Take the slow train.

Tea estates. Cloud forest. Open windows.

The journey is the destination.

The railway from Kandy into the hills is one of the great train rides of Asia, winding past waterfalls, tea estates and villages on its way to Nanu Oya, Ella and beyond. Combine it with a tea-factory visit and a few cool nights in the hills.

Best for

Couples
Slow travellers
Photography

Where to go

Kandy

Sacred sites, living traditions and a lakeside setting.

Rolling rows of tea bushes on hillsides under a soft morning sun

Nuwara Eliya

Cool air, rolling tea estates and the high plains.

A blue train crossing a stone arched railway bridge through green hills

Ella

Misty mountains, tea country and scenic train journeys.

Good to know before you go.

Seats sell out
Reserved seats on popular trains are limited and not guaranteed, especially in high season.
Allow time
Trains are slow and can run late — plan nothing time-critical on arrival.
Pack a layer
It gets cooler as you climb, and evenings in the hills can be chilly.