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We've done some pretty scary things throughout our travels - bungy jumping, skydiving, paragliding... but nothing has quite matched the fear we felt climbing Ambuluwawa Tower.
But before you assume it’s just a fear of heights talking, let us explain.
If you're picturing a peaceful stroll to the top of a tower, think again. The adventure starts before you even reach the tower itself.
To get there, you’ll need to hop in a tuk-tuk and wind your way up the mountain -it's an experience in itself.
With every hairpin turn, you climb higher and higher and you can’t help but smile and hang your head out the side, soaking in the views - until you reach the tower.
Standing 48 meters tall and perched on top of Ambuluwawa Mountain, this spot offers some of the most stunning views in Sri Lanka.
But before you can enjoy the view, you’ve got to earn it.
As you're probably expecting, what starts out as a fairly ordinary spiral staircase, will quickly have you gripping the railings and wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into.
The higher we climbed, the tighter the staircase got. At some points, we had to literally lean over the edge to let people pass. It was terrifying... but also thrilling!
When you finally make it to the top (and feel like you’ve earned it), you’re treated to a 360-degree panoramic view of Sri Lanka's stunning mountains and valleys.
But then... you have to come back down. And with more and more people making their way up, this was even more terrifying than the ascent.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. If you're after an adrenaline rush and a unique experience, Ambuluwawa Tower should definitely be on your list.
Chloe Butcher
👋 This adventure was first published in the Wildside Travel Club newsletter. If you enjoyed it, we'd love to invite you to join our community of travel lovers who recieve adventure inspiration just like this - every week!
