Beyond the Pekoe Trail

Flight from the UK

You will be met at the airport by our representative and introduced to your chauffeur guide who will be accompanying you on your tour.

The drive time is approximately 2 hours.

We have not made any arrangements for you on this day. 

Birding & Wildlife - Sri Lanka is one of the smallest but most biologically diverse countries in Asia. It’s varied climate and topographical conditions have given rise to this rich species diversity.

You will undoubtedly meet some of the other inhabitants of the Estate House during your stay but why not grab a pair of binoculars and a bird book and spend an afternoon or morning watching the countless variety of birds; from Sri Lankan Grey Hornbills to Crested Serpent Eagles; or catch a sight of the Langur Monkeys or White Spotted Deer that also call the Rosyth Estate House home.

Rosyth Artisanal Tea  You are invited to partake in the mindful practice of tea plucking, hand rolling and sipping tea. If you are with us for long enough, you can even take some home with you so you can continue with sipping tea at home.

At the Rosyth Estate House we have begun our journey to become an organic, artisanal producer of Sri Lankan tea. Removing mechanisation from our processes we have started to produce hand rolled tea which is carefully crafted on the estate by our local artisans. This project is wholeheartedly community focused as we look to improve the economic sustainability of our valley.

Join the ladies in our tea gardens which are spread around the estate. They start early (about 6am) but you might want to start a bit later. They will teach you the art of plucking; just buds or two leaves and a bud. Just buds - "golden tips" or "silver tips," tea tips are the small, unopened leaves of the tea plant are the sweetest part of the tea leaf. This is a great chance to interact with our local community and also understand the challenges that the ladies have in picking the freshest leaves. You will be unlikely to grab a tea bag again. 

If you are just interested in learning how artisan tea is made, you will have the opportunity to hand roll the leaves, return to watch the next process where the tea is fermented and then dried . End with tasting the different teas that they produce,

Guided Rosyth Estate Walk

The  Estate Superintendent Subramanium, who has worked on the Estate for over 40 years, can guide you through the Estate and give you an appreciation of rural Sri Lankan life as you wind through paddy fields, jungle, fresh water streams and meet local villagers on the way.  If he is not available, one of the hotel or estate team will accompany you on a guided at approximately 4pm. You may  be joined by other guests,

Rosyth is a small working estate. Tea is plucked by hand and hand crafted into the artisanal tea factory.  Latex is tapped by scoring the tree, then collected and and sold to a local rubber factory. Coconuts, fruits, spices and vegetables are grown on the estate and used at the hotel. You will be amazed by the variety of produce that grows on the estate!

If you prefer to walk on your own ask the team for some directions and enjoy forest bathing: immerse in nature .The Estate and its surroundings contain beautiful walking trails & mountain biking routes over the rolling hills. Guests are free to explore the estate and join the ladies plucking tea. Guides for two of our local walking trails, so you  can independently explore the  beautiful part of Sri Lanka’s Low Tea Country.

Morning Yoga

Community Engagement - we work with two local schools and the local village through community initiatives, whether that is paying for the new school uniforms, blackboards or ongoing repairs on the school. We strive to continue to better the lives of those in the local area and welcome any guests who would also like to lend a helping hand. In 2018 we helped to refurbish the local commu-nity centre, providing a new roof. If you would like the chance to visit the schools, or village, this can be arranged prior to arrival. Our Guests are invited to join us in our goal to support chil-dren’s education by bringing with them educational items in-cluding books, pencils and educational toys. which can be used in the classroom or helping to sponsor bigger project.

Following the economic collapse in 2022, we have launched a further initiative to provide a school meal for 60 children in the local school three times per week. The kind generocity of past guests is helping to fund this activity. 

As the day progresses perhaps walk to the local temple or grab a mountain bike & ride our trails followed by an afternoon Massage.

Leave for Hanthana.

The drive time is approximately 2 hours.

