Adam's Peak

Hi

We are travelling to Sri Lanka in December. We have just 9 days, so we are not sure whether we will be able to do everything we want to. Would like to know if we should go to Adam%26#39;s Peak as a first priority or if it is not that worthwhile, compared to other places. We know it is a subjective view, but would like to hear viewes of people who have been there. We are not athelits, just normal 40s couple.

Also, would be happy to receive recommendations on good guesthouses in the area of Nwera aliya and Ella.

Thanks very much%26#39;

Liat

Adam's Peak

Hi Liat,

It all depends on your taste. It%26#39;s an impressive pilgrimage place but with all the challenges of pilgrimage too: long walks (3 hours up and 3 down at least), crowded stairs and loosing a night as that%26#39;s the time for climbing. So if you%26#39;re into that (and some impressive nature), maybe worth it. Purely for nature the vistas around Ella are at least as beautiful and so are the many waterfalls and lakes in the hill country.

A nice GH near Ella is Ambiente, with view over the plains of course.

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya] - the first one-Siri-Pada-bell (but from Cairney/Ratnapura which is 2 x 7 hours walk) and the latter two.five-Siri-Pada-bells (from Hatton)

Adam's Peak

Hi

Thank you so much for the quick reply - it helped us decide.

I have a few more questions, if I may :

1. transportation - we are travelling with a driver and planning to stay on the last2-3 days in the beach area - 1-2 nights probably in Heritance Ahungalla ( is it really as good as it looks?) and 1 night in a guesthouse near the airport ( since we fly at 6am so will barely be in it). my question is : do we need the driver until the airport or will it be cheaper to stay with him until the 1st neach and transport ourself to Negombo from Ahungalla, and from there to the airport? We are paying him 75$ a day ( is that reasonable? - we have not yet finalized the trip with him so there is still an oportunity to change).

2. accomodation - is it better to reserve places in advance or choose on the fly? We read that the drivers receive commisions from the hotelsguesthouses. Is that the case? As I wrote earlier we will be there at the begining of December. Can we get better prices in advance as far as you know?

Thanks again,

Liat

Hi Liat

I don%26#39;t know if you are still considering Adams Peak, but if you are, bear in mind that the 2008/09 Pilgimage season does not begin until 12th December. You say you are visiting Sri Lanka at the beginning of December which made me think you might be too early to catch it.

It%26#39;s a really tough climb and took us 2.5 hours from Dalhousie (we began our climb at 2.30am and arrived well ahead of sunrise), but it was one of the most memorable and visually splendid things I have ever done. Bear in mind that you will not be fit for further lengthy walks in the days following your walk though! I consider myself to be fairly fit, but I was surprised to be really hobbling around for 2 days after the climb. Make sure you ';stretch off'; afterwards. I didn%26#39;t and I paid the price!

Sue

Hi

Don%26#39;t try to climb Adam%26#39;s Peak on 12 December and a couple of days after. The place will be overcrowded with local pilgrims.

If you climb before 12 December you will have to do it in the daytime as there are no lights at the trail outside the season.

If you intend to hire a car with driver you should be able to get it for USD 60/day. If it%26#39;s a van USD 68-70/day is a fair price.

No need to keep the driver while you stay at Ahungalla. You can easily arrange a car/van to Negombo for around USD 70 locally, and then airport drop from Negombo for max USD 15.

Hans

H谉

Thanks for the helpful answers.

What about the accomodatio question - is it better and cheaper to reserve ahead or when getting to each place?

Liat

Hi again Liat,

Both hotels and guesthouses always try to charge the walk-in / phone booking rate when you arrive. Which is about TWICE the %26#39;block rate%26#39; that a booking site or travel agent can get for you, talking about rip-offs!

You can only negotiate their offer down to the good rate on the spot if you can safely threaten to walk away to ';next door';, to other offerings in the same town which still have rooms. Also around the weekends quite often all rooms can be filled up with locals. If the place is the only one available in town you%26#39;re stuck with the walk-in rate.

So I%26#39;d say that you%26#39;d better prebook (not directly but through a site/agent) for

a) Isolated places, like Ahungalla or mountain hotels in hill country

b) All the stays on Friday and Sat evening

For the other places/times you could rely on walk-in. However mind you that not all lower-end hotels and guesthouses have a driver%26#39;s quarter; if they don%26#39;t then you have to pay extra for a room and meals for him taking away most of the price advantage of the lower-end!

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Adam%26#39;s Peak is really worth climbing. I have done it 4 times now and every time I go to Sri Lanka I will climb it.

As for the driver, I think it sounds quite expensive and I will ask my friend who is sri lankan what the price should be and if he knows anyone that can be a lot cheaper?

One thing though, was the gas, accommodation for driver included ,meals?

These are things you should also ask

Regards

Spunkywads

We are thinking of climbing Adam%26#39;s Peak while we are in Sri Lanka...

Can someone let us know some guesthouses/hotels where we can stay before and after the long hike??

Cheers in advance.

I found this guesthouse and it looks pretty good... Anyone stayed here??

www.slightlychilled.tv/testweb/index.htm

I am climbing Adam%26#39;s Peak on my last day in Sri Lanka (2nd last day technically since I fly out just after midnight!)

I am staying at Punsisi Guest House, quite simple, but considering how many (few) hours I%26#39;ll actually be there, it is good for me.