Ceylon Tea Trails

Ceylon Tea Trails comprises of five restored historic tea planter residences, called bungalows, perched at an altitude of 1250 meters in Sri Lanka’s panoramic Ceylon tea region.

The 27 rooms & suites with period furnishings, gracious butler service, and gourmet cuisine create an ambiance that has made Tea Trails the gold standard for luxury in Sri Lanka.

Each bungalow is unique and offers guests the non-hotel, private house ambiance that is the hallmark of the award-winning Tea Trails experience. Follow the Tea Trail from one bungalow to the next, staying a night or two at each or just laze in one.

This is the ideal setting for trekking and biking against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, lakes, winding roads and waterfalls.

If you prefer to unwind, observe life on a working tea estate while being pampered by your butler, enjoy a spa treatment, croquet on the lawn or sunbathe alongside the pool. Or explore the lush tea fields & visit a century old factory for a gentle education in the art of Ceylon Tea.

LOCATION
The five Tea Trails bungalows lies nestled among the hills of the Bogawantalawa region in the Dimbula district in south central Sri Lanka. It is here that the créme de la créme of Ceylon teas – the fragrant and delicately flavoured “high growns” flourish.

Bogawantalawa is known as “The Golden Valley” on account of its lush, vigorous tea bushes that produce full bodied to light, delicate and fragrant teas throughout the year.

This is perhaps the most famous region for Ceylon Tea and one of the first areas to be planted after tea took over from coffee in Ceylon in the 1870’s. The area covers the extensive western slopes of the tea planting districts.

The five Tea Trails bungalows are located between 2 km and 15km from each other. This is the ideal setting for trekking and biking against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, lakes, winding roads and waterfalls.

ACCOMMODATION
Rooms are named after tea planters who lived in the bungalow. They offer a taste of heritage luxury with solid teak furnishings, antique touches and plush beds. Master Suites with a separate living room, Garden Suites with verandahs to private gardens and Luxury Rooms of great character.

A secluded Owner’s Cottage. Relax in immense four-poster beds, crisp white sheets. Twenty-six elegant and charming rooms and suites decorated each in a unique style.

A dedicated butler service will be available to guests from dawn to dusk to ensure that no request is too much trouble. Guests are treated to traditional morning ‘Bed Tea’ to start the day in style. Complimentary shuttle service and luggage handling is provided for guests transferring between bungalows.

The following festivals are marked as important dates in the religious calendar of the predominantly Hindu tea estate community and celebrated with prayers, rituals & devotional songs which at times would not be in harmony with the otherwise calm & serene tranquillity of the hills.

The temples in proximity to the bungalows will be celebrating these festivals, as such the sound associated with the rituals & prayers carrying over to the bungalows is a distinct possibility.

Key festival periods are; Thai Pongal which takes place from 13th to 17th January, Maha Siva Rathiri which falls in late February to early March, Sinhala/Tamil New Year which takes place between 12th to 15th April, Mayday on 1st of May, Deepavali from mid-October to early-November and Christmas falling on 25th December each year.

OWNER’S COTTAGE
The Owner’s Cottage at Dunkeld bungalow is a romantically secluded standalone bungalow with lake views, heated outdoor hot tub, master bedroom with king bed, beautifully furnished living room, verandah with spectacular tea field and lake view.

LUXURY ROOM
Luxury Rooms average 40 square metres and offer an impeccably appointed bedroom with king or twin beds, elegant bathroom with twin vanities, a bath & walk-in rain shower. Lounge by the window and enjoy your favourite book or ring up your butler for some soothing afternoon tea.

BUNGALOWS
Gracious living in the heart of emerald tea blanketed mountains
Sweeping lawns and swimming pools. English gardens filled with roses, dew filled agapanthus and spring crocus. Tea on the lawn with Dundee cake, scones, strawberries and cream or lunch alfresco by the pool, a summerhouse to meditate in or watch the forest wagtail flit from tree to tree.

Tennis, swimming, croquet and classic board games all come together for a leisurely lifestyle at the five historic tea planters bungalows that comprise Ceylon Tea Trails.

Summerville, Castlereagh and Dunkeld overlook the Castlereagh lake, Norwood is at the other end of the valley about 15 minutes away by car and Tientsin is about 30 minutes away in the next valley.

Each house comes with its own chef, butler and houseboys and from 5 to 6 rooms each. Master Suites with a separate living room and private gardens, Garden Suites with verandahs to private gardens and spacious Luxury Rooms of great character. Dunkeld has an Owner’s Cottage set away from the main bungalow.

DINING
The day at Tea Trails starts with that wonderful tradition of Bed Tea. Served by your butler as part of a gentle wake-up call, this must be the most civilised way to start the day. The butler will also draw your bath.

Then an early morning walk followed by an English or Sri Lankan breakfast. A unique aspect of Tea Trails’ cuisine is the use of fresh, home grown vegetables, herbs and teas from the surrounding estates. Basil, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, sage, parsley and mint inspire and enliven the chef’s menus every day.

