The pekoe trail

Sri Lanka Less Travelled

Unveiling Sri Lanka’s Hidden Treasures

Sri Lanka Less Travelled: Unveiling Sri Lanka's Hidden Treasures

The Pekoe Trail invites you to slow down, wander off the beaten path, and see Sri Lanka through fresh eyes. Stretching more than 300 km across the Central Highlands, it is not just a trail but a journey through history, culture, and nature. Every stage introduces hidden destinations and welcoming communities that remind us why slow travel is so rewarding.

Through the Sri Lanka Less Travelled initiative by Chrysalis, supported by CARE Deutschland e.V. and funded by the European Union in Sri Lanka and Maldives, many of these places are finding new opportunities to thrive. Women and young people are leading the way in creating authentic experiences for hikers while protecting the environment. Here are three destinations you will want to keep on your bucket list:

Stay connected with more stories and updates by following Sri Lanka Less Travelled on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest

Kadadora and Ranamune – Nature’s Canvas and History Preserved

Explore from The Pekoe Trail Stage 4 – Tawalantenne, Pundaluoya

These ancient villages are rich with stories. Legends tie the area to the youth of King Dutugemunu during his exile, and you can still see ruins and sites of archaeological importance. The scenery is as moving as the history, with lush hills and untouched paths that give you space for reflection. Meeting the villagers here is part of the experience, as their hospitality turns a short stop into a memory that stays with you long after the hike.

Watch the video on the right to step into the stories of Kadadora and Ranamune. You’ll see how ancient heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and community efforts are shaping these villages into meaningful eco-tourism sites for the future.

Kolapathana Estate – Serenity Redefined

Explore from The Pekoe Trail Stage 5 – Pundaluoya, Watagoda

A place where tea country shows its calmest face. The natural viewpoint at Gongalla offers sweeping views across mountain ranges, perfect for sunrise or sunset. At Kolapathana, you can learn the art of tea plucking from women who carry generations of knowledge, and enjoy a fresh cup right where it is grown. For those who like adventure, an overnight camp at the summit brings you closer to the stars, the mountains, and the rhythms of nature.

Watch the video on the right to see how the Kolapathana community is opening tea plantations, forest trails, and natural pools to responsible visitors. It’s a glimpse of how agriculture, conservation, and tourism can work hand in hand for everyone’s benefit.

Aberdeen Waterfall – Nature’s Grandeur

Explore from The Pekoe Trail Stages 6 & 7 – Watagoda, Kotagala, Norwood

At 98 metres, Aberdeen Falls is one of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular cascades. The approach takes you along winding forest trails that open up to the roar and mist of the falls. Whether you stop for a quiet moment, a refreshing dip, or camp overnight under the stars, Aberdeen offers a powerful connection to nature. Local families in the area often welcome visitors, adding warmth to the wild beauty of the place.

Don’t miss the video on the right to meet a woman entrepreneur building her dream business beside the Aberdeen Waterfall. Her story shows how eco-tourism creates income and hope for local families while protecting one of Sri Lanka’s most scenic natural wonders.

Alongside these destinations, TPTO wants to highlight these small businesses nurtured through the Chrysalis incubation program. These homestays, guesthouses, guides, and service providers are part of the living fabric of the vision of The Pekoe Trail Organisation.

We invite you to reach out to them, try their services, and let them know you found them through the Pekoe Trail website. Your feedback is important too. Tell us how your experience was and whether it lived up to your expectations. By doing so, you help local entrepreneurs grow and help other travelers choose with confidence.

