The 9 Train Experiences Around the World That Earn the Detour

1.Ella: Tea Factory, Train, and Nine Arch Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 98 reviews · 16 hours · from $140Our pick

Spend up to 16 hours traveling from Colombo, Galle, Negombo, or nearby resorts to Ella with an English-speaking guide and private air-conditioned transport. The day combines Ravana Waterfall, a short train ride, Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, tea tasting, the Ravana Pool Club, and an optional zipline. Guides such as Krish, Ranga, Dinesh, and Rukshan are praised for friendly, flexible help.

“What a day! We were about 1 day to leave the country and curious how to make dream about Sri Lanka come true and see from train majestic scenery, Apple vacations did a great job and made perfect trip to Ella from Colombo! Our Guide Krish was very kind, supportive and thoughtful to our needs, he put his soul so we can leave Sri Lanka really happy! We did see waterfall, 9 Archs, had time to walk within Ella's streets with amazing scenery and train trip dream also did come true with help of best routing decisions of Krish! Thank you so much! We are so happy with the tour!”

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2.Lake District – Rail Tour from London with Cream Tea and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 75 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $460

Take an early train from London Euston to Oxenholme, then explore the Lake District by minivan with guides such as Peter, Graham, or Mark. See Windermere, Hawkshead, Tarn Hows, and Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top in summer, with a cruise and cream tea included. Winter visits swap in Rydal Mount and Bowness.

“We got picked up 2 hours late from the station. No apologies from the local guide. Not worth of money at all!”

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3.Ella Private Day Trip with Train Ride & Tea Factory-All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $190Top rated

You’ll leave the south coast early for Ella with a private driver-guide such as Pradeep, Dinesh, or Danuskha. The day includes Rawana Falls, Little Adam’s Peak, Nine Arch Bridge, the Demodara Loop, a scenic train ride to Haputale, and a tea factory visit. Lunch, tickets, water, and hotel transfers are included.

“This is the perfect way to visit a few key sites if you're short on time. In one day we got to visit a waterfall, the nine arches bridge, Ella and little Adam's Peak. It was perfect! Prot Tip: bring a change of clothes.”

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4.Vietnam Tea Tasting – Giang Egg Coffee & Train Street Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 3 hours · from $36Best value

Spend three hours with an English-speaking guide learning how Vietnamese tea is grown, classified, brewed, and served. Taste green and red tea, practice making one kind, then choose Giang egg coffee, Train Street, or both. Groups have 2 to 5 people, with optional Bun Cha lunch and no hotel pickup outside Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

“The whole day was great but the caves were amazing. We went on a quiet day luckily.”

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5.Sigiriya, Kandy to Ella TRain Ride plus Up Country TEA[B&B Basis]

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $409

You travel by private air-conditioned vehicle through Sri Lanka’s hill country, with Sinharaja Forest, Gatabaruwa Temple, Pinnawala, Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, and Kandy Lake. The wider tour description also includes Sigiriya, Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, the Kandy to Ella train, Little Adam’s Peak, and Ravana Falls. Breakfast and 4-star lodging are included, but entrance fees are extra.

“3 Nights and 4 Day tour. Pick up from Unawatuna and they dropped us to Airport. It was awesome experience thousands of pictures and memories collected. Highly Recommend Services easy arrangements”

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6.Ella Day Tour with Scenic Train Ride & Tea Plantation Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $226

Spend 10 hours touring Ella and the surrounding highlands in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. See Nine Arch Bridge and Demodara Railway Loop, hike Little Adam's Peak, stop at Ravana Falls, visit a tea plantation, and meet rescued elephants at Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home. Hotel pickup, snacks, drinks, and guide service are included.

“That was an amazing trip, everything was well organised! Special thanks to our guide Sachitha!”

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7.Ella Day Trip with Train Ride Waterfalls and Tea Factory Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $130

Start at 3:00 am for a private, full-day journey from Galle to Ella and Haputale. Your English-speaking guide also drives, handles the route, and helps throughout the day. See Ravana Falls, hike Little Adam’s Peak, visit Nine Arch Bridge, ride the train, and tour a tea factory and estate.

“Bardzo miły przyjazny i pomocny. Wykupiliśmy 2 wycieczki całodniowe oraz dojazd na lotnisko z hotelu. Pan pełni rolę przewodnika, kierowcy, doradza, pomaga. Wycieczki bardzo retoryczne i urozmaicone. Samochody czyste przestronne i wygodne. Bardzo serdecznie polecamy.”

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8.Nuwara Eliya Highlights: Waterfall, Tea & Picturesque Train Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $133

Start in Kandy with a private driver and spend about 13 hours in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Visit 108-meter Ramboda Falls, tour Pedro Tea Factory, eat lunch, relax at Gregory Lake, then ride the scenic train toward Kandy. Guide Kajun is named in one review. Transport, tickets, lunch, and bottled water are included.

“This Nuwara Eliya tour was everything I didn’t know I needed lush waterfalls, cozy tea plantations, and that dreamy train ride through the hills? Seriously, wow. It felt like we were in a movie the entire time.”

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9.3 Hour Vietnam Tea & Egg Coffee Tasting With Train Street

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 3 hours · from $36

Meet an English-speaking guide and tea expert near Hanoi’s Old Quarter for a hands-on lesson in handmade tea. Taste green and red tea, brew your own pot, then choose Giang Cafe egg coffee, Train Street, or an optional Bun Cha and Banh Mi lunch. Groups are limited to five people.

“we booked this short tour with the expectation of knowing some more knowledge about asian tea but got more than that. Adward - the guide picked me up at hotel to the tea house, it is amazing to enter a small world of tea. I was introduced clearly about how the tea buds are handpicked and sundried then they taught me process of tea brewing and serving, especially I was encouraged to brew tea with nice teapot. Train street was amazing with banhmi and bun cha. Well worth the money.”

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