Tea plantations in Sri Lanka's Tea and Hill country, tea plants, trees

Luxury hotel holidays to Sri Lanka's tea country

Luxury holidays to Sri Lanka's tea country: luxury hotel holidays, touring holidays and special interest holidays

An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Sri Lanka’s Tea Country incorporates the best of this diverse and exotic region. Popularly known as the High Tea Country, the temperate highlands of southern central Sri Lanka are wonderfully scenic with stunning mountain and valley vistas almost everywhere you go, and of course, often carpeted in tea bushes. Thanks to the multitude of micro-climates, the landscape is constantly changing, and it is an incredibly beautiful mountain area, worth visiting for the scenery as well as the tea culture. It is also Sri Lanka’s heartland for market gardens and dairy products; endless rows of vegetables and strawberries hug the slopes, vying for space with the tea bushes. Kandy, the royal capital of the hill country is a UNESCO world heritage site, built beside a placid lake surrounded by hills. This is certainly a thriving cultural capital with its universities and centres for Buddhist learning and the arts. Kandy is home to one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites, the ‘Dalada Maligawa’ Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, as well as a number of other historical and cultural places of interest.

The Tea Experience

A visit to a tea factory involves explanation of the tea production process whilst you watch the tea-pluckers work their way along the tea bushes, deftly plucking the tips. There are estates literally everywhere in this area and many open their doors to visitors, giving tours and a chance to sample and purchase the various teas. The road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is lined with picturesque tea-clad hills and is a key link to numerous tea factories and estates. Where to stay: Any hotels in Tea Country (Hill Club, Jetwing St Andrews, Jetwing Warwick Gardens, Ceylon Tea Trails, Bandarawela Hotel or Kirchhayn Bungalow).

The Bogawantalawa Valley

In the 1870s, Scottish planters discovered the hidden Bogawantalawa Valley and proceeded to clear around 4,000 hectares of forest to make way for tea bushes. The Bogawantalawa Planters Club in Dickoya, Maskeliya Cricket Club, the Aldie Arms pub and the tea estate bungalows are legacies of this period of Sri Lanka's heritage. A tale or two can also be revealed at the picturesque Warleigh Church, perched over a fan of tea bushes overlooking Castlereagh Reservoir. 80% of the tea in Bogawantalawa is of Chinese origin (from an area called Tientsin), the rest is Indian. In the Norwood area, they produce Udawatta tea, and Ranwatta, a golden pick-me-up tea that can be drunk at any time of day.
Where to stay: Ceylon Tea Trails, a collection of bungalows offering luxurious living in High Tea Country.

Sri Pada (Adam's Peak)

At 2,243 metres above sea level, this rugged summit is claimed to be the imprint of the Buddha's footprint. Pilgrims of all four Sri Lankan faiths make the ascent on foot to the peak for different reasons, though it has been an essentially Buddhist place of worship for over a thousand years. The peak is clouded over for most of the year, though clear weather is more likely between December and March, in the early morning. This is a strenuous 3-hour (plus) climb on a well-marked path, mostly steps. We would recommend that you start walking in the middle of the night to arrive at the summit for sunrise.
Where to stay: Ceylon Tea Trails, a collection of colonial bungalows located 1 hour's drive from the start of the walk.

Nuwara Eliya

The ‘Little England' of Sri Lanka is set against beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. It is one of the coolest places in the island with high rainfall, and really feels just like an English spring day (16-20C), although the temperature does drop at night (can be around 10C). Nuwara Eliya is full of British influences with houses like country cottages or Queen Anne style mansions. Things to do in Nuwara Eliya include playing golf at the scenic 18-hole golf course complete with quaint Clubhouse; dining at The Hill Club which is like stepping back in time to British colonial days; and strolling and birdwatching in Victoria Park in the middle of town. Nuwara Eliya is famous for its trotting horse races which take place throughout the year, with the main event being held is in April. Whilst seasons are absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, in Nuwara Eliya flowers bloom in springtime (March to May) and autumn (August and September), which is when low-country folk flock here to escape the sea level heat and humidity. To the north of the Nuwara Eliya town rises Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka, its peak at 2,524m above sea level.
Where to stay: Jetwing St Andrews, a comfortable hotel full of colonial charm; or The Hill Club, a nostalgic step back in time in a mock-tudor mansion.

