If you’re staying in Ella and want one properly rewarding half-day hike, the Pekoe Trail Ella stage, officially Stage 16 of the island-wide route, is worth building into your trip. It starts in the town itself, runs through forest and tea country, and passes directly by Newburgh Ella on its way to Demodara. This guide covers what the walk actually involves, how long to set aside, and how to make the most of it if you’re basing yourself at the resort.
Where the Pekoe Trail Ella Stage Begins and Ends
Stage 16 is one of 22 stages that make up the Pekoe Trail, a 300km-plus walking route through Sri Lanka’s central highlands. This particular stage runs from Ella to Demodara, and it’s widely considered one of the most accessible and popular sections of the whole trail.
The walk typically starts at Ella town or Ella Railway Station, following Passara Road before branching off into the Ella Forest Reserve. From there, the route climbs and descends through forest, village roads, and tea estates before finishing near Demodara, where the well-known spiral railway loop is located.
What You’ll See Along the Way
The stage is short by Pekoe Trail standards, but it packs in a lot:
- Ella Forest Reserve: The first stretch of the walk runs through shaded forest, a welcome change of pace before the more open sections later on.
- Nine Arch Bridge: Around two kilometres in, the trail reaches the bridge, crossing it before continuing along village paths that offer several different vantage points back towards it.
- Village roads and local homes: After the bridge, the trail climbs through a small village, passing local houses and, at points, offering fresh juice from families along the route.
- Newburgh Ella and the surrounding tea estate: The trail passes the junction where Newburgh Ella’s converted tea factory stands, before continuing into the Demodara Tea Estate for the final descent.
- Demodara: The stage ends near Demodara Station, home to the spiral railway loop, one of the more unusual pieces of colonial-era railway engineering in the country.
Distance, Difficulty and Timing
Trail-tracking sources put Stage 16 at somewhere between 8.5 and 9.5km, taking roughly three hours to complete at a comfortable pace. It’s generally rated easy to moderate, with a fair amount of up and down rather than one long climb, so reasonable fitness is enough; you don’t need technical hiking experience.
Most people walk it as a one-way, point-to-point route rather than there and back. From Demodara, you can arrange a pickup, take a tuk-tuk, or catch the train back towards Ella, so it’s worth checking the current railway timetable before you set off.
Practical Tips for Hiking Stage 16
A few things worth sorting out before you go:
- Trail pass: The Pekoe Trail requires an official pass, obtainable through the trail’s own website, so arrange this ahead of time rather than at the trailhead.
- Water: Cafés and shops near Ella and the Nine Arch Bridge sell water, but it’s sensible to carry at least a litre or two, particularly if you’re walking during the warmer part of the day.
- Footwear: The terrain mixes forest paths, village roads, and estate tracks, so proper walking shoes make a real difference over loose stones and uneven ground.
- Timing: An early start avoids both the heat and the crowds at the Nine Arch Bridge, which gets busy with photographers and day-trippers as the morning goes on.
If you’d like a wider view of what else is worth doing in the area beyond this one hike, our guide to things to do in Ella covers the rest of the estate and the surrounding region.
Making Newburgh Ella Your Base for the Trail
Because the Pekoe Trail Ella route runs directly past the property, Newburgh Ella works well as a start and end point for the walk rather than something you have to travel to first. A few things about the property are worth knowing if you’re planning around the hike:
- Rooms are set across three tea-grade tiers, Bronze Tips, Silver Tips, and Gold Tips, all with private balconies looking out over the Ella Gap, a good spot to rest once you’re back.
- The SKY observation deck gives a wide view over the tea valleys and the Gap, well suited to an evening spent recovering with a view rather than heading straight back out.
- If tea is more your thing than trekking, the Leaf to Cup experience lets you pluck tea on the working estate and tour the century-old factory on the days you’re not walking.
- Check-in is from 2:00pm and check-out at 12:00 noon, worth factoring in if you’re timing the hike around your stay.
Ready to Walk Stage 16?
Whether the Pekoe Trail is the whole reason for your trip or just one good morning out of several, staying somewhere that sits right on the route saves you the transfer time and gives you somewhere comfortable to return to. Newburgh Ella’s rooms, tea estate, and views over the Gap make it a natural base for the walk and everything else Ella has to offer.
