Length13.8 kmElevation gain739 mRoute typePoint to pointHead out on this 13.8-km point-to-point trail near Hali Ela, Badulla. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 10 min to complete. This trail is great for backpacking, hiking, and walking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.The 18th stage is a challenging uphill day. The trail ascends from the town of Hali-Ela to the town of Ettampitiya. The general direction of the trail turns first northwest and then southwest. This is a very remote part of the tea country. Begin at the Hali-Ela Train station or at Hali-Ela Town itself, the path exits the town on a village road that runs in between paddy cultivations in the direction of houses ahead. There is a right turn and the trail begins to head towards the Sri Bimbarama Temple. In order to visit the temple, shoulders and legs must be covered. Once the path gets to the top of the hill, there is a gradual descent through a mix of cultivated land and village homes until it reaches the Ketawala Hali-Ela Road. The turn off of the main road is on the lefthand side. The Pekoe Trail descends towards the paddy below and hops over to the other side of the stream. The trail twists and turns past village homes and eventually resolves onto a tea estate. At this stage, the trail is still at the bottom of the valley and this is where the route begins to climb. The objective is to reach the iconic Dickwella Tea Factory sitting at the top of the hill. The trail then reaches the impressive Stupa of the Sri Sambodhi Temple. So far, the route goes past two very prominent Buddhist Temples. On the estate roads, there are no steps. It’s just a gradual ascent. As the trail gains elevation, the views of the valley below are all the more spectacular. The next point heads towards a few old tea sheds sitting on the side of the Katawala – Ettampitiya Road. A left on the tarmac road and then a tea trail that turns sharply again on the left is the correct path. The next bit heads back towards the valley behind, around the hill, and past the Dickwella Tea Factory sitting immediately above. The views of the valley below are truly spectacular. Eventually, the path reaches a small shop – a good place to stock up on water and take a rest. There is a short road walk ahead and then a left on a tea trail at the fork. This segment is on tea trails. There is a small lake on the right. The Pekoe Trail briefly touches the main road again, but peels off onto another lovely tea trail. There is a smaller tea trail heading up to the right towards the tea plantation worker houses. Zig-zags head up to the top of the hill and then the path makes way back down to the road through the houses. At the main road, the left past the quarry is the right direction. At the junction, there is a tea trail on the right, which continues until it enters the more urbanized surroundings of Ettampitiya. The main Ettampitiya – Hali-Ela road leads past