Ceylon tea trails

Historic tea-planter bungalows

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Ceylon Trails

Embodying the spirit of hospitality and heritage. Ceylon Tea Trail’s five historic tea bungalows are set in the verdant UNESCO World Heritage Central Highlands. Here, Sri Lanka’s rich history is brought to life surrounded by rolling tea fields and undulating mountains.

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bathroom View at Ceylon Tea Trails
bathroom View at Ceylon Tea Trails
Dunkeld bungalow swimming pool
Dunkeld bungalow swimming pool
Castlereagh Bungalow
Castlereagh Bungalow
Walking in the Stunning Scenery
Walking in the Stunning Scenery
sea plan landing on Castlereagh lake
sea plan landing on Castlereagh lake

historic planters bungalows

Five historic tea-planter bungalows are scattered across 2,000 hectares. Each bungalow has five or six rooms and is set between 4km and 15km apart, offering its own unique setting and charm.

Norwood bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Norwood Bungalow

Nestled in a tea estate, Norwood offers six rooms with stunning mountain views and a liberating atmosphere. The swimming pool is framed by majestic bamboo, thriving for over 80 years.

Dunkeld Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Dunkeld Bungalow

Poised high above Castlereagh Lake, Dunkeld Bungalow offers panoramic views across the valley and the spectacular Great Western mountain range.

Castlereagh Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Castlereagh Bungalow

Nestled into a wooded dell close to the water, this century-old bungalow offers unrivalled views across the spectacular Castlereagh Lake.

Summerville Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Summerville Bungalow

Sitting right on the banks of Castlereagh Lake, Summerville enjoys magnificent views of the water and the rolling hills beyond.

Tientsin Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Tientsin Bungalow

Built in 1888, Tientsin is the oldest bungalow in the valley and named after the Chinese village from which the original tea seedlings came.

Norwood bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Norwood Bungalow

Nestled in a tea estate, Norwood offers six rooms with stunning mountain views and a liberating atmosphere. The swimming pool is framed by majestic bamboo, thriving for over 80 years.

Dunkeld Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Dunkeld Bungalow

Poised high above Castlereagh Lake, Dunkeld Bungalow offers panoramic views across the valley and the spectacular Great Western mountain range.

Castlereagh Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Castlereagh Bungalow

Nestled into a wooded dell close to the water, this century-old bungalow offers unrivalled views across the spectacular Castlereagh Lake.

Summerville Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Summerville Bungalow

Sitting right on the banks of Castlereagh Lake, Summerville enjoys magnificent views of the water and the rolling hills beyond.

Tientsin Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails

Tientsin Bungalow

Built in 1888, Tientsin is the oldest bungalow in the valley and named after the Chinese village from which the original tea seedlings came.

Old-world charm at Ceylon tea trails

The essence of Ceylon Tea Trails is captured in our historic tea-planters’ bungalows, which are scattered amongst tropical gardens. Inside, elegant bedrooms, a lounge, library, dining room and bar entice guests to slow down and take in the sweeping valleys outside. Each bungalow is adorned with fascinating photographs, antiques and vintage wares for a glimpse into Ceylon’s 20th-century plantation past. When inspiration strikes, abundant gardens, swimming pools, jacuzzis, and a clay tennis court await outside.

explore Rooms & Suites
Ceylon Trails

Embracing nature’s Bounty

A home away from home approach and a style of luxurious refinement shapes our culinary offerings at Ceylon Tea Trails. Instead of menus and set meal times, our friendly, exceptional chefs will discuss each meal with you personally in advance, suggesting an (inevitably irresistible) daily menu, tailored to individual tastes.

Experience the enchanting majesty of sri lanka

Our island is rich in heritage and natural beauty. It beckons you to discover its charm. Once part of the ancient silk route, Sri Lanka has long attracted explorers and voyagers. Philosophers and poets have also been drawn to its shores. This rich history weaves together tradition and spirituality. It creates a vibrant cultural identity found nowhere else on Earth.

Discover the breathtaking heartland of Ceylon Tea

Explore the heartland of Ceylon Tea with authentic experiences that encompass adventure, wellness, family fun, and a sample of Sri Lankan cuisine and culture.

Ceylon tea trails

The Tea Experience

The guided Dunkeld Tea Factory tour, led by our passionate Tea Planter, explores tea’s history, production, and flavor crafting, offering the quintessential Sri Lankan tea experience.

Ceylon tea trails

kandy heritage excursions

The UNESCO-listed Sacred City of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second-largest city, is rich in history and played a key role in Ceylon’s 19th-century tea industry.

Ceylon tea trails

nuwara eliya heritage excursions

Nuwara Eliya, 48km from Tea Trails, was shaped by Sir Samuel Baker, who brought English country town features like Hereford cows and a blacksmith after falling for its charm in 1846.

Ceylon tea trails

private tea tasting

Join a guided tea tasting with Bernard Holsinger, Tea Trails’ witty resident Tea Planter, and explore the unique flavour profiles of different teas.

Ceylon tea trails

adam’s peak ascent

Rise early to climb Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) and witness a spectacular sunrise. The ascent offers breathtaking vistas, making the effort unforgettable.

Ceylon tea trails

guided nature excursions

In the company of a Tea Trails Naturalist or Trail Guide, walk or cycle (or both!) through our trails and explore the scenery of Sri Lanka’s tea country.

Ceylon tea trails

trekking the trails

A broad spectrum of biodiversity exists in hill country – especially ours – as the plantations are interspersed with forest patches that are home to a variety of biodiversity from endemic amphibians to birds and leopards.

