The Pekoe Trail: Tea Estates & Highland Treks

23 Days / 22 Nights

Day

01

Start at Hanthana / Trek through rolling Kandy highlands to Galaha / Immerse in misty tea gardens and gentle forest trails / Overnight in Galaha area.

Start your trip in the foggy Kandy highlands, where you’ll hike past tea estates and undulating hills. Enjoy the peace and freshness of the highlands as you walk along peaceful forest pathways and take in the sights. Stay at Galaha for the night.

Day

02

Trek from Galaha to Loolkandura / Explore local villages and hidden streams along the route / Experience early morning tea picking session / Overnight in Loolkandura area.

Walk through beautiful villages, secret waterways, and shady paths. Join a tea-picking session in the early morning to learn more about how tea is grown in the area. Spend the night in Loolkandura

Day

03

Trek from Loolkandura to Tawalantenne / Walk through scenic tea terraces and cloud draped hills / Afternoon guided meditation overlooking valleys / Overnight in Tawalantenne area.

Walk across beautiful tea terraces and hills covered in clouds. End the day with a guided meditation that looks out over wide valleys. This will help you relax and be more aware. Stay the night at Tawalantenne.

Day

04

Trek from Tawalantenne to Pundaluoya / Discover small waterfalls and natural springs / Engage in a mindful forest bathing session / Overnight in Pundaluoya area.

Check out little waterfalls, natural springs, and quiet trails through the woods. Take a mindful forest bath to totally connect with nature and refresh your body and mind. Pundaluoya for the night.

Day

05

Trek from Pundaluoya to Watagoda / Gentle highland walk with panoramic tea estate views / Afternoon tea tasting and wellness ritual / Overnight in Watagoda area.

Enjoy easy walks in the highlands with wide views of tea fields. Take part in a wellness and afternoon tea tasting, and learn about the cultural and taste significance of Ceylon tea. Stay the night in Watagoda

Day

06

Trek from Watagoda to Kotagala / Pass through working tea factories and rural hamlets / Afternoon hike to nearby viewpoints / Overnight in Kotagala area.

You will pass past operating tea factories and small villages, where you will see how people live. Finish the day with a trip to surrounding views, where photographers can get the best light for their pictures of the undulating hills. Kotagala for the night.

Day

07

Trek from Kotagala to Norwood (By Pass Hatton) / Experience the serene Knuckles foothills on a quiet forest trail / Evening mindfulness session / Overnight in Norwood area.

Take a peaceful walk in the Knuckles foothills on calm woodland routes. End the day with a mindfulness practice, taking in the views, sounds, and smells of the highland wilderness. Staying overnight in Norwood.

Day

08

Trek from Norwood to Bogawantalawa / Walk through shaded valleys and misty tea plantations / Optional sunset yoga / Overnight in Bogawantalawa area.

Hike across valleys with shade and tea plantations blanketed in mist. Optional sunset yoga helps you relax and feel more connected to nature. Staying in Bogawantalawa overnight.

Day

09

Trek from Bogawantalawa to Dayagama / Explore highland streams and endemic flora / Afternoon relaxation with mountain views / Overnight in Dayagama area.

See streams in the highlands, plants that only grow there, and pathways that haven’t been touched. Spend the afternoon relaxing with views of the mountains, which are great for thinking and taking pictures. Stay the night in Dayagama.

Day

10

Trek from Dayagama to Horton Plains National Park / Enter the plateau with grasslands and cloud forest / Sunset wellness and breathwork session / Overnight in Horton Plains area.

Get to the plateau of Horton Plains, which has wide-open meadows and cloud forests. End the day with a sunset health and breathing session that will refresh your body and mind. Stay overnight in Horton Plains

Day

11

Trek from Horton Plains to Udaweriya / Sunrise walk at World’s End / Explore cloud forest trails / Overnight in Udaweriya/Haputale area.

Start your day with a hike at World’s End, where you can see foggy valleys from all sides. Walk along the pathways in the cloud forest, where you’ll see native plants and birds. Stay the night in Udaweriya or Haputale.

Day

12

Trek from Udaweriya to Haputale / Visit tea estates and small mountain villages / Afternoon herbal wellness workshop / Overnight in Haputale area.

