FULL GUIDE FOR HIKING LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK IN ELLA
Little Adam’s Peak is located in Ella, a gorgeous region of Sri Lanka! Ella is one of our favorite places to visit in Sri Lanka for its natural beauty and cooler climate. We wrote a full post here about Ella.
Little Adams Peak takes its name from a sacred mountain Adams Peak. Don’t confuse “Adam’s Peak” with “Little Adam’s Peak”. They are 2 different mountains at different location. Here we focus on Little Adam’s Peak which is located in Ella. Little Adam’s Peak is lower in terms of altitude and the summit easier to reach.
Hiking to Little Adam’s Peak is one of the best things to do in Ella. The view at the top is breathtaking with an exceptional panorama at 360 degrees!
A bit of information about Ella
Ella is a charming little mountain village in Sri Lanka, perched in the clouds at 1,000 meters above sea level. Surrounded by hills covered with tea plantations, Ella is located in the southern part of Sri Lanka, 200 km east of Colombo.
Thanks to its altitude, Ella benefits from a climate that is cooler than the the rest of the country. And that’s really nice, after you visit other part of Sri Lanka under very hot and humid weather. For us, visiting Ella is a must during a trip to Sri Lanka.
WHAT IS LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK?
Little Adam’s Peak is 1,140 meters high. Don’t confuse Little Adam’s Peak with “Adam’s Peak”. Adam’s Peak is a sacred mountain for Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. It is located in the Ratnapura region and culminates at 2,240 meters. It takes much longer to reach the top. The Sri Lankans give the name of “Punchi Sri Pada” to this peak.
Little Adam’s Peak attracts many travelers who come to Sri Lanka. The hike to the top of Little Adams Peak is easy and offers spectacular panoramic views.
Location of Little’s Adam Peak: here
WHERE TO START LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK HIKE?
The hike starts in front of Ella Flower Garden Resort (here).
First you will cross tea plantations and the beautiful Ravana Pool Club (here). The Ravana Pool Club just opened in 2022. It’s a beautiful place if you want to relax in a pool with a cocktail and face tea plantation and the mountains around Ella. Check our their website (here).
It is not uncommon to come across women working in the tea fields at the start of the hike. Indeed, in Sri Lanka, the work of picking tea leaves is mainly done by women.
The trail is well marked to reach the top. You can’t really go wrong from there. After a bunch of steep stairs you will get to the top! The view is stunning! A fantastic place to admire the scenery around Ella.
In order to make the most of this place and its special atmosphere, we recommend to start early. First you will avoid the crowds of tourists and second the temperature will be much more comfortable.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE SUMMIT?
A BIG WOW! Yes, the view is absolutely stunning. A breathtaking 360 degrees panorama of the beautiful Ella region, one of our favorite places in Sri Lanka.
There are actually 2 peaks. Most people stops at the first one, where the view is already stunning. There are a few famous spots to take great photos there, such as the one above.
If you continue towards your left, you have to hike down a little and back up on a very steep path. The view is pretty much the same from both peaks. So if you are feeling tired already, you can skip the 2nd summit.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK HIKE?
We spent a good 1 hour hiking to the top of Little Adam’s Peak from Ella by making plenty of stops to take photos. The hike is not that difficult, except towards the end as there are more stairs, besides it started to get hot as we started a bit late in the morning.
If you are going back to Ella after that, simply head down the same way. So in total count 2 hours to complete the hike.
However, most people will start with Little Adam’s Peak in the morning, and head to the Nine Arches Bridge from there. More on that later in this post.
GET SOME ADRENALINE RUSH BY TAKING THE ZIPLINE ON YOUR WAY DOWN
There is actually a faster way to go down from Little Adam’s Peak. Half way through the hike, you have the option to go back down near Ravana Pool, by taking an exciting zipline ride above the tea plantations! How amazing is that!
The place is called Ravana Zipline. You can’t miss it. On you way up to Little Adam’s Peak you will see people flying back down on top of your head!
You can book your ticket at cheaper price here.
Location: here
Website: here
COMBINE LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK WITH A VISIT OF THE NINE ARCHES BRIDGE
On the way back from Little Adam’s Peak, you can hike directly to the Nine Arches Bridge. The hike to get there is a bit long, so we opted for a short Tuk-Tuk ride, which was a good idea. The Tuk-Tuk driver will drop you off at the ideal location to start the visit of the Nine Arches Bridge.
You can find a few tuk-tuks waiting on your way down from Little Adam’s Peak near Ravana Pool Club at the junction which leads back to Ella on your left and Nine Arches Bridge on your right (location of the junction: here). The Tuk-Tuk ride is rather inexpensive and will make you save 1 hour of downhill hike.
We were very excited to see the bridge. When planning our trip to Sri Lanka we could see so many photos of the Nine Arches Bridge. So finally, it was our turn to see it. And what a magical place!
This sight is one of the best things to see in Ella, and one of the most photographed places in Sri Lanka.
