A 2,243-metre conical peak revered by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike for the footprint-shaped mark at its summit, Adam's Peak draws thousands of pilgrims who climb its illuminated stairway overnight to watch sunrise from the top. The climb takes most visitors three to five hours in the dark, guided by a near-continuous string of lights up the mountainside.
150 kmDistance from Colombo
~3.5 hrsTypical drive time
The pilgrimage season runs from December's Unduwap Poya to the Wesak full moon in May, when the route is busiest; outside this window the mountain is quieter but still climbable.