Name	Site	Business Address	Contact Number
V.G. Prasanna Shantha Kumara	Ranamune & Kadadora	Kadadora, Nayapana, Gampola	0777400139
R.M. Danushka Bandara	Ranamune & Kadadora	Ranwanthalawa, Maswela	0776791227
D. Manoja Sanjeewani	Ranamune & Kadadora	Nugawela, Nayapana Janapadaya, Gampola	0765793948
Samantha Agalawattha	Ranamune & Kadadora	Kadadora, Nayapana Janpadya,Gampola	0701271154
W.A.R.K. Solamon	Ranamune & Kadadora	Mawela, Maswela	0778732972
W.G. Hemalatha	Ranamune & Kadadora	Kadadora, Nayapana, Gampola	0777376773
K.W. Wajira Lasanthi	Aberdeen Waterfall	Aberdeen, Dehigasthenna	0777838373
B.W.G. Jayantha Bandara	Aberdeen Waterfall	Aberdeen, Dehigasthenna	0779394168
U.G. Surendra Kumara Ariyadasa	Aberdeen Waterfall	Aberdeen Waterfall, Dehigasthenna	0775620215
P.K. Keerthisingha	Aberdeen Waterfall	Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathena	0776357679
Srimathi Leelasena	Aberdeen Waterfall	Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathena	0723415697
P.K. Amarakanthi	Aberdeen Waterfall	Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathena	0766780624
D.S. Kumara	Kolapathana Estate	Kolapathana Estate, Nawalapitiya	0764445700
S. Saraswathi	Kolapathana Estate	Kolapathana Estate, Nawalapitiya	0770697040

Name	Site	Business Address	Contact Number	Type of Guide Training
Y.A. Sanath Sanjeewa	Kadadora, Ranamune	Kadadora, Ranamune	0775759728	Facilitator Guide
H.G. Rohan Anil Kumara	Kadadora, Ranamune	Kithul Bedda, Nayapana Janapadya,Gampola	0715227673	Site Guide
H.G.S. Daham Mihijaya Priyankara	Kadadora, Ranamune	"Ajantha", Mawela,Maswela	0788108446	Site Guide
U.H.U. Madukshan Ekanayake	Kadadora, Ranamune	Mawela Hotel, Mawela,Maswela	0788781700	Site Guide
K.W.M. Prasad Jayalath	Kadadora, Ranamune	No:14, Morape,Maswela	0765545537	Facilitator Guide
Asanka Bandara Galagoda	Kadadora, Ranamune	No:29/1, Ranwanthalawa, Maswela	0760631023	Facilitator Guide
W.G. Dhamith Tharanga	Kadadora, Ranamune	"Sandasewana'', Maswela, Gampola	0752535084	Site Guide
M.M. Viraj Marasinghe	Kadadora, Ranamune	Kadadora, Ranamune	0740431445	Facilitator Guide
G.G. Madumali Sakunthala	Kadadora, Ranamune	No:74, Kithulbadda, Nayapana Janapadaya, Gampola	0764219264	Site Guide
Champika Kumari Weerasuriya	Kadadora, Ranamune	D 6/4, Maipwala, Kotagepitiya, Maswela	0769908204	Site Guide
U.G. Suresh Madusanka Sumathirathne	Kadadora, Ranamune	C/26/1, Mawela, Maswela, Gampola	0761533737	Site Guide
G.V. Yuwani Peshala	Kadadora, Ranamune	Kithul badda, Doragala, Gampola	0752580030	Facilitator Guide
R.M. Dhanushka Bandara	Kadadora, Ranamune	Nayapana Janapadhaya, Kadadora	0776791227	Facilitator Guide
Sivagami Sundaram Diwan	Kolapathana Estate	Kolapathana Estate, Kataboola	0766046758	Site Guide
N.G.M. Prasanna	Kolapathana Estate	No:33, Kataboola, Janapadhaya, Katabulewa	0761373326	Facilitator Guide
Sasi Kumar	Kolapathana Estate	Kolapathana Estate, Kolapathana	0718899423	Site Guide
M. Diukshan	Kolapathana Estate	Kolapathana Estate, Kataboola	0762227599	Site Guide
Pushparaj Sapna	Kolapathana Estate	Kolapathana Estate, Nawalapitiya	0742314652	Site Guide
L.R. Chamodi Darshika Gunathilaka	Aberdeen Waterfall	Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathhena	074 2912944	Facilitator Guide
W. Shirantha Sujeewa	Aberdeen Waterfall	No:331/1, Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathhena	0716958219	Facilitator Guide
P.G. Niranjala Sandamali	Aberdeen Waterfall	Dehigasthanna, Ginigathhena	0722620106	Facilitator Guide
K.D. Shehan Lakmal	Aberdeen Waterfall	Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathhena	0775268291	Facilitator Guide
A.K. Randula Dilakshi Karunasiri	Aberdeen Waterfall	No: 331/01, Kalaweldeniya, Ginigathhena	0717742688	Site Guide
B.W. Sahan Prabash	Aberdeen Waterfall	Taplo Janapadaya, Viduli Pura, Uthura	0720431384	Facilitator Guide
B.W. Asela Prabhash	Aberdeen Waterfall	Taplo Janapadaya, Viduli Pura, Uthura	0783531977	Facilitator Guide
D.V. Tharushika Madushani	Aberdeen Waterfall	Dehigasthanna, Ginigathhena	0759918542	Site Guide
U.V. Dushani Madumalika Premathilaka	Aberdeen Waterfall	Dehigasthanna, Ginigathhena	0729259549	Site Guide

