Description
Nestled amongst the hills of the Dickoya region in central Sri Lanka, at over 5,000 feet above sea level, is Ceylon Tea Trails which is the only Relais and Chateaux resort in Sri Lanka. The concept is very British, with high tea served in the afternoon and rooms decorated in keeping with the feel of the colonial era.
The hotel offers four classic colonial era bungalows with luxurious suites, a manager, butler service and chef. Rooms feature four poster beds, elegant bathrooms some with verandahs opening out onto private immaculate gardens. The food is fantastic with Sri Lankan classics and seafood grills using locally sourced ingredients some of which come from organic vegetable plots around the estate.
The surrounding countryside is out of this world and guests can walk from one bungalow to the next, greeting locals on the way and taking in the fabulous views. You can be as lazy or as active as you want here, either lounging by the pool or trying some white water rafting, riding, tennis croquet, boating or visiting local tea estates.
Excursions offered by the hotel include visits to Kandy the Hill Capital of Sri Lanka in the central highlands, Adam's Peak, Nuwara Eliya and the national parks of Horton Plains and Uda Walawe, Sri Lanka's top eco tourism destination in Sri Lanka and famous for its large population of elephants.
Accommodation
Ceylon Tea Trails offers guests 4 enchanting bungalows: Castlereagh, Summerville, Tientsin and Norwood. Each cottage features five charming rooms and suites decorated in an unique style, ranging from neo-colonial to classic English. Some suites have verandahs leading out onto private gardens and bathrooms have gorgeous free standing baths to relax and unwind in after a long day exploring the surrounding countryside.
Childcare
Children are welcome but there are no specific facilities. Children will enjoy all the activities on offer in and around the hotel. They will also love the cultural trips to local tourist destinations especially a journey to the Uda Walawe national park which is famous for its large population of elephants.
Facilities
Facilities include a swimming pool (Castlereagh and Norwood), tennis court (Tientsin) and library.
Activities
The hotel offers complimentary swimming and tennis. Activities at an additional cost include in-room spa treatments, guided walks, kayaking and rafting. There are some fantastic tourist destinations closeby such as Kandy, the Hill Capital of Sri Lanka in the central highlands, Adam's Peak, Nuwara Eliya and the national parks of Horton Plains and Uda Walawe.
Services
The hotel offers a butler service.
When to travel
Year round destination. Because the Hill Country it so high up it rarely gets unbearably hot. The months of December to April are probably the best time to visit, as temperatures rise to around 28C during the day but cool down at night. During the monsoon season from October to December you can expect heavy downpours. June to September are the driest months here, when there’s almost no rain at all.
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Best time to visit
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Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Hatton, Sri Lanka
All 4 bungalows are situated around the Castlereagh Reservoir, near Hatton, in central Sri Lanka in the Bogawantalawa Valley, known as the Golden Valley of Tea.
How to get there
Colombo Bandaranaike (175km away) is the closest international airport. Most guests come by private car, either as part of a bigger exploration around Sri Lanka or arranged by Ceylon Tea Trails. The journey time is 3-hours from Colombo.
