Sri Lanka’s Best Hikes – A Quick Guide

Sri Lanka may be compact, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to hiking. Most of the island’s best known hikes are close to a major population centre or tourism hotspot – whether that’s ancient rock fortresses, misty grasslands that feel suspiciously Scottish, or cloud forests where leeches outnumber people.

The good news for busy travellers is that many of the Sri Lanka's best hikes are relatively short, well-marked, and come with spectacular payoffs for relatively modest effort. The bad news is that several involve the beautiful word ‘sunrise’, which involve decidedly antisocial alarms. Sorry about that.

For more Sri Lankan inspiration, have a read of the itinerary I wrote for We Are Global Travellers

At A Glance

Payment:

• Bring cash (USD or LKR) for Sigiriya and Horton’s Plains.  Plus small notes for drinks/snacks before you set off

• Knuckles Mountain Range requires a guide – I highly recommend Nipuna Hiking – which you’ll need to book in advance.

Where To Stay:

• Sigiriya: Forest Edge Eco-Lodge (c. $120 per night) for beautiful rooms, great meals and a very welcome post-hike pool.

• Kandy:  SWP Ecolodge (c. $65 per night) on the lakesidewhich had excellent breakfast and comfortable rooms

• Nuwara Eliya:  We stayed at Omanya Hills (c. $60 per night)on the outskirts of the city  and used Pickme (the Sri Lankan Uber) tuk-tuks to get into town.

• Ella: Welcome Homestay (c. $45 per night) - airy rooms and probably the best breakfasts we had in our whole trip.

If You Don’t Have Your Own Transport

• Multiple day tours take in Sigiriya and Pidurangula from Kandy. By far the easiest way to do this is via a group tour (from $30 per person) or with a private driver (from $60 per person)

• Half-day tours are also available to Horton’s Plains from Nuwara Eliya – be warned these start early.

Heads-up: some of the links on this blog are affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to buy something - at no extra cost to you.  I only recommend brands and products I use and have had excellent experiences of.

Sigiriya (Lion Rock)

Difficulty: Moderate (stairs, exposure, heat)

Opening times: Daily, approx. 7.00am - 5.30pm

Cost: $30 for foreigners, pay on arrival

Probably the most famous hike on the island, Sigiriya is less a hike and more a vertical history lesson, delivered via A LOT of stairs.

The ascent zigzags up metal staircases bolted to sheer rock faces, passing the famous frescoes of the “Sigiriya Maidens” (divert to have a look inside the caves) and the ominously named Lion’s Paws, once part of a gigantic stone lion guarding the summit.  Quite how this was done a millennium ago is beyond me.

It’s not technically difficult, but it is exposed, busy, and relentlessly stair-heavy.  Those with a fear of heights may want to stop at the Lion’s Paws, given the final ascent is on an exposed metal staircase drilled into the rock.  Those who continue will have packs of monkeys for company.

The reward is a terraced summit scattered with palace ruins and views that stretch across forests, tanks, and distant hills. Walk 100m in any direction – apart from down! - to lose the worst of the crowds and witness a landscape that looks set up for an Indiana Jones Movie.

Conventional wisdom is to come for sunset, which is spectacular if crowded and hot.  Early morning

(before 10am) is a good way to avoid both of these occupational hazards.

Sigiriya town itself is small and touristy.  Many day trip it from the bigger population centre of Kandy – see above for some recommended tour options.

Pidurangula Rock

Difficulty: Moderate (short scramble at the top)

Opening times: Daily, approx. 5.00am - 6.00pm

Cost:  LKR 1,000 (bring cash)

That other huge rock you see from the top of Sigiriya?

That’s Pidurangula, a smaller, slightly scruffier but infinently cheaper version of Lion Rock.  This one is short and sharp with the ascent taking no more than thirty minutes.

The climb starts behind a working monastery and is refreshingly informal after Sigiriya’s ticketed efficiency. The path winds through forest, past a reclining Buddha statue, before turning into a short but slightly scrambly ascent over rocks – long trousers recommended - near the top.  If you come at sunrise, like most visitors, you’ll be queuing behind lines of foreigners, which takes away from the occasion somewhat.

The summit is uneven, windswept, and as beautiful as Sigiriya. You get a front-row view of Lion Rock itself, rising perfectly from the jungle.

Sunrise is the classic time to go, watching dawn break over the jungle and Sigiriya glows in the early light.   Don’t kid yourself that you’ll have the place to yourself – again, walk away from the money shot of Sigiriya and things get a lot more peaceful.

Even though the entrance point is close to Sigiriya time, it’s pretty stupid to attempt to walk it in the dark on roads without pavements.  Get a tuk-tuk, they’ll always wait for you.

