A scenic train journey is one of the must-do experiences for anyone visiting Sri Lanka. However, due to extremely high demand and limited seat availability, securing train tickets can be very challenging.
Sri Lanka Railways releases tickets to the general public only 30 days before the travel date, and popular routes often sell out within minutes.
As a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) accredited tour operator, we maintain a limited allocation of train tickets for guests who have booked holidays with us where a scenic train journey forms part of their itinerary. From time to time, we may also have additional tickets available due to last-minute cancellations or itinerary changes, and we are pleased to offer these to other travellers whenever possible.
Please note the following conditions before making a reservation:
- Payment does not guarantee a confirmed ticket. Your reservation will be processed based on ticket availability. If we are unable to secure your requested seats, we will make every reasonable effort to obtain suitable alternatives. If we are ultimately unsuccessful, your payment will be refunded in full.
- Accurate passport details are required. We require either clear passport copies or accurate passport numbers for all passengers, as tickets must be issued under the correct passport details. Incorrect information may result in passengers being denied boarding by Sri Lanka Railways.
- The requested travel class is subject to availability. While you may reserve a specific class (e.g. First Class), availability cannot be guaranteed. If we are only able to secure a lower class than the one you paid for, we will automatically refund the applicable fare difference.
- E-tickets will be issued approximately six (6) hours before departure. We continue working until the last possible moment to secure the best available seats for our customers. For this reason, your e-ticket will only be released shortly before your scheduled departure.
By proceeding with your reservation, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the above terms and conditions.
Nanu Oya to Ella is the highest, wildest stretch of Sri Lanka’s hill-country line — just under 65 km of track that climbs to the summit of the whole network, crosses the open moorland above Horton Plains, and then drops through tea estates and cloud forest to the traveller’s town of Ella.
You travel on Train № 1005, the Podi Menike, the daytime Colombo Fort–Badulla service. Seats are reserved and issued against passport details, so this is a journey worth booking well ahead.
The journey
Out of Nanu Oya — the railhead for Nuwara Eliya — the line keeps climbing past Ambewela’s dairy pastures to Pattipola, the highest station on Sri Lanka’s railway at roughly 1,890 m. Just beyond it the train slips through the summit tunnel and the whole island seems to change sides: the wet, misty uplands give way to the drier southern escarpment.
Ohiya comes next, the alighting point for Horton Plains National Park and World’s End. Then the line runs along the ridge to Idalgasinna, where on a clear day the land falls away on both sides at once, and down through Haputale, Diyatalawa and Bandarawela — tea country the whole way, with the Uva plains opening out below — before easing into Ella.
Allow about two and a half hours for the leg: № 1005 leaves Nanu Oya in the early afternoon and reaches Ella in the late afternoon, which puts you into town in good light. Timings are set by Sri Lanka Railways and can change, so please confirm yours close to your travel date.
A note on the Nine Arch Bridge: it is not on this leg. The bridge sits between Ella and Demodara, so on this Badulla-bound service you reach Ella first and the bridge lies beyond it. Most visitors walk out to it from Ella town, or ride the short onward leg to Demodara.
Highlights:
- One of the world’s great scenic rail journeys.
- Pattipola — the highest station on the Sri Lankan network — and the summit tunnel just beyond it.
- Ohiya, the rail gateway to Horton Plains and World’s End.
- The Idalgasinna ridge, with the highlands on one side and the Uva plains on the other.
- Ceylon tea estates from Haputale down through Bandarawela.
- British-era tunnels, cuttings and stone bridges.
Includes:
- Scenic train ride from Nanu Oya Railway Station to Ella Railway Station.
- All taxes & service charges.
Excludes:
- Hotel pickup & drop-off from/to Nanu Oya or Ella.
- Food or drinks.
- Expenses of a personal nature.
Choosing your class: 1st Class seats are in an air-conditioned saloon with numbered seats; because the cabin is sealed, the windows do not open. 2nd Class seats are in a non-air-conditioned saloon where the windows open and fans improve ventilation — worth knowing if you plan to shoot through an open window.
