Sri Lanka Tea Country & the Pekoe Trail

After your arrival in Colombo, enjoy a smooth airport transfer to your downtown hotel. Arrive early to settle in and refresh before meeting your local guide.

Make the most of your down time with maybe a swim on the rooftop pool overlooking the Indian Ocean. 

End your day with a special welcome dinner, sharing the flavours and warmth of Sri Lanka with your new travel companions.

Meals: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: The Granbell Hotel, Colombo

Transport: Airport transfer to your hotel approx 45 mins.

Travel to Sri Lanka’s cultural capital today, Kandy. The journey takes you through the hills, coconut plantations, and scenic countryside.

Before check-in at your hotel, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist temples. It’s beautifully decorated and houses the relic of Buddha’s tooth and is one of the country’s most important pilgrimmage sites. 

Later, arrive at your accommodation and the rest of the day and evening is yours to spend unwinding by the pool, and relaxing.

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Simpson’s Forest, Kandy

Transport: Journey to Kandy approx 4 hours in a comfortable, private mini van.

Activities: Visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Enjoy a guided walk through the mist-covered hills, rolling tea plantations and peaceful rural landscapes. Visit traditional Tamil villages, observe their daily life and rituals. Meet friendly locals and see tea cultivation and hill-country culture. It’s a gentle hike today and it offers a great, authentic insight into Sri Lanka’s culture. 

Return to the hotel and later in the day, take part in a yoga session surrounded by the peaceful forest environment, giving you the perfect opportunity to relax and reconnect with nature.   

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Simpson’s Forest, Kandy

Activities: Traditional Tamil villages, gentle hiking, yoga session

After breakfast, head out of Kandy to the Knuckles Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage Conservation Zone renowned for its rich biodiversity and beauty.

Enjoy a guided walk through the forests, villages and mountain trails.

Spend the late afternoon enjoying a traditional, English High Tea.

Included meals: Breakfast, Traditional High Tea 

Accommodation: Simpson’s Forest, Kandy

Transport: The journey to the Knuckles foothills is 1.5 hours each way

Activities: Guided walk in the Knuckles, traditional high tea

Enjoy a breathtaking train journey through Sri Lanka’s lush hill country, passing waterfalls, forests, and vibrant tea plantations. Travel from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (approx 2.5/3 hours) and then meet your driver and head to Pedro Tea Estate.

Discover how Pure Ceylon Tea is crafted, stroll through scenic fields, and try your hand at tea plucking. Connect with the hardworking tea pickers who bring this world-famous tea to life, gaining insight into their vital role in the community.

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Jetwing St Andrew’s Lodge

Transport: First class ticket on the train, other road transfers

Activities: Scenic train trip, Pedro tea estate visit and tasting

After an early breakfast, drive to Horton Plains National Park to begin one of Sri Lanka’s finest trekking experiences.

You’ll walk through cloud forests, open grasslands, and breathtaking mountain scenery before descending to the quiet village of Ohiya.

Your main luggage will be transported safely to your next hotel. You only need a small backpack for today with your essentials for the night. 

Once you arrive at your guesthouse, it’s your time to relax and take in the walk you’ve completed!

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Remote Trekkers Lodge

Transport: Drive to Horton Plains, approx 45 minutes

Activities: Hiking Pekoe Trail Stage 11, graded moderate, approx 6 hours walking

Following breakfast, it’s time to lace up your shoes again and walk to the Ohiya Station for your scenic rail journey through the hill country to Ella. You’ll stop at the Nine Arches Bridge with time to take photos and see this iconic spot.

Then you’ll continue to the Anasa Wellness Resort and spend the rest of the afternoon soaking up the cooler air.

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Anasa Wellness Resort

Transport: Transfer to Ella (approx 2 hours) and transfer to Bandarawela (1 hour)

Activities: Hiking to Ohiya Railway station – Stage 12, 1-2 hours, graded moderate. Scenic rail journey from Ohiya to Ella.

Enjoy a leisurely morning making the most of the resort’s facilities. 

In the afternoon, you have the option to join a hike to Little Adam’s Peak. It’s a gentle climb and rewards you with magical views over Ella Gap, rolling tea plantations and the surrounding mountains.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Anasa Wellness Resort

Activities: Optional hike (2km return)

Transport: n/a

This morning enjoy a scenic Tuk Tuk trip through the tea plantations and quiet village roads. You’ll have the chance to stop at some scenic points too. Return to the hotel for some leisure time and in the afternoon meet for a relaxed guided yoga session in the peaceful surrounds of the resort. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Anasa Wellness Resort

Activities: Tuk Tuk tour through the tea plantations, yoga session

Transport: Tuktuk tour

After breakfast, check out and head south to Udawalawe National Park, where you’ll get to take an exciting jeep safari through the park renowned for elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, deer, monkeys and a huge range of birdlife.

Then drive onto Ranna and check in at your beachfront resort and spend the evening overlooking the Indian Ocean. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Ananya Beach Resort, Ranna

Activities: Safari at Udawalawe National Park

Transport: Drive to Udawalawe (3 hours), Drive to Ranna (1.5 hours)

After breakfast visit the peaceful Kalametiya Lagoon, one of Sri Lanka’s most important coastal wetland ecosystems. Explore it’s tranquil waterways while observing colourful birdlife, mangrove forests and the beautiful natural surroundings. 

Return to the resort around midday with the rest of the day free for you to relax and enjoy the beachfront resort.

Gather tonight for our farewell dinner to celebrate the wonderful experiences we’ve shared on this unique journey through Sri Lanka.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Accommodation: Anansa Beach Resort

Activities: Kalametiya Lagoon visit

Transport: transfer to the lagoon

Enjoy a leisurely morning at your hotel before meeting your guide for your transfer to Colombo Airport.

Thank you for travelling with Pip & Co Travel — we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!

If you wish to extend your stay, extra nights in Ranna or Colombo can be arranged.

Meals: Breakfast

Transport: Transfer from Ranna to Colombo Airport – allow 3.5 hours