The Pekoe Trail is launching in Sri Lanka and we are excited to see it.
The 300-kilometer long distance walking trail takes you into the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Broken into 22 manageable stages, you can journey through Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Haputale, Hatton or Ella – or all of these if you’re keen to tackle the trail in its entirety over days!
Sri Lanka’s hill country stole our hearts on our first visit, and we love to share the highlights with our customers.
Getting a little off the beaten track is our favourite way to get a taste of the real Sri Lanka, so if straying off the main paths to visit small villages and observe local life sounds appealing to you, consider including some of the Pekoe Trail in your next visit to Sri Lanka.
Our trail highlights…
All stages along the Pekoe Trails have their perks but these are our favourite of the 22 stages.
14km of moderate level hiking, Stage 2 breaks in the middle at Deltota, a small market town ideal to refresh yourself with local fruits and snacks. Along the way, you can visit the remains of James Taylor’s Cottage and explore history of Ceylon Tea, stop at the Ravangama Temple and enjoy expansive views across the Knuckles mountain range. We recommend a luxurious and appropriately historic stay at Taylor’s Hill, a stylishly renovated plantation house.
Super scenic, and including a visit to well known Lipton’s Seat, this stage allows you to stay at beautiful Thotalagala and hike through varied terrain including green tea fields and lush forests.
One of the most well trodden sections perhaps, but it can’t be missed! On this section of the trail you’ll hike through eucalyptus forests and see Ella Rock, Ella Gap and Little Adam’s Peak. You end up at the Ella station if you fancy hopping on the scenic train for a well deserved rest and a ride through our favourite stretch of railway!
Our favourite hotel in the area for views is 98 Acres, built directly on the hillside, or stay at Amba Estate for a taste of a real life on a tea estate.
Things to know before you go…
The Pekoe Trail is experiencing some delays getting live. It’s expected to be ticketed with some control on numbers, but as we near the end of 2023 at the time of writing, we’re still waiting for some of the details – including charges and booking instructions.
That’s not stopping us being excited and getting planning for 2024 though, as many stretches of the trail are already open and accessible (including in our 10 Day Hill Country Hiking Itinerary).
Overall, the Pekoe Trail is easy to moderately challenging, and you can build your own overall itinerary (see some more examples of sample itineraries HERE) so its absolutely accessible for most hiking abilities including children and teens (the trail organisers recommend ages 10+).
A word from a local friend in Sri Lanka…
“My favourite part of the trail is Stage 11 which goes from Horton Plains to Udaweriya. This stage features a lot of diversity, including a significant change of climate and altitude. The views are amazing and you get to observe the villagers going about their normal lifestyle. Sometimes they are so friendly that they might invite you for a cup of tea. This stage is mostly downhill and approx. 13KMs, which makes it relatively easy. It also goes through the famous “Devil’s Staircase” which is a steep area with hairpin bends, this is actually the steepest descent of the entire Pekoe Trail. The stage ends at the abandoned Ohiya Tea Factory, which itself is iconic. This stage reminds me of fond memories from a hiking trip I did with friends just after high school, it was our first real hiking adventure and we stayed overnight at a Horton Plains government bungalow and came down towards Bambarakanda Waterfalls. I’ve attached some pics from that trip :)”
More Questions?
Check out The Pekoe Trail FAQ – or get in touch with us here at Fleewinter.
We’re looking forward to helping you discover Sri Lanka – the Pekoe Trail and beyond!
Carly and Steffi
Written by Carly Watling
Top Travel Tip
“Both Sri Lanka and the Maldives are amazing standalone – but a combination of the two is an addictive pairing. 10 days exploring the highlights of Sri Lanka hits culture, wildlife, breathtaking scenery and incredible food at a good pace, and then you can wind down with a few nights of luxury on the most perfect beaches in the world” – Carly, Asia Specialist
