Hiking the Pekoe Trail with my 10-Year-Old

The Ultimate Father-Son Adventure

13 February 2025

By Mike Davies

I had heard a lot about The Pekoe Trail, but only decided to explore it when I realised I could create a tailor-made journey with Teardrop Hotels. By arranging a seaplane flight into Nuwara Eliya and almost immediately accessing one of the trail’s stages leading to Goatfell, I saw the potential to pack an incredible range of experiences into a short, four-day bank holiday weekend with my son, and two of his school friends from Hong Kong.

From Wallawwa to the Pekoe Trail

Our adventure began with an overnight stay at Wallawwa near Colombo before flying by seaplane to Nuwara Eliya the next morning. From there, we set off on Stage 22 of the Pekoe Trail, hiking directly to Goatfell. The following morning, we took the scenic train to Ella, stayed at Nine Skies, and completed stage 16 of the Pekoe Trail before heading down to the coast for a night of surfing, beach time, and a visit to UNESCO Galle Fort.

A Whirlwind Adventure to Remember

We wrapped up the trip with a late-night flight back to Hong Kong. Whenever I described our itinerary, people couldn’t believe we managed to fit so much into just four full days - we did, and it was a journey my son will never forget.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR TRIP

For me, the seaplane flight was unforgettable – there’s nothing quite like seeing Sri Lanka from the sky. Our Teardrop naturalist guide, Dinesh, was another standout. Over 20 kilometers of hiking with 10-year-olds could have been a challenge, but not once did they get bored. The guide kept them engaged with fascinating insights into the landscape, tea estates, flora, and fauna – they absolutely loved it.

Memorable Experiences and a New Tradition

Once we reached Goatfell and Nine Skies, we indulged in delicious meals, played croquet, enjoyed canapés by the firepit, took part in curry-making lessons, and even tried zip-lining. To round it all off, the kids spent a morning surfing in Weligama, followed by a stop at a jeweler in Galle Fort before heading to the airport. We loved the experience so much that I want to make it an annual tradition - it’s such a wholesome and healthy way to explore this beautiful island. In fact, we were so inspired that we even sponsored one of the Pekoe Trail stages and named it after my son!