Sri Lanka & the Pekoe Trail

Discover the Pekoe Trail – Sri Lanka on foot.
This immersive trail combines adventure with diverse culture and relaxation.

Pekoe Trail: 12 days | 8 Stages
Price from £1995
per person
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Deposit £250

Balance due 8 weeks prior to departure

Guided adventure through Sri Lanka
Beautiful country with a rawness about it

What’s good about the Pekoe Trail.

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BOOK YOUR PLACEJust do it!

Ask a question, or call Terry: 07725 943108

Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka

The beautiful and immersive Pekoe Trail is a long distance trail split into 22 stages meandering through the Uva and Central Provinces (the higher parts of Sri Lanka). The Pekoe Trail can be done as a whole, or using selective stages in whatever order you wish.

Whether your main focus is the Pekoe Trail, the cultural heritage, the railways, the white sand beaches or the wildlife, Sri Lanka will not disappoint.

2 week itinerary – mix the Pekoe Trail, train, safari and beach (recommended). See itinerary toggle.
The full Pekoe Trail – more details on the full 22 stages.
Sri Lanka’s trains.

Accommodation along the route is hotels, or homestays depending on your wishes, precise itinerary and budget.

Trekking through some spectacular and diverse scenery, it takes those who experience it to the post-colonial era of the tea industry. The journey includes vast lush tea estates and its communities, old and working tea factories, colonial planters’ clubs, rural villages with warm hospitality, forests, and the high open vista of Horton Plains, the natural habitat of the Leopard!

Its founder Miguel Cunat emphasises that the Trail is there to be enjoyed, slowly. It’s stage lengths are designed for the tropics as the heat can be intense, the rain heavy. It’s not about covering distance, rather connecting with the landscape, the people and the amazing tea country.

Full Pekoe Trail, Day-by-Day

The full Pekoe is completed with a calm, satisfied stillness.
You will have witnessed what most tourists will never see.
Your smile will get bigger, day-by-day as you see what lies before you.
It’s beautiful.

When to go

Sri Lanka is a year round destination and it’s weather pattern can be complex. It depends what part of the Island you are visiting, and when!

Pekoe Trail – Feb – May is considered a good period to visit.

Avoid the periods over Christmas (Dec) and high summer months (Jul/Aug). The accommodation prices are very high.

2-week itinerary (recommended)

This itinerary has been carefully crafted to fit inside 2-weeks.

Pekoe Trail, 8 selected stages for their scenery and diversity.
Ride the train, such fun, has to be done.
Safari, Yala National Park in search of the elusive Leopard.
Beach time, a couple of days to relax.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrive Columbo, overnight locally
2 – Transfer to Hatton
3 – Pekoe Trail, Stage 7, Kotagala – Norwood
4 – Stage 8, Norwood – Bogawantalawa
5 – Horton Plains, World’s End and Stage 11 to Udaweriya
6 – Stages 13/14, St Catherine – Makulella – Ella
7 – Calypso Train Badulla – Ella, then trek Stage 16, Ella – Demodara
8 – Stage 17, Demodara – HaliEla
9 – Stage 22, Kandapola – St Pedro, transfer to Yala National Park
10 – Safari into Yala National Park, transfer to beach location
11 – Relaxing day
12 – Depart

Inclusions/Exclusions

What the Price Includes

Return airport transfers.
All accommodation on a twin share basis, including b’fast.
Lunches and snacks for the Pekoe Trail stage.
English speaking tour guide/driver.
Qualified guide for every Pekoe Trail stage.
Entry tickets for Horton Plains.
Train ticket Badulla – Ella

What the Price Does Not Include

International flights
Travel insurance
Personal spending

Charity fundraising options

The FULL Pekoe Trail is undoubtedly worthy of a charity challenge, especially if its achieved with a limited time frame.

Specific figures will depend on the itinerary.

, or call Terry: 07725 943108

Need a full explanation of the 3 fundraising options?
Go to our How Charity Challenges Work section (opens up a new page).

