When we started The Pekoe Trail, it was designed as a walking trail—a space for hikers to experience the beauty of Sri Lanka’s tea country on foot, uninterrupted by motorized traffic. Recent activity on the trail has made it clear that we need to reinforce this fundamental principle.

The Pekoe Trail is governed by agreements with Tea Companies and Government Agencies, which strictly define the terms of access. These agreements recognize that estate roads, which are maintained by tea companies at their own cost, have one primary function: to transport tea leaf to factories. The only motorized vehicles permitted on these trails are those used specifically for estate operations and are allowed solely at the discretion of the Tea Companies.

Hikers have been granted walking access only—not vehicle access of any kind. The increasing use of motorcycles, ATVs, and other unauthorized motorized vehicles not only violates these agreements but also presents serious safety risks, disturbs the environment, and diminishes the very experience that makes the Pekoe Trail special.

We urge our trail community to respect this core principle. Unauthorized motorized vehicle use:

• Jeopardizes the agreements that allow the trail to exist.
• Poses safety hazards to hikers.
• Disrupts the peace and serenity of the tea country experience.
• Causes erosion and environmental damage.

The Pekoe Trail Organization does not permit, endorse, or tolerate the recreational use of motorized vehicles on the trail, apart from estate operations.

A Final Note on Experience:

Hiking the Pekoe Trail is not just about traversing a landscape—it is about immersing in the life and rhythm of the working tea estates. Encountering an estate truck or tea plucker’s tractor is part of this experience; encountering motorcycles and off-road vehicles that have no functional role in estate operations is not.

We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and local communities in preserving the integrity of the Pekoe Trail.

Let’s keep this trail wild, peaceful, and safe—just as it was meant to be.

“The Pekoe Trail Organization”