Best trails in Horton Plains National Park

The World's End Trail is within Sri Lanka's Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The circuit takes hikers through a rare and beautiful ecosystem of wet, grassy plains and misty, stunted cloud forest patches. Sambar deer frequently spot graze in the plains, especially early morning. The trail's main destinations are two stunning viewpoints: the smaller "Little World's End" and the main "World's End," the former of which is comprised of faces with a breathtaking,...

Access to the Horton Plains National Park is restricted. Entry is permitted by purchasing a ticket at the Dayagama Entrance or Ohiya Entrance before entering the park and paying the entrance fee, which is subject to exchange rate fluctuations. The park is governed by strict regulations as there is wildlife and a very sensitive ecosystem. It is extremely important to travel in a group and ideally with the services of a national guide through the park. Do note that entry to the park from this...

This stage starts at the Farr Inn, the old hunting lodge for high-ranking British colonial officials, which today serves as a visitor center. Now run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the old inn is situated next to the car park from which almost all visitors start the walk to World's End. This is the highest point of the entire Pekoe Trail. Depending on the time of year, or even the time of the day, it can be cold, windy, misty, or open skies. During the months of May through to...

This route begins on the open, windswept wet patana grasslands before plunging into dense montane cloud forest. The terrain is often waterlogged, requiring waterproof boots to navigate through deep mud and narrow, overgrown paths that cut through dense dwarf bamboo thickets. As the trail steepens toward the rocky summit ridge, hikers must scramble over slick boulders and negotiate erosion gullies. The final push involves a 30-degree rock slab ascent exposed to strong winds.

Thotupola Kanda is Sri Lanka’s third highest peak. It is located in Horton Plains National Park, so a park fee must be paid to get to the trail. Although it does lead to a peak, the trail is not very long or difficult since the peak is not far from the road and starts at a high elevation. There are some nice views over Horton Plains on the way up. However, at the summit, there is only an antenna and the view is blocked by vegetation. It is not one of the best hikes in Horton Plains, but it...