Little Adam’s Peak Hike Ella 2025: Map, Sunrise, View Point & Tips
- Kate Colliety
- Jul 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Looking to find out more about one of the best hikes in Ella, Sri Lanka? Little Adam’s Peak has panoramic views over tea plantations and the misty valley below, while still being accessible to most travellers. This was easily one of our favourite things we did and should definitely be on your Ella Itinerary.
Despite the name, Little Adam’s Peak is much gentler to its big brother Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), a famous sacred mountain near Nuwara Eliya. It only takes around 30-50 minutes to reach the summit with breath-taking views, making it very popular with tourists.
In this blog, we share everything you need to know before you go: including how to get to Little Adam’s Peak trailhead, the best time to visit, sunrise tips, FAQs and where to stay nearby. Whether you’re solo backpacking or on holiday as a family, it’s one of the best things to do in Ella and a good alternative to the more challenging Ella Rock.
Where Is Little Adam’s Peak?
Located just outside of the main town of Ella, Little Adam’s Peak is in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Surrounded by endless tea plantations and steep mountains, this hike is incredibly scenic. The peak is roughly 2km from Ella’s town center and can be reached in around 10 minutes by tuk-tuk or a 25 minute walk.
How To Get To Little Adam’s Peak Starting Point?
There are multiple ways to get to the Little Adam’s Peak Trail head:
Tuktuk Taxi: A tuktuk will take less than 10 minutes and should cost no more than 300-500 LKR each way, make sure to agree on a price before getting in as the drivers are known to rip tourists off if you let them
Walk: The start of the trailhead is a 25-30 minute walk from Ella Town past the Ceylon Tea Factory
Rental Scooter/Tuktuk: We had a tuktuk rented so chose to drive ourselves and park here.
Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!
While driving around the country for 2-months, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited and were recommended in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure! Don’t miss out...click here to view for free!
Little Adam’s Peak Hike Description
Once you arrive at the trailhead, you’ll find a signposted path just past the Flying Ravana Zipline entrance, leading up through the tea plantations. The path is very easy to follow and well parked with signs. From here, the hike to the top will take no longer than 30-50 minutes depending on your pace.
We set off at midday, with the sun pounding down on our backs, as we took each step we sweated a little more. Starting at the parking spot just before the trailhead, we walked past the very tempting Ravana Infinity Pool and started the climb.
Distance: Approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) from Ella town centre
Duration: 30–45 minutes to the summit; 1.5–2 hours round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation Gain: A few hundred meters
Trail Type: Well-marked paths and stairs
Hike Entrance & Costs
Entrance Fee: Free
Tuk-Tuk Ride from Ella Town: Approximately LKR 300–500 (USD $1.50–$3)
Entrance to Little Adam’s Peak is completely free, and the path is open from sunrise to sunset. Wear trainers, bring water, and don’t forget your camera—the views at the summit are incredible, especially early in the morning when clouds still hang low in the valleys. Tuktuks are readily available in Ella for a short ride to the trailhead.
Combine Little Adam’s Peak with Nine Arches Bridge
Once we finished our hike to the summit of Little Adam’s Peak and cooled off we decided to head straight to Nine Arch Bridge in our Tuktuk, however you can also walk using the following instructions:
Walk past the 98 Acres Resort until you reach the main road (B113)
Follow the road until you have the Newburgh tea factory on your right and a small road on your left
Take the small road on the left, then follow a small path behind the cafe down the steps to the footpath
You’ll then come to a break in the trees and see a glimpse of the bridge through the trees
Little Adam’s Peak Hike Guided Tour
If you don’t have long to spend in Ella and are looking to combine Little Adam’s Peak with Ella Rock and the famous Nine Arch Bridge, this day-tour has it all included in one day. Considering it’s all of the major attractions with transport included, it’s not too expensive. Although if you can, we recommend hiring a scooter or tuktuk and DIY’ing it.
