Little Adams Peak, located in Ella, Sri Lanka, is a hiking trail with incredible panoramic views of the mountains surrounding the city. It is a simple route that I hiked twice during my visit, and you can not miss on your stay in Ella.
How to get to Little Adams Peak
First things first, you must know how to get to Ella. If you did not figure out a way to get there, you can read my article about transportation in Sri Lanka. Anyway, I will tell you that most probably you will come from Kandy and take the popular blue train Kandy to Ella or from the south where you will have to take a car or bus.
Once in Ella, depending on where you are staying, you can go by walk or take a tuk tuk to the entrance of 98 Acres Resort & Spa. Getting to this resort is very easy, through a 5-minute gravel road that takes you from the main road. The resort is also home of Ravana Pool Club, a restaurant with a spectacular pool.
When you arrive to the resort, you just have to keep walking on another gravel road for another 2 more minutes until you see the sign that I show you in the previous picture indicating the start of the route.
Things to Consider Before the Ascent to Little Adams Peak
Little Adams Peak is a moderate hike, but it is still important that you don't forget to take some essential items with you. You will be climbing a lot of stairs, so pack comfortable hiking clothes and appropriate footwear.
What should you Bring to this Adventure
- Reusable water bottle: Carry a reusable water bottle is NON-NEGOTIABLEI recommend that you do not skimp on expenses, it is a long term investment, and you will constantly make use of it, especially when you go on the road. Make sure it is resistant and keeps the temperature well.
- Sunscreen: Another essential item that you can not miss is your sunscreen, in tropical countries the sun burns like nowhere else. If you are going to do a route in the morning you can't forget it.
- Hat: Remember to always carry a cap with you, it will protect yourself from the sun.
Hiking Route to the Summit
It is a well known route, but many people do not hike all of it, most of the people prefer only climb the stairs at the beginning to see the sunrise. You will know you climbed half of the stairs when you see a sign that says "Flying Ravana", where they have installed an activity center which includes a zip line and climbing wall. When you climb all the stairs, you will find the first panoramic viewpoint. You might also find a man selling fresh coconuts, who is usually there around 10:30am, something you will be grateful for on the way back.
My advice if you want to enjoy a good sunrise is to do the whole route, which consist of three different peaks, being the last one the most spectacular. As almost anyone ventures to do it, you will have all the views to yourself just by walking a few more metres.
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Detailed Route Explanation
- Difficulty: Difficulty is moderateThe beginning of the route is well known by the amount of stairs. From halfway of the route it becomes a dirt road through the mountain with steep slopes.
- Length: The length of the entire route is about 2 to three km.
- Estimated time: The time you spend hiking will largely depend on whether you do the whole route or not. Most people stay halfway, which includes only the first peak and takes about 30 minutes. In this case, you will only have to climb the stairs. On the other hand, If you do the whole route, It can take up to 1 hour to get to the top of the third peak.
Sunrise at Little Adams Peak
During my visit to Sri Lanka I visited Ella in two separate occasions and in both of them I decided to do the Little Adams Peak hike. The first time I started hiking at 11:30am, in broad daylight, and it was extremely hot. That's why on my second visit I decided to do the trek again, but this time at 5:30am to see the sunrise.
It was a wise decision, and not just because we avoided the midday heat. Monica, Bonnie and I were able to witness one of the most beautiful sunrises we have ever seen in Sri Lanka.
Without a doubt, if you do Little Adams Peak hike, make sure it is at sunrise, you will come across fewer tourists and you will see have spectacular views.
Where to Stay Near Little Adams Peak
If you go to Little Adams Peak, my recommendation is to stay in Ella, from there you can also visit all the surrounding waterfalls. Furthermore, by staying in the city you will be surrounded by life, supermarkets and restaurants.
Top 3 Accommodations in Ella
- Backpackers Hostel: As it could not be otherwise, my first recommendation goes to our friend Shani's hostel. If you are traveling alone backpacking, don't hesitate, it is a quiet hostel with good views where you can breathe good vibes in every corner.
- Rowinrich Cottages: It is better accommodation if you are looking for comfort 7 minutes from the center. It is something more premium and I recommend it if you are traveling with someone and looking for peace of mind.
- Wild Bee Hostel: This hostel is the best in Ella, the facilities inside are incredible and all for an unbeatable price.
Complementary Activities to do in Ella
Ella is my favorite town in the mountains of Sri Lanka. There are lots of things to do besides hiking Little Adams Peak. Here are a couple of activities that you can enjoy on the same day of the hike if you organize yourself well.
Visit the 9 Arches Bridge
The Nine Arches Bridge, locally known as the "Navathanna Bridge", is an iconic bridge located in Ella, close to the Little Adams Peak trail.
You can walk across the bridge and enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. We also opted to take pictures of the bridge with the drone, the views are spectacular. It's a spot you cannot miss, especially given its proximity to Little Adams Peak, as the bridge is just 15 minutes from the start of the hike. You can do both activities on the same day, even the same morning.
Visit Diyaluma Falls
There are more waterfalls in Ella, closer to the city, but from my point of view Diyaluma falls It is totally unmissable. Is my favourite waterfall in Sri Lanka and the most impressive of the country.
It takes 1 hour by tuk tuk to get there from Ella. You will have to pay around 300 LKR to access the waterfall and take a short 10-minute walk through the jungle. The views from the waterfall will take your breath away. Despite they are well known waterfall, not many people venture here, so you will definitely enjoy the place.
My Experience Climbing Little Adam's Peak
I will always remember Little Adams Peak for the incredible sunrise I witnessed on my second visit. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful sunrises I saw in Sri Lanka.
My friends and I got up early and arrived at the start of the route around 6am. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the top and we were taking photos and recording videos all morning.
Something that I will never forget was when I changed the SD card of my friend Monica's camera and left it on a rock. The funniest thing is that we realized when we were back visiting the 9 Arches Bridge, so we had to do the route again, this time at 1pm. If we add this, there are now three times I have done this route. In the end my friend Monica spared my life because we managed to find the card lying on the floor.
