Adams Peak

From December to April, pilgrims converge to climb the 2224m (7295ft) Adam’s Peak. At the top is a huge ‘footprint’, claimed by Muslims to belong to Adam, who stood there in expiation of his sin in the Garden of Eden. Never mind that Buddhists believe it to be the mark of Buddha or that Hindus hold the print to have been made by Lord Shiva, the fact remains that it is has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1000 years. The view from the peak at dawn is enough to shock the most cynical agnostic into a state of reverie.

It takes about four hours to climb to the top from the town of Dalhousie.Reaching the base of Adam’s Peak is simple and if you’re making a night ascent, you’ve got all day to arrive. Buses run to Dalhousie from Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Colombo in the pilgrimage season. Otherwise you need to get first to Hatton or Maskeliya. If you’re really running late, taxis will take you to Hatton or Dalhousie. You’ll need to cover 220km (136mi) to get there from Colombo.