Other Important Notes

The weather. Sri Lanka is hot, and in the hills, it rains most afternoons (a lot!).
Expect early starts to avoid the rains while trekking (rain is heavy).
Some consecutive stages of the Pekoe Trail can be trekked in a single day BUT that lengthens the day and therefore the rains become a factor.
The total ascent on the full Pekoe Trail is nearly TWICE the height of Mt Everest!
Travel time – allow 2 days in both directions (overnight flights).

The Full Pekoe Trail – How Long Does It Take

Length – 320 km | 22 Stages | Start – Kandy | Finish – Nuwara Eliya | Total Accumulative ascent approx 15900m

The Pekoe Trail has 22 stages, and is designed to be enjoyed as an immersive journey through Sri Lanka’s hill country. Working on a stage per day, it would take 22 days + other activities and travel.

By combining some stages into a single day, it can be shortened to suit the time available.
For those that wish to move a bit quicker, or challenge themselves, it can be completed much faster (12 – 14 days without rest days) but a high level of walking fitness would be required. It is emphasised that such a time scale is physically demanding on this route.
Based on 12 days = average of ~27km (~17 miles) & ~1300m of ascent per day.
Those figures will vary (longer/shorter) depending on how the Stages fall.
In combining multiple stages in a single day, do consider the following:

Ascents – the total elevation gain over the full Pekoe Trail is almost 16000m. That is nearly TWICE the height of Mt Everest (8849m).
Distance – combining stages increases the day’s distance and time. See next bullet point.
Weather – there is a high chance of daily afternoon heavy rain. It is wise to be clear of the Trail before then.
Pace/Fitness – your fitness (walking pace) will dictate which stages you can combine if you are to be clear of the Trail before the rains start.
Can you trek in the rain? – Yes, BUT the rain tends to be heavy. Ensure you have seriously good waterproofs, and/or a poncho.
Leeches – be aware of these little creatures on some stages.

Take It Slow…

The Pekoe Trail is a journey, and one to be enjoyed. Immerse yourself into the rhythm of life in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Take your time, engage, smile, it’s all about the people, the communities, a conversation, their way of life.

Carry some small change, buying a cup of tea or some fruit will go along way to some of these families.

The Pekoe Trail would not exist without the local communities, who maintain the tea trails that make up such a large part of the route.

By taking your time, it allows you to experience the simple things. Sitting on a hilltop to admire the view, under a tree for a snack, talking to tea pickers, and lunch in a local village. Every step you take helps honor both the natural beauty and the people who make this journey possible.

Sri Lanka’s Trains

Ride the open top ‘calypso’ train between Badulla and Ella.
Hang out the doors!
Experience the Demadara Loop.
Cross the 9 Arches Bridge.

A journey, however short, on a Sri Lankan train is highly recommended. The most recognised journeys are those between Kandy and Ella or Badulla, where the slow trains meander their way through beautiful scenery, through tea plantations and over bridges. The majority of our adventures will cover a journey on the railways. Riding the Demodara Loop is well worth it.

The Sri Lankan railway network dates back well over 100 years, built on broad gauge. It covers around 1500 km of track.

Sri Lanka and Pekoe Trail Notes

Passport and Visas

Passport – According to the UK’s FCDO website Entry Requirements into Sri Lanka, require you to have an ‘expiry date’ of at least 6 months on your passport after the day you arrive.

As circumstances can change, it is advisable to subscribe to the ’email alerts’ available from the FCDO’s webpage for Sri Lanka. Click the link above and you will see the ’get email alerts’ subscription link just under the page title.

Visa – A tourist visa is required to enter Sri Lanka. It can be done online very easily and the response time is a few days. The cost is approx US$50 as @ May 2025. It is an e-visa and therefore is logged in the system. It may be advisable to carry the paper confirmation copy sent to you by email.

International flights

Direct Flights – SriLankan Airways is the only airline that offers direct flights (10 – 11 hrs flying time). They fly from London Heathrow.

Indirect Flights (1 stop) – Look no further than the trio of Middle East airlines (Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad). Between these airlines, they offer flights from many regional airports such as Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

We do not include or sell international flights but we can advise if required.

Airport transfers

Return international airport transfers are included within our itineraries.

Accommodation

In general terms, accommodation is of a good standard.

We offer 3 levels of accommodation: Upper, mid-range and budget.