Ceylon tea trails

kayaking on castlereagh Lake

Enjoy magnificent views of tea-carpeted mountains as you paddle along the Castlereagh Lake in hi-spec kayaks. 

Ceylon tea trails

tennis

Play Tennis at Tientsin Bungalow’s clay court, reminiscent of British planters having an afternoon game after a hard morning in the fields and factory.

Ceylon tea trails

Whitewater rafting

Your adventure begins in Kitulgala, 1.5 hours from Ceylon Tea Trails. The Kelani River, with its seven class III rapids, offers an exhilarating white-water rafting experience for both novices and seasoned rafters.

Ceylon tea trails

al fresco barbeque lunch

Enjoy an Al Fresco Barbeque Lunch by our Relais & Châteaux kitchen, paired with butler service. Relax with a sumptuous meal in a private, scenic spot on a working tea plantation.

Ceylon tea trails

Junior Chef

A collection of yummy, interactive and immersive culinary experiences for kids with a local twist, tailored for various age levels.

Ceylon tea trails

tea infused dinner

The Tea-Infused Dinner at Tea Trails offers a unique culinary experience, blending the distinct flavours and health benefits of Sri Lankan teas with diverse ingredients and preparation methods.

A breakfast spread on a boat, overlooking a scenic lake surrounded by mountains.
Ceylon tea trails

lake cruise

Enjoy a scenic cruise on Castlereagh Lake, surrounded by misty mountains and tea valleys, with a fresh, locally sourced breakfast on board.

Biking the tea trails
Ceylon tea trails

Biking the trails

Ceylon Tea Trails offers thrilling biking adventures through the unspoiled beauty of Bogawantalawa Valley at over 1,500 meters.

Ceylon tea trails

spa treatment & luxury baths

A variety of spa treatments, luxury baths and tea infused scrubs await the tired traveller in the privacy and comfort of your room.

Ceylon tea trails

Tea Planter’s Tiffin Lunch

The ‘Planters’ Tiffin Lunch” is a plusher version (to Relais and Chateaux standards no less!) served in tiffin boxes in an idyllic setting.

browse our special offers

Experience the best of Sri Lanka and explore our selection of exclusive offers and inspiring itineraries.

Norwood Bungalow
Ceylon tea trails
Private Escape Offer

Save up to $1900 by booking a 5-room bungalow at USD 4750 per night, per bungalow for this fully-inclusive private getaway, perfect for a family or a group of friends.

summer at tea trails
Ceylon tea trails
Summer at Tea Trails

Stay at one of our planters’ bungalows at Ceylon Tea Trails and enjoy quality time with your loved ones, with personalised service, a private chef and butler and a plethora of activities to choose from. Save 15% off your stay, with an additional 30% saving on all spa treatments.

Ceylon Tea Trails
Ceylon tea trails
Ten Night Tea Retreat

This tailor-made ten night package is full of specially curated, guided experiences so that you can discover the best of Hatton’s wildlife, history, and local culture in and around Ceylon Tea Trails in unmatched depth and detail.

High Tea at Ceylon Tea Trails
Ceylon tea trails
Extended Stay Savings

Extend your stay for 6+ nights at Ceylon Tea Trails, save more and enjoy the holiday of a lifetime. Revel in old-world charm and refinement in the picturesque highlands with your own restored private tea planter bungalow at a discounted rate of 25% when you book 6+ nights!

Ceylon tea trails
Walking Holiday Offer

Ceylon Tea Trails is offering a special 6-night Walking Holiday, to enjoy these walking experiences at leisure.

Ceylon tea trails
Advance Purchase Savings

Book 60 days in advance to enjoy a savings up to 20% on stays at Ceylon Tea Trails. Sri Lanka’s tea country awaits you.

Ceylon tea trails
Stay for five nights, pay for four

Enjoy a complimentary fifth night when you book a five-night stay.

Ceylon tea trails
Three or Four Nights Offer

Enjoy the old-world charm of Ceylon Tea Trails and save 15% on three or four night stays.

Ceylon tea trails
Four-Night Discovery Offer

This tailor-made four-night offer is designed to provide an immersive, luxurious journey through the heritage of Ceylon Tea, all in unparalleled style.

explore our spaces

At Ceylon Tea Trails, our historic bungalows look out over tea-carpeted mountains and the serene Castlereagh Lake. Just a short meander away, meditative summer houses, a tennis court, and heated jacuzzis are scattered amongst thick, emerald-green gardens, designed for wandering and admiring.

High tea in the Tea Trails

Afternoon Cream Tea served in the tranquil surroundings of Tientsin's gardens

Tea Trail Bungalow swimming pools

Jacuzzi Overlooking Stunning View

High Tea At Summerville Bungalow

Lake Cruise

the story of
ceylon tea

Although the cultivation of tea on a commercial scale in Ceylon began in 1867, the first tea seed was brought from China and planted in Ceylon nearly half a century earlier in 1824 at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. In the meantime, indigenous tea was discovered in Upper Assam by Major Robert Bruce, and the Assam tea seed was later received at the Peradeniya Gardens in 1839.

tea tasting

our Journal

The magic of our island lies in our inimitable blend of culture, wildlife, nature and cuisine. Immerse yourself in our journal and seek inspiration for your journey ahead.
Media at Ceylon tea trails

Revel in the allure of Sri Lanka through
Resplendent Ceylon’s tea, sea and safari themes.

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