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Colombo Airport to Ella by Car

about 280 to 300 km, 7 to 9 hours of driving

Ella is a full day on the road from the airport. It is a beautiful drive, but a long one, and it is worth planning one night on the way.

Distance
about 280 to 300 km
Driving time
7 to 9 hours of driving
Cars from
Rs. 16,500 per day

Times are for normal traffic and exclude stops. Always allow extra time on holidays and in rain.

Routes from the airport to Ella

Through Ratnapura and Wellawaya (the southern road)

Take the expressway towards Kottawa and follow the road through Ratnapura and Balangoda to Wellawaya, then climb to Ella on the A23. It is the shorter route on the map, with good stretches and slow stretches in the hills.

Through Kandy and Nuwara Eliya (the tea-country road)

Drive to Kandy, continue over the hills to Nuwara Eliya and descend through Bandarawela to Ella. It is the longest and the most scenic, with tea estates and cool air, and with long bends where a loaded car has to climb slowly.

Worth a stop on the way

  • Ratnapura: The gem town, with a short stop for the market.
  • Ravana Falls: A waterfall beside the road, a few minutes before Ella.
  • Nine Arches Bridge and Little Adam's Peak: The two best-known sights of Ella, both a short drive or walk from the town.

Road notes

  • Do not plan to arrive in Ella after dark: the hill roads have sharp bends, mist and no street lights.
  • On the Wellawaya-Ella road, give way to buses on the bends and use a low gear on the descent.
  • Rain is common in the hill country in the afternoons; wet roads need slower, smoother driving.
  • Petrol stations are fewer after Ratnapura; fill up before the hills.

Which car for this drive

Choose a car with a higher seating position and a stronger engine for the hills: the Honda Vezel or Toyota C-HR for two to four people, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for a group of five to seven with luggage. Avoid the smallest cars when fully loaded.

Daily car rental rates in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR). The rate per day falls as the rental period gets longer.
VehicleSeatsGearboxFuelPer dayPer day, 2 weeksPer day, 1 monthPer day, 3 months
TOYOTA PRIUS5AutomaticHybridRs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,500≈ $45Rs. 12,000≈ $37Rs. 11,500≈ $36
PRIUS4AutomaticHybridRs. 17,500≈ $54Rs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,000≈ $43Rs. 13,000≈ $40
TOYOTA PRIUS5AutomaticHybridRs. 17,500≈ $54Rs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,000≈ $43Rs. 13,000≈ $40
TOYOTA PRIUS G SPORT5AutomaticHybridRs. 17,500≈ $54Rs. 16,500≈ $51Rs. 14,000≈ $43Rs. 13,000≈ $40
HONDA VEZEL5AutomaticHybridRs. 22,000≈ $68Rs. 20,000≈ $62Rs. 16,000≈ $50Rs. 14,000≈ $43
HONDA VEZEL5AutomaticHybridRs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87Rs. 24,000≈ $74Rs. 22,000≈ $68
HONDA VEZEL5AutomaticHybrid, PetrolRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
HONDA VEZEL2 cars at this rate5AutomaticHybridRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
TOYOTA CHR4 cars at this rate5AutomaticPetrolRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
TOYOTA CHR5AutomaticHybridRs. 35,000≈ $109Rs. 33,000≈ $102Rs. 30,000≈ $93Rs. 28,000≈ $87
LAND CRUISER PRADO6AutomaticPetrolRs. 44,500≈ $138Rs. 42,500≈ $132Rs. 38,500≈ $119Rs. 36,500≈ $113
LANDCRUICER PRADO 1507AutomaticDieselRs. 44,500≈ $138Rs. 42,500≈ $132Rs. 38,500≈ $119Rs. 36,500≈ $113
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado7AutomaticDieselRs. 44,500≈ $138Rs. 42,500≈ $132Rs. 38,500≈ $119Rs. 36,500≈ $113
Toyota Landcruiser prado 1507AutomaticDieselRs. 50,000≈ $155Rs. 48,000≈ $149Rs. 44,000≈ $136Rs. 42,000≈ $130

Rates are read from our booking system. Fuel, expressway tolls, parking and traffic fines are paid by the hirer; the rate includes commercial rent-a-car insurance (an insurance excess applies), 24/7 breakdown support and 100 km per day. See the full price list.

More about the cars: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Honda Vezel, Toyota Prius, Toyota C-HR.

Airport pickup and one-way hire

We can bring the car to Bandaranaike International Airport on request; see car rental at Colombo airport. You can also hire with a driver, who handles the road, the parking and the tolls. Tell us your flight, your dates and the number of travellers on WhatsApp. More about the place itself: car rental for Ella.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Colombo airport to Ella?
Between 7 and 9 hours of driving, depending on the route and the traffic, for roughly 280 to 300 km. Add time for meals and stops.
Should I drive to Ella in one day?
It is possible but tiring after a flight. Most guests break the trip in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya or Ratnapura and reach Ella the next day.
Is the road to Ella safe for a rental car?
Yes, with care: the road is paved all the way, but it has steep bends, buses and mist. Drive in daylight, keep a safe distance and use a low gear downhill.
Can I hire a car with a driver for Ella?
Yes. A chauffeur-driven hire is quoted for the trip. Tell us the dates and the number of travellers on WhatsApp.

Other routes from the airport

Plan your drive to Ella

Tell us your dates, your flight and the number of travellers, and we confirm the car and the price.

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