Have you ever thought about going on an iconic train ride in Sri Lanka? Or dreamed about having your photo taken of you hanging out of the train doors, with a beautiful jungle as backdrop? We sure have! Now, let us tell you that whilst that sounds amazing, it’s not all roses. No worries, we’ll first tell you what you normally can expect, then we tell you what you should do ;-).
First of all, trains in Sri Lanka sell out really fast, especially for the more popular routes like Kandy to Ella. Chances are you won’t be able to buy a ticket in advance. Most people go to the train station on the day they’re planning to take the train, and just hope for the best. This can lead to tons of disappointment, of course! We have the perfect solution for that: a train ride from Ella to either Badulla or Demodara. Everyone gets off in Ella, which means you will have the train all by yourself if you hop on here. Since this route is not touristy at all, you have the option to buy tickets online in advance or show up at the train station and choose whatever class you want! We recommend 2nd or 3rd class tickets. That way you’ll be able to hang out of the train doors ;-). On top of that, this route takes you on top of the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, and even makes a quick pit stop here so you can take all the pictures you want.
So to sum up: no stress, the seats you want, and still an iconic and picturesque landscape along the way!
