The Pekoe Trail is a 300km long distance walking trail that follows a looped path through the Central Highland area of Sri Lanka.

It is set out in 22 separate but continous stages. These allows hikers to join and depart at stage points thus encouraging visitors to undertake a manageable smaller section if they aren’t a die hard hiking type. The intention is for people to experience first hand the different terrain, the culture and the local lifestyle and communities. We had included one such stage in our schedule whilst staying at the wonderful Thotologala hotel in Haputale. In the end I undertook the trail with our allocated guide alone.

The trail starts in the second city – Kandy – and then proceeds to traverse the central highland area passing through hilltowns, plantations, viewpoints, rainforest and other points of cultural interest. It is intended to put the visitor in the heart of Sri Lankan life but also encourage sustainable travel.

For full detail see thepekoetrail

I walked stage 13 – Haputale to St Catherines ( 9 miles) – and would welcome the chance to return and do more.

Half way through the hike, my guide suggested a rest break. He had local produce for us to snack on, Sri lanka orange, banana, rambutan and a toasted chick peas. To drink, of course we had tea! This was my hike day “first’. Tea served fresh using the leaves in a coconut shell cup. Apparently a coconut has a male and a female end – the male end is needed to serve the liquid. Remarkably, it is easy to hold a coconut cup – the heat does not bleed through like our paper disposable cups. It is also easy to strain the tea with your teeth by biting on the side of the cup when drinking.

Next…. from walking to train riding.