What is the Pekoe Trail, and what is it known for?
The Pekoe Trail is a 300km(186 miles) long distance walking trail curated around the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, touching on the best that the region has to offer. Starting from Hanthana in Kandy, the esteemed mountain range, it takes you round and round through places like Hatton, Horton Plains, Haputale, Ella, Uda Pussellawa, and finally our beloved Nuwara Eliya. It is divided into 22 stages, ranging from lengths of about 9km to 19km, with an average of 13.5km, with varying difficulties.
It was made by stitching together old paths around tea estates and factories, those used by tea pickers, into one long-distance walking and hiking route. Supported by the European Union, with additional support from USAID, a three year donor funded initiative called the Tourism Resilience Project(TRP) made this a reality. It is now looked after by The Pekoe Trail Organization(TPTO).
Hiking through the Hanthana estate. Photo by author.
Not long after its inauguration, the Pekoe Trail gained international recognition for its marvel-filled experience. World famous scientific and educational institution, the National Geographic's annual guide called BEST OF THE PICKS, containing the "most exciting, meaningful, and one-of-a-kind travel experiences for 2024," listed Pekoe Trail in the category, "Top 20 Travel Experiences." It was also featured in TIME magazine's "World's Greatest Places" list for 2025, and in BBC as a "hike for everyone."
What makes it so special?
We mentioned places it passes through; now, let's look at the iconic landmarks you'll pass on the way. It officially starts at the Ceylon Tea Museum at Hanthana, and the first stage starts with 360-degrees views of the Seven Peaks of Hanthana and the Knuckles Range. In stage 2, we pass by not only iconic, breathtaking views from the Loolkandura estate, we dive into the history of the world-famous Sri Lankan tea, passing by the cottage of James Taylor, the British man who planted tea for the first time in the country, centuries ago, and the site where the first tea in Sri Lanka was planted. James Taylor's seat, somewhere the man was said to sit and make his plans, offers a stunning view of the Hunnasgiriya and Knuckles mountains and the Victoria reservoir.
Near abandoned village next to the trail in Delthota. Photo by author.
Up to stage 5, we stay within the Kandy area, and pass by landmarks like Kondagala Peak, Urugala mountain range, Glenloch tea estate, and the Kotmale reservoir.
Rolling hills of Loolkandura tea estate. Photo by author.
From stage 6-10, we enter the Hatton area and pass by places like the Singamalai lake, Castlereagh reservoir, Bogawantalawa "Golden Valley" (widely considered the most beautiful tea valley in the world), Bothalagala Rock, Agra Upa falls, and pass into the renowned Horton Plains National Park. These Hatton stages in particular contain the best tea estate views and take us to some of the remotest tea villages in the country, like Dayagama.
As we pass into the Haputale region in stages 11-14, we undoubtedly witness some of the best mountain views in the country, and if not, the world. The World's End, the Devil's staircase, Udaweriya, the Haputale Railway Station, Adisham Hall, St. Catherine's Seat, are only some of the landmarks that make this region famous. The blend of unreal views, tea history, and the chills makes it a truly sublime experience.
Stage 15-18 includes the Ella and Uva region, where the trails winds between some of the favorite landmarks, Ella Rock and Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arches Bridge, and the Demodara Loop. Little has to be said to emphasize the beauty of these places. We eventually enter the Nuwara Eliya region, passing along the mountainous border of the Central Province, and officially end the trail at the Pedro Tea Estate.
The Nine Arches bridge. Photo by Genin Alyssa. Pedreno-Andrada: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-train-rail-surrounded-of-green-leaf-tree-2403209/
Important notes
Every stage of the Pekoe Trail offers a trail pass, which can be acquired on the Trail Web Portal in the website thepekoetrail.org or the Pekoe Trail app. The price for foreigners is $10, while it is Rs. 600 for locals(per hiker). Having a pass ensures that you are an "authorized user of The Pekoe Trail" and that landowners won't restrict your access or ask you to leave, since you pass through many local villages, private estates, and other rural communities. Hikers are guided along the way by orange circles with arrows and other signals; you can check the site or app to learn more about these signs.
Moreover, having a pass gives you real-time tracking to monitor your progress, remind you of important landmarks, cultural sites, and historical places when you near them, and most importantly, ensures you keep within the trail with off-track alerts. The app also gives difficulty ratings of beginner, moderate, or advanced, judging by the distance and climb, and an estimated time for each stage. Nearby hotels and lodges are also mentioned. (And on a personal note, I've seen that as long as we are within the trail, internet connectivity is ensured, so there's no fear of getting lost or contacting emergency authorities in case anything happens.) Since TPTO is a non-profit organization actively maintaining the trail, the money we contribute through these passes will only go to maintaining and developing the trail. For any other information, look up thepekoetrail.org or email info@thepekoetrailsrilanka.om or message @thepekoetrailofficial on Instagram.
On top of that, we have to make sure WE are up for the task. All of these hikes include over 8km over walking on various terrain, not only normal estate roads and pathways. As for any other hike, hikers must make sure their stamina levels are good, take necessary supplies like a lot of water, leach protection, and umbrellas if its wet, retain charge in mobile phones or take extra communication devices in need of emergency, and good footwear. Avoid taking risky detours, and most crucially, respect the trail and your responsibility to maintain it for the future, and the well-being of the entire country. DO NOT LITTER, and please, if you do find any along the way, take it with you and think of it as your service to the world.
As every Pekoe trail sign board says, "Take only pictures, leave only footprints."
Pekoe Trail sign at the start of stage 02. Photo by author.
The Takeaway
Not only Sri Lankans, but the whole world should be proud of having such an amazing experience of nature, history, and culture. All stages of the trail offer breathtaking views that anyone would relish and consider some of their lives' best experiences. It is made in a way promoting unity and insight into rural communities and the tea world, so respecting those boundaries and making sure the experience is great for both hikers and communities alike is our responsibility and service to the trail, and perhaps, the world.