An entire information for climbing Adam’s Peak

Nestled inbetween the hills within the Sri Lankan highlands sits a moderately unassuming village pathed with only one street that acts because the gateway to one of the crucial 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 record having simply accomplished it myself, I agree. The hike as much as Adam’s Peak is a really distinctive and humbling expertise bodily, but in addition affords the possibility to dive deep into the tradition and traditions right here in Sri Lanka. Adams peak is indisputably probably the greatest issues to do in Sri Lanka!

In the event you’re at the moment planning your Sri Lanka journey and do not 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 web site for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians as a result of footprint imprinted at its summit, which every religion attributes to its personal sacred determine.

In the event you’re on the lookout for the most effective time to hike Adam’s Peak, the easiest way to get to Adam’s Peak, the most effective place to remain for Adam’s Peak and only a basic information for Adam’s Peak (what to pack and put on and many others) – you’re in the appropriate 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 would possibly discover helpful…

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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 isn’t any joke, it’s an journey! On the way in which down it’s lots faster for apparent causes, it took us just below an hour and a half to descend.

Don’t worry about your health stage, simply go away 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 thought what number of amenities could be on this route – it shocked 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 beneficial begin time of 2am (if you wish to catch dawn and keep away from the noon warmth), I might suggest reserving an evening earlier than the summit after which an evening after. Getting a superb sleep earlier than hand is essential. and you’ll positively must relaxation after! Our legs have been sore for DAYS!

Find out how 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 wish 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 alternative however to tackle the tough winding roads, lined 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 have been travelling from Kandy (3-4 hours) after which onward to Hiriketiya (5-6 hours) and we wished consolation!

Most individuals will get a prepare by way of Columbo / Ella / Kandy to Hatton which is the closest entry prepare station to Adams Peak. From there you’ll be able to choose up a tuk tuk or automotive to trip the ultimate stretch!

Tip: In the event you hike throughout off peak season, public buses and tuk tuks are tougher to come back 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 possibly can contact him on WhatsApp right here: +94 71 985 6115

Adams Peak, Sri Lanka

The place do you keep for Adam’s Peak?

For essentially the most comfort and to base your self initially of the path, you’ll wish to discover someplace in Nallathanniya. That is the place the Adam’s Peak stroll begins – you’ll be able to’t get any nearer!

We selected an area homestay final minute and would extremely suggest Lavendra Visitor Home. It was simply £8 an evening for the 2 of us, double mattress, scorching bathe, good location and a HUGE breakfast upon our return from the hike. See under pictures.

When is the most effective time to hike Adam’s Peak?

Time of 12 months

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 might be nice!

December to Might: That is the primary pilgrimage season when the mountain is open and circumstances are greatest for climbing to see the dawn. In fact although, these are the busier months with the busiest months being April and Might.

I can’t write this weblog publish with out warning you about how busy the Adams peak pilgrimage will get throughout public holidays, full moons and different spiritual occasions. As a sacred web site for Buddhists, Hindus and Christians there are a number of dates particularly the place this route is chaos!

I do not know what special occasion we by accident timed ours with (twelfth March 2023 if anybody desires to enlighten me) however we set off at 2am and have been 1km from the highest by 4.30am nevertheless it took us one other 4 hours (sure!) to really attain the height at 8:23am.

Why? As the trail will get towards the tip 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 site 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 have 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 essential 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 appropriate turning on the intersection within the picture under and comply with the opposite path!

Time of day

While 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 provides 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 in case you’ve been in Sri Lanka for some time earlier than planning this – you’ll perceive the advantage of.

A guide to hiking Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka

How a lot does it price to climb Adam’s Peak?

There’s no official entry payment for Adam’s Peak however you’re requested to make a donation, signal your title and also you get a string tied round your wrist initially of the hike. We adopted the lead of the hikers earlier than us and positioned 1000rph down. We do not know of the beneficial quantity, if , please go away a remark!

I might positively suggest bringing money on this hike (and all over the place in Sri Lanka).

What to pack for Adams Peak?

While you wish to go as gentle as doable when it comes to weight, additionally, you will want to organize 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, regardless that Dalhousie is a small city, they’ve native stalls and outlets promoting every part you want together with wooly hats, native glucose crammed treats, waterproofs, umbrellas – actually something and every part!

Listed below are a number of necessities I’d wish to convey to your consideration:

Comfortable trainers – some individuals have been barefoot however I’d be sporting your comfiest lively trainers / climbing boots in case you’re travelling with them!
Head torch or a torch – In pilgrimage season the trail is lit up. Nonetheless, you have to a head torch in case you climb Adam’s Peak at every other time as there aren’t any lights and the route is totally darkish.
Layers – in case you set off at 2am it’s chilly and so till you heat up (occurs shortly) you’ll want a layer to entice you away from bed. While you attain the highest and look ahead to dawn, it’s possible you’ll admire 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 digicam – after all!
Suncream / hat / glasses – you’ll admire the aid on the way in which again down.
Snacks and water!! As a lot as you’ll be able to carry.

High suggestions for Adam’s Peak:

Have a calming couple of days deliberate afterwards, we might hardly stroll up and down stairs for about 3 days afterwards!
Attempt among 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 sincere 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 1000’s of individuals we had been accompanied by and bathed within the laughter and tune of households within the queue apart from us, all attempting to cross the time. It was humbling to see 70-80 12 months olds strolling and to see households actually pull collectively as a unit, holding every others fingers, carrying one another and smiling on the summit.

The summit itself isn’t what you’d count on in case you’re used to mountain hikes, it’s a sacred web site and so there are wires and railings throughout making it laborious to see the view. Another excuse to benefit from the journey and never be centered on the vacation spot… the most effective views are on the way in which!