Sri Lanka is a country where you can do many wonderful hikes. You can go into the mountains, the rainforest and even go on a pilgrimage, it is all possible in Sri Lanka. In this article we describe in detail the 12 most beautiful hikes in Sri Lanka and which ones we think you really must have done!
Content of this blog:
1. Lion Rock Sigiriya
The Lion Rock in Sigiriya is the iconic, stately symbol of Sri Lanka. It has a rich history: between 477 and 495 AD, the palace of King Kassapa stood at the top of this rock. On the way up you will find beautiful murals and pieces of ruins as a result. These murals, called Frescoes, depict many naked women, reinforcing the suspicion that the king had many adventures with different women.
Today, Lion Rock is still one of the most beautiful hikes in Sri Lanka. In 1 to 1.5 hours, you’ll hike all the way to the top, where you’ll have stunning views of the surrounding area and mountains. The only downside is that the entrance fee is $30. Near the Lion Rock you will also find the Pidurangala Rock, which you can also climb. Since not all travelers have enough time to climb both rocks, we wrote an extensive blog with the differences between the Pidurangala Rock and Lion Rock to help you choose which one to climb.
2. The most extraordinary hike in Sri Lanka: Adam’s Peak
Holy Adam’s Peak in Dalhousie (not to be confused with Little Adam’s Peak in Ella), is known as a pilgrimage for Buddhists, Christians and Hindus. You climb the 2243-meter-high mountain in about 3 hours. After 5500 steps you are at the top with a spectacular view as your reward.
At the top you will find a footprint. According to Buddhists this is the footprint of Buddha, according to Christians it is the foot of Adam, and according to Hindus it is where Shiva set foot on earth. This is why climbing Adam’s Peak must be done for many Sri Lankans at least once in their lives, as a pilgrimage.
Keep in mind that it is a tough hike. You get up in the middle of the night to climb the 5500 steps in the dark. If you have a good amount of perseverance and basic fitness, you will be able to complete the climb just fine. Read our extensive blog on climbing Adam’s Peak for more information, how to get there and packing list.
3. Knuckles National Park near Kandy
The Knuckles National Park is located about 1 hour northeast of Kandy. It is known for its cool climate and insane views. It is recommended to do a multi-day hike in Knuckles, which is what we did. What fantastic hikes these were! You go out with a local guide who tells you everything about nature, the area and of course about Sri Lanka. Be surprised and go back to nature at Knuckles National Park.
4. The most famous hike in Sri Lanka: Ella Rock
Ella Rock is probably the most famous hike in Sri Lanka. From the delightful backpacker village of Ella, you hike to the top of Ella Rock in 1.5 hours. From here you look out over the mountains, Ella itself and the countryside of Sri Lanka in the distance. The nice thing about this hike is that you hike the first part on train tracks, which is quite normal in Sri Lanka. It does take some searching for the right hiking route so keep our blog for the route to Ella Rock + tips handy!
5. Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka: 22 hiking trails
The Pekoe Trail is a 300-kilometer hiking trail that runs across the interior of Sri Lanka, from Kandy through Ella to Nuwara Eliya. The Pekoe Trail distinguishes 22 “stages” that connect to each other. You can find information about each stage via the Pekoe Trail App, how long the stage is, whether it is an easy or difficult hike and what the elevation difference is. So you can estimate for yourself how many stages you can hike in a day. The trail is very easy to follow because the Pekoe Trail has placed orange dots and arrows everywhere to indicate where to go.
If you want to hike all 22 stages you will be hiking nonstop for 10 to 15 days and staying overnight in small, local villages at the end of a stage. You can also choose to hike individual stages. The two best known (and most beautiful as far as we are concerned), are Pekoe trail stage 16 from Ella to Demodera and the very last, stage 22 from Kandapola to Pedro Estate in Nuwara Eliya. We will detail these two in more detail below in the most beautiful hikes in Sri Lanka. More information on the Pekoe Trail can be found here.
