Quick answer
For Ella hikes, carry roughly 1 litre of water for Little Adam's Peak, 1.5 to 2 litres for Ella Rock and 2 to 3 litres for a Pekoe Trail stage or Namunukula. Small stalls sometimes sell drinks on the Ella Rock tea section and near the Little Adam's Peak trailhead, but opening is unreliable. Bring bananas, bakery buns, nuts or biscuits, and finish with a king coconut, the best rehydration in Sri Lanka.
Key takeaways
- Carry roughly 1 litre of water for Little Adam's Peak and 1.5 to 2 litres for Ella Rock.
- Long walks such as Pekoe Trail stages need roughly 2 to 3 litres.
- Trailside stalls on Ella's walks are convenient but open unreliably.
- Bananas, bakery buns, nuts and biscuits travel well in the hills.
- King coconut water is the best rehydration after a hike.
How much water to carry
Ella's hikes need more water than their length suggests, because the sun is strong on open tea paths, even at roughly 1,000 metres, and the climbs make you sweat. As a rough guide, carry roughly 1 litre for Little Adam's Peak, 1.5 to 2 litres for Ella Rock and 2 to 3 litres for a Pekoe Trail stage or Namunukula.
Carry more on hot, clear days, roughly January to April, and less on cool, cloudy mornings. Children and older walkers should drink regularly, not only when thirsty.
Signs of dehydration include headache, dizziness and dark urine. Rest in the shade and drink if you notice them.
Water on Ella hikes is also heavy, roughly 1 kg per litre, so a good daypack with a hip strap helps on longer walks. Splitting water between two bottles makes it easier to track how much you have used and how much is left for the descent.
- →Little Adam's Peak: roughly 1 litre.
- →Ella Rock: roughly 1.5 to 2 litres.
- →Long walks: roughly 2 to 3 litres.
Refills and trailside stalls
Small stalls and cafes sometimes sell water, soft drinks and king coconuts near the Little Adam's Peak trailhead, on the tea section of Ella Rock, near the summit of Ella Rock and above the Nine Arch Bridge. They are convenient, but opening is unreliable, especially early in the morning and in quiet seasons.
Many guesthouses in Ella offer filtered water refills, which cuts plastic waste. Ask your host, and fill up before you leave.
Tap water in Ella is not generally recommended for drinking without treatment. A filter bottle or purification tablets give an extra option on long walks.
- →Stalls: convenient, unreliable.
- →Guesthouse refills: reduce plastic.
- →Filter bottle or tablets: for long walks.
Snacks that travel well
Good snacks for Ella hikes are light, robust and quick to eat. Bananas are cheap, filling and sold everywhere. Bakery buns and vegetable rotis, bought the evening before or early in the morning, make a good trail breakfast.
Nuts, biscuits, dried fruit and energy bars are easy to carry. Peanuts and cashews are sold in small packets in Ella's shops. Avoid chocolate on hot days.
Lankan Stays & Trails guides carry fruit and water for guests, and often stop for a king coconut on the way down.
Snacks on Ella hikes can also include local treats: a small packet of spiced peanuts, a slice of butter cake from a bakery or a few pieces of jaggery for quick energy. Trying local snacks is part of the fun of walking in the hills.
- →Bananas and fruit.
- →Bakery buns and rotis.
- →Nuts, biscuits and dried fruit.
Eating before an early hike
Most cafes in Ella open for breakfast from roughly 7 am, too late for a sunrise walk. Eat a small snack before you go, such as a banana and a bun, then a full breakfast on your return.
Many guesthouses will prepare a breakfast box or a flask of tea the night before if asked. Some bakeries open early.
For Ella Rock, a decent snack before and another at the summit keeps energy up for the steep eucalyptus section and the descent.
Reducing plastic on the trails
Plastic bottles litter some of Ella's trails, and waste collection is limited. Carrying a reusable bottle, refilling at your guesthouse and taking all rubbish back to town helps keep the walks clean.
King coconuts, drunk from the shell, produce no plastic. Fruit peel should be carried out too, as it attracts monkeys and dogs.
- →Reusable bottle and guesthouse refills.
- →Carry all rubbish back.
- →King coconut: plastic-free.
Frequently asked questions
How much water do I need for Ella Rock?
Carry roughly 1.5 to 2 litres of water for Ella Rock, which takes roughly three to four hours return. Carry more on hot, clear days. Stalls sometimes sell drinks on the tea section and near the summit, but opening is unreliable.
Can I buy water on Ella hikes?
Small stalls sometimes sell water and soft drinks near the Little Adam's Peak trailhead, on Ella Rock's tea section, near Ella Rock's summit and above the Nine Arch Bridge. Opening is unreliable, especially early, so carry what you need.
What should I eat before hiking in Ella?
Before an early hike in Ella, eat a light snack such as a banana and a bakery bun, then a full breakfast on your return. Many guesthouses prepare a breakfast box or flask of tea if asked the evening before. Cafes usually open from roughly 7 am.
Is tap water safe to drink in Ella?
Tap water in Ella is not generally recommended for drinking without treatment. Use filtered water refills offered by many guesthouses, bottled water, a filter bottle or purification tablets. King coconut water is a safe, natural alternative.
What snacks are good for hiking in Sri Lanka?
Good snacks for hiking in Sri Lanka include bananas, bakery buns and vegetable rotis, nuts, biscuits, dried fruit and energy bars. They are light, robust and widely available in Ella. Avoid chocolate on hot days, and carry peel and wrappers back.
Where can I refill water in Ella?
Many guesthouses in Ella offer filtered water refills, which reduce plastic waste. Some cafes do too. Ask your host and fill up before leaving for a hike. A filter bottle gives an extra option on long walks.
Do I need electrolytes for Ella hikes?
Electrolyte sachets are useful on long or hot hikes around Ella, such as Ella Rock in the dry months or a Pekoe Trail stage, when you sweat heavily. King coconut water is a natural alternative. Pharmacies in Ella and Badulla sell oral rehydration salts.