How to Get From Ella to the South Coast, Sri Lanka

If you’re wondering how to get from Ella to the South Coast in Sri Lanka, then you’re not the only one. I found it quite difficult to obtain information when I was trying to figure out how to catch a bus from Ella to Hiriketiya Beach. So, I’ve decided to put together this comprehensive guide for travelling between Ella and the south coast of Sri Lanka.

The infamous buses in Sri Lanka are surprisingly pretty reliable and the main form of transport leaving Ella for the coast. If you’re trying to complete a loop around Southern Sri Lanka after taking the famous Kandy to Ella train, this post will help you get from Ella to anywhere along the south coast, including Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Weligama, and Galle.

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Transport To and From Ella

Ella is one of the most visited places in Sri Lanka. The small, lofty town of the central highlands draws plenty of crowds for its famous train ride to Kandy, the colonial-era Nine Arches Bridge, plenty of hikes, and impressive waterfalls.

While the well-known Kandy to Ella train ride is the main route people take to reach Ella, it’s often far less clear how to travel to elsewhere in the country from the small town. The train network comes from Colombo and ends not far past Ella at Badulla. For those looking to head to the coast, buses and taxis are the only form of transport.

Buses and taxis can get you from Ella to other places in the highlands and tea country, as well as all the way down to the coast. However, you’ll need to be prepared for long trips as the drive down from the hills is windy and slow (depending on your driver).

Read next: 10 Best Things to Do in Ella

How to Get From Ella to the South Coast by Bus

The best way to travel from Ella to the south coast of Sri Lanka is by bus. There are no trains going from the coast to Ella. The Matara-Bandarawela bus #31 runs a few times each day between the coast and the hill country, making it the best option for budget travellers.

No matter where you’re planning on heading on the south coast, this bus will be the best bet for getting to where you need to go. While the bus passes through Ella, you won’t be guaranteed a seat and in fact, in high season it can be difficult to get a seat at all.

Unfortunately, you have to prepare to stand for some of the journey, or if you’re keen to secure a seat, then you can take the bus in the other direction to Bandarawela where the buses depart from. You can then hop on the bus at the beginning and hopefully pick a seat. But this will add an extra hour or so onto your total journey time.

Here’s how to catch the #31 bus from Ella to the south coast:

Where is the Bus Station in Ella?

Ella doesn’t have a bus station like other bigger towns and cities in Sri Lanka. But, the buses that pass through town tend to stop at the main Ella bus stops, which are located at the intersection of Wellawaya-Ella-Kumbalwela Highway (A23) and Ella-Passara Road (B113).

The two main bus stops are just south of this intersection on opposite sides of the road, one for buses heading up to Bandarawela and the other for buses heading south to Matara and the coast.

For those wanting to head to the south coast, the bus stand you’ll want to wait at is the Wellawaya Bus Stop. This has a covered bus stop for you to wait until the bus arrives. You may need to wave the bus down, as they don’t stop for very long in Ella, as they are mostly passing through.

Bus to Matara — Bus stop for the South Coast

How to Get From Ella to Hiriketiya

The Bandarawela-Matara bus #31 travels through Ella several times per day. If you’re planning on reaching Dikwella, Tangalle or Hiriketiya, then this bus will get you there directly.

You’ll need to wait at the Wellawaya Bus Stop in Ella town. You likely won’t be the only one waiting for this bus, but keep an eye on the buses passing through as the numbers are displayed quite well on the front of the buses (you’re looking for #31).

Bus schedule from Ella to Matara*: 6:40am, 8:40am, 9:15am, 12:00pm, 14:45pm, 15:15pm and 16:15pm

*Delays are common and this schedule can be hit and miss, there’s usually the latest schedule posted up at the bus stop in Ella or ask a nearby shop.

Jump onto #31 bus heading south to Matara. You’ll need to inform the conductor or ticket seller what your destination is so he can make sure you’re on the right bus. If you have big luggage, it’ll usually be thrown in a pile next to the driver.

The bus ticket is around 650 LKR (US$2) from Ella to Dickwella, and the journey takes around 5 hours, with one short break for a toilet and snacks.

