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The Pekoe Trail: Stage 18

Hali Ela ⇌ Ettampitiya
A challenging hike through remote tea country

STAGE IS CLOSED – Stage is officially closed due to safety or entrance restrictions.
STAGE NOT YET OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED – not fully audited for signage and trail conditions, not actively maintained.
STAGE IS OPEN – signage in place and trail conditions actively monitored.

Beginning in the town of Hali Ela, a remote part of Sri Lanka’s tea country, you can expect to walk along village roads flanked by paddy cultivations, Buddhist temples, and local village homes on this stage of the trail. The trail also passes through a mix of cultivated land, small winding roads, tea estates, tea sheds, and small gurgling streams.

Key Points

  • Tea trails

  • Dickwella Tea Factory

  • Spectacular views

  • Buddhist temples

  • Paddy fields

Stage 18
Trail information
Distance :
13.96km
Difficulty :
Difficult
Elevation Gain :
706 m
Elevation Loss :
215 m
Max Elevation :
1,257 m

One of the highlights of the trail includes the iconic Dickwella Tea Factory where you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the rolling hills and valley below you. The stage ends in the Ettampitiya town.

Top attractions along Stage 18 of The Pekoe Trail

Explore the best attractions and points of interest from Hali Ela to Ettampitiya.
Bogoda Old Bridge
A unique wooden bridge of historical importance built over 400 years ago. The bridge is made entirely of wooden planks with no visible nails.
Ettampitiya fortress
Ruins of a foundation believed to have once been a Portuguese fort.
Halaba Bridge
A seemingly mysterious bridge over the Uma Oya in the Halaba area. The bridge was constructed during the British colonial-era entirely of iron with arches at the top, indicating that it may have been designed to be used as a bridge for railways.
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Immersive experiences around Hali Ela and Ettampitiya

Go off the beaten path with these unique experiences: visiting tea estates and temples.
Dickwella tea factory
Dickwella tea factory
Visit a colonial-era tea factory built in 1928 and taste high grown blends from the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country.
Visit the Sri Bambarama temple
Visit the Sri Bambarama temple
A Buddhist temple in Hali Ela with a pagoda, shrine room, paintings and statues.
Visit the Sri Bambarama temple
Visit the Sri Sambodhi Vivekashramaya,Keeriyagolla temple
A Buddhist temple close to Dickwella.
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Other Stages to Explore

Viiew of the Nine Arches Bridge along the Pekoe Trail Stage 16: Ella - Demodara
Stage 16 - Ella to Demodara
Today’s hike is one of the shortest and most popular stages of The Pekoe Trail...
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The Pekoe Trail route for stage 17 - Demodara to Hali Ela
Stage 17 - Demodara to Hali Ela
This stage begins at one of the most scenic train stations in the hill country...
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Stage 19 - Ettampitiya to Lunuwatte
This stage begins in Ettampitiya, a small, yet busy town deep in Sri Lanka’s tea country...
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Stage 20 - Lunuwatte to Uda Pussellawa
This stage begins in the small hill town of Lunuwatte. Walk on village roads past...
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Hill Towns and Cities along The Pekoe Trail

The Pekoe Trail winds its way across some of the most spectacular towns and cities in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. Make a pit stop in the tea country and explore these charming tea country towns each with their own unique landscape, attractions, and experiences.
Haputale
Haputale
Perched at the southern edge of Sri Lanka’s hill country, Haputale is a busy town often cloaked in mist due to its location on a long, narrow mountain ridge.
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Hatton
Hatton
Hatton lies deep in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country on the south central hills. It is here that the creme de la creme of Ceylon tea flourishes; fragrant and delicately flavoured.
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Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
A bustling hill station nestled in the heart of the central highlands and situated in the shadow of Sri Lanka’s tallest mountain, Pidurutalagala. Nuwara Eliya is often referred to as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka.
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Kandy
Kandy
A bustling hill station nestled in the heart of the central highlands and situated in the shadow of Sri Lanka’s tallest mountain, Pidurutalagala. Nuwara Eliya is often referred to as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka.
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