Tea Trails is all about the time-honoured planters’ traditions: Roaring fires and the comfort of a single malt whisky while the mists roll in or a stiff gin and tonic after a long day’s walk in the tea gardens, accompanied by the spicy flavours of Sri Lankan nibbles to stimulate the appetite.

Scrumptious afternoon cream teas in gardens curiously English and exotic at the same time. A four-course dinner that is at once contemporary with its garden-fresh ingredients married with choice wines, best shared in good company. Or a fabulously aromatic, authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry for lunch – a definite harbinger of the afternoon siesta.

Rates at Tea Trails are fully inclusive of gourmet meals and drinks, including select top shelf spirits and wines. Even service charges, taxes and limited laundry are included. We won’t bother you with bill.

Afternoon Cream Tea
A Tea Trails ritual; delicious savouries and cakes served by your butler, accompanied by yesterday’s Ceylon tea manufacture. Whether you put clotted cream or jam first on your scone is your hardest decision.

Tea Planter’s Picnic Lunch
In the early days of the tea industry, before motorized travel came to its assistance, tea planters conducted field inspections across a vast area of tea fields and forest, either on foot or horseback.

Sri Lankan Cooking Master Class
A hands on experience with one of our amazing Tea Trails chefs. Learn the basics of Sri Lankan cooking, from the range of spices and ingredients , to techniques and recipes behind the magic of Sri Lankan cooking.

Tea Infused Dinner
Bringing together the subtle influences of the flavours of tea (not to mention the health benefit), the Tea Infused Dinner is a signature culinary experience unique to Tea Trails. Teas grown in various areas of Sri Lanka have distinctly different flavour profiles, and each lends a different effect to types of ingredients and methods of preparation.

TEA TRAILS WELLNESS
In-Room Spa Treatments and Luxury Baths
Enjoy one of our special aromatic baths to begin or complete your day…or just as an indulgence whenever you so please. Choose from Cinnamon Spice, Green Tea, Black Pepper & Orange, Jasmine or a Bergamot & Geranium Bath.

Or luxuriate in a spa treatment in the privacy and the comfort of your room after a hike or bike ride and soothe any aches and pains away… treatments include the Tea Trails Signature Massage, Deep Tissue Massage & Reflex Zone Therapy.

Swimming Pools
All bungalows offer large swimming pools with gorgeous views. Enjoy a refreshing dip after exploring the trails. The pools at Dunkeld, Summerville and Castlereagh overlook the lake and Norwood and Tientsin vistas of tea carpeted mountains.

Butler Service
The Tea Trails butlers pride themselves on offering the best service in Sri Lanka. Anticipating every whim yet unobtrusive, they will attend to every detail and provide you with a memorable holiday.

Garden Games
All bungalows have a croquet lawn where you can unleash devious tactics, a Pimms No 1 in hand. A Mr Woolcott is rightly quoted in The Guinness Dictionary of Sports Quotations as saying “The higher and dirtier croquet player can use the guile of a cobra and the inhumanity of a boa constrictor.

Gardens
Complementing the magnificent vistas of lakes, hills, valleys and lush tea plantations are the bungalows’ own charming gardens. They are at once very English and yet entrancingly exotic. Visitors to Tea Trails have the glorious stands of giant bamboo at Norwood to admire, or the profusion of wild banks that tumble down the slopes of Tientsin.

Jacuzzis
Soak in our heated outdoor hot tubs at Dunkeld, Tientsin and soon Castlereagh. The Owner’s Cottage at Dunkeld has a private jacuzzi overlooking the lake.

Tennis
Planters of old relished an afternoon game on the clay court at Tientsin bungalow, after a hard day in the fields. If not staying at Tientsin, visit for lunch or afternoon tea in our vintage Land Rover, with a game of tennis thrown in.

Summer Houses
Summer Houses in the lush gardens are an ideal spot to meditate in, enjoy a candlelit meal or a drink in, or perhaps play a board game with the family.

Birds
Ceylon Jungle Fowl. Parrots, House Sparrows, Doves, Coucal, Mynahs, Sunbirds, Honey Suckers, Flower Peckers, Streaked-throated Woodpecker, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Kingfisher, Oriental Magpie Robin are some of the birds found in our gardens.

CURATED EXPERIENCES
Explore the breathtaking heartland of Ceylon Tea
The complementary guided tour of Dilmah Tea’s Dunkeld Tea Factory is the quintessential tea experience in Sri Lanka. Our experiences are carefully curated to offer an authentic, intimate and exploratory journey into the heart, soul, history, and gastronomy of this magical island.

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.

THE ESSENTIAL TEA EXPERIENCE
Working tea factories are akin to live museums — the smells, sounds and energy is unlike anything else
The guided tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory is the quintessential tea experience in Sri Lanka.

