Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Sri Lanka: Walking the Pekoe Trail through Tea Country
10 days from Colombo: six walking days on the Pekoe Trail from Kandy through Hatton, Horton Plains, Lipton's Seat at Haputale and the Nine Arch Bridge into Ella.
10 days · Round trip from Colombo · up to 12 guests
The Ella Gap, where the walk ends Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ella_Gap_(Valley),_Sri_Lanka.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Colombo
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Active
Six walking days of about 4 to 6 hours each, roughly 10 to 18 km, on estate roads, village paths and forest trails between about 500 m at Kandy and about 2,100 m on Horton Plains. Some steep climbs, notably to Lipton's Seat; no technical ground. The vehicle meets the group at every trailhead and end, so you can ride part or all of any stage. The optional Adam's Peak night climb is more than 5,000 steps.
- Meals included
- 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 655 (estimated price)
- Season
- January to April and July to September; never over the 13 to 15 April New Year
Highlights
Why this trip
- Pekoe Trail stage 1 from the Ceylon Tea Museum above Kandy, through the Hanthana estate to Galaha
- The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, staying for the evening ceremony
- Tea estates, Singamalai Lake and a rice and curry lunch on the walk from Kotagala to Norwood
- St Clair's Falls from the trail on the way to Nuwara Eliya
- Horton Plains at the 6 am gate, walking to World's End before the cloud comes in
- The morning climb through tea to Lipton's Seat above Haputale
- The hill train to Demodara, then walking to Ella past the Nine Arch Bridge
- Optional: a night climb of Adam's Peak for sunrise, January to April
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 655 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport to Colombo, about 35 km
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Colombo
- Drive about 1 h
Your trip starts at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake, about 35 km north of Colombo. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall for the drive of about an hour, mostly on the airport expressway, to your hotel in Colombo.
Evening
Long-haul flights land at all hours, so nothing is planned before the evening: sleep, swim, or walk to Viharamahadevi Park and the Colombo Public Library under its old rain trees, or along Galle Face Green, where families fly kites by the sea at sunset. At about 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a briefing on the walks ahead, with every stage length, drive time and early start spelled out, and a kit check for shoes and rain gear. Then we sit down together for a welcome dinner of rice and curry, hoppers and seafood at a local restaurant.
Included
- Pick-up at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
- Welcome briefing and kit check with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Kelaniya and up to Kandy
Colombo to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, then Kandy, about 120 km
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Kandy
- Drive about 3.5 h
We leave at about 8 am and stop first at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, about 10 km out of the city on the Kelani River, one of the most revered Buddhist temples near Colombo.
Morning
Its image house is painted with twentieth-century murals by Solias Mendis telling the life of the Buddha and the story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and in the early morning it is full of families bringing flowers.
Afternoon
Then we head inland and uphill, about three hours to Kandy, with a coffee stop on the way and a sit-down rice and curry lunch on arrival. Kandy, at about 500 metres, was the last royal capital until 1815 and its centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Evening
After a rest at the hotel we walk to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the late afternoon and stay for the evening ceremony of drums and offerings. The rest of the evening is free by Kandy Lake.
Included
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
- Sit-down lunch in Kandy
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, with the evening ceremony
Easier option: Watch the drummers from the hall below instead of joining the queue upstairs past the relic chamber, or rest at the hotel.
Free time: Evening free after the ceremony
Activity: Light clothing that covers shoulders and knees for both temples; shoes off at the door.
Pekoe Trail stage 1: Hanthana to Galaha
Kandy to the Ceylon Tea Museum at Hanthana, on foot to Galaha, back to Kandy
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Kandy
- Drive about 1 h
The Pekoe Trail starts on the hills just south of Kandy, and so do we. A short drive takes us to the Ceylon Tea Museum, set in the old Hantane tea factory of 1925, where machines that rolled and dried the leaf a century ago still stand on the factory floors. Then we walk. Stage 1 follows quiet estate roads and paths through the Hanthana estate, among the older tea gardens in the country, with shade trees over the bushes and views back down to Kandy. Further on the trail passes through small villages and line houses where estate families live, and drops toward Galaha.
Afternoon
Expect about 5 hours on foot with breaks, mostly downhill or level after the first climb, and a picnic lunch on the way.
