Climbing Adam’s Peak

After the stay in Kandy, it was time to head to Dalhousie, the closest and most convenient village for climbing Adam’s Peak. This is also a good starting point to get the famous train to Ella, one of the best train rides in the world.
This was one of the highlights of my trip around Sri Lanka, you shouldn’t miss climbing the mountain at night. Please continue reading if you want to know why…

Contents

1 Climbing Adam’s Peak

From Kandy to Dalhousie (Adam’s Peak)

If you are in Kandy, the most popular and cheapest way to arrive at Adam’s Peak is to take a train to Hatton. Then from Hatton, you can take a bus to Dalhousie, which is our recommendation. The bus ride takes 1 and a half hours and it is a very beautiful ride through tea plantations and a lake.
To check the train schedules you can access Sri Lanka railways official website

Where to stay in Dalhousie

The best area to stay is without a doubt, close to the city center. You should find a place in this area so that you can go walking to the most common places in the city.

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Sleeping close to Adam’s Peak

TIP: One of the best areas to sleep in town is in the main road close to the Peak. This is where I booked the hostel: Blue Sky Guest House which at the time of booking it was including breakfast. I totally recommend it as this is one of the cheapest and more rated budget hostel.
Another hostel recommended by some other backpackers we met was White House Guest House.

Dalhousie Highlights

People come to Dalhousie to climb the mountain at night, but you should take a walk around, as it is located in the middle of tea plantation fields, and the surroundings are so beautiful.

Climbing Adam’s Peak Guide

Adam’s Peak is one of the highest mountains in Sri Lanka, and one of the most important pilgrimage places for Buddhists. It is believed that there is a Buddha’s footprint in the shrine on the top.

The trekking is not very difficult but take into account that there are more than 5.000 steps so it’s not easy either). It will take you from 2h to 4h hours to the summit (depending on how trained you are).
There is no entrance fee.

My suggestion is to arrive at Dalhousie during the day, walk around the little village, and sleep as much as you can. Then wake up at 1:30h to start climbing Adam’s Peak at 02h (after a nice breakfast) so that you ensure a great view of the sunrise (around 5:30h).
It can take you 1h-2h to come back down, which is also a little bit hard but so rewarding because you will have great views of the valley under the sunlight.

Extra Tips & Musts

TIP: When you arrive at the top you need to take off your shoes because it is a sacred place and it will be cold, very cold. So bring a nice pair of winter/mountain socks.

TIP: All along the way to the top you can find shrines and coffee-shops and little stalls with food and drinks. There are also toilets (20 LKR). Although all the way should have lighting, bring a torch with you. There is no better option than a headlamp which we always recommend to bring in all your trips.

TIP: Once on the top, while everybody will be looking at the sunrise, if you are lucky and it is a clear day, you can go to the opposite side of the mountain and you can see the image of the shadows which creates an amazing triangle-pyramidal shape and an unreal effect. Mindblowing!

From Dalhousie to Nuwara Eliya(Train to Ella)

After climbing down the mountain, at around 08h, you can get to your hostel, take a rest, and head to the bus station to go back to Hatton and take the most beautiful train ride you can ever take, which is the route to Nuwara Eliya & Ella, our next stop. The bus to Hatton should leave at 11h, but you can ask for confirmation time in your hostel.
Again, to check the train schedules from Hatton, you can access Sri Lanka railways official website