If you’re traveling to Ella, Sri Lanka, you are probably thinking of hiking in the surrounding area. Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock are the most popular hikes near Ella. Read on to find out which one you should choose!
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I have tried and/or find useful and reliable.
I spent over two months in Sri Lanka in early 2025 and explored nearly the entire country. While the south conquered my heart, I had to carve out some time to wander towards the mountains. Ella was an obvious choice and, in a way, it did not disappoint. This is one of the most beautiful areas for hiking, which will be the focus of this article.
Ella is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, and it shows. As soon as I got off the bus, I noticed how much tourism has changed this place. I don’t know how it looked before it became popular, but I’m sure it wasn’t this endless display of Western restaurants blasting loud music and serving overpriced food. But I decided not to let this put me off and immediately ventured outside the city center.
Once you leave the main road, you get rewarded with incredible views, with verdant mountains dotted with the occasional bunch of houses and a waterfall sprinkled here and there. The landscape is lush and vibrant, and the atmosphere is peaceful. That’s the Ella I want to tell you about.
Most people who visit Ella come for the hiking trails and waterfalls. There are countless examples of both in the immediate surroundings, so you can easily spend a week here just frolicking in the mountains and bathing in the chill water of the occasional waterfall.
If you are only in town briefly, you’ll likely choose between the two most popular hikes: Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock. So let’s see what’s unique about these and how you should choose which one to do. That is, unless you can do both, which I highly recommend!
Hiking in Ella: What to Expect
Firstly, if you travel to Ella from the south like I did, you need to prepare for a change of climate. Compared to the humid heat of the southern coast, the area surrounding Ella has a milder climate. It gets quite hot during the day, but it’s chilly in the evening and early morning. This means hiking at sunrise is your best option, so you’re done by the time the heat reaches its peak.
Prepare for this climate by packing warmer clothes and always dressing in layers. I usually opt for a thermal layer that packs light and is easy to remove and store in a small backpack for the rest of the day. But also, don’t forget your sunscreen! The heat in the middle of the day is no joke. As for hiking shoes, I went with regular sneakers and had no trouble doing these two hikes, but you may want to pack hiking boots for more advanced hikes.
If you’re wondering what the best time to go hiking in Ella is, the answer is pretty much all year round. However, the dry season between January and May is ideal, as the chances of rain are low. I traveled to Ella in early March, and the weather was perfect. The mornings were crisp, and the days got hot, but not unbearably so.
The scenery around Ella is stunning, with lush forests covered in mist in the early hours of the day, tea plantations, and the occasional rice fields. Ella shows her best colors at sunrise and sunset, when the blue sky turns to shades of pink and orange.
Hiking to Little Adam’s Peak
Little Adam’s Peak is the easiest hike from Ella. That makes it ideal for short stays, but it also means many people are doing it. It’s nowhere near as crowded as Adam’s Peak, but you’ll meet other visitors along the way.
You may think the best way to avoid the crowds is to go early in the morning, but that’s what everyone thinks. Sunrise is a popular time for Little Adam’s Peak. I may have inadvertently found an even better time, just after sunrise.
The sun was still peaking from behind the mountains when I reached the top, but there were already many people around. I was in no rush, so I stuck around and noticed how people slowly made their way back, while very few walked up. I was almost all by myself for a little while and only met people heading up, as I was already descending back into town.
Still, sunrise is an ideal time to hike Little Adam’s Peak. Just stay a little longer until the sun is up and notice how the verdant hills all around get more and more vibrant. It’s a beautiful sight!
You may also hike here for sunset, but it will likely still be quite hot when hiking up. Personally, I’d rather walk downhill in the heat than uphill. But I’m sure the sunset views are amazing!
Overall, the hike takes roughly one hour for the round trip from the main road (see Little Adam’s Peak Entrance on Google Maps). Add to that the time you spend at the top, which can vary greatly. The hike is super easy, with steps for most of the way. There is no technical difficulty, and pretty much everyone can do this with moderate to no effort.
Little Adam’s Peak Quick Facts
Hiking to Ella Rock
I decided to hike Ella Rock because I knew it was the least popular choice, and I’m always up for taking the path less traveled. I was also up for a challenge after the easy Little Adam’s Peak. My only concern was hiking alone in the dark, but I luckily met a girl at the hostel, and we embarked on the adventure together.
Like Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock is a great place to hike for sunrise. But it’s a considerably longer hike, so you need to get a very early start to be there by the time the sunrise colors show up. We were out before 4.30 and arrived in time for sunrise.
For the first 45 minutes, you’ll be walking on the railway tracks in the dark, so you’ll need a torchlight. Once you leave the train tracks, the hike uphill begins. We were following Maps.me for navigation, but it did show several different trails, which can be confusing.
Before leaving the train tracks, we encountered a cute dog who started walking in front of us, leading the way. Then we somehow lost him and ended up taking the wrong turn. That’s when an older local came to us and started hiking up, showing us the way. The doggo joined us all the way to the top!
