Ella and Haputale 4-Day Scenic Tour

The Uva hills are among the most dramatic in Sri Lanka, and this short journey focuses on their highlights. Ella, a small mountain town, is the starting point: the Nine Arch Bridge, a colonial-era railway viaduct, is at its most atmospheric when a train rolls across, while the gentle walk up Little Adam’s Peak rewards with views over the Ella gap. The more demanding climb of Ella Rock passes tea plots and eucalyptus groves to a summit high above the valley.

Beyond Ella, the road and railway wind towards Bandarawela, a market town with a mild climate, passing the Dowa rock temple and its unfinished standing Buddha carved into the cliff. A short train ride continues to Haputale, strung along a ridge with views over the southern lowlands.

The final morning starts before dawn at Lipton’s Seat, where Sir Thomas Lipton is said to have surveyed his estates. Afterwards, the Dambatenne tea factory explains how leaf becomes tea, and Adisham Bungalow, a Benedictine monastery in an English country house, can be visited on certain days.

We adapt the route, the rhythm of each day and the style of hotel to your preferences, and no booking is made until you confirm.

Day 1 – Ella: Arrive, visit the Nine Arch Bridge and walk up Little Adam's Peak for sunset.
Day 2 – Ella: Morning hike to Ella Rock (around 3–4 hours return), afternoon at Ravana Falls or a tea-estate visit.
Day 3 – Bandarawela & Haputale: Stop at the Dowa rock temple and Bandarawela, then take the short train to Haputale.
Day 4 – Haputale: Sunrise at Lipton's Seat, the Dambatenne tea factory and Adisham Bungalow (open on certain days), then onwards.