Hiking and Waterfalls in Ella, Sri Lanka
We drove up from the South beach town Tangalle, towards the mountain town Ella. We noticed the journey getting colder as it progressed and it turned out that this is one of Ella’s characteristics. The long rainy days can cool down the whole mountain area. You can wake up with the warm sun and when the rain comes in the afternoon it gets chilly. The big upside is that since it rains nearly every day that you don’t need airconditioning.
Visiting Ella means a lot of hiking, breath-taking views and many waterfalls. The nature around Ella is very green and raw. Old trees rise out of the mountains, like hair on an elephants’ tail, surrounding the village giving it an authentic feeling of mountain life. During our short stay we climbed up the two main mountains; Little Adam’s peak and Ella’s rock. Both are very different climbs and offer a different sceneries.
Before attempting any hike be sure to check the weather. The weather in Ella can be treacherous and unpredictable. Heavy rain showers might appear quickly and these very often go hand in hand with lightning. And I can promise you that you don’t want to be stuck on one of these peaks when a lightning storm approaches. Lightning struck right next to us when we were just sitting at our homestay and my heart is still beating faster from that.
Little Adams Peak
How to get there
From Ella town you can take a Tuk-Tuk to the start of the hike. It put us back around 400 rupees for a 5km ride from our hotel. It is definitely possible to walk from the Ella centre and my estimation is that it will add about 30-40 minutes to your hike. The road from Ella to the start of the hike isn’t very spectacular and I would recommend taking a Tuk-Tuk.
Path
The path up Little Adam’s Peak starts off with a concrete way until you reach the stairs. These stairs will take you up to the peak I think it are more or less 400 steps. The way is clearly indicated and since you will not be the only person climbing Adam’s peak you will find your way up easily. This hike is definitely doable for everyone, and you do not need to be a fitness freak to reach the top. An easy hike that is definitely worth the view once you get up there. On top you will see a second peak and you might think how do these people get there? The way to that peak is a bit more challenging but if you take your time you will make it to the other peak. You have to descent into the small valley separating the two peaks and climb back up the other side.
The way down is also straight forward especially since you will take the same way down as you came up. However on your way down take a right when you see the sign 98. This is a hotel but also has an amazing café with a breath-taking view onto Little Adam’s Peak and the horizon. Definitely worth a visit and get a well deserved drink after the hike. And considering the view the drinks are not expensive and the food looked amazing.
After you refuelled at 98 and you continue your walk, try to take the time to visit the 9 arch bridge. The idyllic bridge, the one where everyone takes a picture; yes that one. It is really worth the hike through the jungle to get there. It isn’t very well indicated but I am sure that when you are walking back to Ella you won’t miss the path towards the bridge.
If you managed to find the bridge and waited for the train to pass by, I recommend that you don’t attempt to climb back up through the jungle towards the road but head into the tunnel towards Ella. It is a very nice and quiet walk (about 30 minutes) towards Ella station. It is a nice end to a hiking day, and after the tunnel you can buy a tasty coconut.
Views
This is the view onto Ella’s rock from Little Adam’s Peak
Relaxing at Little Adam’s Peak looking over the valley and Ella’s Rock.
Ella’s Rock
How to get there
Ella’s Rock is a much more challenging hike to do compared to Little Adam’s Peak. To start off with, it’s much harder to find. Many people start at Ella’s station and follow the tracks (to the left when you face the track), alternatively you can take a Tuk-Tuk or train to Kita Ella station and start your hike from there. The start of the hike up to Ella’s rock starts just before Kita Ella’s station and the first thing you’ll see is a small waterfall.
Path
The climb to the top of Ella’s Rock is a challenging and confusing one. We got lost about 3 times and had to ask a few locals for the right way. When they realise you are not finding your way the local we asked explained that he was also a guide, but seeing our desperation the price doubled and asked for 3000 rupees. Clearly we would rather be lost than paying that to him. There were no signs indicating the way so it takes some trial and error before you get the right track up. Something that I learned from this hike is that the right track is not always the one going up.
The first hour of the hike (including getting lost) is not very steep and the most challenging thing about it is finding your way. The closer you’ll get to the top of the mountain the steeper the track gets. The last 20 minutes are very challenging and the untrained person will have to stop a few times to catch their breaths (and yes I also had to stop a few times).
I would recommend taking the same way down, however this is quite challenging considering the steepness of the trial and it might get slippery after a rain shower.
As I said at the start/finish there is a small waterfall that is accessible through some bushes and it is nice to sit down there for a moment and relax from your hike up and down Ella’s rock.
Views
Celebrating conquering Ella’s Rock. Ok I’ll say the truth, I was just happy to have found the way.
Take a moment to appreciate the view on top of the rock. This was a perfect moment.