Around Ambewela

Heading south from Nuwara Eliya you come to Hakgala Botanical Gardens and a minor road climbing to Ambewela. The scenery is one of market gardens, tiny roadside villages, waterfalls, majestic mountains and, of course, tea plantations. Ambewela district is also known as the ‘milk country.' There is a dairy where you can sample cheeses and the area is littered with back-garden cattle sheds and dairy farms. Hakgala Botanical Gardens was founded in 1860 by the British botanist Dr Thwaites, the superintendent of the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. Hakgala was initially used to experiment with cinchona, whose bark yielded quinine, esteemed as a tonic and a remedy for malaria. The cool, temperate climate was conducive to the introduction of temperate zone plants so cedars, cypresses and pines, English oak and a Rose garden can still be seen in the park today. Special attractions here are the mountain orchids, many of them endemic to Sri Lanka, and the Fernery. The nearby Sita Eliya Temple is believed to mark the spot where Sita, the heroine from the Indian epic Ramayana, was held captive by her abductor, King Ravana.
Where to stay: Jetwing Warwick Gardens, a tea estate bungalow set amidst stunning majestic mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

We usually recommend four to six nights in the hill country, divided between two bases, because the region is larger and more varied than it first appears and the roads are slow. Kandy, the last royal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city, is the natural first stop, and one or two nights there allow time for the Temple of the Tooth and the surrounding temples and gardens. Beyond Kandy, the high tea country falls into three distinct areas, and the choice between them shapes the character of the stay. The Hatton and Dickoya district, around the Castlereagh reservoir and the Bogawantalawa valley, is the most secluded and is home to several of the finest planters' bungalows. Nuwara Eliya, at around 1,900 metres, is the old colonial hill station, with its golf course, clubs and nearby Horton Plains. Further east, Ella and Bandarawela, in the Uva region, are drier and sunnier, with dramatic views over the lowlands. Kandy is three and a half to four hours from Colombo airport; Kandy to Nuwara Eliya takes around two and a half hours, and Nuwara Eliya to Bandarawela between one and a half and two. We will recommend the combination that suits your interests and the rest of your route.

A planter's bungalow is one of the most distinctive ways to stay anywhere in Sri Lanka, and for many of our clients it is the part of the holiday they remember most clearly. These are the former homes of tea estate managers, many built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, now run as small hotels with a handful of bedrooms, verandahs overlooking the estates, log fires in the evening and food cooked to order by a resident chef. The atmosphere is closer to staying in a well-run private house than in a hotel. Ceylon Tea Trails, near Hatton, comprises several restored bungalows around the Castlereagh reservoir and offers butler service. Goatfell near Kandapola has four bedrooms, Stafford Bungalow at Ragala six, and Nine Skies, on the Demodara Estate near Ella, five. Langdale at Nanu Oya and Governor's Mansion at Dickoya are slightly larger, and Jetwing Warwick Gardens at Ambewela feels like an English country house. Heritance Tea Factory near Nuwara Eliya is a converted working factory, and still makes tea. Evenings are cool, so a warm layer is essential, and roads to some bungalows are narrow and winding. We know these houses individually and will match one to you.

Kandy's centrepiece is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Sri Dalada Maligawa, one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Buddhist world, set within the former royal palace complex beside Kandy Lake. We recommend attending one of the daily offering ceremonies, accompanied by drumming, when the inner shrine is opened and the temple is filled with worshippers bringing flowers. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and white clothing is customary. The walk around the lake, the old royal buildings and the colonial streets of the centre are best explored on foot. A short drive outside the city leads to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, with their avenue of royal palms, spice garden and orchid house, and to the fourteenth-century temples of Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and Embekke, the last known for its intricately carved wooden pillars. An evening performance of Kandyan drumming and dance is worth seeing once. Kandy itself is busy and congested, so most of our recommended hotels lie in the quieter hills around it: Kings Pavilion, Theva Residency, Taylor's Hill, Ellerton Bungalow and Rosyth Estate House among them. For those who prefer to be in town, Hotel Suisse overlooks the lake and offers easy access to the temple on foot.

Yes, for most clients the railway is a highlight, provided it is approached as an experience rather than as efficient transport. The line was built by the British in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to carry tea down to Colombo, and it climbs from Kandy through Hatton, Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya), Haputale and Ella to Badulla, through tunnels, past waterfalls and along hillsides covered in tea. The most scenic stretch lies between Hatton or Nanu Oya and Ella, which takes around three to four hours, and includes the high point of the line at Pattipola and, near Ella, the stone Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara. Carriages are simple rather than luxurious, trains can run late, and reserved seats in the observation and first-class carriages are in heavy demand and released only a short time before travel, so we arrange tickets as early as the system allows. The great advantage of travelling with us is that your driver-guide takes your luggage by road and meets you at the station, so you can enjoy the journey with only a day bag. For those who prefer not to take the full journey, a shorter section of an hour or two gives a good flavour.

