Home » How to visit Weligama » From Ella

Coming to Weligama from Ella is a bit time consuming trip. It is a matter of get in to a correct bus / train or a taxi and 5 - 8 hours long ride. Travelers can have three options to come to this magnificent Weligama beach - Sri Lanka from Ella. Please find below details for, how you visit this coastal town from scenic Ella.

Travelers need to go the main bus stop station in Ella - Wellawaya road. It is located near in the Bus Stand Passara Balla Ketuwa (Near Restaurant). All most every buses that going towards Wellawaya will stop in front of the Ella bus station. Traveler have two choices either take direct bus to Galle / Matara or take bus to Wellawaya. This is because buses towards Matara and Galle are limited. Only handful of buses available and they are schedule to be run in 2 - 1 hours interval. That means you can not expect direct buses towards Galle or Matara in every time.

Option 1: Take direct bus to Matara / Galle from Ella
Following times extract from latest information center in Ella to Matara / Galle. Departure times: 06:30 / 08:40 / 09:20 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 14:45 / 15:30 / 16:40. Ella - Matara route number is 31 and last direct bus to Matara will be at 16:00 (Please ask help from the information center near the bust station). Bus fare for Matara from Ella  between 2 - 3 USD. Total duration for Ella to Matara would be 6 -7 hours. If you take direct bus to Matara, your final destination is Matara bus stand. Then you need to take a bus to reach Weligama, after reaching to Matara. If you take direct bus to Galle, you can reach Weligama without any transit.


Option 2: Come to Weligama via Wellawaya
If traveler you can not find any direct bus towards Matara / Galle, Do not worry you have other options. Travelers need to take a bus to Wellawaya town. All most every buses that going towards Wellawaya will stop in front of the Ella bus station. It is a 1 hour ride towards Wellawaya town. Then you need to take 'Monaragala to Matara' or 'Monaragala to Hambanthota' bus from Wellawaya central bus stand. Total duration for Wellawaya to Matara would be 4 - 5 hours. If you take Monaragala to Matara bus, your final destination is Matara bus stand. Then you need to take a bus to reach Weligama, after you take-off from Matara. If you take Monaragala to Hambanthota bus your final destination is Hambanthota bus stand. Then you need to take a bus to reach Matara, after reaching to Hambanthota. For this requirement you can take 'Matara - Hambanthota' or 'Colombo - Kataragama' buses. If you take Matara - Hambanthota bus it will reach Matara in 3 - 4 hours time, then need to take a bus to reach Weligama. If you take Colombo - Kataragama you can reach Weligama without any transit. Please read this article for visit Weligama from Matara.

We highly recommend to use public transport like buses. Mostly Ella - Matara buses operate 06:30 to 16:00 time period. Matara - Hambanthota buses operate between 06:00 - 20:00 time period. Colombo - Kataragama buses operate all the day and all time. But after 20:00, operate frequency of buses decrease. It is advisable avoid stay public places like bus stations after 20:00. And it is also advisable to plan your journey within day time (avoid night traveling). This because after 17:00 frequency of buses decrease.

Train ride towards Weligama from Ella is more time consuming journey. It will take at least 13 - 15 hours long journey. If you are a fan of train journey we would recommend to go for train journey. It is most scenic train journey you ever find in the world. From Ella train station traveler can not take a straight train to Weligama. Please read this article regarding the train timetables towards Weligama. You can find up-to date train time table from this government website: eservices.railway.gov.lk. You need to go to the Colombo and then go to Weligama. Please find below trains towards Colombo fort. Ticket fare would be less than 2 - 3 USD. Please read this article for visit Weligama from Colombo city.

Four (4) trains available for Colombo fort from Ella railway station

After you reach Colombo fort, you may need to take train to Weligama. All most all the trains that heading towards Matara will stop at Weligama railway station. But conditions inside trains are decent and less comfortable especially lavatory etc... And trains will get crowded in office hours 07:00 - 08:30 morning, 15:30 - 17:30 afternoon. Nevertheless trains will also get more crowded in festive and vacation months like April, August, December. Trains are available for Weligama in between 05:00 to 20:30 time period. Ticket fare would be less than 2 - 3 USD. Do not forget to departure from Weligama station otherwise traveler would be heading towards Matara. Please read this article regarding the train ride

Some of the taxi services nearby Ella city has bit hire rates. Currently [Updated 2019/02] non of the main taxi services which are operated in the Colombo area not available in Ella. Therefore we highly recommend to use public transport instead. If traveler needs any local taxi services like car or van, they were park nearby Ella bus stand stand. Sometimes people may ask for share a taxi with them, Those offers may be good option.

Travelers can have another option where several social media groups have share taxi rides with each other. You can just join those groups and try to share rides among backpackers. Please join social media below groups:
- Journey to Sri Lanka (Backpacking / Tourism / Information Hub)
- South Sri Lanka Surf Community
- Sri Lanka Taxi Share & Service
- Backpacking Sri Lanka / Taxi Service / Hotel Bookings


Additionally above options travelers can join several Telegram/WhatsApp group among Sri Lankan taxi service providers where they share / update their details, especially drivers who has got empty ride way back to different locations. Join below groups:
- Tourist Help Line Sri Lanka - Telegram group
- Sri Lanka Taxi - WhatsApp group
- Hikaduwa Airport Drops - WhatsApp group

Minimum cost for Ella to Weligama would be 100 USD. This amount will be change according to the route, vehicle type, passengers. You can book a taxi to Weligama from the Ella via this form.

Different ways come to Weligama from Ella in Google Maps

Below map include the different ways come to Weligama from Ella, Sri Lanka including bus routes, train and taxi routes.


Following details may helpful, if you hope to visit Weligama from various other tourist destinations around this lovely Island.

From Colombo Airport (CMB) to Weligama
From Colombo to Weligama
From Hikkaduwa to Weligama
From Galle to Weligama
From Matara to Weligama
From Hiriketiya to Weligama
From Yala to Weligama
From Udawalawe to Weligama
From Ella to Weligama
From Kandy to Weligama
From Sigiriya to Weligama
From Arugambay to Weligama
From Kalpitiya to Weligama

Last Updated on: 2019/05/30