Steeped in history and immersed in the verdant scenery of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage Central Highlands, Ceylon Tea Trails is the perfect blend of past and present. Perched at an altitude of 1250 metres, our five historic tea-planter bungalows embody our natural hospitality: effortlessly relaxed and refined without pretence. Guests are invited to slow down amid our fern and flower-fringed landscape, where gourmet cuisine, tea adventures, shimmering swimming pools and timeless classic pursuits await, from afternoon tea to tennis and croquet.
Who else but the pioneering family behind Dilmah Tea could conceive of Ceylon Tea Trails’ perfect blend? With its sustainable ethos and social initiatives via the Merrill J Fernando Foundation, Tea Trails is styled with love and has earned the resort Sri Lanka’s first inclusion within Relais & Châteaux.
Ceylon Tea Trails features in “Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby” the iconic BBC documentary television series. Rather than simply enjoying the luxury, the celebrity hosts Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder go behind the scenes to work alongside staff members and discover what it takes to operate such unique and high-end establishments.
Read MoreFive historic tea-planter bungalows, each with 5 or 6 rooms, are spread across 2000 hectares, between 4km and 15km apart, each with its own setting and charm. Three of our bungalows enjoy a lakeside perch - Summerville; Dunkeld; Castlereagh; Norwood and Tientsin are nestled amid the emerald valleys, with mountain and tea-estate views.
Set in the heart of a tea estate, with panoramic views of the mountains and tea pickers at work, Norwood has 6 rooms and an incredibly open, liberating feel. The swimming pool is backdropped by two towering bamboo bushes, which have thrived here for more than 80 years.
ExploreOverlooking Lake Castlereagh and fringed by greenery, delightful Dunkeld has 5 rooms and is the closest bungalow to the Dunkeld Tea Factory. One of Dunkeld’s most obvious highlights is its curved infinity pool, with a heated Jacuzzi as its striking centrepiece, both surveying the quiet reservoir below.
ExploreWith its pretty, pinky-peach facade and view-toting summerhouses, Castlereagh has a romantic, feminine charm all of its own. The bungalow, with 5 rooms, is set in a peaceful wooded glade on the banks of Lake Castlereagh, drawing cooling breezes from the water.
ExploreSummerville puts a more modern spin on Ceylon Tea Trails’ signature hospitality. Built in 1923, at an altitude of 1,219m, the 5 roomed bungalow boasts sweeping views of Lake Castlereagh and the humped mountain ridges beyond, bristling with trees and vegetation.
ExploreOur oldest bungalow, the 6 roomed Tientsin, is beloved for its spellbinding gardens, which unfurl like a series of emerald saris, embellished with jewel-bright flowers and frondy palms. Amid this hushed expanse, lichen-clad statues, chirruping birds, a lily pond, tucked-away stone benches and a tennis court await.
ExploreOur bungalows are equipped with everything you could possibly need to feel at home: elegant bedrooms, a cosy lounge and library with a help-yourself bar, a dining room and a view-toting veranda. Tientsin, Dunkeld and Norwood also have a billiards room. Bungalows are decorated with fascinating Sri Lankan photographs revealing tantalising insights into 20th-century tea-plantation life, alongside botanical prints, monochrome floral prints, maps and more. Antique curios and knickknacks such as vintage crystalware, gleaming gramophones, old-fashioned cameras and antique teapots decorate rooms and communal areas.
Outdoor charms include abundant gardens & a sparkling swimming pool and heated Jacuzzi Bungalows also have summerhouses and a croquet lawn. Tennis-lovers will appreciate the tucked-away clay tennis court at Tientsin, harking back to the days when British planters would let off steam with an afternoon match.
At Ceylon Tea Trails, days begin with the lovely ritual of Bed Tea, as our hosts bring a fresh pot of tea to you upon waking, and end with four-course dinners and postprandials by a crackling fire – but your room rates also include all the gourmet treats and refreshments you could think of in between. You may wonder if there are enough hours in the day to fully do our food and drink justice. Our advice is to get up early!
ExploreOur rates are fully inclusive of gourmet a la carte meals, beverages including wines & spirits, laundry and the Tea Experience.
The best way to arrive at Tea Trails, 30 minutes from the international airport. Soak in the scenic vistas as you land on our lake.
