Nuwara Eliya - Udapussellawa Road(edit)

TRAIL PASS: Now mandatory to walk this stage and can be purchased online at https://members.thepekoetrail.org/passes/create. Pekoe Trail Members are not required to buy a pass. If you would like to explore membership opportunities https://members.thepekoetrail.org IMPORTANT NOTE -The stage is walkable and signposted. Look out for orange circles with a white arrow. Trail users are advised to consider all the information available and to heed local advice when available. The services of a professional mountain guide are recommended. Trail users are responsible for all decisions as to the trail routes, trail conditions, weather, and safety. In addition to the hazards posed by steep terrain and mountain weather, hikers should be prepared for difficult route-finding and challenging trail conditions, dogs, leaches, heavy rain, intermittent thunderstorms, and plenty of sun. It is recommended to drink at least 1/2 litter of water per hour when hiking. Access to emergency medical care and rescue is not always immediately available. ----------------- DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE This is the final stage of The Pekoe Trail. Congratulations! Or perhaps it’s the first – if you are walking the trail in reverse – any way will do! The trail starts at Kandapola town, a small yet busy transit town located 14 km east of the regional capital Nuwara Eliya. Take the road directly opposite the Petrol Station, and stay on this road for close to 1.6 km where the trail peels off to the left, just in front of an old warehouse. Here’s where you leave the village behind and for the next 8 km the trail is on tea estate tracks. Do note that there is very little shade here and hence on a sunny day you’ll need protection from the sun. Likewise on a windy and rainy day the temperatures here can drop and you’ll need a warm layer and possibly a raincoat. We circle around the Courtlodge Tea Factory, one of the oldest tea estates in the region, established In 1890. The trail meanders peacefully up and down tea trails and through a remote village at the far end of the valley. The highest point of the trail is the 6.3 km mark; the elevation is 2108 meters above sea level. At the 9.1 km mark, we walk past the manager's bungalow and keep walking on lovely tea estates and gradually start descending at the 9.8 km mark look out for a small tea trail that peels off to the left and zig-zags down the mountain through lush tea fields. In front of us is the Pedro Estate Tea Factory, a very well-known estate and a factory sitting proudly overlooking the surrounding countryside. The Pedro Tea Factory is open for Factory visits – please check online for costs and times. Just before we peel off from the main trail, at the 6.8 km mark, there is a trail that leads to Lover’s Leap, a popular day excursion from Colombo. According to myth, Lovers Leap Waterfall is said to derive its name from the tragic tale of a prince, who while hunting in the jungle, lost his way. A beautiful damsel rescued him from the local village, and the two became inseparable lovers. But the match was not to the liking of the Eliya King and Queen, so the two decided to leap to their deaths, so they could be united forever. The iconic Pedro Tea Estate factory marks the end / or the start of the Pekoe Trail. The center of Nuwara Eliya town is a mere 3 km to the south. There is a bus stop, and there are also plenty of tuk-tuks to take you into town should you need local transport. Pedro Tea Estate offers a very interesting and comprehensive guided tour if you're interested. --PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR GARBAGE WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY GARBAGE OTHERS LEFT BEHIND TRY TO TAKE IT - EVEN IF JUST A BOTTLE OR A PLASTIC BAG, EVERY BIT COUNTS - THANK YOU. ----------------- The Pekoe Trail is designed to support development and livelihoods in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Buying goods and services from local businesses helps communities along the trail to thrive. The Pekoe Trail is made possible thanks to generous funding from the European Union with additional support from the US Agency for International Development.