The Most Scenic Train Journeys You Can Experience In Sri Lanka

The train routes in Sri Lanka are some of the most beautiful in the world. Travelers dream of taking the train to the hill country, through old pine forests and foggy tea estates. Don’t miss these unforgettable rail journeys that will leave you breathless and wanting more. Find out which are the best routes and where to catch the trains.

The most scenic journey is to the East

It’s hard to forget the experience of taking the train through Sri Lankan tea country. Nothing compares to the cold air that comes in through the windows and the endless rolling hills of tea plantations and lush forests. The Eastern train route takes you from Kandy to Nanu Oya, on to Ella and Badulla. You must first take the train from Colombo to Kandy and then change lines at Kandy to ride the Main Line.

1. Nine arch bridge

Bridge

The Demodara nine arch bridge close to Ella station is as picturesque as bridges get. Visitors can ride the train over the bridge and also walk along it in the other direction if they spend a night in the area. The bridge was constructed in the early 1900’s and is built completely out of rocks and cement without a single bit of steel. The local name is Sinhala which translates to “nine skies”, due to the framing of the sky when the bridge arches are seen from below.
The views from the window will have you snapping photos at every turn. The journey through the hill country not only gives you countless breathtaking sights, it also takes you through long dark tunnels where there is always fun to be had for the passengers, yelling while the train travels through the tunnels.

The train ride from Colombo to Anuradhapura is a long one and traverses all types of terrain. From the coast to the hillside and to the middle of the country at Anuradhapura. This train is commonly full of pilgrims on their way to the Anuradhapura Temple and Tamil people then going on to Jaffna in the north.

South to Galle

The train from Colombo to Galle travels first through the city, right along the coast and then into the countryside close to the sea. The scenery is different to the hill country but no less impressive. A great part of the enchantment of the Sri Lanka trains, apart from the scenery is the peacefulness of the people relaxing, looking out the windows and occasionally eating wade, a snack made of dahl lentils and spices.

There are some private trains with more comfortable seating and a tea service but some travelers believe that taking the private train takes away from the charm of experiencing the Sri Lankan railways.

The train to the south runs along the ocean until it leaves the city

The Ruhana Kumari Express train looking majestic with the tropical background

The train to Galle runs south crossing through towns

The train to Galle runs along the seashore

If you would like to find out more about the trains in Sri Lanka, where to take them or how to buy tickets, visit the Sri Lanka Railways site and also Seat 61, a website specialized in worldwide train travel.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.