The cultural capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy, is a bustling city that can overwhelm the senses with sounds, smells, sights and sometimes, seemingly endless traffic. Escape to the mountains that surround the city and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the tranquil landscapes that await.
If you’re looking for an adventurous hike in Kandy that offers jaw-dropping panoramic views over Kandy and the countryside, make a beeline to the Hanthana Mountain Range.
In this guide, I’ll share all you need to know about hiking to the Hanthana Mountain View Point and share my top tips to make hiking in Kandy a memorable and seamless experience.
Quick Summary: Hanthana Mountain Hike
- Entrance Fee: None
- Time Required: Varies depending on route
- Shorter Route: ~2 hours, ~4 km
Longer Route: 3.5 hours, 7 km
- Shorter Route: ~2 hours, ~4 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Guide: Recommended for the longer route, see below.
- Facilities: None
About the Hanthana Hiking Trails
To reach the Hanthana Mountain View Point there are two trail options.
The first option (and what we did) was the longer and more adventurous one-way route. This requires the support of a guide to comfortably do as it takes you through the dense jungle, tea plantations and forest sections where the trail isn’t always obvious.
You’ll start the hike with your guide at a different spot to the finish point.
The second option is possible without a guide and is a shorter, more direct path to the Hanthana View Point. On this route, you’ll turn around once you’ve reached the viewpoint and head back the way you came.
Best Time to Hike
The best time to do this hike is during the dry season from January to March.
When we hiked the trail in April 2024 we had a beautiful clear day, however, the heat was pretty intense, particularly with the humidity making it feel hotter than it was. To beat the heat, we started our hike at 6.30 am. We were grateful for the early start once the sun came up!
What to Wear
Due to the heat, cotton or lightweight sweat-wicking clothing is highly recommended. I did not wear hiking boots, opting for my usual sneakers, which was fine for the trail.
The risk of leeches is high on this trail, particularly during the wetter months. For leech protection, it is recommended to wear high socks and/ or long pants and use insect repellent.
Our guide brought a spray solution of water and Dettol which was liberally applied over our shoes to prevent leeches from latching on. I’m pleased to report our entire group of 10 thankfully remained leech-free during the hike!
The Adventurous Long Route (Guide Required)
We set off from Kandy bright and early, picking up our guide from Blue Knuckles Travel along the way.
We were dropped off in the Sarasavigama area, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, before hiking up a gravel road as mist still clung to the hills in the valley below as we reached a tea factory perched on the hill.
It was here that the adventure really began.
After an obligatory leech spray, we set off through a barely visible trail in the jungle. We spent the next few hours passing through terraced tea plantations, passing small temples and shacks before a morning tea break under a large tree on the edge of a tea plantation.
We hopped over fresh mountain water streams before navigating through a dense section of mangrove-like forest with twisted tree roots that required ducking and twisting under.
At this point, we finally surfaced from the forest onto a plateau covered with thick lemongrass plants that are harvested for their oil. We could see the Hanthana peak standing out out like a beacon before us.
One last steep ascent up the mountain, and we had made it to the viewpoint.
On one side we looked down and across to Kandy in the valley below. On the other side, a steep drop-off down the ridge grabs your attention away from the open vista of the surrounding countryside.
In the distance, we could see the cliffs of the Katusu Konda ridge, considered one of Sri Lanka’s riskiest hikes due to the narrow path that cuts through the narrow rocky surface.
We spent around 30 minutes relaxing at the peak and soaking in the incredible views before setting off down the other side of the peak to meet our van. Following this trail would not have been possible without our guide, but it was worth it!
We didn’t encounter any other hikers on the trail until the end when we saw some other foreign tourists beginning the short route (covered below).
Our guide says this trail doesn’t see many foreign visitors, but on weekends you may bump into locals doing the hike or groups of university students orienteering.
Fun Fact: If it looks familiar, it might be because the Hanthana Mountain Range was featured in the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
After setting off at 6.30 am, we reached the finish point of the hike just after 10 am. We had hiked 7 km and gained 450 metres in elevation from our starting point, reaching a peak height of 1100 metres.
The Short Route (Guide Optional)
This shorter option is possible to do without a guide.
Begin your journey with a tuk-tuk ride from Kandy to the Ceylon Tea Museum, and follow the narrow road to the Hanthana Hiking Road. This is also the first stage of The Pekoe Trail, a new 300-kilometre trail that navigates through the central highlands of Sri Lanka.
There’s an intersection where you’ll see signs to W15 Estate leading to the left, but you’ll take the path on the right.
Continue along until you reach the nursery, at which point you’ll need to find the trail that leads you behind the nursery and up to the mountain peak which is tagged here on Google Maps.
We finished our hike at the W15 Estate sign crossroads, which was about 1.5 km of walking down from the peak. It’s about a further one kilometre to the Hanthana Hiking Road starting point (or if you want more of a hike, you could consider starting from the Ceylon Tea Museum which is a further 2 kilometres downhill).
At the end of your hike, visit the Ceylon Tea Museum or the Sandagiri Maha Seya temple, which has one of the largest stupas in the area. You can then get a tuk-tuk back to Kandy town (download the Pick-Me app or look for one on the street near the Tea Museum).
For more ideas of what to do in Kandy and other adventurous activities in Sri Lanka, check out my 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary.
Final Thoughts – Hanthana Hike
Hiking Hanthana Mountain ended up being one of the highlights of our time in Kandy. This lesser-known hike is a great way to escape the busy city, traverse the diverse Sri Lankan countryside and get a panoramic view of Kandy.
A moderate level of fitness is required as it is a steep uphill climb that will get the heart pumping. Remember to take the necessary precautions against leeches too!
Continue planning your Sri Lanka adventures:
I was searching everywhere to know some details because I love to but untill now i couldn’t cause I had no idea . And this is really helpful and . Would probably go next month . Thank you