Evening
Our vehicle meets us at Galaha for the drive of about 45 minutes back to Kandy, where the evening is free: the lake loop, the market, or a cultural dance show.
Included
- Ceylon Tea Museum at Hanthana
- Pekoe Trail stage 1, Hanthana to Galaha, with a local trail guide
- Picnic lunch on the trail
Optional experiences
- Kandyan dance show in the evening (paid locally)
Easier option: Visit the museum, walk the first estate section through Hanthana, about 2 hours, then ride the vehicle to Galaha.
Free time: Evening free in Kandy
Activity: About 5 hours on foot; a climb at the start, then mostly level and downhill. The museum is reported closed on Mondays and Poya days, and we plan the day around it.
Into the hills to Hatton
Kandy to Hatton via Gampola and Nawalapitiya, about 80 km
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Hatton
- Drive about 3 h
A slower day to let the legs recover. We leave Kandy at about 9 am and climb south-west through Gampola and Nawalapitiya along the Mahaweli valley, then up into tea country, about three hours with stops. The road winds through estates where tea pickers work the slopes, past waterfalls that run hardest after rain, and we stop at viewpoints rather than at shops.
Evening
Lunch is a sit-down rice and curry in Hatton, the market town of the Dickoya and Bogawantalawa tea districts at about 1,270 metres, cool enough for a jacket in the evening. The afternoon is free at the hotel, or take a short walk with your guide through the town and its busy market. Hatton's hotels and estate bungalows are spread out and restaurants are few, so dinner tonight and tomorrow is at the hotel. On January to April departures your guide also briefs anyone who wants to climb Adam's Peak.
Included
- Drive into tea country with viewpoint stops
- Sit-down lunch in Hatton
- Short town walk with your guide
- Dinner at the hotel
Free time: Afternoon free
Pekoe Trail stage 7: Kotagala to Norwood
Hatton to Kotagala, on foot to Norwood, back to Hatton
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Hatton
- Drive about 45 min
A short drive takes us to Kotagala to start stage 7 of the Pekoe Trail, a classic tea-country day of about 5 hours. The trail climbs out of the valley on estate paths, past the old Chrysler's Farm tea factory with its blue roof, then up into the hills for views over Hatton and the Dickoya valley.
Morning
On a clear morning you can see the cone of Adam's Peak on the skyline to the south-west. Tea pickers work the slopes with baskets on their backs from early morning, and the path drops past line houses and Hindu kovils to Singamalai Lake, the reservoir that supplies Hatton.
Afternoon
We finish near Norwood with a rice and curry lunch at a tea estate bungalow, then the vehicle takes us back to the hotel by mid-afternoon.
Evening
The rest of the day is free, and dinner is at the hotel.
Included
- Pekoe Trail stage 7, Kotagala to Norwood, with a local trail guide
- Rice and curry lunch at a tea estate bungalow
- Dinner at the hotel
Optional experiences
- Adam's Peak night ascent with a local guide, January to April departures only: leaves about 1:30 am on day 6, summit for sunrise, back by late morning (guide and transfer cost confirmed at booking)
Easier option: Walk the first hour to the viewpoints over Hatton, then ride the vehicle to lunch.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: About 5 hours on foot with a steady climb in the first half. Adam's Peak is more than 5,000 steps to 2,243 metres, 3 to 4 hours up in the dark; climbers ride to Nuwara Eliya on day 6 instead of walking.
Pekoe Trail stage 6 and on to Nuwara Eliya
Hatton to Kotagala, on foot to Watagoda past St Clair's Falls, then Nuwara Eliya
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Nuwara Eliya
- Drive about 1.5 h
Stage 6 links Kotagala and Watagoda, and we walk it eastward so it ends on the road to Nuwara Eliya. From Kotagala the trail follows estate roads and village paths along the valley, past a large banyan tree by a stream and through Holyrood estate. The highlight is St Clair's Falls, a broad twin cascade dropping through the tea, seen from the trail rather than the crowded roadside lay-by.
Afternoon
Expect about 4 to 5 hours on foot, with lunch on the way. At Watagoda railway station the vehicle meets us for the drive of about an hour through Nanu Oya and up to Nuwara Eliya, the old hill station at about 1,870 metres, with its red-brick post office, racecourse and Gregory Lake.