The Best Time To Visit Little Edam’s Peak Ella
The best time to do any hikes in Sri Lanka is during the dry season, from December to April, when the skies are clear. Hiking in the early morning or late afternoon during these months might be a good idea to avoid the midday heat.
During the rainy and shoulder season months, the trails will be much less crowded however a higher chance of rain means leeches will be present! We hiked on a wet day in the Knuckles Mountain Range and the leeches came in the millions.
Visiting Little Adam’s Peak For Sunrise vs Sunset vs Daytime
Sunrise = magical light, fewer crowds
Daytime = clear views
Sunset = golden hour light but crowded
Little Adam’s Peak Common Questions
How Much Is The Entrance Fee To Little Adam’s Peak Ella?
Free! There's no entrance fee charged to get to the summit of Little Adam’s Peak and you can choose to walk from Ella Town, then to Nine Arches all for free.
How High Is Little Adam’s Peak?
The hike to the top of Little Adam’s Peak is fairly easy considering the peak is 1141m high, giving unreal panoramic views of the valley below with Ravana Falls also visible.
How Long Does It Take To Climb Little Adams Peak?
It took us 30 minutes however from the start of the trailhead it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 50 depending on your pace. Also if you walk there from Ella Town that will take 30 extra minutes.
How To Get To Little Adams Peak?
Walk past the Ceylon Tea Factory from Ella Town (25-30 minutes)
Tuktuk Taxi (300-500LKR, 10 minutes)
Rental Scooter or Tuktuk (10 minutes)
Should I Do Ella Rock Or Little Adam’s Peak?
We chose to only do Little Adam’s Peak, mainly because we didn’t want to get covered in leeches (again) because we were hiking in the shoulder months. Ella Rock is known to be much more of a challenge and there’s a summit photo cost. Overall, if you’re looking for a challenge then Ella Rock will be the one to choose, but we still recommend visiting Little Adam’s Peak one morning as it won’t take very long.
Ravana Pool Club and Zipline
As you approach the trailhead, you'll no doubt walk past the Ravana Pool Club, with an infinity pool overlooking the valley below. Although a little expensive, the views and pool looked incredible., with cocktails and brunch being served poolside. If you fancy treating yourself to a slice of luxury after Little Adam's Peak Hike then this is the place.
Further up the trail, you'll also come to the flying zipline area. Again, not the cheapest activity for the budget backpackers like us, but the friends we were travelling with gathered up the courage and flew down. With the option to go superman position or seated, this is a great heart pumping thing to do to get to the bottom instead of hiking.
What To Pack For Little Adam’s Peak
Comfortable walking or hiking shoes, you could do this hike in flip-flops but you’ll be more comfortable in trainers
Filtered Water Bottle, it gets hot in the midday heat!
Sun Protection: Hat, sunglasses, and suncream
Final Thoughts on Little Adam’s Peak Ella Sri Lanka
Ella is one of the most popular places to visit in Sri Lanka, with nearly all travellers passing through this small mountain town. In recent years this has meant Little Adam’s Peak has had more and more travellers at the summit, all taking their own photos overlooking the beautiful tea plantations and valleys below.
We highly recommend walking up Little Adam’s Peak, especially during the morning hours when it’s less busy and combining it with a visit to the famous Nine Arch Bridge Viewpoint to see the iconic trains passing over the bridge.
Best Ella Tours
Ella Travel Tips
The Kandy to Ella train is one of the most scenic trains in the world, but is 7 hours and very busy. For a similar, less busy experience, head from Ella to Badulla
Hike Little Adam’s Peak for sunrise for amazing views with minimal effort
Time your visit to Nine Arches Bridge around the train schedule (ask your homestay)
Learn how to cook rice & curry to fully appreciate the dishes
Eat at Matey Hut, one of Ella best restaurants for local Sri Lankan food
Don’t miss a day trip to Diyaluma Falls Natural Infinity Pool from Ella
Cash is king, there are ATMs in the town. Airalo’s e-Sim is a great internet option.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
These are some of the travel tools we love and use daily, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you.
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
.png)
Comments