The best way is to stay on an estate and spend time with the people who manage it, rather than relying on a single roadside factory visit. Tea came to Ceylon after a blight destroyed the coffee plantations in the 1860s and 1870s, and the first commercial estate was planted by James Taylor at Loolecondera, near Kandy, in 1867. Today, Ceylon tea is broadly classified by elevation, and the high-grown teas of Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva each have their own character; tasting them side by side, with a planter or tea maker explaining the differences, is illuminating. An early-morning visit to a working factory, when the fresh leaf arrives and the withering and rolling begin, shows the process at its most interesting, and many estates welcome visitors to walk among the pluckers on the hillsides. The Bogawantalawa valley, around Dickoya and Norwood, preserves much of the planter era, with its clubs, estate bungalows and the small Warleigh Church above the Castlereagh reservoir. Our planters' bungalows often arrange estate walks, factory visits and tastings for their guests, and at Heritance Tea Factory you can try your hand at plucking and making your own tea. Your driver-guide will also stop at smaller family-run estates along the way.

The hill country offers the best walking in Sri Lanka, from gentle estate paths to serious climbs, and the cool climate makes it far more comfortable than elsewhere on the island. The most famous is Sri Pada, or Adam's Peak, a 2,243-metre summit revered by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike. The ascent is a strenuous three hours or more on a well-marked path, almost entirely of steps, usually begun in the middle of the night to reach the summit for sunrise; the pilgrimage season runs from December to May, when the weather is clearest. Horton Plains National Park, a high plateau of grassland and cloud forest that forms part of the Central Highlands World Heritage Site, has a circular walk of around nine kilometres to World's End, where the escarpment drops sharply, and Baker's Falls. It should be started at dawn, as mist usually closes the view by mid-morning. Around Ella, the short climb to Little Adam's Peak is manageable for most and rewards with wide views, while the Knuckles range north-east of Kandy suits keen walkers with guided trails through forest and villages. Many planters' bungalows also arrange walks between estates. We will match the walking to your fitness and ensure a guide where appropriate.

The climate varies sharply with altitude, which is one of the region's pleasures. Kandy, at around 500 metres, is warm and fairly humid, with daytime temperatures in the mid to high twenties and cooler evenings. In the high tea country above 1,200 metres, days are mild, typically in the low to mid twenties, and nights can fall to around 10°C at Nuwara Eliya, so a jumper or light jacket is needed. The driest months are broadly December to April, with September also usually dry. Rain falls in May to July and again in October and November, and conditions can differ markedly from one valley to the next, with Uva, around Ella and Bandarawela, often drier than the western slopes. The most important festival is the Kandy Esala Perahera, held over ten nights in July or August around the Esala full moon, when processions of drummers, dancers and richly decorated elephants pass through the city, culminating with the tusker carrying the casket of the sacred relic. It is a memorable sight, but hotels fill a year or more ahead and prices rise. In April, Nuwara Eliya's season, around the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, brings horse racing, flower shows and crowds from Colombo. We will advise on dates when planning your holiday.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Sri Lanka and within Sri Lanka, combining flights, rail, and private transfers

Our special interest holidays to Tea Country

● Cultural tours for individuals
● Cookery
● Visits to local festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Safari and wildlife experiences
● Scenic train travel
● Family holidays
● Eco experiences
● Ayurveda and other spa holidays
● Walking and cycling
● Bird-watching
● Garden visits

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Highlights of Tea Country

Kandy market; Kandy area – handicrafts villages and workshops – brass, musical instruments, basket weaving, batik, painting; Kandy evening cultural show; Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage; Peradeniya Botanical Gardens; Mahaweli River and Victoria Dam; Tea estates; Drive to Nuwara Eliya and around the tea plantations, visiting a tea factory; Hantana mountain and Hantana tea plantations - walks and museum; Buddhist sites near Kandy – Gadaladeniya, Hindagala Vihara, Embekke Divale, Lankatilake; Mahiyangana – Rajamaha dagoba; Aluvihara Buddhist temple; Aluvihara Heritage Centre (Ena de Silva batik art and workshop and Sri Lankan rice & curry lunch); Knuckles Mountain Range - scenic drives and walking; Rubber plantations; Spice farms; Rail journey to Tea Country; Relaxing in the lush tropical hills; Treat your body, mind and soul to a programme of Ayurvedic massage and herbal treatments; Golf at the Victoria Golf course; Riding at Victoria Saddle Club; Walking and trekking; Cycling; White water rafting at Kitulgala.

