Train Rides
One of the best ways to experience Sri Lanka is by train. With the spectacular views of the diverse landscapes, you will have the experience of a lifetime where you can also meet other travellers or share Sri Lankan food with the locals.
The trains in Sri Lanka once transported tea and spices along these rail lines from the inlands to the coasts. If you’re a lover of travel by train, here are some of the most wonderful train ride experiences you can get around Sri Lanka.
From Ella to Nanu Oya
Scenic Train Rides through the Mountains from Nuwara Eliya to Ella: no round tour around Sri Lanka is complete without the most famous scenic train ride.
The train trip from Ella to Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka, or the other way around, is one of the most beautiful train trips in the world. This train ride is 3 hours long and takes you through stunning landscapes of green and lush tea plantations and mountain views. The train trip between Ella and Nuwara Eliya is one of the highlights of Sri Lanka in our opinion and we love it!
From Trincomalee to Gal Oya
From Colombo to Kandy
The train to Kandy leaves from Colombo Fort Railway Station. Make sure to arrive early at the Colombo Fort station and that you have enough water and food or snacks with you. There are train vendors selling milk tea, peanuts, and wade, (“Wade, wade, wade”), but you might want to eat a proper meal before leaving or during the train trip.
The scenery is wonderful and diverse. From the craziness of the city of Colombo, the slums in the outskirts, into the rural countryside, through the jungle, and finally into the mountains of Kandy. The views and landscapes are varying a lot during this trip and you will get a good taste of what Sri Lanka has to offer. Arriving in Kandy really feels like entering a different part of the island. However, Kandy can still be a busy city, but nowhere as crowded as Colombo.