Evening
It is cold here at night. The evening is free, and anyone who climbed Adam's Peak in the night rides straight to the hotel for a long rest.
Included
- Pekoe Trail stage 6, Kotagala to Watagoda, with a local trail guide
- St Clair's Falls from the trail
- Lunch on the way
Easier option: Ride the vehicle to the St Clair's Falls viewpoint and walk the last section to Watagoda, about 1.5 hours.
Free time: Evening free in Nuwara Eliya
Activity: About 4 to 5 hours on foot, rolling with no long climbs. Adam's Peak climbers skip the walk and go straight to Nuwara Eliya.
Horton Plains at dawn, then Haputale
Nuwara Eliya to Horton Plains National Park, World's End on foot, then Haputale via Ohiya
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Haputale
- Drive about 3 h
Morning
We leave at about 5 am with a packed breakfast to be at the Horton Plains gate when it opens at 6 am. The plateau, at about 2,100 metres, is part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka World Heritage Site: open grassland, cloud forest and stunted trees hung with moss, often frosty at dawn in the dry months. The loop walk is about 9.5 km and 3 to 4 hours, out to World's End, where the escarpment drops roughly 870 metres to the tea estates below, and back by Baker's Falls. Cloud usually fills the view by mid-morning, which is why we go early. Sambar deer graze near the entrance.
Afternoon
Then we drive down through Ohiya and the Boralanda valley to Haputale, about two hours, for a sit-down lunch. Haputale sits on a ridge at about 1,430 metres with views to both sides, home for two nights, and the afternoon is free.
Included
- Horton Plains National Park at opening, with entry
- World's End and Baker's Falls loop with your guide
- Sit-down lunch in Haputale
Easier option: Walk to Little World's End and back, about 2 hours, and wait at the visitor centre.
Free time: Afternoon free in Haputale
Activity: About 9.5 km on rocky paths with gentle climbs; dawn is cold, so bring a warm layer and gloves. Plastic bags are checked at the gate.
Lipton's Seat on foot
Haputale to Dambatenne, on foot to Lipton's Seat and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Haputale
- Drive about 45 min
Lipton's Seat is the ridge above the Dambatenne estate where, the story goes, Thomas Lipton sat to look over the tea he bought here in the 1890s. We drive about 30 minutes from Haputale to the Dambatenne factory at about 6:30 am and walk up the estate road and paths through the tea, about 7 km and 2 to 2.5 hours, climbing to around 1,970 metres.
Morning
Pickers start work as we go, and on a clear morning the view at the top runs across the Uva hills and down to the southern plains; by late morning it is usually in cloud. Tea and roti from the stalls at the top, then we walk back down a different path to Dambatenne for a guided visit of the factory, built by Lipton, to see the leaf withered, rolled and dried.
Afternoon
Lunch is back in Haputale, and the afternoon is free.
Included
- Walk from Dambatenne to Lipton's Seat and back, with a local trail guide
- Lipton's Seat entry
- Dambatenne tea factory visit
- Sit-down lunch in Haputale
Optional experiences
- Adisham Bungalow, the stone monastery outside Haputale, in the afternoon (open on set days, paid locally)
Easier option: Ride the vehicle up to Lipton's Seat for the view and walk down through the tea, about 1.5 hours.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: About 14 km in all, 4 to 5 hours, with a steady climb of about 500 metres; down on estate paths that can be slippery after rain.
Train to Demodara, walk to Ella
Haputale to Demodara by train, Pekoe Trail stage 16 on foot to Ella, then Little Adam's Peak
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ella
- By train
Morning
After breakfast we take the hill train from Haputale with reserved seats, about an hour to an hour and a half through Bandarawela and down to Demodara, where the line loops under itself in a spiral. From Demodara we walk stage 16 of the Pekoe Trail, one of the shortest, about 3 hours, on village paths and through tea to the Nine Arch Bridge, the 1921 viaduct of stone and brick curving across a forested ravine. Your guide knows the train times, so you can watch one cross from the path above.
Afternoon
The trail goes on through the Ella Forest Reserve into Ella for a sit-down lunch. After a rest, we walk up Little Adam's Peak in the late afternoon, about 45 minutes through tea to a grassy ridge, for the light falling across the Ella Gap.
