Sunday Times 2
Record-breaking hike highlights Pekoe Trail’s role in sustainable tourism and community development
View(s):The Pekoe Trail witnessed a historic milestone as guide Ayesh Buddhika and adventurer Michelle Pinkowski completed the trail in record-breaking hiking time. Covering 323 kilometers with over 11,000 meters of elevation gain, the duo traversed the full 22 stages of the trail in just 10 days, a feat that normally takes hikers weeks to accomplish.
Currently, only a few dozen people in the world have completed the entire trail. The fastest known time is held by ultramarathon trail runner Hyun Chang Chung, who finished his run on 27 January, 2023 in only 59 hours. The previous record for hiking was held by mountaineer Johann Peiris, who completed his hike in 13 days.
 The duo at one of the stations |  Community interaction |  Mentoring the next generation of guides |
Ayesh and Michelle co-designed and volunteered for this speed hike to raise awareness and funds for The Pekoe Trail Organisation, which oversees the trail’s management and maintenance. The duo aimed to draw attention to the trail’s value as a cultural and ecological asset while supporting efforts to preserve its accessibility for future generations. The challenge highlights the trail’s potential to boost sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka and benefit local communities.
Ayesh, a licensed guide and the only person to have completed the trail three times, says, “I wanted to do this hike to show the world that our country has the potential to lead the way in sustainable tourism and offer a world-class hiking experience. This trail is a national treasure and needs to be nurtured and maintained and is the future of a whole new brand of tourism.”
“This trail was transformative for me the first time and I wanted to share it with others. Making sure The Pekoe Trail Organisation can achieve its mission of maintaining the trail is so important for Sri Lanka tourism and the benefit of communities along the trail,” says Michelle, the only other person and female to complete the trail two times.
Aitken Spence Travels were the logistical partner.