Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka is a hill that has been recognized as sacred by four world religions. The place is famous not only for its energy but the views opened from the mountain – they are incredible. Adam’s Peak is one of the popular hiking places in Sri Lanka and is worth visiting.
Check this travel guide to Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka; keep reading this post to learn what is the best time to climb this mountain, how to get there, best day tours to join and more.
Adam’s Peak General Information
- Location: coordinates – 6.809557, 80.499317, 80 km from Colombo.
- Adam’s Peak height: 2243 meters.
- Average air temperature at the top: at night – +10-12 degrees; during the day – +18-25 degrees, there are strong winds.
- Average air temperature at the foot: +25-27 degrees at night, +29-30 degrees during the day.
- Hiking difficulty: there are 5500 steps, that are pretty steep, it can take up to 3 hours to reach the top. Not the best trekking option for children and elderly people.
- You can book a tour to Adam’s Small Peak with a transfer here.
- On the map: link .
About Adam’s Peak
Each religion has its own legend:
- Buddhists worship the mountain because they believe that Buddha himself left a footprint on its top during one of his three visits to Sri Lanka;
- Muslims are sure that the footprint belongs to Adam, who was expelled from paradise;
- Orthodox and Catholics have no doubt that the footprint appeared from the foot of the disciple of Jesus;
- Hindu adherents claim that god Shiva stepped on the mountain.
There is a trail that goes to the top of the mountain. Thanks to the equipped path, Adam’s Peak has become the most visited site on the island.
How to get to Adam’s Peak
If you’re going on vacation to Sri Lanka with a goal to visit Adam’s Peak, the best time to do this is from December to April – it is a period when a special bus runs from Hatton to the village of Dalhousie, located at the foot of the mountain.
First you need to get to Hatton settlement – this is the nearest transport hub to the mountain. There are trains in Sri Lanka as well as buses from major cities. From Hatton, take the tour bus or book a tuk-tuk to Dalhousie. The fare for tuk-tuk is 600-800 rupees, for a bus – 50. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Dalhousie to the foot of the mountain.
The ascent itself passes through steep stairs. The path is 5.2 kilometers. It’s better to start climbing after the midnight to meet the dawn on the top of the mountain. The ascent can take 3-4 hours, depending on your fitness level.
It is impossible to get lost on the mountain – there is only one staircase here that leads straight to the monastery at the top. Tourists gather on the roof of this monastery to watch the rising sun.
You can plan an independent ascent or join one of the group tours from other cities. The cost depends on departure point. The nearest major cities (Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya) offer tours to Adam’s Peak for 2000-3000 rupees.
