The Pekoe Trail

The Pekoe Trail

Experience the True Essence of Sri Lanka’s Highlands​

The Pekoe Trail is a 300+km walking trail traversing the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The trail is the first in a series of walking trails by Serendipity Trails designed to allow visitors to discover the varying terrain, history, culture, food, and local communities across Sri Lanka by foot.
 

As the first of hopefully many long-distance walking trails in Sri Lanka, it is made up of 22 stages, which can be completed in short sections, or as part of a multi-day experience taking visitors through an eclectic mix of hilltowns, tea plantations, remote villages, sanctuaries, viewpoints, forests, and cultural and historical locations.
 

The interconnecting trail demonstrates the island’s diversity, encourages sustainable travel and brings economic opportunity to rural communities in order to promote a more holistic traveler experience that embraces adventure, nature, wellness, and sustainability.

The 22 Stages of the Pekoe Trail

Stages: 1 - 5

Kandy Area

01

Hanthana ⇌ Galaha

↔ 12.84km (7.98mi)

⏰ 4 hours

🏞 Easy

02

Galaha ⇌ Loolkandura

↔ 14.70km (9.13 mi)

⏰ 5 hours

🏞 Difficult

03

Loolkandura ⇌ Tawalantanne

↔ 18.11 km (11.25 mi)

⏰ 6 hours

🏞 Difficult

04

Tawalantanne ⇌ Pundaluoya

↔ 15.53 km (9.65 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Difficult

05

Pundaluoya ⇌ Watagoda

↔ 14.31 km (8.89 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Moderate

Stages: 6 - 10

Hatton Area

06

Watagoda ⇌ Kotagala

↔ 14.97km (9.3 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Easy

07

Kotagala ⇌ Norwood

↔ 16.48km (10.24 mi)

⏰ 5 hours

🏞 Moderate

08

Norwood ⇌ Bogawantalawa

↔ 15.93 km (9.89 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Moderate

09

Bogawantalawa ⇌ Dayagama

↔ 17.13 km (10.64 mi)

⏰ 5 hours

🏞 Hard

10

Dayagama ⇌ Horton Plains

↔ 15.88 km (9.86 mi)

⏰ 5 hours

🏞 Difficult

Stages: 11 - 14

Haputale Area

11

Horton Pains ⇌ Udaweriya

↔ 14.30 km (8.88 mi)

⏰ 4 hours

🏞 Moderate

12

Udaweriya ⇌ Haputale

↔ 19.68km (12.22 mi)

⏰ 6 hours

🏞 Difficult

13

Haputale ⇌ St. Catherine’s

↔ 14.60 km (9.07 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 

🏞 Hard

14

St. Catherine’s ⇌ Makulella

↔ 9.36 km (5.81 mi)

⏰ 3 hours

🏞 Moderate

Stages: 15 - 18

Ella Area

15

Makulella ⇌ Ella

↔ 9.61km (5.97 mi)

⏰ 3 hours

🏞 Moderate

16

Ella ⇌ Demodara

↔ 9.50km (5.90 mi)

⏰3 hours

🏞 Easy

17

Demodara ⇌ Hali Ela

↔ 13.15km (8.17 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Moderate 

18

Hali Ela ⇌ Etampitiya

↔ 14.68km (9.12 mi)

⏰ 6 hours

🏞 Hard

Stages: 19 - 22

Nuwaraeliya Area

19

Etampitiya ⇌ Loonuwatte

21km (13.04 mi)

⏰ 6 hours

🏞 Difficult

20

Loonuwatte ⇌ Udapussellawa

↔13.63km (8.46 mi)

⏰4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Moderate 

21

Udapusellawa ⇌ Kandapola

↔ 16.90km (10.50 mi)

⏰5 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Difficult

22

Kandapola ⇌ St Pedro

↔ 11.30 km (7.02 mi)

⏰ 4 hours 30 minutes

🏞 Moderate