Hiking and trekking in Sri LankaRan
Berceau de la culture bouddhiste, hindoue et tamoule, le Sri Lanka est une île aux multiples facettes, entre des mers bleues turquoise, des montagnes paradisiaques où s’étendent des plantations de thé, des parcs aux réserves animales uniques et diversifiées, des îles aux paysages multiples, des plages fabuleuses, en plus des temples bouddhistes et hindouistes, le Sri Lanka vous envoie au cœur d’un voyage atypique riche en découvertes. Voici les meilleurs endroits pour faire une randonnée ou un trek au Sri Lanka.
Where to go hiking and trekking in Sri Lanka?
Are you wondering where you can go hiking and trekking in Sri Lanka? It is possible by venturing into the heights through an enchanted landscape while admiring the Sri Lankan pickers and visiting the tea factories to discover the culture around which all these plantations revolve, you have the impression of to have changed world. Knowing that the higher you climb, the more you will see breathtaking views of the tea plantations and the dazzling emerald green that illuminates them.
Far from the tea plantations, the Jaffna peninsula, Adam’s Peak and the various national parks of Sri Lanka also offer something to amaze trekkers.
Below, we have selected the best places to explore while hiking or trekking in Sri Lanka:
Hikes in the tea plantations
Trek to Haputale and Lipton’s Seat
In Haputale, breathe in the scent of pine trees, tea and eucalyptus by visiting Lipton’s Seat, an area for plantations and the Dambatenne Tea Factory which supplies the Unilever group, owner of the Lipton brand, itself built by Sir Thomas Lipton, one of the great figures in the history of tea. You can order your trip and organize a hike as you wish, the best example being to go directly to a Mountain Guesthouse such as Leisure Mount View by tuk-tuk, this short journey will also allow you to admire the landscape. Arriving there, you can see the tea plantations in the distance through a beautiful panorama, hoping that the clouds are clear so that you can fully enjoy the view, this also depends on the period. The tuk-tuk crossing will not fail to make you admire some landscapes, but you can just as easily start your first hike by climbing to the summit while admiring the paradise that surrounds you.
The next day, it is recommended to wake up early in the morning to admire the sunrise, have an energizing breakfast to prepare yourself to walk a few kilometers on foot towards the tea factory for those most interested, if not for the exploration of the surroundings and to go deeper into these eucalyptus plantations and forests.
In this area, you therefore have the choice between starting your journey by tuk-tuk, spending a night in a Guesthouse and going back down the next day on a hike, exploring the surroundings, crossing the tea plantations and visiting a factory, or making both journeys at foot. A third option is to consider a circuit allowing you to explore the area by hiking.
Hike to Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela
Between the province of Uva and the central province of Sri Lanka, various tea fields envelop the mountains which connect Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Bandrawela, it is very difficult to trace a route of at least 60 km by hike especially for the exploring a single landscape, nevertheless, you can favor a round trip of a few kilometers over the tea fields of these alluring mountainous lands eerily silent and peaceful, a true delight for adventurers. Discovering the landscapes by train for several tens of kilometers and then completing the journey on foot is also possible.
Hike to Horton Plains (Hatton Plains or Horton Plains National Park)
If your thirst for adventure could send you to the ends of the earth, nowhere else would it be Hatton, a town in the Nuwara Eliya district of the Central Province, the plains of Hatton open your eyes to the most beautiful view of the country known as the “End of the World”, a panoramic view of the tea fields at an altitude of 2130 meters not to be missed! Knowing that these plains form an ideal place for hiking and trekking in Sri Lanka, it is also a national park known as Horton Plains, and depending on the period when you visit the place, clouds and Intense fogs can rise one to two hours before noon, if this is the case, it is advisable to start your journey very early in the morning so as not to miss the best view in all of Sri Lanka.
