Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail, a breathtaking long-distance hiking route through the Central Highlands, has earned a prestigious spot on TIME Magazine’s list of the world’s 100 greatest places to visit in 2025. This recognition highlights the island’s rich tea heritage and stunning landscapes, making it a must-visit destination for adventure seekers.
Renowned travel writer Audrey Phoon, in her feature for TIME Magazine, describes the Pekoe Trail as an immersive journey through Sri Lanka’s diverse terrains and deep-rooted tea culture. The 186-mile trail, originally a 19th-century tea transport network, has been transformed into the nation’s first fully connected long-distance trekking route. This ambitious project, completed in March 2024, was spearheaded by sustainability consultant Miguel Cunat with funding from the European Union and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Pekoe Trail stretches from the misty Hanthana Mountains near Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Hikers can traverse tea estates, eucalyptus forests, quaint villages, and even the sacred peak of Sri Pada. The trail is divided into 22 segments, each taking three to six hours to complete, with the entire route requiring weeks to finish.
To enhance the trekking experience, a new mobile app provides real-time details on landmarks, segment information, and emergency contacts. Travelers can also find luxurious accommodations along the way, including Teardrop Hotels’ stylish bungalows and Uga Escapes’ Halloowella estate, a historic British-era property redesigned by Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte.
This international recognition from TIME Magazine is expected to boost Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, positioning the Pekoe Trail as a global hiking destination.