The bus passes Tangalle and Dickwella; both towns have their own bus stand. For Hiriketiya Beach, you’ll need to jump off in Dickwella and hop in a tuk tuk to get to the beach. From Dickwella to Hiriketiya, it will cost you about 300LKR (US$1) in a tuk tuk.

How to Get From Ella to Mirissa or Weligama

For travelling from Ella to Mirissa or Weligama, then you’ll have to follow a similar journey to what is outlined above. First, you’ll need to jump on the #31 bus from Bandarawela to Matara in Ella.

Stay on the bus all the way to the end of the service in Matara. Matara is the major transport hub of the south coast. It has a train station and bus station, with a highway expressway bus station for Colombo as well. You’ll be dropped at the Central Matara Bus Station.

From Matara, you have two options to get to Mirissa, Weligama, Ahangama and other towns west of Matara. The easiest option is to jump onto #350 bus which runs from Matara to Galle regularly throughout the day. This bus passes through Mirissa, Weligama, Ahangama etc, so you can hop off at whichever town you want.

The other option is to walk or take a tuk tuk to the Matara Railway Station. From there, you can take a train heading towards Galle. Most of the regular trains stop in Mirissa, Weligama, Ahangama and other towns, but check at the station in case you jump onto an express train.

Train schedule from Matara to Weligama/Mirissa: 06:05am, 09:19am, 10:25am, 14:05pm, 16:50pm, 18:10pm

The train journey from Matara to Weligama takes around 30 minutes and costs around 60 LKR for third class ticket.

How to Get From Ella to Galle/Unawatuna

Again, the journey from Ella to Galle is very much similar to the above, but I’ll outline it more specifically here.

Jump on the #31 bus from Bandarawela to Matara in Ella. Stay on the bus all the way to the end of the service in Matara, where you’ll be dropped at the Central Matara Bus Station. This should take about 5-6 hours.

From Matara, you have two options to get to Galle. The easiest option is to jump onto the local #350 bus which runs regularly from Matara to Galle. It costs 200LKR (US$0.75) and the journey takes about 1.5 hours.

The other option is to walk or take a tuk tuk to the Matara Railway Station. From there, you can take a train from Matara to Galle. The train journey costs 120LKR (US$0.50) for a third class unreserved ticket and the journey takes around 1.5 hours.

Train schedule from Matara to Galle: 06:05am, 09:19am, 10:25am, 14:05pm, 16:50pm, 18:10pm

If you’re heading to Unawatuna instead of Galle city, then you simply get off a couple of stops earlier at Unawatuna.

The Galle Railway Station and Galle Bus Stand are right next to each other just outside of the Galle Fort area. From there, you can easily walk or take a tuk tuk to your accommodation within the fort.

How to Get From Ella to the South Coast by Taxi

If you’re not keen on taking a long bus ride or aren’t very convinced of the safety of Sri Lanka’s notorious local buses, then you’ll also find taxis heading from Ella to the south coast.

There are shared taxis in Ella that you can pay for just a seat as they fill up with tourists heading to the same destination. Touts usually hang around the bus stops in Ella trying to get customers, so it’s not hard to find and negotiate a price. Prices vary depending on passengers, but you’ll be looking at 3000-5000 LKR for a seat.

The other option is to arrange a PickMe or Uber or local private taxi to take you all the way to the south coast. For a private taxi it should cost roughly 22,000 LKR (US$75) one way from Ella to Hiriketiya Beach for example, although you’ll have to confirm highway tolls as some drivers ask for more depending on the route taken.

If you’re opting for a private taxi, you can even include some sightseeing along the way. Take a look at these options:

Where to Stay in Ella

Ella has an endless variety of home stays, hostels, guesthouses and upscale resorts, so there’s plenty of choices. Here’s a few places I recommend:

Wild Bee Hostel | A beautiful, “flashpacker” hostel with outstanding views and just a short walk from the main street.