The trail is not technical, but also not well marked, which makes it quite challenging in the dark. We would have struggled a bit had it not been for the local man. But he did expect to get paid at the top.
The hike took roughly 1.5 hours one way, and we had to pay 1000 LKR each to access the viewpoint. On the plus side, there were very few people, and the views were incredible!
Little Adam’s Peak vs Ella Rock: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Little Adam’s Peak | Ella Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Time Required | 1–2 hrs | 4–5 hrs |
| Navigation | Easy | Tricky (guide useful) |
| Crowds | Often busy | Not crowded |
| Entry fee | None | 1000 LKR |
| Best For | Beginners, families | Hikers wanting a challenge |
| View Quality | Stunning yet accessible | Epic and more secluded |
Conclusion: Little Adam’s Peak or Ella Rock?
Ultimately, the choice between the two hikes depends on how long you stay in Ella, your fitness level, and how much of a challenge you seek. If you can do both, I highly recommend it, as they are two very different experiences.
If you can only choose one, I’d say go for Little Adam’s Peak if you don’t have much time and are looking for an easy hike with stunning views. While it can get a bit crowded, it’s worth the short hike, and the views pay off. Furthermore, it’s free, so there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t do it.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, don’t mind hiking at night and navigating a more complicated path, and want a more secluded hike, go for Ella Rock. Just be aware of the entrance fee at the top and the limited space to enjoy the view, and make sure to have a navigation app like Maps.me or AllTrails.
If you’re feeling extra brave and want to tackle both hikes in one day, it’s not an impossible feat. Hike Ella Rock for sunrise and go to Little Adam’s Peak in the late afternoon to stay for sunset. Ideally, I’d suggest doing both in the early morning. That’s what I did, and it was perfect.
Tips for Hiking in Ella
Get Travel Insurance
I wanted to add this general tip for your Sri Lanka trip. Accidents can happen, so it’s better to be safe. While visitors can access free basic care in public facilities, these are often crowded and require long waiting times. Going to a private practice can save you time, but it’s also costly.
Travel insurance helps cover these expenses. I always recommend SafetyWing, one of my favorite travel insurance plans, especially for frequent travelers. You get global coverage in 180+ countries, and you can even purchase while you’re already abroad!
Where to Stay in Ella
There are countless accommodations all over Ella for every budget. Staying close to the hiking trails is a good idea, but even if you stay in the center, you can still easily reach both trails on foot. In the worst-case scenario, you can get closer with a short tuk-tuk ride.
Below are some accommodation options near each of the trails:
NEAR ELLA ROCK
Hostels and guesthouses
I personally stayed at A Lounge Hostel, and it was ideally located for the Ella Rock hike and a roughly 30-minute walk from the trailhead to Little Adam’s Peak.
Restaurants and Cafés in Ella
Ella has a very diverse dining scene, more so than most other towns, especially of this size. I typically opt for local spots for eating, but I also love finding a nice café to have my morning cappuccino. Here are some of my favorite places to eat or have a drink in Ella:
Sri Lanka Travel Resources
If you were on the fence about these two hikes in Ella, I hope this post has helped you decide. Ella is a wonderful destination in Sri Lanka, and a must on any itinerary through this beautiful island country.
If you want help planning your trip to Sri Lanka, check out my detailed 2-week Sri Lanka itinerary. To make things even easier, I created a more condensed version of the itinerary in a PDF format that you can download and access at any time. Click the button below to get your copy.
Finally, here is a list of my favorite travel planning resources for Sri Lanka:
| Website/App | Category | Description | Book here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | Accommodation | My go-to website for a wide range of accommodation options. | Find a Place |
| Agoda | Accommodation | A great alternative for accommodation throughout Asia. | Find a Place |
| Kiwi.com | Flights | My new favorite platform for finding affordable flights. | Find Flights |
| 12Go | Transportation | You can use it for some transportation options in Sri Lanka | Transportation |
| SafetyWing | Insurance | One of the best travel medical insurances for frequent travelers. | Get Insured |
| GetYourGuide | Activities | My favorite platform for tours and experiences with lots of options. | Experiences |
| Viator | Activities | A great alternative for activities all over the world. | Experiences |
| DiscoverCars | Car rental | Car rental platform for great deals anywhere in the world. | Rent a Car |
| Airalo | eSIM | My favorite app for buying digital SIM cards when traveling abroad. | Get an eSIM |
| Saily | eSIM | A great alternative to Airalo, with cheaper plans in some destinations. | Get an eSIM |
| PickMe | Ride hailing | The main ride-hailing app in Sri Lanka. Pay cash or register your card. | Book a ride |
| Uber | Ride hailing | Uber works in some locations across Sri Lanka. Tuk-tuks available. | Book a ride |
| Xe | Currency | A currency converter showing real-time rates. Website or app. | Get Xe App |
| Maps.Me | Navigation | My favorite navigation app for hiking trails and remote areas. | Get Maps |
Pin this for later!
