The Pekoe Trail - Stage 02 - Galaha To Loolkandura - Official Profile
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 9.13 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,799 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 1,706 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,600 ft
- TrailRank
-
40
4.3
- Min elevation
- 4,600 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 2 hours 56 minutes
- Coordinates
- 261
- Uploaded
- May 1, 2023
- Recorded
- May 2023
near Udadeltota, Central (Sri Lanka)
Viewed 1587 times, downloaded 232 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
IMPORTANT NOTE: The stage is walkable but not yet fully signposted. Trail users are advised to consider all the information available and to heed local advice when available. The services of a professional mountain guide are recommended. Trail users are responsible for all decisions as to the trail routes, trail conditions, weather, and safety. In addition to the hazards posed by steep terrain and mountain weather, hikers should be prepared for difficult route-finding and challenging trail conditions, dogs, leaches, heavy rain, intermittent thunderstorms, and plenty of sun. It is recommended to drink at least 1/2 litre of water per hour when hiking. Access to emergency medical care and rescue is not always immediately available.
Please download the latest version of the map before navigating the stage to avoid missing out on any re-routing.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE
Today’s walk can be divided into two distinct parts. The first section takes us from Galaha to Deltota and the second from Deltota to Loolecondera.
Galaha to Deltota is a short and rewarding hike. The first kilometer is on the road toward Galaha General Hospital. Soon, you leave the main road and head into the Deltota Estate. Locals will tell you the road to Deltota or Loolecondera is the main road. Do not take their advice, stay left. There is absolutely no need to walk on the main road, the path through the Deltota Estate is beautiful.
At the 1.3 km point, we leave the main road and take the path to your right. There is a signboard saying "Welcome to the Deltota Estate". We will leave a large school ground to the right and walk by a few houses as we approach a rather steep section of the path. Do look back as you ascend, the views of the Hantana Estate and the mountains behind are stunning. Once we reach the intersection there is a tea weighing station. Take the track to the right.
The path on this stretch is wide and very easy to follow. Soon you will reach a village and the way becomes a little more intricate. Time to check your GPS device and follow the markings. At the 4.6 km point make sure you cross the bridge to your left. This is an important turning point. If you get a little lost, ask the locals - this time do take their advice. There are lots of twists and turns as you approach Deltota town.
Deltota is a typical hill country town with a lively market, but perhaps the most striking feature of the town is the large green mosque. The market is well worth stopping at. There are plenty of fruits and veggies and a very colorful painted mural.
As you walk out of Deltota we take to the main road that leads to Galaha for approximately 50 meters and then takes a steep road up to the left. This road turns into gravel and the path forks right. For the next 2.5 km, we follow an old trail through an old pine forest under the share of enormous trees. This forest area is prone to leaches. At the 8.3 km point, the trail joins an old tea estate road and then zig-zags all the way up the mountain.
As we gain elevation the views get better and better. The path is wide and easy to follow. At the 9.3 km point, close to the top, the track levels out. If you look up to your right you will see a communications tower positioned slightly above the trail. Walk carefully as this is high mountain terrain and on a rainy day the path may be a little slippery.
At the 9.7 km point, there is an abandoned village, shortly after which you cross a small river. The track thins out here for about 300 meters. Every so often you will see a concrete post painted in yellow and red on the side of the trail making the trail very easy to follow. At the 10.5 km point, the small path turns into a wide tea track as you enter the higher divisions of the Loolecondera Estate.
On this beautiful walk section, you can see the original cottage set up by James Taylor. This is an important milestone of the Pekoe Trail. You are walking on the fertile soil that gave birth to the first tea plants in Sri Lanka. James Taylor’s cottage is a short walk up the track you will come across on your right.
It’s a slow and easy descent from here to the road below through some of the most beautiful tea bushes. The massive rock formation and the dense high-elevation rainforest in front of you, as you descend, are breathtaking.
The end of the stage is marked by a bridge and a Hindu shrine. Just before you reach the end you will see a small building on your right, an information center set up for travelers with clean toilets.
PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY RUBBISH OTHERS LEFT BEHIND TRY TO TAKE IT - EVEN IF JUST A BOTTLE OR A PLASTIC BAG, EVERY BIT COUNTS - THANK YOU.
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The Pekoe Trail is designed to support development and livelihoods in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Buying goods and services from local businesses helps communities along the trail to thrive. The Pekoe Trail is funded by the European Union (EU) with additional support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IESC on behalf of Sri Lanka Tourism.
Please download the latest version of the map before navigating the stage to avoid missing out on any re-routing.
-----------------
DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE
Today’s walk can be divided into two distinct parts. The first section takes us from Galaha to Deltota and the second from Deltota to Loolecondera.
Galaha to Deltota is a short and rewarding hike. The first kilometer is on the road toward Galaha General Hospital. Soon, you leave the main road and head into the Deltota Estate. Locals will tell you the road to Deltota or Loolecondera is the main road. Do not take their advice, stay left. There is absolutely no need to walk on the main road, the path through the Deltota Estate is beautiful.
