The Island by Foot
Discover Sri Lanka’s Hidden Trails
Sri Lanka is not just to be seen, it is to be walked, felt, and breathed in. With Globeenjoy, explore the legendary Pekoe Trail and other breathtaking hiking routes that wind through tea estates, cloud forests, and timeless villages. Every step uncovers the island’s natural beauty and cultural heartbeat.
The Pekoe Trail
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Sinharaja is the last surviving primary rainforest of Sri Lanka. Trekking here is stepping into a living library of biodiversity: endemic birds flashing in the canopy, rare orchids blooming in the mist, and streams weaving through emerald undergrowth. Globeenjoy organizes guided treks led by local naturalists, ensuring that trails are respected and communities are supported.
The Pekoe Trail: Sri Lanka’s 300-km Journey through Tea, Hills & Heritage
The Pekoe Trail is Sri Lanka’s first long-distance hiking route, carved through the central highlands, tea plantations, misty forests, and remote villages. More than just a hike, it is a living experience of culture, landscape, history, and sustainable travel.
What is the Pekoe Trail?
Length and Structure: The Pekoe Trail spans approximately 300 kilometres (≈186 miles). It is divided into 22 stages ranging from about 8 km to 19 km each.
Route: The route begins near Kandy (at Hanthana / Ceylon Tea Museum area) and winds south through the hill country, tea estates, forest reserves, viewpoints, villages, ending near Pedro Estate in Nuwara Eliya.
Elevation & Terrain: You'll pass through altitudes with climbs and descents, walking through tea garden roads, estate tracks, forested sections, old colonial roads, ridges, ridgelines, and sometimes steep slopes. Some stages are more challenging, others more moderate.
History & Origins
Tea Estate Origins: The Trail’s paths were partly formed from colonial-era estate roads originally built by the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries to move tea, workers, and goods between plantations, factories, and railway lines. These old routes often served as informal walking paths for estate workers.
Creation & Formalization: The Pekoe Trail was conceived by Miguel Cunat, a long-time resident of Sri Lanka, who after years of exploring, mapping, negotiating with tea estates, surveying old paths, thought to stitch together many of these tracks into a single continuous trail.
Institutional Support & Sustainability: The trail is maintained by The Pekoe Trail Organisation (TPTO), a nonprofit established in April 2024 following Sri Lanka’s Tourism Resilience Project, with support from the European Union (EU), USAID, and others. Its mission is not just hiking, but sustainable tourism, community empowerment, heritage protection, and environmental care.
Why the Pekoe Trail is Beautiful and Unique
Spectacular Tea Country Landscapes: Rolling hills carpeted with tea, fog and mist drifting among the slopes, vibrant green terraces, and lush plantations with panoramic views.
Changing Ecosystems: From higher montane cloud forests (fog, moss, ferns) to valleys, rivers, waterfalls, village farmland, glimpses of forest reserves. Diversity of flora & fauna along the way.
Local Culture & Tea Heritage: The trail passes through estate worker villages, old estate bungalows, factories, colonial histories, paths used by generations of tea pluckers (many of Indian Tamil origin). Interaction with locals is integral. You see the real working tea estates, not just photo-spots.
Historical Roads & Hidden Routes: You will walk along old cart roads and colonial estate pathways (for example Dimbula Road in Stage 3), often long forgotten, now restored to facilitate hiking.
When to Hike: Best Seasons & Considerations
Best Months: December to April and July to September are considered the most favourable periods for hiking much of the trail. Dry conditions are more likely, though highlands can get rain any time.
Weather Variability: The hill country’s weather is unpredictable—morning fog, sudden showers are common. Muddy and slippery tracks are possible. In warmer months, some stages have less shade.
Stages Difficulty: Some stages are easy to moderate; others quite strenuous depending on elevation change and remoteness. Travelers should pick stages according to fitness, time, and comfort. It is possible to do day walks (one or two stages per day) rather than the full trail.
Practical Information: Planning Your Trek
How to Do It:
You can walk the entire Pekoe Trail over many days (staying in guesthouses, homestays, or eco-lodges along the route),
or choose shorter sections near towns (e.g. around Ella, Haputale, Kandy) if you have less time.
Accommodation & Food: There are guesthouses, small hotels, and homestays at ends of many sections. But in more remote stages, options are limited—book ahead. It’s wise to confirm lodging availability, and carry some snacks or water for more isolated stretches.
Navigation & Support:
Use the official Pekoe Trail app, or apps like AllTrails or Wikiloc, for maps, trail passes, updates, and navigation.
Trail signage has been installed in many stages. In some parts, trails may be less marked, carry a map and follow local advice.
Permits or Fees: Currently the trail is free to hike, but plans are underway for a trail pass (maybe ~US$10 per person per stage) to help fund maintenance. Use of passes is expected to be on an honesty basis.
