Hill Country
Hill Country
In our opinion, Hill Country is the most magical part of the entire country, and the train journey from Colombo up into the winding hills is one of the best in the world.
Sitting in the observation deck of the old, colonial British train as it slowly snakes its way up into the hills is a truly wonderful experience. Tea plantations are scattered through the area and you can wave to women picking tea leaves as you pass by. The temperatures drop the higher you get, and as the mist rolls in it’s as if you’re in another country entirely.
The Ceylon Tea Trails is in the heart of Hill Country and one of our favourite and most popular luxury properties with a collection of bungalows, incredible service, and stunning grounds. Popular activities in this region include tea plantation visits, hiking up Adam’s Peak, and simply relaxing with a book as you look over the hills and valleys. If you love trains and don’t mind extending your ride, go as far as Ella, a little hidden gem that has beautiful trails and is one of the most peaceful places we’ve been to.
Our favourite itineraries in Hill Country
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From $3,130 pp
Undiscovered Sri Lanka
Colombo Hill Country Cultural Triangle Eastern Province
In this 13 day itinerary you will discover the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and explore the cultures, landscapes and astonishing archeological sites that have shaped Sri Lanka’s history. Immerse yourself in the spiriitual heart of Sri Lanka with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth, one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
- Enjoy one of the world’s most scenic train journeys from the Tea Country to Kandy
- Discover Sri Lanka’s most revered Buddhist site, the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy
- Marvel at the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Cultural Triangle
- Relax on the pristine, white-sand beaches of Trincomalee
- Enjoy a guided photography tour of Colombo before dinner in a renowned seafood restaurant
When to go:
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From $7,240 pp
Classic Sri Lanka
Colombo Hill Country Cultural Triangle Sri Lankan Safaris Galle Fort
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See the ancient city of Anuradhapura and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the Cultural Triangle
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Head on a safari searching for elephants, black bears, monkeys, and the elusive Sri Lankan leopard
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Visit a working tea plantation in the heart of the Hill Country
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Unwind on the beaches of the south-coast
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Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle Fort
When to go:
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From $4,500 pp
Tea Plantations and Coastal Hideaways
Sri Lanka is a fascinating country with plenty to see and do. You could spend weeks traversing the teardrop-shaped island, but with this nine-day itinerary we focus on two of the Sri Lanka’s most memorable and uniquely beautiful areas: its misty tea plantations and tranquil southern beaches.
- Experience one of the loveliest train journeys in the world, from Colombo up to the Hill Country
- Explore the countryside surrounding Ceylon Tea Trails
- Spot blue whales and dolphins from the coastal town of Mirissa
- Wander through the streets of Galle Fort, shopping for local artwork
- Go on a day trip to Yala National Park to look for Sri Lankan leopard
When to go:
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From $7,560 pp
From Cultural Sri Lanka to Paradise in the Maldives
Hill Country Galle Fort Southern Beaches Maldives
- Enjoy a scenic train ride between Colombo and the Central Highlands
- Learn the age-old tea-making process and at Tea Trails plantation
- Go whale and dolphin watching from Mirissa in southern Sri Lanka
- Explore the underwater world of the Maldives
- Relax on the pristine beaches of the Maldives
When to go:
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Our favourite hotels
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Stafford Bungalow
Stafford Bungalow is nestled on a 50-acre working tea plantation overlooking the mountains, near the hill station of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Built by Scottish planters in 1884 and restored in 2013, there’s plenty of space and two large verandas with views of the verdant landscape. Offering warm hospitality, impeccable service and charming accommodation, Stafford...
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Thotalagala
High above the plains of southeast Sri Lanka, Thotalagala balances on the edge of an escarpment on the Dambatenne tea estate bought and planted by Sir Thomas Lipton, one of the towering figures in the history of Ceylon’s tea industry. Thotalagala is a beacon of beauty and a feat of restoration, a colonial tea planter’s bungalow returned to glory in one of the finest tea growing regions in the...
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Ceylon Tea Trails
Located in the middle of Sri Lanka’s stunning Hill Country, Ceylon Tea Trails offers up four exquisite plantation bungalows. The historic bungalows, originally built for tea estate managers in the days of the Raj, have been restored to provide guests with the unique experience of life on a working tea estate. Each property is home to four to six rooms. Maintaining a distinct colonial...
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Camellia Hills
Sit atop Sri Lanka’s western hill country and take in the unmatched panoramic splendour of emerald tea bushes at Camellia Hills. The hotel prides itself as a member of the prestigious Sri Lankan Collection, representing the country’s finest hotels. The property itself is a contemporary bungalow built in consideration of how a tea planter might live today. With only five exclusive rooms...
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Similar destinations
Galle Fort
Galle Fort, located a short 1.5-hour drive from the capital Colombo, is a favourite of ours for its colourful history, beautiful jewelery shops, and gorgeous sunsets over the Fort walls.
Cultural Triangle
An upside down scalene triangle with its lower point aiming south at the medieval city of Kandy. Northeast lies ancient Polonnaruwa forming the triangle’s right point, and northwest the magnificent ruins of Anuradhapura act as the final point.
Southern Beaches
Sri Lanka's south coast is as long as it is stunning. Drive along the narrow, single road that hugs the coast and pass by beach after beautiful beach.
