What's on in Ella, Sri Lanka through the year

Peak crowds — Hill-country high season, Year-end break in Sri Lanka

• Rule

  Poya days

  1 Jan – 31 DecClosures

  Every full moon is a civil holiday across Sri Lanka: shops shut and the sale of alcohol and meat is prohibited. There are thirteen or fourteen a year, so one will land on most trips, and the trains run full with people travelling for it. Source ↗

• Rule

  Hill-country train reservations

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  Reserved seats on the Kandy to Badulla line open thirty days ahead and the observation carriage goes within minutes in the high season. Unreserved second and third class always has room, standing in the doorway included. Source ↗

Still on: Hill-country high season (15 Dec – 31 Mar)

Peak crowds — Hill-country high season, February break in Sri Lanka

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country high season (15 Dec – 31 Mar)

Peak crowds — Hill-country high season, February break in Sri Lanka

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country high season (15 Dec – 31 Mar)

Peak crowds — Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Sinhala & Tamil New Year break in Sri Lanka

• Holiday

  Sinhala and Tamil New Year

  13–16 AprNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  The country stops for several days. Trains and buses out of the hill country cannot be booked, and half the kitchens in the village are shut while the staff are home for it. Source ↗

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Cloud in the Ella Gap

  15 May – 15 Sep · usuallyFog seasonRisk

  The south-west wind drives cloud up through the gap for months and the view down to the coastal plain is simply not there on most afternoons. It often burns off before nine, which is why the walks here start early. Source ↗

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cloud in the Ella Gap (15 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cloud in the Ella Gap (15 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — August break in Sri Lanka, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cloud in the Ella Gap (15 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — August break in Sri Lanka, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cloud in the Ella Gap (15 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Hill-country high season, Year-end break in Sri Lanka

• Season

  Hill-country high season

  15 Dec – 31 MarDry seasonCrowdedBook early

  The driest and by some way the busiest stretch. There is a queue for sunrise on Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge is shoulder to shoulder when a train is due, and village rooms go at several times the low-season rate.

Still on: Poya days (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Hill-country train reservations (1 Jan – 31 Dec)