How To Get From Ella To Matara
Ella and Matara are two picturesque cities nestled in the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. Most tourists often find Sri Lanka their go-to destination for its natural landscape. Ella and Matara offer an abundance of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and a lot of adventure.
If you are confused about How to get from Ella to Matara, let us help you through this article. Ella is highly popular among tourists. The tea plantations, cool climate, and mountains make it very attractive. It is home to a varied range of flora and fauna.
On the other hand, Matara is more famous for its cultural insights. Forts, Dutch architecture, Buddhist temples, etc. are worth seeing. If you are willing to travel from Ella to Matara, you have three modes of transport. This is a total journey of less than 170 km, and thus, you must select your travel option wisely.
Ella to Matara by taxi
Usually, travelers choose taxis over any other travel mode. It is safe, convenient, and comfortable. The best platform to book your taxi in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lanka Driver guide website. It is the official website of the drivers in this nation. Embarking on a journey from Ella to Matara via taxi provides travelers some flexibility.
You can choose when to leave, where to have a break, what more to explore, etc. Isn’t this the best option, then? You are free to modify your itinerary if you book a taxi. By taxi, Ella to Matara will be a journey of 169 km, i.e., approximately 3 hours.
The driver will take you through Colombo-Galle-Hambantota-Wallewaya Road- E01. You can divert your route mid-way if you want to try safari in Yala National Park or Udawalawe National Park. You can also visit Tangalle if you want to explore more.
To book your taxi, visit the official website of the Sri Lanka Driver guide platform. Add details like your name, contact number, pick up and drop locations, and date of travel. You will receive a message from the agency regarding the details of the driver. You also need to add the number of people you are booking a taxi for.
This is because Sri Lanka Drive guide has a lot of vehicle options for a large number of people. You can ask for a van if you have a lot of luggage. We advise you to pre-book the taxi, as there is always a rush in the bookings.
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Ella to Matara by bus
Another option to travel from Ella to Matara is by bus. It takes around 6 hours to reach Matara from Ella by bus. The cost of this journey can go up to 800 LKR. There are no direct buses to travel from Ella to Matara. Hence, you need to change two buses to reach your destination.
First of all, board a bus from Ella at Uva Bus Station. You can board any bus that follows the Passara-Colombo or Badulla-Colombo routes. You can confirm the timings from the bus station. This journey will end in 4 hours and 10 minutes.
You need to come off the bus at Homagama, Kesbewa Bus Station. From this bus station, book a taxi to reach another bus station. You can book the taxi on the Sri Lanka Driver guide platform. You will have to reach Makubura Bus Station, which is at a distance of 3.1 km. You can use a tuk-tuk as well.
Board another bus from Makubura Bus Station for Matara. These buses are available every 15 minutes and complete the journey in 1 hour, 30 minutes. That’s it. You will be on your destination then. We suggest you check and confirm bus timings beforehand to avoid any hassle.
You need to follow the schedule, as the buses always run on time. Ensure you do not carry a lot of luggage if you want to travel by bus. The seats might be narrow, and taking a lot of luggage will only lead to discomfort.
Ella to Matara by train
The final mode of transport is to travel from Ella to Matara by train. This is going to be the cheapest yet longest journey so far. The train can take anywhere between 12 and 16 hours to reach Matara.
To board the train, you will have to reach Ella, Uva Railway Station and buy a ticket to reach Fort Station, Colombo, first. This journey will take around 9 hours. After waiting for nearly one or one and a half hours, you will have to board another train from Fort Station for Matara. This journey will end in about 3 hours.
The fastest and earliest train of the day departs Ella at 6.42 am and reaches Fort Station by 3.50 pm. At 4.46 pm, the train will depart from Fort Station for Matara and reach Matara by 7.45 pm. There are only 2 trains a day on this route.
Another train departs Ella at 7.01 pm and takes 10 hours and 25 minutes to reach Fort Station, i.e., at 5.24 am. Yes, this will be a journey lasting one night. After waiting for around 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will have to board another train that departs Fort Station at 6.50 am. It will reach Matara by 10.43 am, i.e., after approximately 4 hours. The total journey by this train takes 15 hours and 42 minutes.
If you are fine with this much travel time, you may travel by train. This journey by either of the trains will not cost you more than 600 LKR.
Best Route from Ella to Matara
Among the three, choose the one that allows you to enjoy your trip to Sri Lanka. If you want to book the taxi, book only from the official website. Proceed with the Sri Lanka Driver guide platform to have the safest journey.
You can ask the driver to be your guide and help you explore local food, markets, and other places nearby. You can travel freely and comfortably. If you want to travel by bus or train, be quick with the timing.
Editorial Staff is at Sri Lanka Driver Guides are Sri Lanka travel experts.
