Pekoe Trail Stage 1 Hanthana views and hill country hiking
2 Answers from travellers
Stage 1 is beautiful! As you ascend out of the Ceylon Tea Museum area and hit the Hanthana ridge, the forest opens up to sprawling tea estates. On a clear morning, you get magnificent panoramic views of Kandy city on one side and the distant Knuckles Mountain Range on the other. Because you are mostly walking on wide dirt estate roads, the leeches are actually very manageable compared to deep jungle trails. Just apply some Siddhalepa balm to your shoes.
Start your hike by 6:30 AM! The Hanthana range tends to pull in heavy cloud cover by midday, completely blocking those incredible Knuckles views.
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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