Visit small mountain villages and tea estates in the area to see how people live in the highlands. Join a herbal wellness session in the afternoon that combines traditional medicines with mindfulness exercises. Stay the night in Haputale

Day

13

Trek from Haputale to St. Catherine (Lipton’s Seat) / Scenic ridge walk with panoramic tea estate vistas / Mindful tea meditation at viewpoint / Overnight in St. Catherine area.

Take a walk up a beautiful ridge with views of tea estates all around. Finish with a mindful tea meditation at Lipton’s Seat, where you can think on the area and its tea history. Spend the night in St. Catherine.

Day

14

Trek from St. Catherine to Makulella / Traverse rolling highlands and remote tea trails / Afternoon forest bathing / Overnight in Makulella area.

Walk over secluded tea pathways and through rolling mountains. Take a dip in the forest in the afternoon to really connect with the beautiful surroundings. Stay the night in Makulella.

Day

15

Trek from Makulella to Ella / Pass through small waterfalls and lush plantations / Evening relaxation / Overnight in Ella area.

Walk by little waterfalls, tea plantations in the shade, and calm roads in the highlands. Evening free time in Ella, taking in the peaceful mountain views. Stay in Ella overnight.

Day

16

Trek from Ella to Demodara / Walk across iconic railway bridges and cloud draped valleys / Sunset meditation by the tracks / Overnight in Demodara area.

Walk across valleys covered in clouds and over famous train bridges. Meditating at sunset beside the tracks helps you be more aware of the ancient railway scenery around you. Demodara for the night.

Day

17

Trek from Demodara to Hali Ela / Explore lesser visited trails and tea groves / Afternoon tea tasting session / Overnight in Hali Ela area.

Check out less-traveled paths, tea orchards, and communities that are hard to get to. The afternoon tea tasting session shows off native delicacies and highland customs. Hali Ela for the night.

Day

18

Trek from Hali Ela to Ettampitiya / Forest walk along ridges and hidden streams / Optional evening wellness ritual / Overnight in Ettampitiya area.

Walk over slopes and hidden streams in the forest to see plants and animals that are only found there. The optional nighttime wellness ritual lets guests relax after a long day of hiking. Stay the night in Ettampitiya.

Day

19

Trek from Ettampitiya to Loonuwatte / Pass through endemic flora corridors and small farming villages / Afternoon guided relaxation session / Overnight in Loonuwatte area.

Go through little rural settlements and corridors of native plants. Take part in a guided relaxing session in the peaceful hills. Loonuwatte for the night.

Day

20

Trek from Loonuwatte to Uda Pussellawa / Explore hidden waterfalls and streams / Scenic highland sunset / Overnight in Uda Pussellawa area.

Find hidden waterfalls and dazzling streams along beautiful highland routes. Finish the day with a sunset over the valleys, which is great for taking pictures or thinking. Stay the night in Uda Pussellawa

Day

21

Trek from Uda Pussellawa to Kandapola / Walk along serene tea terraces and forest paths / Afternoon mindfulness tea tasting / Overnight in Kandapola area.

Take a peaceful walk via tea terraces and forest paths to see the quiet beauty of the highlands. Mindfulness tea tasting in the afternoon helps people think about their journey and connect with nature. In Kandapola for the night.

Day

22

Trek from Kandapola to Pedro Estate (Nuwara Eliya) / Final highland tea estate immersion and scenic hike / Sunset reflection and closing wellness session / Overnight in Pedro Estate area.

Finish the hike by going through beautiful mountain pathways and tea gardens. Finish the day with a sunset contemplation and a final wellness session to celebrate everything you have accomplished on the trip. Staying overnight in Nuwara Eliya’s Pedro Estate.

Day

23

Leaving

You will be taken to Bandaranaike International Airport or your next stop, which ends a life-changing trip through Sri Lanka’s mountains, tea fields, and wellness trails.

Inclusions

  • All ground transportation and private airport transfers.
  • 22 nights of lodging with breakfast and dinner included every day.
  • Guided hikes, fitness activities, and cultural events.
  • Fees to get into tea estates, views, and important places.
  • A guide who speaks English the whole time.

Exclusions

  • Airfare, visa costs, and travel insurance for trips abroad.
  • Meals that aren’t included and activities that are optional.
  • Tips, drinks, and other personal costs.
  • Camera permissions and charges that come up unexpectedly.
  • Lunch