Knuckles Mountains

Difficulty: Challenging (steep, humidity, rain, leeches)

Opening times: Permits required; access typically during daylight hours

Cost: Park permit plus mandatory guide (varies by route and duration)

The Knuckles Mountains, approximately 90 minutes outside Kandy, are where Sri Lanka stops being polite and starts being properly wild.

This rugged range, named for its knuckle-like peaks by the ever-observant Victorians, offers single and multi-day treks through cloud forest, grasslands, and remote villages where time appears to have given up entirely.

Leeches are plentiful – guides will provide leech socks, trust me you need them - trails are often muddy, and weather can change from sunshine to biblical downpour in minutes.

This is not a casual morning stroll; pretty much all routes require a licensed guide (which includes transport to/from Kandy – expect to pay $100-$120 for a day hike) and decent fitness.  We arranged a day trek with Nipuna Hikingwhich was sensational.  Alongside the epic views, we stopped every five minutes to sample the bounty of the jungle – vanilla, chilli, mango, beans, jackfruit (not at the same time).

And the landscape? Dramatic ridgelines, inviting waterfalls (bring swimwear), abundant wildlife, and a sense of genuine remoteness that’s increasingly hard to find. Even short treks feel adventurous, with steep climbs and slippery descents.  It will inevitably rain on your hike but that doesn’t dampen the humidity so, more than any other hike on this list, layers are your friend.

Horton Plains & World’s End

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Opening times: Daily, approx. 6.00am–6.00pm

Cost: USD $25 for foreigners

Horton Plains, most typically accessed from the hill country capital of Nuwara Eliya, feels like another country entirely – Someone Else’s Country if you will!

At over 2,000 metres, this high-altitude plateau is cool, misty, and without a palm tree inside. The classic 10km circular hike takes you through rolling grasslands and cloud forest.  Most people completing it do so for World’s End, a sheer 820-metre drop that, on a clear morning, reveals views all the way to the southern coast.

Timing and good fortune is everything here.  Your best chance of landing the view is by an early arrival (most recommend starting out between 7-7.30am, which means another early start) or risk seeing nothing but swirling fog.  

However, word of warning – the weather can shift VERY rapidly here so if all you’re greeted with is a wall of fog at World’s End, have patience.  We ate our breakfast sat here, feeling slightly despondent, when the mist lifted like a wedding veil in a matter of minutes.  Much sympathy to the Dutch tour group who left ten minutes prior to us!

The rest trail is well-marked and mostly flat, making it accessible for most walkers, though the altitude can slow you down.  Baker’s Falls on the return leg is a pleasant stop off.

Most hotels in Nuwara Eliya can arrange transport to/from Horton’s Plains (around 75 – 90 minutes) – a 4x4 is often needed given the state of the roads.

Little Adam’s Peak

Difficulty: Easy

Opening times: Open access, best from early morning to sunset

Cost: Free, unless you want to zipline or swing out over the valley (in which case, expensive!)

We missed out on Adam’s Peak main event due to a tight itinerary but were very pleasantly surprised by his younger brother.

Little Adam’s Peak is proof that you don’t need to suffer to get great views. Located just outside Ella, this short, gentle hike follows a well-maintained path through tea plantations and grassy ridges, with views opening up almost immediately.  Unfortunately, it is surrounded by a fairly insufferable resort, which means your biggest challenge is dodging the paid activities on the first section of the ascent (the ‘ultimate scenic route’ offered up a rope bridge gives no better views than what you’ll get at the summit anyway)

The climb is gradual, the steps are mercifully fewer than Sigiriya, and the summit broad enough to accommodate everyone from serious hikers to people in flip-flops (if you opt for the latter, remember karma is strong in these parts!)

The payoff is a sweeping panorama of Ella Rock – another great hike - the valley below, and neatly clipped tea estates rolling off into the distance.

Sunrise and late afternoon are particularly lovely, when the light softens and the heat isn’t quite so prominent.  

If you only have time, or energy, for one hike in Sri Lanka’s hill country, this is the easiest yes you’ll make all trip.  While you’re in Ella, the stroll down to Nine Arch Bridge is also well worth it.

Best Sri Lanka Hikes - Final Thoughts

Sri Lanka’s hikes offer an unusually generous return on effort: big views, varied landscapes, and memorable experiences without weeks of planning or specialist gear.  This list of Sri Lanka’s best hikes (in my humble opinion) offers options for both hardy walkers and those who just fancy getting a nice sunset view. 

Universal rules of thumb apply – avoid the middle of the day, carry more water than you think you’ll need, and bring a hat, sun cream and bug spray.  With all of this in your pack, your hikes in Sri Lanka will be among the highlights of your trip.