How to Hike to Ella Rock, Sri Lanka: A Photo Journey
Follow along with us and we show you how we took a self-guided hike to Ella Rock. We’ve photographed our journey and you’ll find all the practical information and planning and hiking tips you need to experience hiking Ella Rock by yourself!
Hiking in Uva Province, Sri Lanka
Ella Rock is a famous cliff that hovers above Ella town in Uva province, Sri Lanka. Hiking is popular here because of the cliffs, peaks, and scenic bridges that cross the hill country.
Hiking Ella Rock is one of the more challenging hikes you can take from Ella’s village but is the most popular. It takes in the countryside near Kithal Ella, Badulla, before leading to the summit of Ella Rock.
Setting Out
After we’d climbed Little Adam’s Peak on our first day in Ella, it gave us an appetite for more hiking in Sri Lanka around this magnificent highland landscape.
We wanted more of a challenge. Little Adam’s Peak was amazing but it was just too easy to get to the top. We were surprised by the incredible rewarding views after such minimal effort!
So what to do next. We’d heard about the Ella Rock hike. Another hiking in Sri Lanka highlight that would take a few hours longer to reach the peak. Perfect!
What we enjoy about hiking in Sri Lanka is not all the hikes are epic all-day or multi-day hikes. You can hike Ella Rock in 5 hours (round trip), so it does require an early rise to beat that daily rainy season storm that rolls in at lunchtime.
Though still enough time for those Sri Lankan breakfasts we love so much. So after more string hoppers, omelettes, fruit, and coconut pancakes, we left our Green Lantern Guesthouse at 8:30 am.
Tip: It’s also a good idea to set out in the early morning so that you can be at the top of Ella Rock by the time the midday sun is really heating up the jungle!
Walking Along the Train Tracks
The first part of the walk requires about an hour following the train tracks from Ella train station to Kithal Ella station). We were quite excited by this as we had previously enjoyed our train journey from Kandy to Ella where we caught glimpses of local life on and around the tracks.
On our Ella Rock hike we passed along the way smiling families on their way to town, farmers en route to work, and a friendly postman.
The postman told us how he walks 15 km of track every day to deliver mail. He has done so for 30 years. No gym membership is needed for him then!
It’s wonderful to see locals using the track in their daily lives but there’s also great scenery to be seen. The trail cuts through lush jungle high up on the mountainside.
When the trees break you can see views across the valley and spot the many peaks in the area.
Finding the Path up the Mountain
Some tourists take a guide when climbing Ella Rock and we now know why. The pathway is harder to navigate and even more difficult to find through the long grass from the train tracks since there are no signs pointing to any landmarks.
We knew this before setting off for the hike but we wanted to give it a go ourselves. Maybe join some other travellers on the way or ask a local when we get close.
Who needs a train when you can carry heavy loads yourself on your head and barefootIt’s wonderful to see locals using the track in their daily lives but there’s also great scenery to be seen. The track cuts through lush jungle high up on the mountainside.
When the trees break you can see views across the valley and spot the many peaks in the area.
Finding the Path up the Mountain
Some tourists take a guide when climbing Ella Rock and we now know why. The pathway is harder to navigate and even more difficult to find through the long grass from the train tracks since there are no signs pointing to any landmarks.
We knew this before setting off for the hike but we wanted to give it a go ourselves. Maybe join some other travellers on the way or ask a local when we get close.
Our guidebook instructed that the opening of the path is once you cross a bridge. To the left of the tracks after a small Buddhist shrine.
Well, we walked over the bridge an hour into the walk and came across the shrine but there was no clear path. Only a very narrow trail into the jungle which we couldn’t be sure was the correct direction.
The last thing we wanted was to go the wrong way and get lost in the jungle. That’s definitely not what we had in mind while hiking in Sri Lanka.
So as planned, we asked a local man who happened to be passing how to get to Ella Rock as there were no other travellers in sight.
Well actually, we’re sure he was waiting for clueless travellers like us as he ended up taking us all the way to the top of Ella Rock for a bit of cash.
