The Pekoe Trail - Stage 18 - Hali-Ela To Ettampitiya - Official Profile

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 stage is a challenging uphill day. We are going to ascend from the town of Hali-Ela sitting at an elevation of 730 meters, to the town of Ettampitiya sitting at an elevation of 1246 meters above sea level. The general direction of the trail turns first northwest and then southwest. This is a very remote part of the tea country.

We start at the Hali-Ela Train station or at Hali-Ela Town itself. We exit the town on a village road that runs in between paddy cultivations in the directions of the houses ahead. We then turn right and at the 1.1 km point, we reach the Sri Bimbarama Temple. If you decide to visit the temple be sure to cover your shoulders and legs – time to take out the sarong you have in your rucksack.

During the next 150 meters, we are walking uphill past local homes and then once we get to the top of the hill it’s a gradual descent through a mix of cultivated land and village homes until we reach the Ketawala Hali-Ela Road. We then walk on the side of the road for 700 meters. Follow your GPS carefully to avoid missing the turn to the left as you exit the main road. The Pekoe Trail descends towards the paddy below and hops over onto the other side of the stream. The trail twists and turns past village homes and eventually resolves onto a tea estate. At this stage, we are still at the bottom of the valley and this is where we begin to climb up. Our objective is to reach the iconic Dickwella Tea Factory sitting at the top of the hill.

At the 3.1 km point, we reach the impressive Stupa of the Sri Sambodhi Temple. So far today, we’ve walked past two very prominent Buddhist Temples. The next 4 km are all a gradual ascent. We are going to be gaining approximately 300 meters of elevation in 4 km on estate roads – there are no steps, it’s just a gradual ascent. As we gain elevation the views of the valley below are all the more spectacular. We peak at the 7 km point when we reach a few old tea sheds sitting on the side of the Katawala – Ettampitiya Road. A short flight of steps takes up and then turn left. You're done with the hardest part!

The next 1.5 km take us back towards the valley behind us, around the hill, and past the Dickwella Tea Factory sitting immediately above us. The views of the valley below are truly spectacular. At the 8.9 km post, we reach a small shop – a good place to stock up on water and take a rest. We then walk for 700 meters on the road and then you will see a fork on the road with a clear tea trail peeling off to the left and the road you are on peeling off to the right. Take the tea trail.

The next 1.5 km are on tea trails. You will pass a small lake to your right. The PekoeTrail then touches the main road again at the 10.6 km post and then peels off again to the right onto a lovely tea trail. At the 11.3 km point be sure to take the smaller tea trail heading up to your right towards the tea plantation worker houses immediately ahead of you. We zig-zag up and saddle onto the top of the hill and then make our way down to the road through the houses.

At the main road, we turn left and walk down past the quarry. We’re almost there – 2 final km to go. At the junction, we peel off onto the tea trail on our right as shown on the GPS profile and stay on the track until the 13.1 km of today’s stage which is when entering the more urbanized surroundings of Ettampitiya. At 13.5 km, we hit the main Ettampitiya – Hali-Ela road that takes us past a petrol station on our right and directly into the town. Ettampitiya has plenty of services and various different shops.

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.