Horton Plains is the highest national park in Sri Lanka & the only national park you can explore on foot. The vegetation is closer to Europe than Sri Lanka, with rhododendron, bracken, gorse, hypericum, gentian, and many more species familiar to you. 

 

The setting: At over 2,000 meters above sea level, the park is a mix of cloud forest and open grassland, often blanketed in mist. The air is fresh, the trails are serene, and the biodiversity is incredible.

 

The Trail: The 9 km trail takes you to the Mini World’s End, World’s End, & Baker’s Waterfall. It would take three to four hours to complete the loop. 

 

The trail is well designed, and walking is not that difficult, though there are a few steep steps and uphills.

Wildlife – . The wildlife is unique with the horned lizard, pygmy lizard, black-checked green lizard, and purple-faced monkey, which are only spotted around Horton Plains.

 

The sambar deer is very common here, and there are about 15 leopards at the Horton Plains National Park.

 

The streams running through the park are home to trout, frogs, otters, and many unique wildlife.

Horton Plains is well known for its birds, and there are some endemic birds such as the Sri Lankan Junglefowl & the Sri Lankan White-eye.   

 

 

Start Early: To avoid crowds and get clear views at World’s End, start your hike before 8 am.

 

Bring this: good hiking shoes, warm clothes and a waterproof jacket, and plenty of water.

 

Horton Plains is more than a hike. It’s a quiet, otherworldly journey through one of the planet’s rarest ecosystems.