Traverzy

Train Tour Sri Lanka 2026

Most of the tourists visiting Sri lanka ask about train rides and they have a lot of questions.Here in this article I simply explain what it looks like train ride in sri lanka.

Train ride in Sri Lanka is one of the best experiences you can get from your tour. You can get both cultural and scenic experience at one time.Lush Tea plantations, mountains,stunning waterfalls, hangout with locals, experience Sri Lankan different flavored foods all those experiences you can get with a 4$(USD) ticket(this price can vary). So i am saying if you can update your itinerary with a train ride you will not regret.

Key points: 

  • Few Things to know about Sri Lankan Train
  • How to book a train in Sri lanka
  • What to pack for a train ride
  • Recommended train tours
    • Colombo to Badulla
    • Kandy to Ella or Ella to Kandy

Not like most of the country’s Sri Lankan railways operated by the government. Sri Lankan train names related to female names. Here I mentioned a few names if you are interested. Udarata Menike(Upcountry maiden/ Hill country maiden), Podi Menike(Little maiden), Tikiri menike(Little maiden), Senkadagala Menike(maiden of “senkadagala”-area name), Yaal Devi(princess of jaffna)

Few things to Know about sri lankan Trains

There are train stations in major cities. Here are a few major stations that travelers most search about.

  • Western Province: Colombo
  • Central Province: Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya
  • Uva Province: Ella, Haputale
  • North Central Province: Anuradhapura
  • Northern Province: Jaffna
  • Southern Province: Galle

In Sri Lanka trains there are no catering services, so you have to bring your own food and drinks. Only Viceroy and Ella Odyssey have the catering service. Especially Ella odyssey restaurants that have fast-foods like buns, soft drinks etc. If you are not comfortable with those you can pack your own food before the ride.

Seat Classifications – There four seat classification First Class, Second Class,Third Class and Observation class. 

1st class and Observation car – These are the seats you have to reserve in advance.you can get a better view from this. Some are Air Conditioned and some do not have so, you can open a large side window to get air. The observation seats face backward, so if you are prone to motion sickness, it’s better to book a second-class seat.

2nd class– If you love to experience train rides with local culture this option is for you. There might be locals singing songs and having some fun during the ride. You can even get to the open doors as well, which I do not recommend because of the safety reasons. There are no Air-Conditioned electric fans. There are food vendors in this class that carry around spicy street foods, some have sour flavoured fruits and spicy roti. You should book in advance this seat category.

3rd Class – These are the seats that you don’t have to book in advance. This platform is a little bit crowded and  this is the cheapest option. So I do not recommend this category if you need a more comfy tour.

Luggage – There are luggage racks above the seats, if you have valuable things you can keep it with you for safety. 

Toilets – Most long-distance trains have basic toilet facilities, but their cleanliness can vary. It’s advisable to carry your own hand sanitizer and tissues.

This is the most important thing. Keep in mind most of the time Sri Lankan trains are not punctual. It can be late 10 – 15 min. 


How to Book train in sri lanka

You can book a train online and get a ticket from a ticket counter in train stations.

You do  not have to reserve 3rd class seats in advance.

Reserve Viceroy special and Ella Odyssey before a month. Personally I recommend reserve your train ticket prior to the month before arrival to sri lanka.

Book Through Online:

You can reserve your seats online on several platforms.

Sri Lanka Railways Official Website: The official website (https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/) allows you to book reserved seats for many routes.

  • You can select your origin and destination, travel date, and class.
  • Payment can be made using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, or Discover cards, as well as LankaQR.   
  • Upon successful booking, you will receive an e-ticket via email, which you can print or show on your mobile device.   
  • Bookings can usually be made up to 30 days in advance, and some sources mention up to 2 hours before departure. For more information click this link

Third party online platforms- 

  • 12Go Asia: (https://12go.asia/en/trains/sri-lanka) This platform is popular for booking trains in Asia and offers e-tickets for some routes, while others may require hotel delivery or office collection.
  • Bookaway: (https://www.bookaway.com/suppliers/sri-lanka-railway) Often provides e-tickets that you can use to board the train.
  • Visit Sri Lanka Tours: (https://www.visitsrilankatours.co.uk/train-tickets-1.html) This agency allows you to book tickets online, and you usually collect the physical tickets at the station.

Also you can book through mobile apps:

What to Pack  

  • Food and Water – Do not rely on vendors. You can try some vendor foods but if you are hungry bring your own foods. 
  • Also I recommend bringing Hand sanitizer and Toilet papers for hygiene especially if you need to use an onboard restroom.
  • When you are going to the Hill country side(Nanu-oya/ Ella/ Haputale) make sure to bring a Jacket or Blanket.
  • Most of the trains do not have USB ports to Charge your phone. So make sure your power-bank is fully charged.
  • Dress comfortably, some journeys take 10-11 hours like Colombo – Badulla.

Recommended Tours – 

I know you did a deep research on these tours. So here I only give you a brief, valuable introduction about these tours.

Colombo – Badulla Train ride : 

This is one of the best train tours of Sri lanka and it is recommended for world best train tours by Lonely Planet also.

Duration : 10 – 11 hours

Distance : 292.39km

Trains : There are several trains run on this route. Ella odyssey, Podi Menike, Udarata Menike 1007, Night Mail. I recommend the first three trains are a good option.

Ella odyssey

Train name

Frequency

Colombo

Badulla

Ella Odyssey

Monday, Thursday, Saturday

5.30am

4.00pm

Podi Menike

Daily

5.55am

4.26pm

Udarata Menike

Daily

8.30am

5.50pm

Ticket Price: It can vary depending which platform you book. The cheapest price in the government website (https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/)

Kandy – Ella / Ella – Kandy: 

This is the most famous train ride in Sri Lanka among the travelers. This tour is also recommended by National geographic 2025. 

Duration : 6 – 7 hours

Distance : 154 km

Trains : Ella odyssey, Podi Menike, Udarata Menike

Train name

Frequency

Kandy

Ella

Ella Odyssey

Thursday, Saturday

8.25am

4.00pm

Podi Menike

Daily

8.55am

3.08pm

Udarata Menike

Daily

11.10am

4.55pm

Here I mentioned ella – kandy ride also, the reason is if you book second class the train is crowded from kandy to ella so you can get the same experience coming from backwards ella to Kandy.

Train name

Frequency

Ella

Kandy

Ella Odyssey

Friday, Sunday

10.25am

4.22pm

Podi Menike

Daily

9.48am

4.23pm

Udarata Menike

Daily

6.34am

12.55pm

Also There are other train rides like Anuradhapura – Jaffna, Colombo – Galle. These train rides also give unique travel experiences. 

Anuradhapura – Jaffna : This train route connects Buddhist cultural heritage sites with the Hindu culture of Jaffna. Along the ride you can see white stupas, big lakes, stunning large paddy fields, and colorful Hindu kovils.

Colombo – Galle : Scenic coastal route. This route passes through pristine beaches, coconut trees and beautiful paddy fields, stunning sunset. 

All these train rides can go backwards also. Keep in mind Sri lankan trains get a little bit late. Book your tickets before a month. 

 

Don’t forget to add this experience to your itinerary. Have a safe Journey.