Nuwara Eliya Hiking: Explore Little England| The Pekoe Trail

The ‘City of light’

Explore Nuwara Eliya

Nestled in the heart of the central highlands

Often referred to as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, this bustling hill station is nestled in the heart of the central highlands in the shadow of the island's tallest mountain, Pidurutalagala.

Nuwara Eliya, which means ‘City of Light’, once served as a cool-climate escape for the British and Scottish pioneers of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Today the town is a favourite holiday destination among local tourists who seek out the cooler temperatures, especially during the warmer months of April and May.

The aesthetic of this once charming hill station is changing as the town is developing rapidly. Despite these recent developments, there is still a living heritage in Nuwara Eliya worth exploring. Colonial - era bungalows, tea plantations, manicured gardens, and carefully tended vegetable plots make it an interesting stopover town.

There’s an abundance of places to visit for sightseeing in Nuwara Eliya. Nature lovers and bird watchers will find some of the best hikes in Nuwara Eliya in the nearby Galway Lands National Park, Moon Plains, and Hakgala Botanical Gardens ideal for spotting endemic and migrant birds, as well as smaller mammals like the barking deer.

Stages of The Pekoe Trail accessible from Nuwara Eliya

Stage 18
Stage 19
Stage 20
Stage 21
Stage 22

Attractions to explore along The Trail

Experience the very best of these unique attractions in the heart of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. Visit tea factories and learn how world famous Ceylon tea is grown or visit ancient cave sites steeped in myths and legends.

Ettampitiya tea factory

A colonial - era tea factory found within the Ettampitiya tea estate.

Wellawela hydropower plant

A small hydropower plant located close to the Wellawela bridge along the Uma Oya, a tributary of Sri Lanka’s longest river, the Mahaweli.

Pedro Estate Tea Factory

A colonial - era tea factory on the Pedro estate, home to the first tea bushes planted by James Taylor. You can still find some of the original 19th century tea processing machinery from this factory established in 1885.

Sthripura Caves

Sthripura cave is steeped in Ramayana folklore. The site consists of a series of three caves, and most areas are high enough to stand and walk through.

Top Attractions in Nuwara Eliya

Experience the very best of these unique attractions in Nuwara Eliya. Go birdwatching in a National Park, hike through Sri Lanka’s cloud forest or go off the beaten path exploring hidden waterfalls.

Horton Plains

Walk amongst tree ferns and marvel at a vibrant forest canopy of montane trees characterised by their slender trunks and gnarled branches festooned with an array of mosses, lichens, and orchids. Horton Plains blends a high degree of diversity and abundance of plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth. Historically this park has undergone significant changes due to human influences. The grasslands are believed to be a result of seasonal burning over centuries. With the arrival of the British colonists, the environment was further impacted by cultivation of tea, hunting, and by the introduction of invasive plants and freshwater fish.

Hakgala Botanical Gardens

Take a scenic walk through an impressive array of local, regional, and exotic flowering plant species such as roses, orchids, ferns, succulents, and trees including cedars and giant cypresses. Sri Lanka’s second largest botanical garden lies under the shadow of the Hakgala Rock (meaning ‘Elephant’s jaw rock’) and is found next to the Hakgala Nature Reserve.

Lover’s Leap Waterfall

A leisurely walk through tea gardens and forested pathways takes you to this spluttering waterfall. Enjoy the cool spray from the gushing water at the base of this fall or sit among the boulders and enjoy a birds eye view of Nuwara Eliya town from the edge of the rock face.

Galway's Land National Park

A smaller and lesser-known national park made up of a dense patch of montane forest. The park is renowned for its birdlife, including endemic and migrant species, as well as smaller mammals and lizards.

Immersive Experiences

Experience the very best of what Nuwara Eliya has to offer. Play a spot of golf, take a tea factory tour or indulge in some high tea at a colonial-era hotel.

Golfing with a pro

Play a round of golf in one of the oldest golf clubs in Asia founded by the British planters who cultivated the first tea plantations in the Nuwara Eliya district.

Courtlodge Tea Factory Tour

Learn about the history of high grown Ceylon tea and sample the aromatic flavours and blends on a tailor-made tea factory tour at an elevation above 2,000 metres.

Waldemar Estate Tour

Learn about the history of high grown Ceylon tea and sample the aromatic flavours and blends on a tailor-made tour at the Waldemar Estate in Udapussellawa.

High tea experiences at colonial - era hotels

Take a break from sightseeing and indulge in a high tea experience at one of the many colonial-era hotels in Nuwara Eliya. Most menus are likely to offer the finest Ceylon tea paired with delicious platters of sweet and savoury eats.

Other cities to Visit

Explore these charming hill country towns and cities which The Pekoe Trail passes through.

Kandy

Famed for sacred Buddhist sites like the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Embekke Devalaya, Gadaladeniya Viharaya and more, this bustling city is also well-known for its botanical gardens which is home to some of the rarest flora and fauna in the island.

EXPLORE MORE

Haputale

This small town is located in the Badulla district and is perched on the south-end of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Often shrouded in mist, this charming hill town boasts spectacular views that are not to be missed on a clear day.

EXPLORE MORE

Hatton

Often referred to as the tea capital of the hill country, Hatton is a busy city with lots to see and experience. Get your hiking boots ready to explore the tea estates, waterfalls and colonial bungalows in this city.

EXPLORE MORE

Ella

A hip hill town that’s not to be missed on your visit to the hill country. Spend your day hiking in forested areas surrounding the town and then head out for a night in town to wind down and enjoy the nightlife.

EXPLORE MORE