Horton Plains: Pekoe Trail Stage 11 Hiking Trip to Udaweriya

Hike among the hills of Sri Lanka’s tea country with a local guide on a tour from Horton Plains to Udaweriya along the Pekoe Trail. Walk through the heart of tea estates and take in mountain views.
Today’s stage starts at the Farr Inn, the old hunting lodge for high-ranking British colonial officials turned into a visitor center. Now run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the old inn is situated next to the car park from which almost all visitors start the walk to World's End.

We are at the highest point of the entire Pekoe Trail at an elevation of 2170 meters. Depending on the time of the year or even the time of the day it can be cold, windy, misty, or open skies. During the months of May through to December, clouds roll over the plains from eastward so close to the ground you feel you can touch them. In January and February, the skies are blue, the air is dry and the sun beats down like the African savannah.

The name Devil's Staircase was most likely given by Scottish Planters living in the area and taken from the long-distance footpath on the West Highland Way in the Scottish Highlands. There are other so-called “Devil Staircases” in various parts of the world, one in New Zealand and one in the state of Oregon. around the world, the good news is that there are no stairs! It’s a track.

The Pekoe Trail covers only the top section of the Devil's Staircase – from the point at which the track meets the Ohiya-Horton Plains Road to a small village from where a trail cuts across the mountain around and over to the Udaweriya Valley. The views are truly breath-taking, all the way down and as you semi-circle around the mountain. On a clear day we can see Udawalawe National Park and beyond we might even see the coastline.

we leave one remote valley behind and enter the next. This is the lowest point of today’s walk at an elevation of 1618 meters. We call this valley the ‘hidden valley’ because it lies on the very edge of the tea country and its south-facing. The topography is so dramatic there are very few south-facing tea growing valleys in this area.

As we begin to ascend we look inwards and upwards at the old and abandoned Udaweriya Tea Factory, now largely a skeleton of steel beams. We keep on hiking up the trail towards a clear pass, through neat terraces of vegetables planted left and right. Small local homes are dotted around the valley.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

Cancellation is not possible. If you cancel it anyway or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity and the money you paid will not be refunded.