Ella to Yala, Mirissa and the South Coast: How to Travel

After the tea and hiking of Ella, most travellers head down to the south: first to a national park for a safari, and then to the beaches. No railway runs this way, so you'll go by road. The good news is that the drive out of the hills is beautiful, and several of the best stops in the region lie right on the route.

Journey times from Ella

Destination	By car	By bus
Udawalawe	2 to 2.5 hours	3 to 4 hours, with a change
Tissamaharama (for Yala)	2 to 2.5 hours	3 to 4 hours, with a change
Tangalle	3 hours	4 to 5 hours
Mirissa	3.5 to 4.5 hours	5 to 6 hours
Galle	4.5 to 5 hours	6 to 7 hours
Arugam Bay	3 hours	4 to 5 hours, with a change

Times are approximate, and they depend on the route, traffic and weather.

The route

All routes south begin the same way. The road drops through the Ella Gap in a series of bends, passing Ravana Falls after 6 km, and reaches the plains at Wellawaya, about 45 minutes from Ella. From there:

• For Yala: continue south through Thanamalwila to Tissamaharama, the base for Yala National Park.
• For Udawalawe: turn west at Thanamalwila to Udawalawe National Park.
• For the coast: continue through Tissamaharama or Udawalawe to the coast at Hambantota or Tangalle. An extension of the Southern Expressway now runs from the Hambantota area west to Matara and Galle, which has cut the time to the beach towns.
• For Arugam Bay: head east from Wellawaya through Monaragala.

By car

A private car or van is by far the most popular choice. It's quick, it handles luggage easily, and you can stop where you like. Many travellers book a driver for a combined transfer and safari: leave Ella in the morning, take an afternoon game drive at Udawalawe or Yala, and continue to the coast the next day. Guesthouses in Ella can arrange cars, and prices are competitive because so many people make this journey. Sharing with other travellers cuts the cost.

Our guide to hiring a driver explains what to agree in advance.

By bus

It's possible, and it takes patience.

• To Tissamaharama or Udawalawe: take a bus from Ella down to Wellawaya, which is frequent, and change there. For Tissamaharama you may need a second change at Pannegamuwa junction.
• To Matara, Mirissa and Galle: a few direct buses a day run from Ella or nearby Bandarawela to Matara. From Matara, frequent buses follow the coast to Mirissa, Weligama and Galle.
• To Tangalle: take a Matara bus, and change at Tangalle or at a junction on the way.

Buses are very cheap. They're also slow, hot and crowded, and there's little space for big bags. Start early.

Stops worth making

• Ravana Falls. Right beside the road, 15 minutes from Ella.
• Buduruwagala. Seven ancient figures carved into a rock face, including the tallest standing Buddha on the island. It's a 15-minute detour south of Wellawaya, and one of the most underrated sites in the country.
• Diyaluma Falls. Sri Lanka's second-highest waterfall, a short detour west of Wellawaya, with natural pools at the top for those with time to hike.
• Elephant Transit Home. Watch orphaned calves being fed, if your timing fits a feeding session.
• Kataragama. A sacred town near Tissamaharama. The evening puja is memorable.

Yala or Udawalawe?

Both are about the same distance from Ella.

• Choose Udawalawe for elephants. Sightings are close to guaranteed, the park is open and easy to see across, and it's less crowded.
• Choose Yala for the chance of a leopard and a wider variety of wildlife. It's busier, and its main block closes for several weeks each year, usually around September and October.

Our safari guide compares them in detail.

A good two-day plan

1. Day 1: Leave Ella by 8 am. Stop at Ravana Falls and Buduruwagala. Reach Udawalawe or Tissamaharama for lunch, and take an afternoon safari. Stay overnight.
2. Day 2: Optional dawn safari, and then drive to Tangalle or Mirissa in time for a swim.

From there, our south coast itinerary takes over.