Of course, the best shot at Nine Arches Bridge is when a train is passing by around 9:30am, 11:30am, 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5:30pm. However, Sri Lankan trains are often late. So expect to wait a little before you see the train pass by…
Location: here
READ: FULL GUIDE FOR VISITING THE NINE ARCHES BRIDGE
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK?
GOOD NEWS, it’s free!!
However, you can also opt for a guide which will take care of everything and explain you more about the history of Little Adam’s Peak as well as the Nine Arches Bridges. This includes pick-up from your hotel by Tuk-Tuk. More details here.
STOP FOR A VISIT OF HALPEWATTE TEA FACTORY
When hiking Little Adam’s Peak, you will see a huge white building on top of a neighbouring mountain. This is Halpewatte Tea Factory.
If you haven’t visited a Tea factory yet, then we highly recommend a tour at Halpewatte, one of the best things to see in Ella. The Tea factory is located just 2km from the town on top of a mountain surrounded by tea plantations.
During the tour in the factory, everything is explained in perfect English: harvesting, sorting, drying, different types of teas… Visiting a tea factory is a must in Sri Lanka.
Location: here
Website: here
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN ELLA
We have a full posts about the 20 best things to see in Ella, here.
Some of the highlights are the beautiful Ravana Falls easily accessible from Ella with a short Tuk-Tuk ride.
Lipton’s Seat which is one of our best memories in Sri Lanka. Lipton’s Seat is a superb mountainous area south of Ella entirely covered with tea plantations. No words can describe the beauty of this place (full guide here).
World’s End located inside the Horton Plains National Park is another great sights near Ella, a bit off the beaten track in Sri Lanka but worth a visit! This national park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant biodiversity. These high plateau landscapes are located around 2,000 meters above sea level.
Another great things to see in Ella are the Nil Diya Pokuna caves believed to be part of the legend of King Ravana. 100m below the surface. The highlight of the place is the underground pond containing bright blue colored water. To go down to the pond you have to walk through a difficult trail, passing through tight passages and wet cliff edges, so get a confident guide with you.
READ: 20 BEST THINGS TO SEE IN ELLA
Where to stay in Ella?
As Ella has become quite a popular place in Sri Lanka, the best hotels and hostels fill up quickly. So try to make your reservations in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on great deals.
98 Acres Resort and Spa – $$$$
This is without a doubt, THE best hotel in Ella. Often fully booked, this is the most exclusive resort in the area, with a breathtaking view of the mountains in Ella.
When hiking to Little Adam’s Peak, you can see the hotel perched on the edge of a mountain, nestled in the middle of the nature. If you have the budget for it and want to live a unique experience in one of the best hotels in Sri Lanka, then book here now to secure a room as soon as possible!
HIDE-ELLA Hotel & Resort – $$$
HIDE-ELLA is one of the newest hotels in Ella, located right in the centre of town! This very modern hotel offers amazing comfort, spacious and modern room and awesome restaurant. If you are not a budget, then this is our top recommendation in Ella. Check it out here.
Ella Planters Bungalow – $$$
Ella Planters Bungalow was one of our favorite hotels we stayed at during our trip to Sri Lanka. Beautiful rooms, lovely view and great hospitality. They looked after us exceptionally well. The food was delicious as well with generous portions.The view from our room was also stunning!
So if you are looking at something quiet, nestled in the nature this is the place for you! The hotel is a bit outside of town but getting to Ella is easy as the hotel have their own Tuk-Tuk. Check it out here.
The Chillout Ella – $$
If you have a little more budget, immerse yourself in a magnificent natural setting at The Chillout Ella. This hotel is a little more out of the way without being very far from the city center. But the good news is that it is on the heights around the city and therefore offers great views of the mountains in the area. The rooms are large and you will have everything you need in terms of equipment. Add to that that the night is not very expensive so you will have a very good quality / price ratio. Book here.
Hangover Hostels Ella – $
For those looking for a hostel style accommodation, I highly recommend Hangover Hostels Ella. The hostel is well located, just a few minutes walk from the train station. The dormitories are comfortable and it is also the ideal place to meet people. Book here.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ELLA AND HIKE LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK?
The temperature in Ella generally varies between 20° C and 28° C. Nestled in the heart of a mountainous region, this city is blessed with a cooler climate than in the lower altitude areas.
The recommended months to visit Ella are January, February, March to avoid the rain. That said, we went there in March and we still got a bit of rain every day. In any case, Ella can ben visited throughout the entire year.
IN CONCLUSION ABOUT HIKING LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK
Hiking Little Adam’s Peak was one of the most memorable things we did in Sri Lanka. If you are in Ella it’s a must! It was also pleasant to spend a lot time in Ella, which is a great place to stay with a chill vibe and much cooler climate than the rest of Sri Lanka.
The view at the top of Little Adam’s Peak is not something you will forget easily! Simply stunning.
We wrote many posts about our trip to Sri Lanka, which you can find here.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any question, by leaving a comment below.
Enjoy your trip to this wonderful country!
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