PEKOE TRAIL CHAMPIONS

Leading the Way in Sri Lanka’s Tea Trails

There’s an undeniable beauty to the lush, terraced hills of Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands. This is tea country. For centuries, vast fortunes have been cultivated here. And yet, the local families who have farmed and processed the land’s prized Ceylon leaves have found themselves with very little to show for their labor.

Today, tourism is providing another path. The same hills that drew the tea barons of the past are now calling travellers to hike the maze of trails that wind amid these soaring landscapes. This influx of tourism has created a demand for skilled trail guides and new opportunities for Hatton’s impoverished workforce.

To help bridge this gap, AKP partnered with the Pekoe Trail Organization in 2024 to launch a three-day training program for trail guide recruits from the Hatton area. After a first aid class administered by the Sri Lanka Red Cross, two days of intensive field training and an evaluation process, four men and three women graduated to become AKP Trail Champions — trail guides equipped with all the gear and knowledge it takes to launch a gainful new career in the tourism industry.

These seven freelance trekking guides now accompany hikers on Stages 7 and 8 of the Central Highlands’ renowned Pekoe Trail, contracting their expert services to A&K, other reputable tour operators and independent travellers alike. Along the trek, the Trail Champions also foster a greater awareness of local wildlife conservation, particularly the plight of the region’s leopards.

Looking forward, AKP plans to train more Trail Champions and grow their reach beyond the Pekoe Trail network, creating even more opportunities for gainful employment through tourism.

"Thank you for all the training you provided. It has truly improved my work and given me the confidence to serve guests better. Today, I had the opportunity to guide guests from your company on the Pekoe Trail. I gave my best service, and I am happy to share that the guests were very satisfied and even gave me a $120 tip! I believe this was possible because of the skills and knowledge I gained from your training."

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Rathnasingam Dharsharuban, Trail Champion