Our resident Tea Planter passionately delves into all aspects of tea in just the right amount of detail – from a look back to the early days of “planting” and the lifestyles of the early colonial settlers, to the manufacturing process, to how flavours are created to suit various palates – he’s got it covered.

What went into creating the perfect cup of refreshing Ceylon tea in 1867 were equal parts science, art, sleight of hand, and a spot of luck. And not much has changed since!

As some of the methodology and machinery are over a century old we strongly believe that Ceylon Tea itself is part of the world’s living heritage. And this is your invitation to partake in it.

TEA PLANTER’S PICNIC LUNCH
It’s a fancy excuse for a private picnic with wine
In the early days of the tea industry, before motorized travel came to its assistance, tea planters conducted field inspections across a vast area of tea fields and forest, either on foot or horseback.

At mid-day, they would take a break under the shade of a tree or the shelter of a makeshift hut for lunch and a rest. The “Planters’ Lunch” is a plusher, four-course version (to Relais and Chateaux standards no less!) served in tiffin boxes in a picnic setting.

The location is on the hillside above Dunkeld Bungalow flanked by tea and jungle on either side, with vistas of the rolling tea fields that start from the glassy Castlereagh Lake and creep up on to jagged mountaintops.

The way up to the picnic spot is via a scenic trail that commences at Dunkeld Bungalow and we recommend guests take the walk either up to the picnic spot or from lunch back down to the Bungalow.

We also offer a “hosted” version of this experience in the company of our resident planter Bernard Holsinger, who can provide a fascinating account of life as a planter in the “good old days” to give richer context to the experience.

PRIVATE TEA TASTING WITH BERNARD HOLSINGER
You will never look at (nor drink!) tea the same way again
An interactive and guided experience where guests will taste and learn to identify (and appreciate!) the unique flavor profiles that give different teas their distinction.

Bernard is the resident tea planter at Tea Trails and brings with him a wealth of experience, complemented with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek wit.

Compared to the complimentary Tea Experience Dunkeld factory tour – which is a general overview of the history of tea and its product – the Private Tea Tasting is far more detailed, immersive and intimate. The experience will be exclusive to the person/couple/small group that request for it.

TEA INFUSED DINNER
A unique recipe to Tea Trails
Bringing together the subtle influences of the flavours of tea (not to mention the health benefit), the Tea Infused Dinner is a signature culinary experience unique to Tea Trails. Teas grown in various areas of Sri Lanka have distinctly different flavour profiles, and each lends a different effect to types of ingredients and methods of preparation.

Adam’s Peak Climb
The climb takes approximately three and a half hours (the way is paved with steps) and the trail is flanked by the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary – one of Sri Lanka’s highest protected forest reserves.

Views from the top are stunning, especially early morning as the warmth of dawn lights up the country in an endless vista of forests, valleys, mountains and lakes.

Guided Nature Experiences
A collection of forest reserves and national parks in the hill country make for interesting excursions for the nature-lover. Horton Plains National Park comprises of montane grassland and cloud forest, and is home to many endemic species of both flora and fauna.

Research Station for Leopard and Climate Change at Dunkeld
Visitors are encouraged to visit the research station located next to Dunkeld tea factory and learn about these fascinating, elusive, threatened cats, their habits and the conservation efforts we are supporting.

Kayaking on Castlereagh Lake
Enjoy magnificent views of tea-carpeted mountains as you paddle along the Castlereagh lake in hi-spec kayaks. Mornings are the most beautiful as the weather is often fairer and the sun breaks through to gleam over the glassy water, and the foreboding mountains surrounding the lake emerge from the thinning mist.

Scenic Walks and Hikes
The five bungalows features walking trails between them, many of which present stunning views. The trails snake through beautifully manicured tea gardens, tranquil patches of forest and jungle, and pass streams and mini waterfalls.

Mountain Biking
Ceylon Tea Trails has opened up a world of adventure and discovery in the Bogawantalawa Valley at an altitude of over 1500 meters. The unspoiled beauty of the surrounding valleys and hills are a great biking experience.

Heritage City Excursions – Kandy
The day trip to Kandy is in the company of a Tea Trails resident naturalist and the first stop is at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. A picnic lunch in the gardens ensues followed by a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Guests also have the option of making part of the commute by train, and the train ride is one of the most scenic as it winds its way along lush green mountains with vistas across valleys below.

Heritage City Excursions – Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is where old-world English architecture meets an evolving city striving to define a new identity, with old symbols of British Heritage standing strong.

One of these is the “Hill Club” – a castle-like private resort that was once a bastion of leisure and lifestyle or the elite. Visitors are welcome for a brief tour and a spot of tea on the lawn.

White Water Rafting – Kitulgala
After coming off the slopes of Adam’s Peak, the clear waters of the Kelani River wind their way through the Hill Country of Sri Lanka before emptying into the Indian Ocean. Your adventure starts at a beautiful nature base in Kitulgala about 1.5 hours from Ceylon Tea Trails.