A hill country hideaway with big views and gentle rhythms

High in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, Ella is a lush mountain village that has captured the hearts of travelers seeking beauty, serenity, and a slower pace. Surrounded by misty peaks, cascading waterfalls, and emerald-green tea fields, Ella is less about sights to tick off — and more about the feeling of being there.

Start the day with a sunrise hike to Little Adam’s Peak, a short and rewarding trail that offers sweeping views over the valley. Or challenge yourself with the climb to Ella Rock, a longer route that winds through jungle paths, tea plantations, and cliffside ridges before opening onto a vast, windswept summit.

One of Ella’s most photographed landmarks is the Nine Arch Bridge — a stunning piece of colonial-era railway architecture that curves between two hills like something out of a dream. If you're lucky, you’ll catch the blue train crossing as mist rises through the trees — a postcard moment come to life.

But Ella isn’t only about adventure. It’s about mornings on a veranda with a cup of fresh Ceylon tea, afternoons spent wandering between cafés and quiet shops, and evenings under the stars listening to the forest hum. Nearby, you can visit a working tea factory, cool off beneath Ravana Falls, or ride the iconic train from Ella to Nanu Oya — one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys.



Whether you're backpacking across Sri Lanka or seeking a place to pause and breathe, Ella offers a blend of nature, charm, and freedom that makes it unforgettable.