An unexpected visit to Little Adam’s Peak

Travelling to any tropical country comes with the risk of torrential downpours, in fact it is part of the charm, but weather is something far out of our control so all we can do is make the most of the situation. This is exactly where I found myself when travelling to Sri Lanka. My plan to climb the iconic Adam’s Peak was carefully laid out, only for the rain to dampen it all (literally)!

When people talk about hiking in Sri Lanka, one of the first things that gets mentioned is Adam’s Peak. Climbing Adam’s Rock is a real adventure, and not for the faint-hearted. Starting at 2am you’ll climb for 2-4 hours up 5,500 steps to reach the top in time for sunrise. And then you’ve got to walk down again! I was pretty keen to complete this special pilgrimage route to the Sacred Footprint of Buddha, which is believed to lie at the top, but when the rain came I had to look to the other options available. Always good to know about these, as stunning of a trek Adam’s Peak may be, at roughly five hours, it could prove too much for those less physically able, short on time, or if you are just wanting a more relaxed holiday.

My next choice was climbing Ella Rock. The town of Ella is a tiny spot deep in the mountains, known to be a wonderland for hikers and other outdoorsy adventures. When you first arrive, it can feel a little intimidating; talks of 4-hour trails, rocky terrain, millions of leeches waiting for you to stray ever so slightly off the path. The town is charming though and when walking by the many relaxed cafes playing reggae music, surrounded by smiling Sri Lankans selling hand-made wooden gifts, you may mistakenly feel you’re on a beach somewhere. 

The hike up Ella Rock is roughly a 10km round trip, taking anywhere between three and five hours; it’s not quite as difficult as Adam’s Peak but it’s still a challenge. When I arrived, again the weather was awful – everyone sounded miserable who’d done the climb so I decided against it too.

As I only really had a short spell of clear skies I decided to climb up Little Adam’s Peak instead. In comparison to the harder treks, it would be very bold to call it a hike, but the views were incredible and it was an amazing experience to watch the sunrise from the top. The path to the top is only 700 metres from the trailhead, a lot of which is either a slight incline or stairs, this is a breezy walk you can easily do in as little as 30 minutes depending on your pace. You could walk from the centre of town, or even get a tuk-tuk to the start to make life easier.

Although not my original plan, the views here are still spectacular. For those worried that Ella Rock or Adam’s Peak may not be for them, or that they might miss out on the stunning views, fear not – Little Adam’s Peak is here to save your time, and your knees.

Think the best views are reserved only for those willing to brave the hardest hikes? That’s certainly not the case with Little Adam’s Peak.

This stunning panorama gives you a full view of Ella Rock, the valley below, and a breathtaking vista of mountains and rolling clouds as far as the eye can see. I’m not going to lie though, the leeches will still be after you, so please be sure to check your shoes every now and again!