Sri Lanka by Train 6-Day Scenic Journey

Sri Lanka’s railways were built in the British era to carry coffee and later tea from the hills to the port, and travelling on them today remains one of the most rewarding ways to watch the island’s landscape change. The journey starts at Colombo Fort, with the line to Kandy climbing through rubber and paddy country and up the Kadugannawa incline, past the distinctive summit known as Bible Rock.

From Kandy the main line climbs higher still, through tea estates and tunnels to Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya. The next stretch, from Nanu Oya to Ella, is the most celebrated of all, crossing Pattipola, the highest station on the network, before descending past Haputale and Bandarawela. There is no railway from Ella to the south coast, so a private car carries you down to Galle, where the coastal line runs right beside the Indian Ocean.

Reserved seats on the hill-country trains sell out early in peak season, so rail segments are arranged as soon as your dates are fixed.

This route is a suggestion rather than a fixed package: the order, pace and hotels are tailored to you, and nothing is booked until you confirm.

Day 1 – Colombo to Kandy: Board the train at Colombo Fort for the ride to Kandy (around three hours) and visit the Temple of the Tooth.
Day 2 – Kandy: Explore Kandy Lake and the Peradeniya botanical gardens, with a Kandyan dance performance in the evening.
Day 3 – Nuwara Eliya: Take the train from Kandy to Nanu Oya (about four hours) and transfer to Nuwara Eliya.
Day 4 – Ella: Ride the stretch from Nanu Oya to Ella, around three hours through tea country and over Pattipola.
Day 5 – Galle: Morning at the Nine Arch Bridge, then a private drive to Galle (about five hours).
Day 6 – Galle: Walk the ramparts of Galle Fort, with the option of a short ride on the coastal line before the tour ends.