Evening
Tonight is the farewell dinner, the last evening together.
Included
- Reserved seats on the train from Haputale to Demodara
- Pekoe Trail stage 16, Demodara to Ella, past the Nine Arch Bridge
- Sit-down lunch in Ella
- Little Adam's Peak in the late afternoon
- Farewell dinner
Optional experiences
- Ayurvedic massage (paid locally)
Easier option: Skip Little Adam's Peak and take a tuk-tuk to the cafe viewpoints above the Ella Gap.
Free time: Early afternoon free in Ella
Activity: About 3 hours on foot, then 1.5 hours return for Little Adam's Peak. Stay back from the bridge edge and off the track; there are no railings. The train runs on a post-cyclone timetable confirmed with your itinerary, and if it is cancelled the vehicle drives you to Demodara.
Down from the hills to Colombo
Ella to Bandaranaike International Airport or Colombo via Wellawaya and the Southern Expressway, about 290 km
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 6 h
The last day is the long one. We leave Ella at about 7:30 am, drop through the Ella Gap past Ravana Falls to Wellawaya, then cross the southern lowlands to join the Southern Expressway for the run north to Colombo, about 290 km and six hours of driving. That is well over our four-hour cap.
Afternoon
There is no shorter road out of the hills, and the train is not an option while the Kandy to Nanu Oya line is closed after the cyclone, so we break the day with a coffee stop, a sit-down lunch and a stretch stop. We aim to reach Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) by about 3 pm.
Evening
Book a flight leaving after about 8 pm; many long-haul flights leave late in the evening. If you are staying on, we drop you at a Colombo hotel instead, and we can add a night in Colombo or Negombo before you fly.
Included
- Ravana Falls on the way down
- Sit-down lunch on the way
- Drop-off at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) or a Colombo hotel
Optional experiences
- An extra night in Colombo or Negombo (priced at booking)
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 8 pm; exact timings come with your final itinerary.
- Colombo1 night
- Kandy2 nights
- Hatton2 nights
- Nuwara Eliya1 night
- Haputale2 nights
- Ella1 night
- Colomboend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: January to April is the dry season on the western side of the hills around Hatton and Adam's Peak, with clear mornings and cool nights; it is also the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season. July to September is the south-west monsoon: expect showers and mist around Hatton and Horton Plains, while Haputale and Ella, on the Uva side in the rain shadow, are usually drier and windy. Mornings are clearest in every month, which is why the high walks start early. Horton Plains has sambar deer and endemic birds; leeches are common on wet trails.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Regular walkers who can manage 4 to 6 hours on foot several days running
- Travellers who want tea country and village life away from the main tourist circuit
- Walkers who want a hotel bed and a shower each night, not a campsite
- Solo travellers who want a small group and a single-room price shown up front
Not for you if you want
- Sigiriya, the ancient cities or a safari: see our Sri Lanka Highlights or the 8-day Sigiriya, Kandy and Ella trip
- A beach holiday: the trip stays in the hills
- Travellers who cannot walk for several hours on uneven paths, although the vehicle is there on every stage
- Anyone wanting the full multi-week Pekoe Trail end to end
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
9 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Colombo1 night
- Kandy2 nights
- Hatton2 nights
- Nuwara Eliya1 night
- Haputale2 nights
- Ella1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 9 nights: 1 in Colombo, 2 in Kandy, 2 in or near Hatton, 1 in Nuwara Eliya, 2 in Haputale and 1 in Ella
- Central hotels of at least a 3-star-plus standard, no camping; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms with a lift or on the ground floor flagged when we confirm your hotels, as many hill hotels have long stairs
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) on day 1, and drop-off there or at a Colombo hotel on day 10
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver, with seats to spare, at every trailhead and walk end
- Luggage moved by the vehicle while you walk
- Reserved seats on the train from Haputale to Demodara, with the vehicle as backup
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from arrival to departure
- Licensed local trail guides on the Pekoe Trail stages and at Lipton's Seat
- Local guide for the optional Adam's Peak climb (paid as part of the option)
Activities
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, with the evening ceremony
- Ceylon Tea Museum at Hanthana
- Pekoe Trail stage 1, Hanthana to Galaha
- Pekoe Trail stage 7, Kotagala to Norwood
- Pekoe Trail stage 6, Kotagala to Watagoda, with St Clair's Falls
- Horton Plains National Park, World's End and Baker's Falls, with entry
- The walk to Lipton's Seat and the Dambatenne tea factory
- The hill train from Haputale to Demodara
- Pekoe Trail stage 16, Demodara to Ella, with the Nine Arch Bridge
- Little Adam's Peak in Ella
- All entrance fees for included sights
Meals
- 9 breakfasts (one packed, for Horton Plains)
- 9 lunches, on days 2 to 10: sit-down, at a tea estate bungalow or a trail picnic
- 4 dinners: welcome dinner in Colombo, two at the hotel in Hatton and a farewell dinner in Ella
Not included
- International flights to and from Colombo
- Sri Lanka ETA or visa
- Travel insurance, which must cover hill walking
- Lunch on day 1, and dinners in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Haputale
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, driver and local trail guides
- Optional activities such as the Adam's Peak climb, a dance show or a massage
- Walking boots, poles and rain gear
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 655 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Prices in these answers apply from Jan 1, 2027. Black Friday offer: 7% off the small-group price for requests received by Dec 1, 2026. From CAD 3,180 per person. Dec 2 to Dec 31: from CAD 3,285. From Jan 1, 2027: from CAD 3,420.