At the 1.3 km point, we leave the main road and take the path to your right. There is a signboard saying "Welcome to the Deltota Estate". We will leave a large school ground to the right and walk by a few houses as we approach a rather steep section of the path. Do look back as you ascend, the views of the Hantana Estate and the mountains behind are stunning. Once we reach the intersection there is a tea weighing station. Take the track to the right.
The path on this stretch is wide and very easy to follow. Soon you will reach a village and the way becomes a little more intricate. Time to check your GPS device and follow the markings. At the 4.6 km point make sure you cross the bridge to your left. This is an important turning point. If you get a little lost, ask the locals - this time do take their advice. There are lots of twists and turns as you approach Deltota town.
Deltota is a typical hill country town with a lively market, but perhaps the most striking feature of the town is the large green mosque. The market is well worth stopping at. There are plenty of fruits and veggies and a very colorful painted mural.
As you walk out of Deltota we take to the main road that leads to Galaha for approximately 50 meters and then takes a steep road up to the left. This road turns into gravel and the path forks right. For the next 2.5 km, we follow an old trail through an old pine forest under the share of enormous trees. This forest area is prone to leaches. At the 8.3 km point, the trail joins an old tea estate road and then zig-zags all the way up the mountain.
As we gain elevation the views get better and better. The path is wide and easy to follow. At the 9.3 km point, close to the top, the track levels out. If you look up to your right you will see a communications tower positioned slightly above the trail. Walk carefully as this is high mountain terrain and on a rainy day the path may be a little slippery.
At the 9.7 km point, there is an abandoned village, shortly after which you cross a small river. The track thins out here for about 300 meters. Every so often you will see a concrete post painted in yellow and red on the side of the trail making the trail very easy to follow. At the 10.5 km point, the small path turns into a wide tea track as you enter the higher divisions of the Loolecondera Estate.
On this beautiful walk section, you can see the original cottage set up by James Taylor. This is an important milestone of the Pekoe Trail. You are walking on the fertile soil that gave birth to the first tea plants in Sri Lanka. James Taylor’s cottage is a short walk up the track you will come across on your right.
It’s a slow and easy descent from here to the road below through some of the most beautiful tea bushes. The massive rock formation and the dense high-elevation rainforest in front of you, as you descend, are breathtaking.
The end of the stage is marked by a bridge and a Hindu shrine. Just before you reach the end you will see a small building on your right, an information center set up for travelers with clean toilets.
PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY RUBBISH OTHERS LEFT BEHIND TRY TO TAKE IT - EVEN IF JUST A BOTTLE OR A PLASTIC BAG, EVERY BIT COUNTS - THANK YOU.
-----------------
The Pekoe Trail is designed to support development and livelihoods in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Buying goods and services from local businesses helps communities along the trail to thrive. The Pekoe Trail is funded by the European Union (EU) with additional support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IESC on behalf of Sri Lanka Tourism.
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I have followed this trail View more
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Trail up to Deltota is easy to follow and a breeze. However, from there, the next 2km is gonna be extremely difficult to find unless you have the KML file in your phone. So make sure you always have it pre-loaded prior to the trek.
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We walked at 14. September 2023 from Loolecondera via Delthota to Galaha. Start of our hike was at James Taylor statue, 600 m from the trailhead. A bus no. 699 passed us.
We passed the only one and last shopping chance the Jolly Food Hotel &Grocery for breakfast and food parcel.
At the trailhead was a watcher and a ticket counter. Locals have to pay 200 Rs, foreigners 1.000 Rs to walk on the James Taylor Road at Loolecondera Estate. There is no counter when you start from Galaha. However, you have to pay/show a ticket when you pass this gate. No idea how they handle it when the ticket counter is closed.
It was a great walk with amazing scenery and awesome views all the way. Easy to walk up to the end of the Taylor Site. Blue Pekoe Trail signposts showed us the way to go. It got more difficult in the wilderness. Mainly because of rain and lot's of leeches. Otherwise I would stopp there to watch the abandoned village. Must be a great area to hike during the dry season.
It was a little bit difficult to verify the way thru the last some hundred meters pines tree forest at Delthota. I think the way alongside the concrete fence is better than what our GPS showed us thru the middle.
We had a lunch in Delthota (bus 633/1 from Kandy) and walked on to the Devisional Secretariat. Thereafter green valleys. Blue Pekoe Trail signposts were showing us most of the way to Galaha. On the way some temples, a bungalow, a bridge, an old building, a school, Janatha and Delthota Estate.
I completed all 22 stages of the Pekoe Trail on September 18, 2023. Stages 22-8 in January/February 2023, stages 7-1 in September 2023. It was a great adventure. My dogs and good friends from Haputale accompanied me on the first 3 stages. I hiked 5 stages alone (Hali-Ela to Haputale). My good friend Thilagar hiked 17 stages with me.
For more information about the Pekoe Trail experiences, visit the private FB group “Pekoe Trail Sri Lanka – Hiking & Camping”.
The hike is amazing :) Problem finding accommodation. We found on Google maps Oya Langa hena campground. The owner speaks good English and helped us with a tuktuk for 1500rp. They have small huts, which is a really basic stay and dirty.. but yeah, you don't have any other option.