Kandy Food Walk

An exciting walk around Kandy town trying 10 different local delicacies. Start the trip with some exotic fruits in the Kandy market, walk around the market and learn about the various regional vegetables and their uses. Head to the women’s co-operative for some authentic snacks that you’d only get to try if you knew someone’s grandmother. Then cut into the trading street of Kandy. Try some snacks and a refreshing king coconut, before moving on to the main course. Finally end the walk with some curd and treacle to cool you down.

Lunch included during the walk.

Meet at 5PM to visit the Temple of the Tooth.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Kandy 

Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts center and a gem museum and a lapidary. In the evening visit the Dalada Maligawa Temple of the Tooth Relic believed to have belonged to Lord Buddha himself. Thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing.

The City is perhaps most famous for the annual Perahara, a most magnificent site which sees the scared tooth relic take to the streets accompanied by dancers, drummers and most significantly elephants dressed in all their finery and adorned with lights. The parade which goes through the streets of Kandy builds into a spectacular procession over ten consecutive nights with the number of elephants growing each night. Taking place annually at the end of July and in early August, with the date dependent upon the timing of the full moon, this is truly an experience not to be missed if your timing permits. The Kandy Perahara is considered to be one of the most spectacular pageants in Asia. During the Perahara, accommodation is at a premium in Kandy and needs to be reserved well in advance.

Start hike from hotel and join the Pekoe Trail – Stage 01. Hike will take between 3.5 to 4.5 hours.

Hike info from wikiloc

Transfer from trail end at Galaha back to the hotel (45mins) for lunch. Rest.

At around 3PM transfer (35mins) for the Kandyan Dance Experience

Kandyan Dance Experience - It’s all about the traditional dance techniques! Meet with a Kandyan Dancing teacher and spend a couple of hours mastering the age-old dance steps. The sound of the drums will easily make you dance without even having to try! Not for the faint hearted but request your master to show his take on ‘gini keli’ (dance with fire – literally) It may look effortless but do not try it at home! You could also try out the traditional costume for pictures or even dare to dance with it. Your master is a legend of the art who has also won the presidential award 8 times

Transfer to trail head (35mins). Hike Pekoe Trail -Stage 2 (14.7kms). 

Return transfer (1hr)

Early breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the trail head at Galaha (45 mins). Hike Pekoe Trail – Stage 2.  Hike info from wikiloc. Packed lunch along the trail. Return to hotel (1hr). Afternoon at leisure.

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to AMBA estate. Lunch at AMBA. Late evening hike to pools above Ravana falls.

The drive time is approximately 4.5 hours.

Hike 20 minutes up Eagle Rock Hill to enjoy the sunrise (with views 50km across the plains)

Private tea experience

Hike Pekoe Trail - Stage 15 (10kms). Lunch at Ella. Return to AMBA. 

Afternoon at leisure.

Transfer to Ella (30mins). Hike Pekoe Trail - Stage 16 (12.2kms). 

Return to AMBA (1hr).

Transfer to Nanu Oya (3hrs). Train Nanu-Oya to Hatton (1.5hrs). Stay at Adam's Peak base. 

Morning Scenic Train Journey  from Nanu Oya to Hatton (ON AVAILABILITY)

The train journey is on the bucket list of most travellers to Sri Lanka. Why is the Nanu Oya to Hatton train journey so amazing? The views on both sides of the rail are breathtaking but it is a journey on one of the most charmingly decrepit railway systems in the world which reinforces the desire to  travel in a modicum of discomfort! We recommend that you are ask your hotel the night before your trip to put together a packed lunch for the  journey.

The railway journey Service began in 1864 with the construction of the Main Line from Colombo to Ambepussa and was extended  to the high tea country. At Rambukkana, the line begins a steep climb into the hills. From Rambukana to Kandy, at Kadugannawa the track runs along the edge of sheer cliffs, allowing passengers a view of Batalegala (Bible Rock).