Tea Trails is the gold standard for personalised butler service, starting from bed tea as you awake.
Soak in our heated outdoor hot tubs at Tientsin, Norwood, Castlereagh & Dunkeld.
Complementing the magnificent vistas of lakes, hills, valleys and lush tea plantations are the bungalows’ own charming gardens.
All bungalows offer large swimming pools with gorgeous views. Enjoy a refreshing dip after exploring the trails.
Of the pioneer British planters in Ceylon, who, propelled by a tenacity of purpose, reconstructed in the 1860’s a vast money spinning new tea industry out of the shambles that were the ruined coffee plantations, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote: “No often is it, that men have the heart, when their one great industry is ruined, to rear up in a few years another as rich to take its place: and the tea fields of Ceylon are as fine a monument to courage as is the lion of Waterloo”.
EXPLORE THE STORY OF CEYLON TEAOur experiences are mindfully curated to offer an authentic, intimate exploration into the essence of Sri Lanka. We also offer activities with healthy doses of fun, adventure and pampering, along with a holistic wellness offering for guests to escape their urban life and soothe mind, body, and soul. A selection of engaging activities for families - with a special selection for kids - are on hand as well, to round out the perfect getaway.
Explore All ExperiencesBegin at the Dunkeld Tea Factory at morning light. Follow our resident tea planter along the traditional process of withering, rolling and drying tea.
Explore The Essential Tea ExperienceThe unspoiled beauty of the surrounding valleys and hills. Adventure out on one of our bikes and uncover the quintessential beauty of the hill country
Explore Biking the TrailsThink bright, crisp mornings. The golden sun glistening over the Castlereagh Lake. Adopt the slow, restful pace of the highlands of our island.
Explore Trekking the TrailsSpend your mornings on an aquatic adventure on the Castlereagh Lake as you paddle along in hi-spec kayaks, taking in the first light of the day.
Explore Kayaking on Castlereagh LakeA neat row of warm cups of tea in varying colours. Our resident tea planter unearths the subtle influences of the flavours. Take slow sips. Indulge.
Explore Private Tea TastingEmbark on an experiential day out on the Castlereagh Lake complemented by stunning views of the misty mountainscape and tea valleys.
Explore Lake CruiseOur values and vision are inspired by our Founders, the Fernando family, who believe that business is a matter of human service. Our portfolio of resorts are located in scenic and environmentally sensitive areas, enabling us to drive our sustainability agenda across Climate Action, Land & Sea and People & Culture.
A stay at Ceylon Tea Trails would not be complete without a walk along our nature trails encompassing lush tea landscapes, local settlements and rich cultural heritage. Along these trails lie the hidden gems of flora and fauna, and if you’re lucky enough, a leopard pugmark or some fresh scat - the best indicator that we share these paths with the resident leopards of the Peak Ridge Forest Corridor. Guided by our naturalists, get a peek into what a conservationist’s day looks like, walking through our remote camera trails exploring the wilderness of the highlands.
Merrill J. Fernando 1930 - 2023: The Passing of an Icon
ExploreKnown as Ceylon until 1972, Sri Lanka means Resplendent Island. Just off the southern tip of India, the island is about the size of Ireland and home to 20 million people. The small island packs in a continent’s worth of attractions with 8 UNESCO world heritage sites, mountainous tea country, spectacular wildlife, epic food, and breathtaking coastlines combine to form a tapestry, filled with intriguing characters that bring the story of today’s Sri Lanka to life. The country has a rich cultural heritage with its strategic location along the ancient silk route. Ancient Greeks called it Taprobane, Persians and Arabs referred to it as Serendib, the origin of the word “serendipity”.
Last night free for a consecutive five night stay
Explore OfferSave 15% for three or four nights on Fully Inclusive Basis
Explore OfferUS$ 4,988 for four nights on Fully Inclusive Basis
Explore OfferCondé Nast Traveler unveiled the 2023 Gold List, highlighting favourite classic hotels around the world that exemplify the gold standard of service and hospitality. Ceylon Tea Trails is the first Sri Lankan hotel to make this prestigious a
The natural warmth of Sri Lankans and the continent's worth of attractions this small island offers makes it perfectly suited for the new breed of traveller looking for an unconventional experience.
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