Scenic Train Rides in Sri Lanka
The slow blue train through Sri Lanka's hill country — past tea plantations, cloud forests, and the Nine Arches Bridge — is regularly called one of the most beautiful rail journeys on earth. It is also astonishingly cheap.
Note: as of July 2026, through trains from Kandy are not running. Service currently operates between Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya) and Ella — happily, that is the prettiest section of the whole line, taking around three hours. Reach Nanu Oya by road from Kandy and board there, and check the current service status when you plan.
Where to go
Ella
The classic terminus — Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, and café culture.
Nuwara Eliya
Tea country's heart — board at Nanu Oya, the line's current starting point.
Kandy
The line's traditional starting point (through trains currently suspended) and the hill country's cultural capital.
Badulla
Ride beyond Ella to the line's quiet end for the Demodara loop.
Good to know
- Reserved seats open ~30 days ahead and sell out fast in peak season — book early.
- If reservations are gone, unreserved 2nd/3rd class always has space; board early at the origin station.
- Sit on the right side heading to Ella for the best valley views.
- Trains run in both directions — riding Ella→Nanu Oya is often less crowded.
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