The Main Line From Colombo then continues climbing through tea country, connecting market centers at Gampola and Hatton before reaching Nanu-Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, still visited for its temperate climate, classic hotels and British-style gardens. The Main Line reaches its summit at Pattipola, 6,226 feet (1,898 m) above sea level, before descending via Ella and Bandarawela to Badulla. The spectacular tea gardens, mountains, valleys and waterfalls.

During the train journey, you can walk around the carriages, go to the toilet, visit the food stand or purchase some snacks from vendors who wander about. Don’t miss the opportunity to take in the view via the open doorway, tea plantations, villages and bridges with eerily huge drop-offs.

The tickets for the train journey can only be booked 1 month prior to departure and as a result it has become increasingly challenging to obtain the tickets. To maximize our success we would look to purchase 1st ,2nd and 3rd class in that order as well as trying for portions of the journey. Your driver guide will have your tickets and would drop you at the train station and wait with you until the arrival of the train, help you to board the train and drive with your luggage to the station to meet you. 

Adam’s Peak - 2 AM start hiking Adam’s peak for sunrise. Come down on Palabaddala side. 5.5kms up from Nallathaniya to Adam’s Peak summit. 10kms down from summit to Palabaddala.

At 2,243m or 7,359 feet climbing Adam’s peak is considered by the four main religions in Sri Lanka, a must do pilgrimage. Also know as Sri Pada, which means sacred footprint, referring to the rock formation at the summit, Buddhists consider this to be Buddha’s foot, Hindus associate it with Shiva, the Muslims Adam & the Christians with St Thomas. This climb is arduous, but worth the challenge & great for those looking to explore this spiritual experience.

The easiest and shortest route is from Dalhouise, with the 7 km climb ascending some 5,500 steps, whereas the longer climb often taken by pilgrims is from the Rathnapura side. Traditionally climbed at night, most people set off at 2:00am to arrive at the summit for 6:00am and to watch dawn break. As dawn breaks the sun casts a triangular shadow of the peak, quite unique.

Best climbed during “the season” between December through until May, the steps are illuminated and small stalls can be found selling tea and snacks. On Poya (full moon) days and around the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, the path can be very crowded and you can find yourself in a slow moving queue to reach the summit.

We recommend staying at one of the simple hotels close to the base, grabbing a few hours sleep before starting your assent & planning a gentle day to follow.

Transfer to Ratnapura (Gileemale).

Morning yoga session and breakfast.

Visit the 100 year old tea forest. Go on a guided hike with a planter and explore the boutique tea making experience at Forest Hill Tea.

Gem mine experience – “A Guided tour to a local Gem mine within the Gileemale Estate. There will be a session on different varieties on Gemstones. This experience will include a theoretical introduction to the industry along with an opportunity to experience the real life of a gem miner.”

Cinnamon experience - Ceylon Cinnamon Experience gives the opportunity to take a closer look at the chain of events from the growing of the trees, harvesting, pilin & Nally processing of the Cinnamon.

Lunch

Kayaking the Kulu Ganga -  Short 45 min kayaking session in the Kulu Ganga river.

Transfer to Colombo.

The drive time is approximately 3 hours.

Stay at the iconic Galle Face Hotel. Afternoon go on a tuk tuk tour of Colombo and explore it’s backstreets

Tuk Tuk Tour: No visit to Sri Lanka is complete without exploring the commercial capital Colombo and there is no better way to explore the hectic streets than by tuk tuk driven by a local guide from the area. You get to visit some of our guides favourite and secret locations, meet some of his friends and learn about the history of the area. The tour includes visits to a serene temple, the famous red-mosque a potent espresso at a coffee export merchant a visit to the main vegetable market, a cold beer on a rooftop overlooking the port and a lot more!

Returning to the UK

Today you will be transferred to the Airport for the departure flight. Our local representative or driver will be in touch to confirm the pickup time a day before your departure. We normally recommend aiming to be at the Airport 3 hours prior to departure. 

The drive time to the Airport is approximately 1 hour.