6. Horton Plains National Park
From cold Nuwara Eliya, you can take a beautiful hike in Horton Plains National Park. It is a 1-hour drive from Nuwara Eliya and you will have to leave very early. In fact, around 07:00 you will want to start this beautiful hike in Sri Lanka.
You’ll walk around – counterclockwise – in Horton Plains. Along the way, you’ll pass Little World’s End and then Great World’s End. From there you have phenomenal views of the area and the mountains. Then you continue hiking to Baker’s Falls, through beautiful scenery. Horton Plains is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing hikes in Sri Lanka.
7. Pidurangala Rock Sigiriya
Above we have already mentioned the ascent of Lion’s Rock, but the nearby Pidurangala Rock also definitely belongs in the list of the most beautiful hikes in Sri Lanka. In just under half an hour from the start you hike to the top. At the end you have to scramble over the boulders – this will bring out your inner child. After this you are on top of the rock with a view of the Lion Rock – that’s fantastic, isn’t it!
8. Pekoe trail 16: Ella to Demodera and return by train
We thought this was the most beautiful hike in Ella. From Ella, you hike a bit through the forests to the Nine Arch Bridge, where you will encounter many tourists. You walk across the Nine Arch Bridge and follow the distinctive orange dots. Suddenly you are all alone. No tourists, no locals, just you and beautiful nature. You walk right through the tea fields and enjoy the peace and quiet. If you are looking for a hike in Sri Lanka that is still undiscovered by mass tourism, we can definitely recommend the Pekoe Trail stage 15.
The walk is +/- 10 kilometers long and will take you 2.5 to 3 hours maximum. You arrive at the train station of Demodera and here you can easily catch the train back to Ella for 100 LKR (€0.35). The train doesn’t really go at set times. The literal answer from the employee at the train station: the train will come when we see it coming, no rush. If you want to get back to Ella faster and don’t want to wait for this, you can also easily catch a tuktuk cab back. Just negotiate the price in advance!
9. Little Adam’s Peak
Little Adam’s Peak is also found in Ella. So this is a very different hike from the “big” Adam’s Peak in Dalhousie. Little Adam’s Peak is an easy hike, making it a favorite for many travelers in Ella.
From the center of Ella you first walk for about 20 minutes on the asphalt to the tea fields. Once here, you walk through the tea fields towards the mountain of Little Adam’s Peak. In total you spend about 1 hour until you reach the summit. Only the last part (the last 10 minutes) you have to climb considerably, so it is recommended not to do this on the hottest part of the day.
10. Nine Arch Bridge hike to the figurehead of Sri Lanka
From Little Adam’s Peak you can then hike straight to the iconic Nine Arch Bridge. Of course, if this is too much in 1 day, you can also choose to spread it out over several days. The hike to the Nine Arch Bridge is also part of Pekoe Trail Stage 16, so possibly you can combine your visit with that hike as well.
11. Sinharaja: hike in the rainforest in Sri Lanka
The Sinharaja rainforest is the best and largest rainforest of Sri Lanka. You will find many different birds, flowers, trees and plants here. Because it is a rainforest, it is extremely humid and you will soon be wet with sweat, but that is part of the experience.
In Sinharaja you can do one-day, or multi-day hikes, and you will find many guides who will go out with you. You can also arrange a guide through your accommodation in Sinharaja. We recommend this accommodation, with a super nice guide! You can also book a cool guided tour in advance through here.
12. Pekoe trail stage 22 to Nuwara Eliya
We end this article with the last stage of the Pekoe Trail (kind of appropriate, right?). Stage 22 from Kandapola to Pedro Estate in Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful walk in Sri Lanka through the tea fields. It takes about 3 hours and you can choose to start or finish in Kandapola. From Kandapola to Nuwara Eliya (or vice versa) you can easily catch a local bus, or a tuktuk cab. Again, the advice is to agree on a price in advance!
These were our experiences with the most beautiful hikes in Sri Lanka. Are you missing any hikes or do you have any tips? Or have you done any of these hikes and want to share your experiences (or photo)? Feel free to let us know via the contact form below or send us a message on Instagram!
