickets (Reserved Seats)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · from $18

Book a reserved second-class seat on a non-stop intercity train from Colombo Fort to Kandy. Choose a 7 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. departure, then travel independently while the countryside rolls by. Mahaweli Tours and Holidays sends an e-ticket by email or WhatsApp. The listed price is $18 per person, including a ticket service fee.

“Helpful staff, but train was over booked. Great price. They are very personal. Sri Lankans are such a friendly culture.”

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4.Sri Lanka Private 2-day Tour:Train Trip, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $275

This private two-day tour links Kandy and Nuwara Eliya with a roughly three-hour hill-country train ride, temple and garden visits, a cultural show, and a tea factory stop. English-language guiding is offered; Sunny is one guide praised for adding interesting roadside stops, though the guide assigned to your tour may differ.

“I got a completely different experience than almost every other review here. My guide wasn’t really a guide at all but more like a private driver. He didn’t really say a word the entire 2 days to me as he didn’t speak english well. But he was a great driver, always on time, and dropped me off and picked me up everywhere like clockwork. I accepted that I basically paid for a private chauffeur for two days which is fine. Still had a good time seeing all the sights, and as promised, they took care of all train tickets, hotel, etc.”

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5.Ella Private Day Tour with Train Ride and Visit to Nine Arch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $145

Set out from Bentota at 6:00 am in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking licensed guide. The day includes Little Adam’s Peak, Nine Arch Bridge, an organic tea garden, Rawana Falls, and a one-hour train ride. Tickets, snacks, and water are included. Confirm your guide and private-group arrangements before departure.

“I booked a private tour with Sindu based on the reviews. Unfortunately the night before I was informed there would be another passenger. When I queried this I was offered another guide. After my day I would have to say that Armuna is not Read more”

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6.Nuwaraeliya (Nanuoya) to Ella Reserved Train Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $20

Book a reserved seat on the daily train from Nanuoya, the station serving Nuwara Eliya, to Ella. Choose from two departures; your seat is in second or third class, depending on availability, and the paper ticket is delivered to your hotel before the trip. Expect opening windows, tea country views, and a ride of about two to three hours.

“Very good views and it was a memorable ride. Seats were comfortable. A little anxiety for not receiving the physical tickets earlier but it was still on time. It was confusing to find the seat numbers but we reached out to the uniformed staff to ask. Overall, the train ride really opened up our hearts to see endless hills and beautiful scenary of Sri Lanka.”

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7.Train from Colombo to Kandy

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 5 reviews · from $14Best value

Travel from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Kandy Railway Station with a reserved train seat arranged by Nefelibata Travels. The trip takes about two to three hours and offers a scenic ride inland. Your ticket arrives electronically, so you do not need a paper ticket. Hotel transfers cost extra.

“The vendor tells you to go to the fort railway to retrieve your ticket. When I went there, I didn’t have a reservation. After I paid for another ticket, he asked me why I asked for a refund. He then stated he sent me a e ticket and I didn’t need the paper ticket. I don’t like this confuRead more”

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8.2 Day Tour of Yala & Ella with Hill Country Scenic Train Ride – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $340

Bentota Travel Mart’s private two-day tour pairs a four-hour morning safari in Yala with Ravana Falls, Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, an overnight stay in Ella, a 60 to 70 minute hill-country train ride, and a tea factory visit. Private transport, meals, tickets, and a driver-guide are included.

“This was one of the best tours I’ve ever been on! Our driver Ishan was an expert and super friendly and helpful. They even got me a cake for my birthday! Every experience from the safari to the train ride was excellent. The communication and coordination of the tour agency was perfect. I can’t wait to come back to Sri Lanka, thank you so much!”

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