The Climb up the Mountain
It was worth the rupees as he took us on a much easier path. We bypassed a large and very steep section which everyone else seemed to be taking.
We came back down that way which was difficult enough so, going up in the Sri Lankan heat would have been exhausting. Judging by everyone else’s heavy panting and sweat-soaked clothes at the top, it was!
We followed our new guide up a longer path but at a gradual incline. Again like Little Adam’s Peak it required no strenuous effort.
Yes, we were looking for a challenge but at least we saved some energy for the rest of the day. The trail first cut through a local village beside farmland where farmers were working hard in small rice fields and tea plantations.
For the rest of the hike, we were dwarfed by tall woodland. Some of which were black from a recent forest fire.
The Views from the Top of Ella Rock
The views from the top of Ella Rock were equally rewarding as those atop Little Adam’s Peak. You could see far and wide across the valley (the Ella Gap) with infinite shades of green rolling into the distance.
The were plenty of people there but everyone was silent, in awe of the mountainous scenery. We stayed for at least an hour in the ‘you could hear a pin drop’ quietness, enjoying the view.
It would be our last hiking in Sri Lanka experience but first on our list of things to do in Ella.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ella Rock Hike
How tall is Ella Rock?
Ella Rock is 1,141 meters or 3,743 feet in height.
How long does it take to hike Ella Rock and is Ella Rock hard to climb?
It typically takes 2-3 hours to climb Ella Rock, depending on one’s fitness level and hiking experience. The hill country main trail is steep and rocky in some sections and can be challenging for inexperienced hikers.
It is important to be properly prepared with enough water, and a good pair of hiking shoes, and to be aware of your own limitations. If you want to stop frequently and walk slowly, it could take up to 5 hours.
However, the Sri Lankan plantations and natural beauty you hike through, and especially the stunning views of Ella Gap from the top, make the hike well worth the effort.
How much is a guide to Ella Rock?
If, like us you want to make sure you don’t go the wrong way and get lost after you turn off the train tracks on your Ella Rock hike, you can pay a local guide for about 1500-1700 Rupees.
Where is Ella Rock in Sri Lanka?
Ella Rock lies in Uva Province in the southeast of Sri Lanka. The province is also home to several national parks and nature reserves, including the Knuckles Mountain Range, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, and the Udawalawe National Park. To visit Ella Rock you need to travel to the Badulla district, about 10km from the small town of Ella.
What is Ella Sri Lanka known for?
Ella is a small town located in the hill country of Sri Lanka, known for its picturesque landscapes, cool climate, and scenic views.
It is a popular destination for hiking and trekking, with several well-known trails such as Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak.
The town is also known for its tea plantations and factories, where visitors can learn about the tea-making process and taste different varieties of tea.
Ella is home to a mix of different ethnicities and religions and is famous for its delicious local cuisine, which features a variety of dishes influenced by Indian, Malaysian, and Chinese cooking styles.
Is Ella Sri Lanka worth visiting?
Perhaps the best reason to visit Ella begins or ends at the Ella railway station – the Kandy-Ella train trip has been described as the world’s most scenic train journey.
Visiting Ella town and hiking Ella Rock gives you a ‘typical’ hill country experience and you’ll take away memories of lush mountainous jungle, waterfalls, and tea plantations.
If you love hiking or if you would like to visit a Sri Lankan tea plantation, and if you would like to experience the laid-back atmosphere of a popular hill country town in the middle of Sri Lanka, then Ella Sri Lanka is definitely worth visiting for 2-3 days.
How long is the train ride from Kandy to Ella?
On a good day, the train ride from Kandy to Ella takes 6 hours, but on bad days, it can take up to 10 hours.
What other great hikes can I do in Sri Lanka?
Besides hiking Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak, we would love to visit the Nine Arch Bridge on a hike from Ella town.
This is a shorter hike than the Ella Rock hike, still in Sri Lanka ‘hill country’, but with a difficulty of “moderate.”
You can also take another moderate hike of 2.3 km to the stunning Diyaluma Falls.