Quiet Rest Inn | A truly friendly homestay just behind the main street in Ella at very budget-friendly prices. I had a great stay here, the family’s son is also a tuk tuk driver and guide.

Eminence Ella Guesthouse | A midrange guesthouse with comfortable rooms just a short walk from the main street.

The Spice Lodge | A very pretty midrange guesthouse outside of town and away from the hustle and bustle, but not far from the Nine Arches Bridge.

Country Homes | A more upper midrange option that is popular for its hospitality and beautiful views, a real home in the tea plantations.

Where to Go After Ella: Best South Coast Towns

If you’re thinking ahead to where you might like to visit on the South Coast of Sri Lanka, then there’s plenty of beautiful spots to choose from.

Hiriketiya Beach

The new kid on the block when it comes to south coast towns in Sri Lanka, Hiriketiya Beach is an absolute gem of a place that has remained largely underrated until recent years. The small, rounded bay with crashing waves, backed by curved palm trees and thick tropical jungle is hard not to fall in love with.

Surfers, digital nomads, backpackers, yogis, and travellers are starting to flock to this small village near Dickwella. You’ll find plenty of beautiful boutique hotels, co-working spaces, cute cafes and stylish beachfront bars, homestays and local restaurants. I booked two nights and stayed six weeks, it’s that kind of place that sucks you in and never lets you go.

STAY | Salt House or Dots Bay House

Mirissa

The longstanding favourite beach destination in Sri Lanka, Mirissa is the ideal vision of coastal paradise. With beautiful white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, clear blue water, and plenty of marine life from whales to sea turtles, Mirissa is where people go to recharge and relax.

It’s home to more upscale hotels and trendy cafes with a busy beachfront in high season. Coconut Hill provides the Insta-worthy backdrop, and vegan-friendly cafes like Shady Lane bring European summer vibes to the Sri Lankan town.

It’s just next door to the bigger town of Weligama, so you can easily get around and visit other places on the south coast.

STAY | Babylon Hostel Mirissa or The Slow Hotel

Weligama

A bustling town on the south coast, Weligama has more services, restaurants, accommodations and transport links than some of the smaller towns like Ahangama and Hiriketiya.

It’s the main surfing destination on the south coast, especially for beginners. The long beach is not the nicest in Sri Lanka, but it has perfect waves for a range of levels and plenty of surf schools and surf camps to choose from.

The buzzing vibe of the town is dominated by Western-style cafes, rooftop bars, and plenty of local shops and restaurants too. So even if you don’t surf, the digital nomad and backpacker community congregate at the same cafes and co-working spaces so it’s easy to meet people.

STAY | Lucky’s Surf Camp or Temple Tree Guesthouse or Wake Up Hostel

Galle

The storied old fort of Galle is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous attractions. The centuries-old fortified peninsula juts out into the ocean with crumbling colonial-era buildings, cobblestone alleyways, and an old, white-washed lighthouse.

From wandering along the top of the stone ramparts to shopping at the countless boutique stores hidden within the old streets, Galle is without a doubt one of the most attractive places to visit in Sri Lanka.

It’s not an overly large place, but it attracts tourists looking to sit at a wine bar at sun down or do some last minute shopping before heading back to Colombo. The architecture is dreamy, the food is delicious, and the Mediterranean-like vibe is real. It’s definitely worth staying a couple of days in Galle or heading to the nearby beach of Unawatuna for a day as well.

STAY | Old Dutch House or The Merchant Hotel

More Sri Lanka Travel Guides: Where to Next?

Kandy: 10 Best Things to Do in Kandy: An Essential Guide
Kandy to Ella Train: 18 Tips for the Kandy to Ella Train Ride
Sigiriya: Ultimate Guide to Sigiriya and Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
Colombo: How to Visit the Best Things to Do in Colombo in 24 Hours
Digital Nomad: A Guide for Remote Workers in Sri Lanka
Trincomalee: Travel Guide to the Underrated Beach Destination of Sri Lanka
Jaffna: 10 Best Things to Do in Jaffna, North Sri Lanka

How to Get From Ella to the South Coast, Sri Lanka

Transport To and From Ella