What does the price include?
Nine nights in central hotels, 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 4 dinners, airport transfers both ways, our own vehicle at every trailhead with your luggage moved for you, reserved train seats from Haputale to Demodara, a See Sight Tours guide throughout with local trail guides, and every entry on the plan, including the Temple of the Tooth and Horton Plains National Park.
What is the Pekoe Trail?
A long-distance walking route of about 300 km through Sri Lanka's tea country, opened in 2023 and 2024 and following old estate roads and paths between Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella. This trip walks four of its stages, plus Horton Plains and Lipton's Seat, over six days, choosing the sections with the best views and village life.
How fit do I need to be?
Fit enough to walk 4 to 6 hours a day, roughly 10 to 18 km, on several days running, with some steep climbs such as the 500 metres up to Lipton's Seat. The paths are not technical. Our vehicle meets the group at every trailhead and end, so on any day you can ride part of the stage instead.
How big is the group?
Between 7 and 12 guests. That fits one vehicle with seats to spare and one table at lunch, keeps the group together on narrow estate paths and lets a trail guide and your See Sight Tours guide walk at the front and back.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the airport on day 1 to the airport on day 10. Licensed local trail guides walk the Pekoe Trail stages and Lipton's Seat with us. We send your guide's name with your final itinerary.
I'm travelling solo. Do I pay more?
Only if you want a room of your own, which is CAD 655 more, shown before you book with no surprise later. Everything else is the same as for guests who share a room: the same seats, meals, guides and walks.
When is the best time to walk the Pekoe Trail?
January to April is driest around Hatton and Horton Plains and is the Adam's Peak season. July to September is drier on the Haputale and Ella side but brings showers and mist around Hatton. We run in both windows and avoid the 13 to 15 April New Year. Mornings are clearest all year, so the high walks start early.
Can I climb Adam's Peak on this trip?
Yes, on January to April departures, as an option from Hatton. You leave at about 1:30 am with a local guide, climb more than 5,000 steps to the 2,243-metre summit for sunrise, and are back by late morning. Climbers ride to Nuwara Eliya the next day instead of walking. It is not offered from July to September.
How does booking work?
You request to book: pick your start date and style, and we confirm your trip within 24 hours. No payment is taken until then. The small group starts from CAD 3,420 per person sharing, taxes included, and the private trip from CAD 6,155.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The private trip is your party only, with your own guide, vehicle and driver, on a date you choose, from CAD 6,155 per person. If you would rather walk independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, trail guides and transfers.
Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Most visitors do. Apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you fly, through the official Sri Lankan government site. Fees and free-visa schemes change, so check the rule for your passport when you book, and make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after arrival.
Why is the last day so long?
Ella to Colombo is about 290 km and six hours by road, and there is no shorter way while the Kandy to Nanu Oya railway is closed after Cyclone Ditwah. We break it with a coffee stop, a sit-down lunch and a stretch stop, and aim to reach the airport by about 3 pm. We can add a night in Colombo if you prefer.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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