Sri Pada, or Adam’s Peak, is a 2,234m-high mountain which is sacred to all four main religious groups in Sri Lanka – Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, all of whom variously claim the giant footprint at the top to be that of Lord Buddha, God Shiva, Adam or St. Thomas (the Christian apostle who preached in South India. Climbing the mountain is a popular pilgrimage, and a steady trickle of travellers join devotees between December and April to attempt the ascent. The climb is best started at about 2am – after a 3.5 hour hike, you will reach the summit and witness one of the most glorious sunrises in Asia. During pilgrimage season, strip lights and rudimentary stalls light the way to help keep you going all the way to the top. For many, this is a moving highlight of their stay in Sri Lanka and it is certainly one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the island.

The Knuckles Mountain Range, so named because of its resemblance to the knuckles of a clenched fist, is wonderful walking country.The best walking months are mid-February to April and June to August and Red Dot offers the choice of a half day (8 kms) or full day (18 kms) trek.This rugged 235 sq kilometre range is made up of mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, simple villages nestled into the slopes, terraced rice fields and a sense of discovering nature at its most enchanting.

Whatever your hiking experience, it remains compulsory for you to have a guide in this protected reserve, a UNESCO world heritage site, and apart from the danger of losing your way failure to do so could bring problems with the authorities. Our trekker, an outdoors enthusiast and naturalist, will point out interesting aspects of the walk or just allow you to become lost in your own thoughts – whatever you tell him you prefer.As Sri Lanka's popularity grows, here remains a mystical region, still off-the-beaten track, with breathtaking views and a sense of remoteness that will appeal to experienced and novice hikers alike.

Horton Plains is an undulating 2,000m-high plateau just 28km south of Nuwara Eliya. The grassy plains, which are interspersed with small patches of forest, are home to leopards, sambur, deer, bear, monkeys and a rich array of birds, including some endemic species. The most dramatic feature of the national park is `World’s End’, where the plateau comes to an abrupt halt and drops nearly 1000m straight down. The best way to explore the park is on foot, though the plains can also be explored by jeep, preferably from early morning as the mist often falls by lunchtime.

Horton Plains comprises a gently undulating highland plateau at the southern end of the central mountain massif of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s second and third highest peaks, Kirigalpotha (2,395m) and Thotupola Kanda (2,357m) are found here and three of the island’s largest rivers – the Mahawali, Kelani and Walawe – originate from the Horton Plains. The highlight for walkers is the trek to World’s End and Baker’s Falls.

Lipton’s Seat is the chosen viewpoint of Sir Thomas Lipton, the Scottish businessman who, like so many other British colonisers, saw the profit that could be made from buying into Ceylon’s blossoming tea industry in the 19th century. One of the most spectacular viewpoints in Sri Lanka, it offers a stunning and majestic panorama of rolling lush green tea fields framed by dramatic mountains and it is said that you can see all the way out to seven of Sri Lanka’s provinces. It is a beautiful place to spend relaxing morning.

Visitors can walk or drive up to Lipton’s Seat. To journey to the lookout on foot, set out from the Dambatenne Tea Factory and follow the narrow, paved road (which is sign-posted) and trek for approximately 7km through picturesque tea estates dotted with tea pickers. You will be rewarded not only with an astonishing view, but also with locals selling refreshing drinks and fortifying snacks at the top. Tuk tuks charge around Rs. 2,500 to take people to Lipton’s Seat from Haputale. We recommend visiting Lipton’s Seat in the early morning, before the mist rolls in and obscures the view on the horizon.

When you play golf in Nuwara Eliya you will be transported back a hundred years to Sri Lanka’s British colonial days – at times, you might even feel like you’re in the Scottish Highlands until you look closely at the tropical plants and flowers surrounding you. Built by a Scottish soldier of the Golan Highlanders for the British servicemen and officials stationed here in 1889, the course is truly spectacular, set 6,200ft above sea level, surrounded by rolling tea hills and framed by looming mountains. Nuwara Eliya – known as ‘Little England’ – is a charming hill station which was developed by British planters in the late 1800s. This is evident throughout the town: as well as a golf club, the British built a racecourse, tea factories, colonial hotels and planters’ bungalows, all of which seem to be frozen in time in a bygone era.

This challenging course rewards straight hitting from the very first tee, which is a testing shot – made all the more so because you are in full view of the clubhouse. However any dropped shots on the first can be clawed back on the par 5, 2nd, where the green is accessible in two. The par 5, 6th, is the longest hole in Sri Lanka; with a wide fairway it presents the ideal opportunity to pull out the driver and open up your shoulders. Careful with that driver though because the fairways are lined with well-established trees, a slightly wayward shot brings these into play. If you manage to stay clear of the trees further challenges lie in the crags and creeks that bisect the fairways and the remorseless gorse and bunkers, causing many a curse and bogey. The challenging 12th, 13th and 14th holes are referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’ due to their resembling hills. It is also leopard country so let that be warning enough to keep the ball on the fairway.The clubhouse and bar is an atmospheric place to enjoy a drink and meal after your round. It is full of character and colonial history.Little has changed since the founding of the club and you can even enjoy a log fire on cooler evenings.

Red Dot's Tea Estate experience takes place in one of the most beautiful organic tea estates in the Sri Lanka hill country, hidden above Ravana-Ella Falls and with breathtaking views of Ella Rock and Lipton's Seat. On this activity, you get the chance to explore a working organic farm and learn more about the manual techniques used to produce the teas, coffee, cinnamon and preserves that brought Sri Lanka to worldwide attention. Your guide will lead you through carefully-tended slopes where tea, cinnamon and lemongrass are cultivated before taking you to the factory. Try your hand at plucking and rolling some tea leaves yourself before tasting four signature teas at a viewpoint overlooking Ella Gap. You can also choose a more upmarket “Teaology” option which includes a menu of vegetarian dishes specifically matched with the teas on offer. This experience is not available on Sundays and public holidays.