In the heart of Sri Lanka’s central highlands, a newly opened trail is drawing adventurers, culture seekers, and history buffs alike. Winding over 300km through lush tea plantations, rural villages, and misty forests, the Pekoe Trail offers more than just scenic beauty—it narrates the layered and complex story of Sri Lanka’s tea heritage.
The trail begins in Kandy, the island’s second-largest city, near the very place where Scotsman James Taylor first planted tea in the mid-1800s. It ends in the cooler climes of Nuwara Eliya, whose misty hills once reminded British colonizers of home. Though the trail is new in name, parts of it have existed for decades, originally formed as rough mud paths used by plantation workers to transport tea leaves from the estates to factories and then on to the port of Colombo.
Created by Miguel Cunat, a Spanish-born, long-time resident of Sri Lanka and sustainable tourism consultant, the trail took nearly a decade of exploration and planning. “My goal was to establish Sri Lanka as a top-tier hiking destination,” Cunat explains. With funding support from the European Union and USAID, the Pekoe Trail officially opened in late 2023, aiming to revive tourism in the wake of the pandemic and economic crisis.
A Trail That Welcomes All
Designed to be accessible, the Pekoe Trail is divided into 22 manageable stages, most at lower elevations and open year-round. “This hike is for everyone,” Cunat notes. Hikers can take on short day-trips or explore entire stages, staying at nearby hotels or boutique lodges.
Even novice hikers can enjoy its paths, like Cathy Cruse, a 62-year-old Australian who made headlines by completing the entire trail in just seven days. “You move from tea plantations to thick jungles, then into pine forests—at one point I felt like I was walking through Australia with all the eucalyptus trees,” she says.
Each segment of the trail brings its own flavor—be it colonial-era cricket clubs, quiet waterfalls, colorful village shrines, or centuries-old churches with stained-glass windows. This rich diversity makes the Pekoe Trail more than a hike—it’s a journey through culture, history, and everyday life.
Beyond the Tourist Hotspots
The trail also encourages travelers to move beyond Sri Lanka’s usual tourist hubs like the southern beaches or the cultural triangle of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, and Dambulla. “I’ve been to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya before,” Cruse shares, “but the trail took me into interior areas I’d never seen, full of charm and untouched beauty.”
And while the landscape is a constant draw, it’s the people and their stories that breathe life into the journey. Hikers often encounter plantation workers, local festivals, and village markets, creating authentic interactions that feel far removed from traditional tourism.
One of the most welcoming aspects of the trail is its safety, particularly for solo or female travelers. “As a solo woman hiker, I always look for safe trails,” Cruse says. “Here, I never once felt unsafe—not from the surroundings or my guides.”
The Living History of Tea
Of course, no journey through tea country is complete without acknowledging the people who sustain it. Many of the plantation workers along the trail are descendants of Indian-Tamils, brought to Sri Lanka by British colonists to work on the estates. Even today, their families—mostly women—carry the legacy of labor in the tea fields.
Clad in thick skirts and frayed shirts to guard against the elements, they pluck leaves with expert hands, balancing heavy bamboo baskets tied to their heads. When spoken to in Tamil, their faces light up. “Tell me about India,” says Sathyavathy, a third-generation tea picker during a break in Bogawantalawa—also known as the “Golden Valley” for its superior tea. Though she has family roots in Tamil Nadu, she has never visited.
Stories Along the Way
In Hatton, deep in the tea heartland, the trail runs past old factories and colonial bungalows now converted into boutique hotels. Here, I meet Dharsharuban Rathnasingham, or Ruban, whose family once worked these very plantations. As we walk, he points out markers of plantation life—line rooms (tight communal quarters still in use today), and statues of Tamil guardian deities, often depicted with fierce expressions and weapons.
Later, I hop on the iconic Colombo–Badulla train to Ella, one of the trail’s most picturesque stretches. Over the next few days, I hike stages 15 and 16, taking in views from Ella Rock and the famous Nine Arch Bridge, with parts of the trail even running alongside active railway tracks.
At every turn, there’s a surprise waiting—an unexpected vista, a burst of wildflowers, or the soothing shade of eucalyptus groves. “There were so many ‘wow’ moments,” Cruse recalls. “You’d turn a corner and suddenly a whole valley would open up before you. I had to stop and just… take it in.”
Why It Matters – Pekoe Trail
In 2025, Sri Lanka was named one of BBC Travel’s 25 Best Places to Visit, not just for its beauty but for how it’s using tourism as a force for good. The Pekoe Trail exemplifies that vision—connecting travelers to nature, history, and people in a meaningful, sustainable way.
Whether you’re a serious trekker or a curious explorer, this trail offers a rare blend of accessibility, adventure, and authenticity. And in doing so, it invites you to walk not just through landscapes, but through Sri Lanka’s living story.