The Pekoe Trail around Ella

The Pekoe Trail is a long-distance walking route through Sri Lanka's tea country, roughly 300 km in around 22 stages, opened in 2024 (all hedged; check the official route and stage list). It links Kandy and Nuwara Eliya on a long loop through the hill country, including Uva.

The Pekoe Trail mostly follows old estate roads, footpaths and village tracks once used to move tea and workers between estates and factories. It is waymarked, with route information and maps available online.

The name comes from pekoe, a grade of tea, and the route is as much about tea culture, estate villages and factories as it is about views.

Several Pekoe Trail stages pass through or near Ella, Demodara and Haputale (hedged; check which stages exactly). Around Ella, the route winds through tea estates, past factories and estate lines, through small villages and patches of forest, with views across the valleys and towards the Ella Gap.

The stages near Ella are less dramatic than Ella Rock or Little Adam's Peak, but far quieter, and they show a side of the hill country most visitors miss: working estates, temples and schools, and daily life on the slopes.

Some stages pass close to the railway, including near Demodara, offering views of trains and the line beyond the Nine Arch Bridge.

The Pekoe Trail near Ella also passes tea factories, some of which welcome visitors. Stopping for a look at the withering troughs or a cup of tea fresh from the factory adds a memorable break to a long stage.

A single Pekoe Trail stage near Ella makes a good day hike, usually roughly four to seven hours depending on length and terrain. Most walkers take a tuk-tuk or car to the start, walk the stage, and are collected at the end, or walk back into Ella if the stage finishes in town.

Check the official route information for the stage's distance, elevation and waymarking before you go, and download the route for offline use. Waymarking is generally good, but junctions in the tea can still confuse.

Lankan Stays & Trails arranges Pekoe Trail day walks with a guide and driver, timing the pickup at the end of the stage.

Walking several Pekoe Trail stages in a row, staying in guesthouses and estate bungalows along the way, is a satisfying way to see the hill country slowly. Around Ella, a few days might link Ella, Demodara and Haputale.

Multi-day walking needs more planning: accommodation at the end of each stage, luggage transfers by road, and flexibility for weather. Some operators offer supported walks.

The best season for walking near Ella is usually roughly January to March and the middle of the year, avoiding the wettest months of October to December.

Start early to walk in the cool morning and avoid afternoon showers. Carry plenty of water, snacks and sun protection, as shade varies and shops are few on some stretches.

Respect estate land and villages: keep to the path, do not pick tea, ask before photographing people and dress modestly. Estate dogs may bark but are usually harmless.

Leeches appear in wet weather; leech socks help.