The Pekoe Trail Stage 3

Overview

Pekoe Trail Stage 3 is one of the most ambitious and historically rich days on the entire Sri Lanka tea trail. Starting at a small bridge over the Ma Oya on the Loolkandura Estate, this 18-kilometer walk carries you through ancient tea trails, forgotten colonial roads, and a dramatic mountain pass before descending into the sweeping Kotmale Valley. The Loolkandura Estate itself was established by Sir James Taylor, widely regarded as the father of Ceylon tea, and that sense of living history stays with you every step of the way. As the trail climbs higher and the landscape grows wilder, the outside world feels very far away. This is one of those stages that reminds you exactly why you came.

Basic Details

• Region: Kandy
• Duration: 10 Hours
• Live Guide: English
• Pickup Time: 6.30 AM
• Start Point: Loolkandura
• Trail End Point: Tawalantenne
• Trail Difficulty Level: Difficult
• Hiking Distance: 18.11 km
• Elevation Gain: 762 m
• Elevation Loss: 1,020 m
• Maximum Elevation: 1,586 m
• People Interactions: Low

Highlights

• Walk through Loolkandura Estate, one of the oldest tea plantations in Sri Lanka
• Hike the forgotten Dimbula Road, built by British engineers over 150 years ago to connect Kandy with the distant tea valleys
• Cross a dramatic mountain pass and enter the Stellenberg Estate with its sweeping views of the Kotmale Valley
• Spot Adam’s Peak on the horizon on a clear day
• Explore jungle trails alive with wildlife including elephants, deer, leopards, and eagles
• Take in views of Kotmale Reservoir, Ramboda Pass, and distant waterfalls on the descent

Full Description

Getting to the Trailhead

Your day starts in Kandy, where your Lanka Trek vehicle picks you up for the drive to the trailhead. The journey to Loolkandura takes around 1.5 hours, winding up into the central highlands as the city gives way to tea country. It is a scenic introduction to the day ahead and a good chance to settle in before Pekoe Trail Stage 3 begins.

The Climb Through Loolkandura Estate

Pekoe Trail Stage 3 kicks off at a small bridge over the Ma Oya on the Loolkandura Estate and wastes no time making its demands known. Within the first hour, the trail climbs 250 meters, with the steepest section right at the start. At 0.3 kilometers, leave the main road and take the smaller ascending path to the right. By 0.8 kilometers, a shed near a small school marks another turn to the right, and shortly after, a colorful Hindu Kovil and the Loolkandura Estate Bungalow come into view below.

The next 3.5 kilometers climb steadily but more gently, gaining around 300 meters in elevation through some of the most scenic and historically significant tea trails on the entire Sri Lanka tea trail. At 1.1 kilometers, a path drops down to a river with beautiful rock pools. It is a short detour, but a very good one if you fancy a cool dip before the real climbing begins.

At 2.2 kilometers, the trail eases into a gentle zigzag before continuing along the upper estate paths for another 800 meters. Pine forests and striking rock formations line the route to the right, and the higher you climb, the quieter and more remote everything feels. Looking ahead toward the tree line and the pass beyond, there is a real sense that something different lies on the other side of the mountain.

The Dimbula Road: A Forgotten Piece of History

Leaving the last tea fields of Loolkandura behind, the trail enters the jungle and the atmosphere shifts entirely. The first 500 meters involve a short climb before the path veers right onto easier ground. This is where you step onto the old Dimbula Road, built more than 150 years ago by British engineers to connect Kandy with the distant valleys that were being opened up for tea cultivation. The gradient, width, and stonework still speak to the quality of 19th-century construction, even though the forest has long since begun reclaiming it. Walking this stretch, it is easy to understand why historical accounts described the valleys beyond as a land of illusions, a place apart from the rest of the world.

Crossing the Mountain Pass onto Stellenberg Estate

At 4.7 kilometers, Pekoe Trail Stage 3 crosses the mountain pass and arrives on the Stellenberg Estate. The views that open up here are genuinely stunning. The Kotmale Valley spreads out below, the Rilagala mountain range rises in the distance, and on a clear day, the distinctive silhouette of Adam’s Peak is visible on the horizon. According to the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka UNESCO World Heritage listing, this landscape is recognized globally for its outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity, and standing at this pass, that recognition feels entirely deserved.

The next 4.5 kilometers follow the relatively flat estate roads of Stellenberg heading south, passing a local village and moving through open tea fields. Unlike the shaded trails of Loolkandura, this section catches the full sun, so make sure your hat and sunscreen are within easy reach.

The Descent into Kotmale Valley

At the 10-kilometer mark, the trail briefly joins a patchy tarmac road before leaving it again at 10.5 kilometers, continuing straight onto a descending estate road. The path zigzags down through a mix of forest and tea fields, with increasingly impressive views of the Kotmale Reservoir appearing through the trees below.

Over the following 6 kilometers, the trail loses 500 meters in elevation. At 14.1 kilometers, a modern cottage and a private camping ground sit alongside the path, offering glimpses of the Ramboda Pass, distant waterfalls, and the winding Gampola to Nuwara Eliya road far below. The descent continues past a handful of homes and guesthouses before merging with the main road near the Glenoch Tea Factory at around the 16-kilometer mark.

From here, those continuing to Tawalantenne town have an additional 2 kilometers along the main road ahead of them. Pekoe Trail Stage 3 formally ends where the trail crosses the main road. The next stage picks up just 50 meters down a village track on the opposite side. Tawalantenne central is only 200 meters to the right, with further amenities and resting options available.

Once the hike is complete, your Lanka Trek vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Kandy. The return drive takes around two hours, giving you plenty of time to rest your legs, take in the scenery one last time, and reflect on a genuinely memorable day on the trail.

Why Walk This Stage with Lanka Trek?

Pekoe Trail Stage 3 is where the Sri Lanka tea trail steps into a different league. The terrain is demanding, the history is tangible, and the scenery is as varied as any day’s walking you will find in the country. From ancient tea estates and forgotten colonial roads to jungle passes and panoramic valley views, this stage covers an extraordinary amount of ground in every sense.

Our guides know every bend in this trail and the stories behind them. That depth of local knowledge makes the experience far richer than the walk alone. Lanka Trek handles all transport, logistics, and safety so that you can put your full energy into the journey ahead.

Ready to take on one of Sri Lanka’s most rewarding highland walks? Book your place on Pekoe Trail Stage 3 today.

A Note on Responsible Trekking

Stage 3 passes through remote jungle, working estates, and wildlife habitats that are best experienced with a light footprint. Stay on the marked route, keep noise to a minimum in the forest sections, and carry out everything you bring in. The further you walk into this landscape, the more important it becomes to leave it exactly as you found it.