Name	Site	Business Type	Service Type	Contact Number
V.G. Prasanna Shantha Kumara	Ranamune & Kadadora	MSME	Accommodation Provider	0777400139
V. Anura Vithannarachchi	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Trade and Services	0778056209
P.S.A.H. Nelka Gothami	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0740965683
K.W. Sameera Prasad Kaluarchchi	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0775349904
R.M. Danushka Bandara	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood, Facilitator Guide	Accommodation Provider, Facilitator Guide	0776791227
B. Karunawathi	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood, Producer Group	Trade and Services	0766714409
N.K. Amila Niroshan Bandara	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	07161669790
D. Manoja Sanjeewani	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider	0765793948
U.K.D. Chithrananda	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0763515661
Samantha Agalawattha	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider	0701271154
M.B. Marasingha	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0778114810
Priyantha Madiwattha	Ranamune & Kadadora	MSME	Agri Tourism	0718166497
W.A.U. Kumarasingha	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0772516851
J.A. Sanath Sanjeewa	Ranamune & Kadadora	MSME,Producer Group, Facilitator Guide	Experience Provider, Facilitator Guide	0775759728
M.K.G. Mallika Abesekara	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0766338528
W.A.R.K. Solamon	Ranamune & Kadadora	MSME	Accommodation Provider	0778732972
W.G. Vijayapala	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0756160406
Sandya Kularathna	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	07865388816
W.G.Hemalatha	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider	0777376773
Athula Pradeep Kumara	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0778767952
R.G. Rathnaweera	Ranamune & Kadadora	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0763876734
G.G. Sarath Jayathilaka	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Experience Provider	0772620106
U.V.D.M. Premathilaka	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood, Site Guide	Food and Beverage, Site Guide	0764517380
K.W. Wajira Lasanthi	Aberdeen Waterfall	MSME	Accommodation Provider	0777838373
A.A. Bisomenike	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0769040459
A.G. Nanda Manawaduge	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0777672067
W.W. Krishanthi Kumari	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0773567136
B.W.G. Jayantha Bandara	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider	0779394168
U.G. Surendra Kumara Ariyadasa	Aberdeen Waterfall	MSME	Accommodation Provider	0775620215
L.A. Weerasingha	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Vehicle Parking	0777113797
Y.G. Sunethra Priyadarshani	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0776489470
R.M.G. Nilanka Neelawala	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Cultural Heritage	0703002668
P.K. Keerthisingha	Aberdeen Waterfall	MSME	Accommodation Provider	0776357679
A.K. Randula Dilakshi Karunasiri	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood, Site Guide	Food and Beverage, Site Guide	0764670147
K.G.D. Anoma Priyadarshani	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0777599148
P.K. Iduwari Hansika	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider, Value added tourism products and services	0701135120
K.J.A. Somawathie	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0768743497
U.G. Sureka Kumari Ariyarathna	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Herbal products	0776904225
Srimathi Leelasena	Aberdeen Waterfall	MSME	Accommodation Provider	0723415697
W. Shriyantha Sujeewa	Aberdeen Waterfall	MSME	Vehicle Parking	0716958219
P.K. Amarakanthi	Aberdeen Waterfall	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider	0766780624
S.M.A. Chamath	Kolapathana Estate	MSME	Agri Tourism	0718702320
S. Gnanasekaram	Kolapathana Estate	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0760818124
M. Moorthi	Kolapathana Estate	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0779324620
S. Kirshnan	Kolapathana Estate	Livelihood	Food and Beverage	0713140420
M.G.T.R.K .Muramudali	Kolapathana Estate	MSME	Agri Tourism	0773815519
D.S. Kumara	Kolapathana Estate	MSME	Accommodation Provider, Agri Tourism	0764445700
S. Saraswathi	Kolapathana Estate	Livelihood	Accommodation Provider	0770697040
H.G. Rohan Anil Kumara	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0715227673
H.G.S.Daham Mihijaya Priyankara	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0788108446
U.H.U. Madukshan Ekanayake	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0788781700
K.W.M. Prasad Jayalath	Kadadora, Ranamune	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0765545537
Asanka Bandara Galagoda	Kadadora, Ranamune	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0760631023
W.G. Dhamith Tharanga	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0752535084
M.M. Viraj Marasinghe	Kadadora, Ranamune	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0740431445
G.G. Madumali Sakunthala	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0764219264
Champika Kumari Weerasuriya	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0769908204
U.G. Suresh Madusanka Sumathirathne	Kadadora, Ranamune	Site Guide	Site Guide	0761533737
P.V.Yuwani Peshala	Kadadora, Ranamune	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0752580030
Sivagami Sundaram Diwan	Kolapathana Estate	Site Guide	Site Guide	0766046758
N.G.M. Prasanna	Kolapathana Estate	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0761373326
Sasi Kumar	Kolapathana Estate	Site Guide	Site Guide	0718899423
M. Diukshan	Kolapathana Estate	Site Guide	Site Guide	0762227599
Pushparaj Sapna	Kolapathana Estate	Site Guide	Site Guide	0742314652
L.R. Chamodi Darshika Gunathilaka	Aberdeen Waterfall	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	074 2912944
W. Shirantha Sujeewa	Aberdeen Waterfall	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0716958219
P.G. Niranjala Sandamali	Aberdeen Waterfall	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0722620106
K.D. Shehan Lakmal	Aberdeen Waterfall	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0775268291
B.W. Sahan Prabash	Aberdeen Waterfall	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0720431384
B.W. Asela Prabhash	Aberdeen Waterfall	Facilitator Guide	Facilitator Guide	0783531977
D.V. Tharushika Madushani	Aberdeen Waterfall	Site Guide	Site Guide	0759918542
U.V. Dushani Madumalika Premathilaka	Aberdeen Waterfall	Site Guide	Site Guide	0729259549

