TikaWeeks #26/2023: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 27th June 2023
Nothing is set in stone so if your itinerary or quote isn’t exactly what you are looking for then please get back to us to discuss options before choosing an alternative – we are the tailor-made travel specialist to Sri Lanka and Maldives and strive to get it right for you. Finessing itineraries and value for money are our priorities so please always contact us before making a decision and we will do our utmost best to ensure your holiday suits your plans and budget.
How do you choose between different travel companies and the itineraries/quotes being offered when deciding on your holiday to Sri Lanka? How much are special experiences worth? What makes a Tikalanka holiday different to the herd?
To start with all of our itineraries are tailor-made to your own interests and requirements – you choose the type of accommodation, sightseeing trips and activities, and ideal budget as well as how long you stay and when you travel. Itineraries are modified until you have the perfect holiday plan. If you don’t see everything you are looking for in an initial itinerary then please get back to us and we will be more than happy to make revisions until it is exactly what you want.
From booking to returning from holiday, we provide a comprehensive support network in the UK, Sri Lanka and Maldives. In addition, one of our expert Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority-licensed chauffeur guides will be your driver and guide during your holiday who will definitely enhance your overall experience of the island – don’t take it from me, please take a look at our recent holiday feedback
Social responsibility and environmental sustainability are core values of Tikalanka which are central tenets of our Responsible Travel policy. We are recommended by ResponsibleTravel.com, the pioneer of responsible travel since 2001, support Travellers Animal Alert, the global animal welfare campaign of the Born Free Foundation, and we are a member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance.
And we offer financial protection for flight-inclusive and accommodation-only holidays through our partner company. So come and join the Tikalanka family by booking a holiday of a lifetime with us NOW!
The Pekoe Trail – Stage 13: Haputale to St. Catherine’s
This stage is a very scenic section of The Pekoe Trail, taking you from Haputale to one of the tea country's better-known landmarks, the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate from where Sir Thomas Lipton, the renowned tea magnate, surveyed his favourite tea estates – the panoramic views of mountains and rivers are truly breath-taking. This 13.5-km stage, which includes 760 metres of ascent and 315 metres of descent, should take 3 to 3.5 hours.
The initial 500 metres of the trail is on the main Bandarawela road out of Haputale and, at the Post Office, turn right up to the Forestry Department office and bungalow. On passing the bungalow, peel off to the right at the signboard, which takes you for a kilometre or so through a cool forest reserve – ideal for walking uphill in the shade – and onto a tea estate road.
After 2.2 km, take the steps up for approximately 100 metres before following the smaller track to the right as you look up to the mountain above. You are now entering another valley, the Thotalagala - Dambatenne Valley, and the famous viewpoint, Lipton’s Seat, is directly across the valley in front of you.
The trail gradually descends for 300 metres before climbing again following a well-marked and rather attractive tea trail of the organic tea-producing estate, Green Field. After 5 km, leave the wider trail and take a left onto a much narrower track for the next 6 km, following another well-marked and more or less flat path. The views across the valley to Lipton’s Seat are fabulous.
At 11 km, there is a much steeper climb to the top of the mountain with a telecom tower on the top, which is a similar elevation to Lipton’s Seat. The high-elevation plateau is covered in green tea fields and a few scattered villages. The stage ends at St. Catherine’s, the first tea plantation of the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate, at an altitude of 1875 metres.
Lipton’s Seat is another 3-km walk across the plateau and, close to the top, an entrance fee must be paid (LKR100). On a clear day, you can see as far as Udawalawe National Park and almost the entirety of Uva Province.
Categories: Financial protection, Sri Lanka, Sustainability
« All articles