Other places for hiking and trekking in Sri Lanka
Adam’s Peak, a spiritual hike
At more than 2240 meters above sea level, Adam’s Peak or Adam’s Peak represents a sacred place for certain religions, at the top of the mountain, a two-meter cavity representing an imprint suggests among Muslims that it is of the footprint of Adam, hence the name “Adam’s Peak”, among the Hindus, it is a trace of the passage of Vishnu the second God of the trinity, as for the Buddhists, they see the footprint of Buddha there , just like the Hindu pilgrims who climb the steps to reach the summit; tourists and hikers also take the trouble to climb this mountain which can take 3 to 4 hours of walking, the most courageous start the route very early in the morning to admire the sunrise in its most beautiful image.
Hiking in and around Knuckles Mountains
For nature lovers, the Knuckles Mountains offer you the ideal opportunity to lift the veil on lush nature and Tamil villages during your hikes, between rice fields, forests, tea fields and villages where you discover the daily life of the inhabitants, a single hike will never be enough to quench your thirst for discovery. You can organize hikes for several days by spending the night in a Guesthouse, your stay in the Knuckles Mountains will enchant you with its peaceful atmosphere and its smiling and welcoming inhabitants.
Jaffna Peninsula
Elsewhere, tea plantations and mountains, a hike in the heart of Tamil and Hindu culture will plausibly tempt you, in a rather dry setting with yellowish nature and often arid temperatures, conditions worthy of true adventurers, the peninsula is organized around a large number of Hindu and Buddhist temples and historical remains of Sri Lanka.
Do not hesitate to explore many popular places in Jaffna: The fort and the library of Jaffna, Hindu temples such as: the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil temple, the Selva Sannithi temple, the Sri Naga Vihara temple and the Vaddu Kannaki Amman temple, all in the very heart of the town of Jeffna, as well as the Naga Pooshani Amman kovil temple located in Nainativu a neighboring island, and for a change a little, you will also discover a Buddhist temple, Nagadeepa Vihara. The landscapes of Delft, an island off the coast of Jaffna, are also worth a detour. Apart from the temples, Point Pedro and the Elephant Pass are a must for any visit to the peninsula, and if the waters of curative mineral springs tempt you , a short stay in the town of Keerimalai may also interest you.
There’s a whole world to explore in Jaffna, whatever your preferences, you’ll need several days to explore the sites of the peninsula.
National Parks / Safaris in Sri Lanka
You can also direct your excursions towards natural parks to discover wild nature, the national parks of Yala, Udawalawe or Minneriya, represent the best Safaris in the country, more than 200 species shelter all of these parks between elephants , reptiles, sea turtles, leopards, monkeys, deer, jackals as well as a large volatile population.
What to equip yourself with during your hikes and treks in Sri Lanka?
- – The must-have during hikes is a bag, but which one? Generally, a 20 to 30 liter bag will be more than enough to contain a few picnic meals, several clothes, water, and will serve as storage for your camera, if you also bring a laptop, a 30 liter bag or a little more will do, apart from the capacity, the weight of a bag also depends on the fabrics used for the manufacture as well as the accessories, however try to opt for something rather light. If you plan to take meals often, opt for a bag with an insulated pocket, or a small insulated bag to put in the large bag.
– If you are accompanied by a baby, opt for a baby carrier with rain shield and sun shield for maximum protection - – Using thermal water can help you cool off during periods of high temperatures, especially towards the north of Sri Lanka.
Tours in Sri Lanka to facilitate discoveries
It’s important to plan your trip and itineraries in advance, but Sri Lanka gives you plenty of choice, so whether you want to visit several areas with minimal expense or have company for your hikes, circuits for hikers are available, it is also possible to tour the whole of Sri Lanka on a circuit, you can above all choose a circuit corresponding to your pace: walk of a few hours per day, 5-6 hours of walking per day, or even more, and depending on the physical conditions required for each circuit, thus, a rhythm of 5-6 hours per day may require little effort in certain circumstances, but when it comes to hiking in a very mountainous for example, it can require a lot of endurance and physical effort.