Private Transfer
Bandaranaike Airport (BIA) → Ella
Door-to-door private transfer · Experienced English-speaking driver
Distance
335 km
Duration
4.5 – 5 hours
Starting from
$168
Trip type
One-way
Bandaranaike Airport (BIA) to Ella Transfer
From Bandaranaike Airport, the 335 km drive to Ella climbs from the western lowlands through Kandy and Nuwara Eliya into the central highlands before descending to Ella's ridge. Allow 4.5 to 5 hours, more if stopping in Kandy.
What the Drive Is Like
Roads
Take the A1 south from the airport through Colombo, then the A7 inland through Kandy and up into the highlands via Nuwara Eliya, finishing on the A23 descent to Ella. Alternatively, take the Southern Expressway to Ratnapura and approach from the south. The highland roads include steep curves and can be slow.
Scenery
Low-country paddy and rubber south of Colombo, then tea estates and misty highland passes through Nuwara Eliya, with Ella's dramatic ridge and valley landscape at the finish.
★ Travel Tips
- The Nuwara Eliya–Ella road includes tight curves, allow extra time and avoid overtaking on blind bends
- Fuel in Nuwara Eliya before the final descent to Ella
- Consider the Ratnapura route via Expressway as an alternative if you prefer flatter roads to Wellawaya
$ Pricing Breakdown
Tolls, parking & waiting charges extra. Price per vehicle, not per person.
This is a standard estimate based on distance
For your real, current best price with any ongoing offers and discounts applied, send us a quick enquiry below or message us on WhatsApp. We reply within 2 hours with a firm quote.
✓ Included
- Private A/C vehicle
- English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- Door-to-door service
- Meet & greet (airports)
× Not included
- Toll charges
- Parking fees
- Waiting charges
- Driver accommodation (overnight trips)
Towns Along the Way
Your driver can stop at points of interest along the way, just ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Bandaranaike Airport (BIA) to Ella transfer cost?+
Private transfers start from $168 per vehicle (one-way). The rate is $0.5 per km with a minimum fare of $50. Tolls, parking & waiting charges extra.
How long is the Bandaranaike Airport (BIA) to Ella drive?+
Approximately 335 km — around 4.5 – 5 hours. Times vary with traffic and any stops.
Can I book a return trip?+
Yes. Return transfers are quoted separately. Mention your return date in the notes when enquiring.
Get a Quote
Bandaranaike Airport (BIA) → Ella
335 km · From $168
Fleet Options
Recommended Vehicles for This Route
All vehicles include an experienced English-speaking driver.
Honda Fit Shuttle
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Toyota Axio
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Toyota Prius
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Toyota Allion / Premio
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Plan Your Visit
Top Places to Visit in Ella
Make the most of your trip — these attractions are in and around Ella.
0 kmLittle Adam's Peak
An easy 45-minute hike from Ella town to a 1,141m summit with 360-degree views — the most accessible hilltop panorama in the Ella region.
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Ella Gap Viewpoint
A natural break in the hill country escarpment above Ella town with a sweeping view down a 1,000m drop to the southern coastal plains on clear days.
Explore →
0 kmRavana Falls
A 25m fan-shaped waterfall on the Badulla–Ella road, one of Sri Lanka's widest falls, associated with the Ramayana legend of King Ravana.
Explore →
1 kmNine Arch Bridge
A 91m colonial viaduct built in 1921 with nine arches, best photographed when a train crosses — departures from Ella at approximately 9:10am and 3:15pm daily.
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Rawana Ella Cave
A natural cave in the hillside near Ella said by local tradition to be where King Ravana hid Sita during the Ramayana epic, located close to Ravana Falls.
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2 kmElla Rock
A 1,041m summit above Ella town reached by a 3-hour round-trip hike through tea estates and jungle, with panoramic views across the Ella Gap valley.
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Demodara Railway Loop
A unique engineering feature of the hill country railway where the track loops under itself in a 360-degree spiral — the train passes over the same point at two different levels.
Explore →
Bogoda Wooden Bridge
A 16th-century wooden bridge over Hali Ela Oya near Hali-Ela, one of the oldest surviving wooden structures in Sri Lanka, with an unusual roof built to protect the timbers.
Explore →
Other Transfers from Bandaranaike Airport (BIA)
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