Nestled inbetween the hills within the Sri Lankan highlands sits a quite unassuming village pathed with only one street that acts because the gateway to some of the well-known walks in Sri Lanka – Adams peak or Sri Pada.
For a lot of, a hike as much as Adams peak will make the final word Sri Lanka bucket checklist having simply accomplished it myself, I agree. The hike as much as Adam’s Peak is a really distinctive and humbling expertise bodily, but additionally affords the prospect to dive deep into the tradition and traditions right here in Sri Lanka. Adams peak is unquestionably among the best issues to do in Sri Lanka!
In case you’re presently planning your Sri Lanka journey and don’t know what Adam’s Peak is… Adam’s Peak is a 2,243 meter tall conical mountain situated in central Sri Lanka. The mountain is a sacred pilgrimage website for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians because of the footprint imprinted at its summit, which every religion attributes to its personal sacred determine.
In case you’re on the lookout for the perfect time to hike Adam’s Peak, the easiest way to get to Adam’s Peak, the perfect place to remain for Adam’s Peak and only a common information for Adam’s Peak (what to pack and put on and many others) – you’re in the correct place!
That is an Adam’s Peak journey information.
Pens and paper on the prepared – it’s time to plan your Sri Pada pilgrimage.
Different journey guides you may discover helpful…
Sri Lanka Google Map Legend
How lengthy will you want for Adam’s Peak?
Relying in your health a hike to the summit of Adams peak will take you something between 1-5 hours, there are 5 500 steps!! Sure, this hike is not any joke, it’s an journey! On the way in which down it’s rather a lot faster for apparent causes, it took us slightly below an hour and a half to descend.
Don’t worry about your health degree, simply depart your self sufficient time to not fear about getting again for a sure time. There are households with young children strolling this route and there are stopping factors, seats, refreshments and bogs dotted all the way in which up. I had no concept what number of amenities could be on this route – it stunned me! Take some cash and also you’ll by no means be removed from what you want – water, relaxation or glucose.
As a result of early really helpful begin time of 2am (if you wish to catch dawn and keep away from the noon warmth), I’d suggest reserving an evening earlier than the summit after which an evening after. Getting sleep earlier than hand is essential. and you’ll positively have to relaxation after! Our legs had been sore for DAYS!
Methods to get to Adam’s Peak?
Adam’s Peak is situated in central Sri Lanka, about 40km northeast of the hill city of Ratnapura. When planning your path to Adam’s Peak, you’ll need to pop Dalhousie or Nallathanniya into your sat nav, this small city offers the primary entry level to the mountain (which is about an 8 hour drive from Colombo).
There is no such thing as a escaping it. To get to Nallathanniya you haven’t any selection however to tackle the tough winding roads, coated in gravel and pot holes as you wind by acres upon acres of tea plantations and estates. Whether or not you do this by bus, tuk tuk or automotive is as much as you, we opted for a automotive as we had been travelling from Kandy (3-4 hours) after which onward to Hiriketiya (5-6 hours) and we needed consolation!
Most individuals will get a practice through Columbo / Ella / Kandy to Hatton which is the closest entry practice station to Adams Peak. From there you possibly can choose up a tuk tuk or automotive to experience the ultimate stretch!
Tip: In case you hike throughout off peak season, public buses and tuk tuks are tougher to return by.
The mountain itself sits within the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, residence to lush montane forests and tea plantations, a mixed journey with visiting some native tea plantations is a should.
Tip: We might extremely suggest our driver Dilshan who drove us from Kandy to Adam’s Peak after which again to the coast! You may contact him on WhatsApp right here: +94 71 985 6115
The place do you keep for Adam’s Peak?
For probably the most comfort and to base your self firstly of the path, you’ll need to discover someplace in Nallathanniya. That is the place the Adam’s Peak stroll begins – you possibly can’t get any nearer!
We selected a neighborhood homestay final minute and would extremely suggest Lavendra Visitor Home. It was simply £8 an evening for the 2 of us, double mattress, sizzling bathe, excellent location and a HUGE breakfast upon our return from the hike. See beneath photos.
When is the perfect time to hike Adam’s Peak?
Time of yr
There are some months the place the height is definitely closed and a few months the place the climate will definitely add extra problem and so there are positively higher instances all year long to plan your Adam’s Peak hike.
June/July: The monsoon season means the mountain is normally closed these months.
August to October: The mountain is open throughout these months too however you danger extra probability of rain. Much less crowded although than the primary season which could possibly be nice!
December to Could: That is the primary pilgrimage season when the mountain is open and situations are greatest for climbing to see the dawn. After all although, these are the busier months with the busiest months being April and Could.