Accommodation while on the Pekoe Trail will depend on what Stages are being used. Where possible, we use the same accommodation for consecutive nights to help stability.

We would recommend the Occidental Eden (Beruwala) for the final 2 nights. It is included with the Upper range.

Single/triple room options

Single and Triple room options are possible. Please ask for details.

Luggage

Only 2 items of luggage are likely to be needed in Sri Lanka: your main bag (suitcase or holdall) and a daysack (if trekking).

Daysack (for Pekoe Trail) – Recommended capacity is around 20 litres (or bigger). Given the warm weather conditions, and the facilities that your accommodation offer each night, a 20 litre capacity is fine. It is likely to contain: waterproofs (or poncho), water, snacks, sunhat, sunscreen, sunglasses, personal hygiene (toilet tissue, hand sanitiser), personal first aid kit, phone, power bank, etc.

It doesn’t really matter what type of luggage your main bag is, it is being transported for you by some form of vehicle.

Food

Warning! Sri Lankans like spicy food! It’s not necessarily hot spicy, but it is spicy. You can request non-spicy food.

Breakfasts – this will depend on where you are.

Buffet breakfasts will have plenty of options including fresh fruit, pancakes, bacon, eggs, cereals, yoghurts, etc.
Menu – as above but you choose what you want to eat.
Packed breakfasts – when very early starts are required, packed breakfasts are used. The choice of what goes in it will be made the evening before. You won’t go hungry!

Lunches – whether you are trekking or not, lunches are a good time to try out the local cuisine, in local places. It’s good, and inexpensive. Your guide will know how it all works!
Tip – if you like coffee, avoid it unless you are in high end hotels, otherwise you’ll be very disappointed. Stick with black tea.

Snacks – you will be provided with some snacks and water for the day’s that you are on the Pekoe Trail. In addition, should you wish you supplement your own supplies, there are enough local stores around to be able to buy snacks of your choice, whether that be chocolate or biscuits, etc. Sri Lankans love their fruit, and they have plenty of it. Local hospitality will kick in at some point and you’ll be given plenty of fruit from banana, pineapple, etc.

Evening meals (own expense) – there will a choice from some form of menu depending on the accommodation. Expect curry, of some sort, will be on there!

Water

Do not drink tap water.

Drink bottled mineral water or water from a supplied filtered source. It is inexpensive.

Your guide will supply some drinking water for the Pekoe Trail days.

Currency, money and tipping

Sri Lanka’s currency is the Sri Lankan Ruppee (LKR). LKR’s are not available outside of Sri Lanka.

Work in LKR in Sri Lanka. You may see US$ quoted in some higher end hotels.

For ease and convenience, it is advisable to change your money at the airport on arrival.

ATM’s – there are plenty of ATM’s available in towns.

Spending money – This depends on your spending habits. Daily spending is likely to include some snacks and drinks.

Credit cards – It is recommended that a credit card be carried at all times for emergency purposes. They are acceptable in most shops (not small local stores), restaurants, and hotels. Compare specialist travel credit cards: Martin Lewis’s website or Finder.

Tipping – In Sri Lanka tipping is a way of saying ‘thank you’ for your services. Depending on your itinerary, you will have at least a Tour Manager/driver (highly likely the same person). In addition, you will also have a Pekoe Trail guide for each section (one guide may cover several sections).

There are no porters involved.

When to tip?

Tip the local Guides when they have finished their respective section(s).
Tip the Tour Manager/driver at the end of your tour.

Medical

You don’t have to be a Doctor or medical professional to be well prepared medically for an adventure.

Nothing will spoil your trip more than having health problems. With just a little thought about what might happen and together with knowledge of your own body, it should be sufficient for you to prepare a decent personal First Aid kit.

Quick checklist:

Adequate travel insurance
A personal First Aid kit (see below)
Up-to-date and appropriate vaccinations, see ‘vaccinations’ tab.
A dental check-up prior to travel.

Personal First Aid Kit

Apply common sense to your first aid kit in Sri Lanka. You will have access to local stores and maybe pharmacies most days.

The Pekoe Trail will be your highest risk, so what could happen when you’re out there? Trips, slips all leading to cuts, grazes etc. Have you got what you may need to patch up? And be prepared for the leeches.