Please note: These businesses are part of the Chrysalis incubation programme and are listed here for your convenience. They are not accredited or endorsed by The Pekoe Trail Organisation.

Travel on the Pekoe Trail is about more than reaching the end of each stage. It is about discovering places you might never find in a guidebook and meeting the people who give this region its heart.

Stay tuned to @thepekoetrailofficial as we share more about these destinations and things to do around them.

Together, these stories show how the Sri Lanka Less Travelled initiative is giving new life to community bases eco tourism in Sri Lanka. By choosing to explore these places, you’re supporting women, youth, and local entrepreneurs who are creating authentic, sustainable tourism for the future.

Stay connected with more stories and updates by following Sri Lanka Less Travelled on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest

The Pekoe Trail Sri Lanka, Serendipity on Foot.

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The pekoe trail

Sri Lanka Less Travelled

Unveiling Sri Lanka’s Hidden Treasures

Sri Lanka Less Travelled: Unveiling Sri Lanka's Hidden Treasures

Kadadora and Ranamune – Nature’s Canvas and History Preserved

Kolapathana Estate – Serenity Redefined

Aberdeen Waterfall – Nature’s Grandeur

Empowerment

Tour Guides

Accommodations

Alongside these destinations, TPTO wants to highlight these small businesses nurtured through the Chrysalis incubation program. These homestays, guesthouses, guides, and service providers are part of the living fabric of the vision of The Pekoe Trail Organisation.

The Pekoe Trail Sri Lanka, Serendipity on Foot.

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