Tea Trails

Top choice in The Hill Country


Tea Trails comprises a collection of five stunning colonial-style residences built for British tea plantation managers. Completely refurbished, the bungalows each has four to six large bedrooms, spacious dining and living areas, and verandas and gardens with views over rolling tea estates. 'Summerville' is very special indeed as it's located on a spit of land that juts into the Castlereigh Reservoir.

Rates are all-inclusive, even laundry. Western and Sri Lankan meals are prepared by a resident chef, along with complimentary drinks (yes, that means alcohol, and single-estate teas). There are self-guided walks through the region's tea-carpeted hills. All bungalows are well stocked with fine books to browse. And after a gourmet dinner, sipping a single malt whisky around your bungalow’s log fire is one of Sri Lanka's unique experiences.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Hill Country attractions

1. Classic Car Museum

14.13 MILES

It's more of a hotel garage than a museum, but this fine collection of classic cars is well worth a peek. Just buy a drink at the hotel and someone will…

2. Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Factory

14.37 MILES

On the A5, 11km northwest of Nuwara Eliya, the Labookellie Tea Factory is a convenient factory to visit as it’s right on the roadside. Its tours are very…

3. Buddhist Temple

14.56 MILES

Located just south of Victoria Park, this temple has a small white stupa.

4. Victoria Park

14.65 MILES

This is one of the country's most attractive, and best-maintained, town parks. A stroll around its paths, past manicured lawns, is a pleasure. The park…

5. Blue Field Tea Estate

14.83 MILES

This large tea estate is 20km north of Nuwara Eliya. Short tours are offered and there's a decent restaurant here too. Blue Field Tea Estate has no…

6. Lake Gregory

14.93 MILES

This lake is popular with domestic tourists who enjoy strolling the footpaths, taking out a swan-shaped pedal boat (30 minutes Rs 500) or trotting around…

7. Galway's Land National Park

15.2 MILES

One of Sri Lanka's newest (2006) and smallest (29 sq hectares) national parks, Galway's Land is a dense patch of montane forest a couple of kilometres…

8. World’s End

15.86 MILES

The Horton Plains plateau comes to a sudden end at World’s End, a stunning escarpment that plunges 880m. The walk here is 4km, but the trail then loops…