This suggested list is therefore a reflection of what you may need immediately or fairly quickly. It is not exhaustive. Build your own by adapting it to your own wishes/needs. Even all of that takes up a small amount of space.

Lip balm, preferably sun protective
Steristrips
Crepe bandage
Melonin Pads for injuries
Antisceptic wipes
Vaseline
Safety pins
Imodium, diarrhoea
Ibuprofen, pain inflammation
Paracetamol, pain killer/headache
Asprin, sore throat/various
Dioralyte, dehydration
Gaviscon, indigestion
Insect repellent
Zinc oxide tape, for blisters
Compede, for blisters

Vaccinations

Vaccinations

What you need will depend on what you already have. Check with your medical practice to see if you need any boosters. The following travel vaccines are FREE on the NHS: Cholera, Hepatitis A, the combined Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio booster, and Typhoid. Others like Hep B, Yellow Fever and Rabies are chargeable should you need them.

The following websites are excellent references to ascertain or confirm, what is recommended for each country.

Travel Health Pro – Sri Lanka Vaccinations
Travel Doctor Vaccines (UK)

There are no vaccines for Malaria; just tablets. Seek advice as what is prescribed very much depends on where you are going (and in some cases the region of that country). Preventative medicine for Malaria is constantly changing.

There is always an element of risk assessment with vaccines. Assess exactly where you are going, what you are doing and decide if you need EVERY vaccine recommended.

Guide and support

Guide and Support

Depending on your itinerary, you will have at least a Tour Manager/driver (highly likely the same person). He will be with you throughout, even on some of the Pekoe Trail stages. His role is to pull everything together logistically and ensure it all runs smoothly.

In addition, you will also have a Pekoe Trail guide for each section (one guide may cover several sections). The Pekoe Trail is too long for a single guide to specialise in it all. So they have split the Trail into ‘regions’. Local guides specialise in their region.

Groups of 7 pax and above will also have a National Guide, in addition to the above. He is likely to be a qualified Conservationalist.

Weather

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two main monsoon seasons, meaning different parts of the island experience rain at different times.

South and West Coasts & Hill Country (Pekoe Trail): Best period is December (avoid Christmas) to May, when the weather is dry and sunny – ideal for the Pekoe Trail, train journeys, beaches, and cultural tours.
East and North Coasts: Best period May to September, as this region enjoys drier weather during the opposite monsoon.

Temperatures are warm year-round (26 – 32°C at sea level), with cooler conditions in the central hills. The best overall months for most tourists are January to May.

In general terms, it rains a lot in the afternoons so it is best to plan on completing any trekking before then (if appropriate).

Fitness

Fitness is subjective. In general terms an averagely fit person will cope with the daily stages of the Pekoe Trail if taken on in daily stages.

Only when multiple stages are combined into a single day does the fitness come into question.

You need to be very walking fit to be able to complete the Pekoe Trail in 10 – 14 days. It’s 320km long and has a huge 15,000 – 16,000 m elevation gain over the full distance. That’s close to TWICE the height of Mt Everest.

It is not practical to offer specific training advice here due to the vast array of abilities of those reading this.

You don’t need to be super fit but we recommend that you adopt a regular training regime on the lead up to your trip as the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy it. Train for what you are going to do – walk, and with a daysack on your back. It is equally important to train your body to walk with the clothing and equipment that you will be using on trek.

Remember, this is a tropical environment.

Data Roaming and mobiles

Sri Lanka is served well with mobile communications. There are numbers SIM deals within Sri Lanka or your can order an eSIM online prior to arrival (activated on arrival).

Wifi is available in most, if not all hotels.

Electricity and plugs

Sri Lanka works off the same power system as the UK, 240v 50Hz. They use 3 types of plug, the UK 3-pin (type G, rectangular pins) and the 3-pin round pin (types D & M). Some of their plug sockets accept both types.

Check the plugs using this link.

Our advice is to take a single adaptor in case you are unlucky enough not to have a UK style plug in your room.

With a UK style multi-USB plug (USB C and USB B), you should be able to cover any charging requirements you may have.