What to Bring:
Good trekking shoes with grip
Rain gear (light waterproof jacket)
Sun protection: hat, sunscreen
Water, snacks
First-aid basics, insect repellent, leech socks (if hiking rainforest sections)
Lightweight backpack, camera/binoculars for views & wildlife
Layers: mornings and evenings can be cool at higher elevations
Why a Traveller Should Visit the Pekoe Trail
Authentic & Off the Beaten Path Experience: Unlike busy cultural heritage sites, the Pekoe Trail offers solitude, discovery, nature and culture without heavy crowds. You connect more deeply with people, land, tea heritage.
Diversity of Scenery & Physical Challenge: Each stage offers different landscapes—every day may bring new vistas: misty peaks, waterfalls, forest canopies, rivers, ridges, plantations. It satisfies both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers.
Tea & Culture Immersion: If you love tea, history, colonial architecture, and local traditions, this trail brings you close to the working tea industry—tea factories, plantations, and estates where generations have lived.
Support for Sustainable & Responsible Travel: Walking the Pekoe Trail supports local economies, conservation, cultural preservation. It embodies eco-tourism – low impact, high reward.
Trail’s Prestige & Global Recognition: Already recognized by outlets like National Geographic, Time’s World’s Greatest Places, and others for its natural beauty and sustainable model. Visiting it puts you on a rising, well-curated hiking path.
Knuckles Mountain Range
The Knuckles Mountain Range, named for its resemblance to a clenched fist when viewed from certain angles, is one of Sri Lanka’s most breathtaking and bio-diverse landscapes. Recognized as part of the Central Highlands UNESCO World Heritage Site, this mountain wilderness offers a blend of natural beauty, rare wildlife, ancient villages, and hiking adventures that make it one of the island’s must-visit eco-destinations.
Location & Geography
Situated in the Central Province (extending across Kandy and Matale districts).
The range covers an area of about 155 square kilometers, with altitudes ranging between 300 to 1,900 meters.
The highest peak, Gombaniya, reaches 1,906 meters, offering sweeping views of valleys, rivers, and distant peaks.
The mountains create their own weather patterns, often shrouded in mist and clouds, giving them a mystical aura.
Why It’s Special – UNESCO World Heritage Status
The Knuckles are part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, inscribed by UNESCO in 2010. This recognition comes from its:
High Biodiversity: Over 34% of Sri Lanka’s endemic flora and fauna can be found here.
Endemic Species: Unique reptiles, amphibians, and birds thrive only in these cloud forests.
Rare Ecosystems: Includes montane cloud forests, pygmy forests, savanna grasslands, waterfalls, and rivers.
Cultural Heritage: Ancient villages within the range still preserve traditional farming, paddy fields, and rituals, unchanged for centuries.
The Beauty of the Knuckles Range
Misty Forest Trails: Walk through moss-covered forests, bamboo groves, and fern-lined paths.
Waterfalls & Streams: The range is the source of major rivers like the Mahaweli; hikers will encounter countless streams and hidden cascades.
Scenic Views: On clear days, panoramic vistas stretch from the hill country to the lowlands, sometimes even as far as Trincomalee’s coast.
Flora & Fauna: Orchids, medicinal plants, cloud forest trees, and wildlife like purple-faced leaf monkeys, barking deer, and endemic bird species including the Sri Lanka bush warbler.
Hiking & Trekking in the Knuckles
The Knuckles are a paradise for hikers, with trails suited for both casual walkers and experienced trekkers.
Popular Trails & Experiences
Knuckles Five Peaks Hike
A challenging trek covering the five major peaks of the range.
Demands stamina but rewards with some of the best panoramic views in Sri Lanka.
Mini World’s End (Deanston)
A shorter hike leading to a dramatic escarpment with sweeping views.
Ideal for half-day hikes and less experienced walkers.
Meemure Village Trail
Takes hikers to the remote Meemure village, often called Sri Lanka’s most beautiful traditional settlement.
Experience traditional village life, paddy fields, and waterfalls.
Nitro Caves Trek
Leads to limestone caves historically used by locals.
Unique mix of nature, history, and adventure.
Dothalugala Trail
Rich in birdlife, cloud forest vegetation, and viewing points.
When to Visit – Best Seasons
Best time: December to April (dry season with clearer skies).
Avoid: October–November (monsoon season with heavy rains).
May to September: Possible but expect occasional rain and mist.
Why Travelers Should Explore Knuckles with Globeenjoy
Sustainable Travel: We ensure eco-friendly trekking, minimal waste, and respect for wildlife.
Local Connections: Meet and learn from village communities, farmers, and forest guardians.
Tailor-Made Treks: Options from day hikes to multi-day trekking expeditions with camping.