Cultural highlights of Tea Country

Places of interest in Kandy include the Temple of the Tooth, the sacred Buddhist site which holds the tooth of Lord Buddha which is said to have been brought from India in the third century. The Temple lies within the Royal Palace complex along with the National Museum, the Audience Hall and a museum dedicated to the famous elephant, Raja. British legacies remain in central Kandy, in the form of grand old buildings and hotels, St Paul’s Church and Royal Palace Park. It is possible to walk most of the way around the lake besides which Kandy is built, where you can see the Royal Bathing Pavilion and the royal summerhouse which is on an island in the centre of the lake.). There is a lively market and a plethora of shops, gem showrooms and arts & crafts workshops. There are also several nightly cultural shows that showcase traditional Kandyan drumming, music and dance and the city boasts a fine international cricket stadium. Other highlights of the region include Pinnawela elephant orphanage where abandoned or injured elephants are cared for; Nuwara Eliya, a hill town with many British influences; the mountainous scenery and tea plantations around Ambewela and Bandarawela; the Highland Railway between Kandy and Badulla; and Tea Experience and Tea museums, an essential part of any visit to this part of Sri Lanka.

Festivals in Tea Country

Kandy - Esala Perahera Festival - July or August (depending on the date of the Esala full moon). This spectacular cultural pageant is held over 10 days with the processions and celebrations getting more elaborate and longer each day. Although in ancient times this was a procession to honour Hindu gods, during the reign of King Rajasinghe it was decreed that the procession should be in honour the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. Each night, dancers, drummers, flute players, whip-crackers and elephants form a procession around the streets and Kandy lake. The ornately decorated elephants increase daily in number to 100 on the last night, the finest of them being the Maligawa Tusker which carries the Sacred Tooth Relic, led by the Chiefs of the Temple in traditional silver and gold ceremonial dress.
The Nuwara Eliya season runs from April to June. Horse racing in High Tea Country (trotting) in January, February, April, August and December. Bandarawela Perahera on full moon day in June.

Climate in Tea Country

Climate in Kandy: The daytime temperatures in Kandy and the surrounding hills range from around 22° C to 31° C, with cooler evenings averaging 17° C. It is fairly humid and misty in the evenings with short outbursts of rain. Heavier rainfalls occur during the south-west monsoon from May to August.
Climate in the High Tea Country: At an elevation of above 4,000 feet the climate is cooler and less humid with cool mornings, warm days and cool evenings. Daytime temperatures are in the low to mid 20s Celsius and at nights can drop to around 10° C. The driest part of the year is between December and April, and September is normally quite dry. The rainy season is May, June and July, and October and November due to the north-east, south-west and intermediate monsoons, and July is generally the coldest month. February and March are usually dry and around 20° C. Micro-climates exist from valley to valley. The weather at Warwick Gardens, for example, is around 16° C at night and can reach 26° C during the day, whilst the temperature at Bandarawela goes from 12° C to 20° C.

Tea Country travel information

Sri Lankan Airways operates daily flights to Colombo from London Heathrow. Most flights leave London in the afternoon or evening. Flight time is about 11 hours. From Colombo you can also take the Sri Lankan air taxi to regional centres throughout the country.

Travel around the region

We include private transfers with all our holidays to Sri Lanka, and a personal chauffer with all our touring holidays. Driving Distances: Colombo International Airport (100 kms) or Colombo (115 kms) to Kandy – 3.5 to 4 hours, Kandy to Nuwara Eliya – 2.5 hours (77 kms), Kandy to Sigiriya – 3 hours (90 kms), Kandy to Galle – 6 hours (230 kms), Kandy to Wadduwa – 4 hours (150 kms), Colombo International Airport to Nuwara Eliya – 5 hours (170 kms), Colombo International Airport to Dickoya – 4.5 hours (160 kms), Kandy to Nuwara Eliya – 2.5 hours (77 kms), Nuwara Eliya to Tangalle – 6 hours (210 kms), Nuwara Eliya to Galle – 8 hours (290 kms), Nuwara Eliya to Bentota – 7 hours (240 kms), Nuwara Eliya to Bandarawela - 1.5 to 2 hours, 47 kms, Nuwara Eliya to Colombo – 5 to 6 hours (180 kms).

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

Our special interest holidays to Tea Country

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Here you will find a map of Tea and Hill Country showing the locations of the hotels that we offer

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

Our special interest holidays to Tea Country

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday