Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This fair-trade tea shop (selling leaves rather than cups of tea) was established by a Sri
Lankan tour guide to help local tea-estate children. It donates 5% of all money made to
community projects. They sell an array of local teas and infusions.
Information
There's a post office and the
Bank of Ceylon
has an ATM. Almost every guesthouse and
some bigger restaurants have internet access (normally wi-fi).
Getting There & Away
BUS
The road to Ella leaves the Bandarawela-Badulla road about 9km out of Bandarawela.
Buses change schedule fairly often, so ask for an update at the Curd Shop (where many
buses stop to collect passengers).
Buses go to Badulla (Rs 53), Bandarawela (Rs 34) and Wellawaya (Rs 67).
Whether you're going to or from Kandy, you must change first at Badulla. Buses to
Matara (Rs 240 to Rs 275 depending on bus quality) stop at Ella approximately every hour
from about 6.30am until about 2.30pm. The buses are likely to be quite full by the time
they reach Ella, though the buses at around noon are usually less busy. You can always
catch a bus to Wellawaya and change there for a service to the south coast or for Mon-
aragala (for Arugam Bay). A bus heads to Galle every morning at 8am (Rs 310).
TAXI
Private minibus taxis gather on the roadside close to the Dream Cafe and charge the fol-
lowing:
Galle
Rs 14,500
Horton Plains
Rs 8500
Mirissa
Rs 12,500
Nuwara Eliya
Rs 7500
Tangalla
Rs 9500
Tissamaharama
Rs 6500