I can’t write this weblog put up with out warning you about how busy the Adams peak pilgrimage will get throughout public holidays, full moons and different non secular occasions. As a sacred website for Buddhists, Hindus and Christians there are a couple of dates particularly the place this route is chaos!
I don’t know what big day we by chance timed ours with (twelfth March 2023 if anybody desires to enlighten me) however we set off at 2am and had been 1km from the highest by 4.30am nevertheless it took us one other 4 hours (sure!) to truly attain the height at 8:23am.
Why? As the trail will get towards the top it will get steeper and narrower, I’m speaking very steep! Mix this with one other 20,000 individuals and a restricted summit space and you’ve got your self a really lengthy visitors jam. At one level we didn’t transfer for an hour!
There have been no indicators (in English anyway) that indicated how far you had been from the highest, it was solely when fellow European travellers tipped us off on their descent that there’s an alternate path to the summit (a fork at one of many temples) that may bypass this major queue!
So if you end up stumbling throughout a really busy summit like we did (which I don’t suppose is that widespread), take the correct turning on the intersection within the picture beneath and observe the opposite path!
Time of day
If you learn up on-line about Adams peak and do your analysis you’ll discover that most individuals suggest to start the hike round 2am. I’d agree with this because the solar rises round 6am which supplies you 4 hours to achieve the height and benefit from the daybreak of a model new day from the summit.
Mountaineering earlier than the solar rises additionally means you keep away from the added problem of the warmth – which if you happen to’ve been in Sri Lanka for some time earlier than planning this – you’ll perceive the advantage of.
How a lot does it value to climb Adam’s Peak?
There’s no official entry price for Adam’s Peak however you might be requested to make a donation, signal your title and also you get a string tied round your wrist firstly of the hike. We adopted the lead of the hikers earlier than us and positioned 1000rph down. We don’t know of the really helpful quantity, if you understand, please depart a remark!
I’d positively suggest bringing money on this hike (and in every single place in Sri Lanka).
What to pack for Adams Peak?
While you need to go as mild as doable by way of weight, additionally, you will want to arrange a bit for this hike. You’ll be breaking a sweat and placing your physique by its paces so some gasoline, water and necessities are wanted. Due to the recognition of this hike, though Dalhousie is a small city, they’ve native stalls and retailers promoting all the things you want together with wooly hats, native glucose crammed treats, waterproofs, umbrellas – actually something and all the things!
Listed here are a couple of necessities I’d wish to convey to your consideration:
- Cozy trainers – some individuals had been barefoot however I’d be sporting your comfiest energetic trainers / climbing boots if you happen to’re travelling with them!
- Head torch or a torch – In pilgrimage season the trail is lit up. Nonetheless, you’ll need a head torch if you happen to climb Adam’s Peak at another time as there are not any lights and the route is totally darkish.
- Layers – if you happen to set off at 2am it’s chilly and so till you heat up (occurs shortly) you’ll want a layer to entice you off the bed. If you attain the highest and anticipate dawn, you could recognize your layer once more. Nonetheless when that Sri Lankan sunshine hits – you’ll be taking it proper off! As you’re getting the image – layers is essential to your consolation!
- Money cash – for snacks / donations
- A digital camera – in fact!
- Suncream / hat / glasses – you’ll recognize the aid on the way in which again down.
- Snacks and water!! As a lot as you possibly can carry.
High ideas for Adam’s Peak:
- Have a relaxing couple of days deliberate afterwards, we might hardly stroll up and down stairs for about 3 days afterwards!
- Strive a number of the native sweets within the city earlier than hand, tremendous low cost and helps the locals!
- Don’t fear about getting hungry or thirsty – there are PLENTY of choices the entire approach up!
- Benefit from the expertise!
My trustworthy opinion of this journey?
I completely beloved it. It was an actual bodily problem (we actually went for it on the ascent) after which it was a psychological problem being at a stand nonetheless for 2-3 hours amongst the locals as we queued to achieve the summit.
The Sri Pada hike really inspired us to benefit from the journey and never be centered on the vacation spot. We surrendered to the hundreds of individuals we had been accompanied by and bathed within the laughter and tune of households within the queue in addition to us, all making an attempt to go the time. It was humbling to see 70-80 yr olds strolling and to see households actually pull collectively as a unit, holding every others palms, carrying one another and smiling on the summit.
The summit itself will not be what you’d anticipate if you happen to’re used to mountain hikes, it’s a sacred website and so there are wires and railings throughout making it laborious to see the view. One more reason to benefit from the journey and never be centered on the vacation spot… the perfect views are on the way in which!
Sri Lanka Google Map Legend
That’s it for my Adam’s Peak journey information!
Something you’d add? Any questions? Go away a remark if you happen to’d like to select my brains any extra!
Love as at all times and completely satisfied adventuring…
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