Ella Rock: How to hike him (unfortunate)

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A guideline for hiking on the Ella Rock, including detailed directions, a downloadable route card, a video and a list with important tips

ella in Sri Lanka is beautiful, they said. "We read the closest to an English village in the country" and the perfect place to slow down.

I thought about it sadly when I raced through the thunderous traffic to avoid another taxi driver who insisted to take me to a place that I didn't want. The main street, peppered with milkshake huts and irrelevant cafés, is a loud and agitated route with amenities that was only set up for tourists.

Only when you leave the village and literally head to the hills will you see the Ella of the travel guide: great and wide views that close the eye as far as possible.

Nowhere are they more impressive than on the summit of Ella Rock, a dramatic summit about 5 km from the city. Hiking at Ella Rock is fun, confusing, exhausting and rewarding. So you hike without the help of a guide.

hiking routes

Start: Ellaziel station: Ella removal train station: 10 km back and forth trip (approx.) Time: 3 hours.

  1. start at Ella station. When you enter the train station, turn left and go to the end of the platform. Get the tracks and continue from there. Don't worry about the sign that warns of entering; Everyone, including the locals, does it every day and nobody will stop them.

    2. The walk is reminiscent of the classic film stood by me, so take the time and enjoy the view. However, note that this is a functioning railway, so pay attention to trains and leave the tracks when one approaches.

    alt = "Start your Ella Rock hike at Ella station"> Atlas & Boots start your Ella Rock hike at Ella (Atlas & Boots)

    1. Go along the tracks for about 40 minutes. You will eventually arrive at Kithalella station. Go past the tracks past the train station. Ignore everyone who says that you go in the wrong direction or who tries to steer you on the "right" route. Advertisers do this to make tourists buy their services as a travel guide.

      2. Update 25.09.2017: A comment by reader David Hinrichs below warns that there are now even fake signs, so make sure to follow our instructions exactly. If in doubt, use our Ella rock hiking card below.

      Alt = “Ella Rock Hiking Wide”> Walk past the Kithalella train station to Ella Rock (Atlas & Boots)

      1. Look for a rock for 5-10 minutes, which is marked with a blue arrow and a sign with the inscription "Ella Rock". At this intersection, turn left. The marker fades over time (and can even be covered with cement), so remember that you have to turn 166 ¼ left according to the path sign.

        alt = “blue graffiti that points to Ella Rock”> pay attention to this marking, but be warned that it could be faded or covered (Atlas & Boots).

        Alt = ““ “Span Class =" Media-Credit "> Chris Brown The blue marking may be covered with cement (Atlas & Boots)

        alt = “Ella Rock Sharp Left”> The sharp left, characterized by the blue marking (Atlas & Boots)

        1. Follow the path and cross the pedestrian bridge. After the bridge you come to a fork in the road. Take the left path (shown in the video below). The alternative path also leads upwards, but it meanders more and leads more to get lost.

        2. Stay on the way up into the tea plantation. Soon afterwards you will pass long grass and maybe doubt whether you are on the right track. Continue. We are told that advertisers keep the grass long to create confusion. Stay straight on the way; do not switch off.

          3. alt = "High grass on Ella Rock Hiking"> Stay straight on the way; Do not switch off (Atlas & Boots)

          1. Shortly after the high grass, the path opens and turns right. This leads you to an intermediate viewpoint.

            2. alt = "In the meantime at Ella Rock hike"> Atlas & Boots The intermediate viewpoint on the way to Ella Rock (Atlas & Boots)

            1. From the intermediate viewpoint it is a straight but steep way to the summit of Ella Rock. When you have arrived there, take the time to enjoy the view - it is one of the best in the country!

              2. alt = “”> Atlas & Boots The view from Ella Rock (Atlas & Boots)

              On the way back down, you may want to take an alternative route. To do this, go back to the intermediate viewpoint and simply follow the tourists in the opposite direction of the path that led you there.

              ella rock hiking map

              ella rock hiking tips

              Start early: The midday sun is extremely strong, so start your hike to Ella Rock early. Try leaving Ella station at 9 a.m. at the latest.

              Wear sensible shoes: The hike to the Ella Rock is steep towards the end and can be slippery after rain, so wear suitable shoes.

              pack the basics: As with every hike, you must not neglect the basics. Take a lot of water, snacks, sunscreen and insect offices with you. I had to take a break in the steep section because I had very little energy.

              Avoid advertisers: On two different occasions, we told us that we had made a mistake. We thanked politely and continued our planned path to the summit of Ella Rock. A couple that we met at the top said they were brought from the right way to a more complicated route, and then asked for a tip. Trust your instincts.

              Avoid leeches: We read that there were leeches on the way to Ella Rock, so we wore long pants, but saw nothing of these slimy creatures. In order not to get too hot, they wear zip-offs that you can put on through high grass while walking and move out again if necessary.

              Tell us how it went! Add a comment below or send us an email to tell us from your own hike to Ella Rock.

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              • Alt = "In the meantime at the Ella Rock hike">
              • Alt = "Hiking trails around Ella Sri Lanka-Ella Rock">
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              Atlas & Boots

              ella rock hike: the essentials

              what: hiking at Ella Rock in Sri Lanka.

              Where: We booked our stay quite late and landed on the main street in Ella Dream Cafe. The rooms were pretty and spacious, but also ridiculously loud (a mixture of traffic, tourists and booming music from the adjacent bar).

              Instead, we recommend the Lonely Planet's proposals for the Ella Flower Garden Resort or the Zion View Ella.

              When: The best time for a visit to Ella is from December to March when the hilly country is the most dry. The low season from April and September to November is a good time for a visit, while the Yala monsoon is brought to the hilly country from May to August.

              like: If you are planning more hikes in Sri Lanka, it is worth investing in a decent card. Sri Lanka 1: 500,000 + city plans Waterproof travel card is by far the best available card for hiking in Sri Lanka. On one side of the card there are relief shades, point heights and names of mountain ranges and striking peaks.

              You can reach Ella by train from Colombo and Kandy (check the timetable here; note that "Ella" is written in the search dropdown "Elle").

              Depending on the starting point, various bus lines are available. It is worth noting that we found bus trips in Sri Lanka to be quite stressful, so you may want to take a transfer instead. Your hotel can arrange this, but it is always worth negotiating a discount, since these are normally excessive (e.g. if 15,000 LKR are specified, ask for 11,000).

              Many tourists choose to rent a driver for the entire trip. This costs about $ 45 a day (including the days on which you do not use the driver). We used Ajaa (+94 777 284 178) and Sisi (+94 777 203 083) for shorter transfers and found them friendly and reliable.

              Most international flights end up at the Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Book via Skyscanner at the best prices.

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              Lonely Planet Sri Lanka is a comprehensive travel guide for Sri Lanka, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and choose less busy roads.

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