Day Trips From Nuwara Eliya

November 7, 2026

Nuwara Eliya makes a good base for day trips because the best of the hill country lies within an hour or two by road. A hired car and driver, or a tuk-tuk for the shorter runs, is the usual way to get around; agree the price before you set off. Prices are in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR).

Horton Plains and World’s End

Start at 05:00 to reach the park gate when it opens at 06:00. The 9.5 km loop crosses grassland and cloud forest to World’s End, where the cliff falls about 870 m, and returns past Baker’s Falls. Allow 3 to 4 hours on foot. The ticket is priced in US dollars with extras added, about USD 30 to 40 per foreign adult, and polythene is not allowed inside. Stay back from the unfenced edge, especially in fog. Combine it with the New Zealand Farm at Ambewela on the way back.

Hakgala and Seetha Amman Temple

Both sit on the Badulla Road south-east of town, so they pair well in a half day. Seetha Amman Temple comes first, about 5 to 7 km out. It is an active Hindu temple that devotees link with the Ramayana story of Sita’s captivity; entry is free, shoes come off, and shoulders and knees should be covered. Hakgala Botanical Garden follows at 9.5 km, open 07:30 to 18:00, with foreign adult tickets at LKR 3,540.

St Clair’s and Devon Falls

West of town on the A7 near Talawakele, two of the hill country’s best-known waterfalls are visible from roadside viewpoints. St Clair’s Falls drops about 80 m and spreads about 50 m across, though a hydropower dam upstream now limits its flow. Devon Falls is 97 m high and named after an early coffee planter, according to Wikipedia . Mlesna Tea Castle St Claire, a castle-style tea shop overlooking the valley, is a stop for tea. View the falls only; the pools are not for swimming.

Ella by train

The scenic railway runs east from Nanu Oya station, about 8 km from town, through Pattipola and Haputale to Ella in about 2.5 to 3 hours. There are only a few trains a day, so book reserved seats up to 30 days ahead on the Sri Lanka Railways reservation site and arrange a driver to bring you back by road. Services west of Nanu Oya towards Kandy and Colombo are suspended, so check the railway’s notices before you plan.

Moon Plains

A short drive from town, this grassy plateau has a viewpoint over the surrounding ranges. The last stretch is by jeep only, arranged at the entrance.

Practical notes

Kandy is about 2.5 to 3 hours away by road, so it works better as a stop on the way in or out.
Heavy rain can close hill roads and the national park at short notice.
Packaged day trips are listed on GetYourGuide .