Ceylon Tea Trails
Ceylon Tea Trails is the world’s first tea bungalow resort, perched at an altitude of 1250 metres in Sri Lanka’s panoramic Ceylon tea region, bordering the UNESCO World Heritage Central Highlands. This award-winning boutique resort comprises of five restored colonial era tea planters’ bungalows, offering period furnishings, exquisite butler service & gourmet cuisine. Bungalows vary from 4 to 6 rooms & suites; 27 rooms in all. Book an individual room or a group could reserve a complete bungalow.
Each of the five bungalows is unique - lakeside Castlereagh. Summerville & Dunkeld, Norwood with panoramic views and Tientsin, the most traditional colonial.
This is the ideal setting for trekking and biking against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, lakes, winding roads and waterfalls. Those who seek indulgence could simply observe life on a working tea estate while being pampered by your personal butler, choose a spa treatment, croquet on the lawn or sunbathe alongside the pool.
Rates are fully inclusive. Everything is included - meals, snacks, wines, spirits, soft drinks, laundry, Wi-Fi, local telephone calls and the signature “Tea Experience" tea fields & factory tour with our Tea Planter in Residence. A minimum 2 nights’ stay is requested.
How to get to Tea Trails
Ceylon Tea Trails is situated south of Hatton in the Dickoya and Bogawantalawa region of the hill country in south-central Sri Lanka. Most guests come by private car either as part of a bigger exploration around Sri Lanka. The nearest major town is Hatton, which is 20 minutes away from the nearest bungalow, Summerville, and 45 minutes from the farthest, Tientsin. There is a railway station in Hatton with services to Colombo, Kandy and Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) The train journey from Kandy is very picturesque.
Distances
Colombo Airport 160 km 4.5 hours, Colombo 130 km 4 hours, Nuwara Eliya 48 km 1.50 hours, Kandy 68 km 2.5 hours.
Weather
As Tea Trails is at an elevation of 4000 feet, the climate is cooler and less humid than in Colombo and on the coast. Typically, cool mornings, warm days and cool evenings. Daytime temperatures are comfortable in the low to mid 20’s C and at night can drop to 10c hence the fire places in all bungalows. The driest part of the year is between December and April. June-July and October-November are wetter months due to the monsoon.
Bungalow Information
The five bungalows are between 4 km and 15 km apart. Rooms are named after former British estate managers who lived in the bungalow. Master Suites have living areas and private gardens (no private garden at Tientsin), Garden Suites have tranquil private gardens. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with twin washbasins and a traditional bathtub & shower. Many have separate walk in showers.
Norwood Bungalow
Built 1890 rebuilt 1950, altitude 1310 meters 6 bedrooms, Swimming pool, summer house, croquet, conservatory, library, garden dining, in-room spa treatments.
Castlereagh Bungalow
Built 1925, altitude 1227 meters 5 bedrooms Swimming pool, summerhouses, croquet, library, garden dining, in-room spa treatments.
Summerville Bungalow
Built 1923, altitude 1219 meters 5 bedrooms Swimming pool, summer house, sunbathing deck, garden dining, in-room spa treatments.
Tientsin Bungalow
Built 1888, altitude 1402 meters 6 bedrooms Swimming pool, tennis court, library, garden dining, in-room spa treatments.
Dunkeld Bungalow
Built 1925, restored 2015, altitude 1402 meters, 5 bedrooms, swimming pool, library, garden dining, in-room spa treatments.
Activities
Since the bungalows are on working tea estates, guests will see first hand how the famous Ceylon tea is made: how the two leaves and a bud are harvested by hand in the fields and freshly processed in the nearby factories, in a traditional manufacturing process unchanged for a century. A complimentary daily tour is provided. We provide guides and equipment for white water rafting, mountain biking, guided walks and other excursions. Golf is available at either Nuwara Eliya, one of the highest courses in Asia, or at the Victoria course near Kandy. Both are about two hours away.