Sri Lanka’s Gift to the World’s Hiking Trail

The 300KM Journey of a Lifetime Hiking Trail Through Sri Lanka’s Tea Country

Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail is a 300-kilometre long-distance hiking trail winding through the island’s breathtaking Central Highlands.

What Special about is, the trail is fast becoming one of the world’s most celebrated trekking destinations.

Whether you walk the full route or explore it in stages, this trail promises an unforgettable experience through tea plantations, rural villages, misty mountains, lush valleys, and river crossings.

What Is the Pekoe Trail?

The Pekoe Trail spans 300 kilometres across Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, divided into 22 stages.

The route connects iconic destinations including Kandy, Hatton, Horton Plains, Haputale, Ella, and Nuwara Eliya, offering hikers a deeply immersive journey through Sri Lanka’s world-famous tea country.

Hikers can begin the trail at any stage and travel at their own pace, discovering diverse landscapes and weather patterns along the way.

Why Is It Called the “Pekoe” Trail?

The trail is named after Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP) — one of the finest grades of Ceylon Tea, prized globally for its use in breakfast tea blends.

Founder Miguel Cunat chose the name to honour the trail’s deep connection to Sri Lanka’s tea plantation heritage, as the route passes almost entirely through estate lands that have cultivated Ceylon Tea for over a century.

The Founder’s Vision: Miguel Cunat

The Pekoe Trail was created by Miguel Cunat, a Spain-born entrepreneur who has called Sri Lanka home since 2003.

After more than a decade of planning, testing, and refining the route, Cunat launched Sri Lanka’s first nationally recognized long-distance hiking trail.

His motivation? Despite Sri Lanka’s extraordinary landscapes and an extensive network of historic estate paths, no dedicated hiking trail existed to connect them.

“The goal is to encourage visitors to experience Sri Lanka more slowly, interact with communities, and appreciate nature and culture.” — Miguel Cunat

Why the Pekoe Trail Is a Model for Sustainable Tourism

The Pekoe Trail is built around sustainable, community-based tourism — a key reason for its global recognition. Here’s how it works:

Existing pathways: The trail follows historical routes through villages, tea estates, forests, and across bridges built decades ago for local use — minimizing environmental impact.

Local economic benefit: Hikers stay in small guesthouses, often family-run with just one or two rooms, purchase meals from local boutiques and roadside eateries, hire local guides, and use tuk-tuks for short transfers.

Community-first spending: Every rupee spent on the trail goes directly into local communities — not large tourism corporations.

This model ensures that hiking the Pekoe Trail is not just an adventure — it’s an act of responsible travel.

Scenic Highlights Along the Pekoe Trail

Hikers on the Pekoe Trail can expect:

• Rolling tea plantations stretching across misty hillsides
• Pristine waterfalls and river crossings
• Historic colonial-era bridges
• Remote villages rarely visited by mainstream tourists
• Spectacular mountain vistas across Horton Plains and the Hill Country
• Diverse wildlife and flora in protected forest zones

Whether you complete all 22 stages or choose a few, the scenery is nothing short of magical.

International Awards and Recognition

The Pekoe Trail has earned prestigious global recognition:

• 🏆 2023 — British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW): “Best Wider World Tourism Project” — the first time Sri Lanka has ever won this award.
• 🌍 2024 — National Geographic “Best of the World” — featured among the world’s most compelling travel destinations.

These accolades reflect the trail’s rare combination of natural beauty, cultural depth, and sustainable travel principles.

The Pekoe Trail Is for Sri Lankans Too

A core message from Miguel Cunat is that the Pekoe Trail isn’t just for international visitors.

He actively encourages Sri Lankans to explore their own country on foot.

Discover regions, communities, and cultures that many locals have never experienced despite living on the island are on the cards for the ones taking charge.