Sri Lanka's Famous Train Ride Was NOT What I Expected

Sri Lanka’s famous train ride is one of those experiences you see all over social media — open train doors, incredible mountain views, tea plantations, and that perfect cinematic shot. But what you see online doesn’t always show you the full experience. In this video, I take the famous train from Ella to Nanu Oya to see what this iconic journey is actually like. And getting that perfect shot was easier said than done… it took me almost two hours after boarding before I finally managed to get a seat. From dealing with the crowds at Ella Railway Station and on the train, to eventually finding some space and enjoying the incredible scenery of Sri Lanka’s hill country, this journey wasn't quite what I expected. But the adventure doesn't end when the train arrives in Nanu Oya. After getting off the train, I had to take a taxi to Nuwara Eliya, about 15–20 minutes away, where I then had to figure out how to catch a bus all the way back to Colombo. So is Sri Lanka’s famous train ride really as amazing as it looks on social media? Let's find out. 📍 Ella → Nanu Oya → Nuwara Eliya → Colombo, Sri Lanka 00:00 Intro 00:25 Ella Train Station 02:10 Ella to Nanu Oya — The Journey 05:26 Arriving in Nanu Oya 06:43 Taxi to Nuwara Eliya to find bus to Colombo