Perfect for Europeans & Nature Lovers: A unique mix of Alpine-like scenery in the tropics, cultural immersion, and pristine wilderness.
Knuckles Mountain Range is not just a trek, it is a journey into Sri Lanka’s heart of mist, mountains, and memory. With Globeenjoy, every step is guided, every view enriched, and every journey unforgettable.
Horton Plains & World’s End – Sri Lanka’s Misty Wilderness Plateau
Perched high in Sri Lanka’s central highlands at an altitude of over 2,100 meters, Horton Plains National Park is one of the island’s most enchanting landscapes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site forms part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and is best known for its unique montane ecosystem, rare wildlife, and the breathtaking viewpoint of World’s End, where the plateau suddenly plunges nearly 880 meters to the lowlands below.A visit to Horton Plains is not just a hike, it is a journey through pristine wilderness, mystical cloud forests, and sweeping grasslands that few places in the tropics can offer.
Location & Geography
Situated in the Central Province, about 32 km from Nuwara Eliya.
The plateau sits at 2,100–2,300 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest plateaus in Sri Lanka.
The park spans 3,160 hectares of protected land and is the headwaters for three of Sri Lanka’s major rivers: the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe.
The landscape alternates between open grasslands, cloud forests, marshes, and rocky outcrops, creating a patchwork of ecosystems.
History & UNESCO Recognition
Declared a national park in 1988, Horton Plains was originally a hunting ground during British colonial rule, named after Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, a British governor of Ceylon.
In 2010, Horton Plains became part of the Central Highlands UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and ecological importance.
The plateau has been a sacred landscape for centuries, with ancient Sinhalese kings and pilgrims considering it a mystical and spiritual place.
The Beauty of World’s End
World’s End: The park’s most famous feature, a dramatic escarpment where the land drops sharply by nearly 880 meters, offering panoramic views that, on clear mornings, stretch all the way to the southern coastline.
Mini World’s End: A smaller, yet still spectacular viewpoint with a 270-meter drop, easier to access for less experienced hikers.
The hike to World’s End is best done at sunrise, as mist often blankets the view later in the morning.
Flora & Fauna – A Biodiversity Hotspot
Horton Plains is one of Sri Lanka’s most important biodiversity reserves, home to a wealth of endemic species.
Flora: Cloud forests with gnarled trees, mosses, lichens, and orchids. Grasslands rich in rare plants, including medicinal herbs unique to this ecosystem.
Mammals: The Sri Lankan sambar deer is the most commonly sighted. Other residents include purple-faced langurs, rusty-spotted cats, fishing cats, and occasionally leopards.
Birds: Over 90 bird species, including endemics like the Sri Lanka whistling thrush, yellow-eared bulbul, and Sri Lanka wood pigeon.
Reptiles & Amphibians: Many rare lizards and frogs, some found nowhere else on earth.
This makes Horton Plains a paradise for birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and nature lovers.
Other Highlights Within Horton Plains
Baker’s Falls: A beautiful waterfall named after British explorer Sir Samuel Baker, reached via a forested trail.
Kirigalpoththa Mountain (2,388 m): The second-highest peak in Sri Lanka, accessible through a challenging hike starting in the park.
Thotupola Kanda (2,357 m): The third-highest peak, with a relatively moderate climb, rewarding trekkers with panoramic views.
Hiking at Horton Plains
Main Circular Trail: The most popular trek is a 9.5 km loop (taking 3–4 hours), passing through grasslands, forests, World’s End, Mini World’s End, and Baker’s Falls.
Difficulty Level: Moderate—suitable for most travelers with average fitness. Trails are well-marked but can be slippery in wet weather.
Altitude: The cool climate (average 16°C, dropping to near 0°C at night) makes hiking comfortable compared to lowland heat.
Best Time to Visit
December to April: The clearest skies, ideal for World’s End views.
July to September: Another good season, though mornings can still be misty.
Avoid October–November due to heavy rains and low visibility.
Tip: Arrive at the park entrance by 6:00 AM to maximize the chance of a clear view at World’s End.
Ella to Nine Arches Bridge
A shorter, scenic trail weaving past tea plantations to the iconic railway bridge, a postcard-perfect journey into Sri Lanka’s hill country.
The Globeenjoy Difference Sustainable Wild Journeys
What sets Globeenjoy apart is not just the destinations, but the philosophy behind them. Every wildlife safari is guided with conservation ethics. Every hike employs local guides who know the land intimately. Every Eco-lodge chosen reduces plastic, embraces solar energy, and supports village livelihoods.Wildlife and nature are not backdrops for tourism, they are living treasures, entrusted to us with care. Guests are not passive spectators but conscious travellers, part of a new era where adventure and sustainability go hand in hand.
