Adam's Peak, situated in central Sri Lanka, stands at 2,243 meters and is revered as a sacred mountain, housing the Sri Pada—a rock formation resembling a huge footprint at its summit. It is believed to be a footprint of Buddha for Buddhists, of Shiva for Hindus, and of Adam for some Christians and Muslims, drawing pilgrims from diverse faiths. Hence, it's a must to plan the hike on a non-religious holiday to avoid crowds. An illuminated path facilitate night-time climbs, which offer the breathtaking experience of witnessing sunrise from the peak, especially as the trail, spanning over 5km, ascends 890m in altitude, making it uncomfortable to climb during the daytime heat. Our ascent commenced around 4 am, post a pancake breakfast in the village, where shops operate at this early hour.

Commencing from Nallathanniya village, the trailhead is easily to be found and there is no way you can get lost, since it is all lit up and is quite a nice but also scary sight from the village, since it clearly shows you how high up you have to climb the next 3 hours. In case you still need a map: you can accessed one on Komoot.
Upon reaching the summit, anticipate a bustling crowd eager to view the sacred footprint and the sunrise, which is a truly awe-inspiring sights. There may be monks chanting and people burning incense sticks, which is not too bad, since there may be some sweat odour in the air.

THE BEST TIME TO GO: the pilgrimage season spans from December's full moon (Unduwap poya festival) to May's full moon (Vesak Poya festival). Avoiding weekends, full moon days, and the first week of the Sri Lankan new year in mid-April is advisable during this period to evade lengthy queues while hiking.

Off-season treks (June to November) are marred by unfavorable climbing conditions like rain and heavy mist, albeit sans the overwhelming crowds.

DO NOT expect it to be like a hiking trail in any other country. For most parts, the trails is either steps or concrete, it is dotted with souvenir and food stalls, and restroom facilities. All you need is basically a big bottle of water, some cash and stamina.

DO take time to talk with fellow pilgrims or at least exchange smiles with those you encounter. For many locals, this hike is a significant undertaking, and a friendly gesture can alleviate some of the hardship.