Rooms

Surrounded by manicured gardens, the 5 bungalows have been elegantly refurbished by interior designer Deirdre Renniers to showcase their colonial architecture. Each bungalow has a choice of 3 room types: the Luxury Rooms are the simplest (though still very comfy), the Garden Suites have verandas onto the garden and the Master Suites have a separate living area.

The Castlereagh bungalow is an imposing century-old house overlooking the reservoir, with 3 superb garden suites and 2 luxury rooms. It features beautiful parquet floors, summer houses, a library, a swimming pool and open fireplaces.

Summerville, 4 km away across Castlereagh reservoir, is more of a traditional cottage. Some suites have private gardens; all have easy access to the cosy living room with a fireplace and picture windows. High above the lake with views of the hills, it also has an infinity pool, summer house and sunbathing deck.

Norwood is at the eastern end of the valley, 12 km from Castlereagh (15 minutes by car). Rebuilt in the 1940s, Norwood is set away from the lake in the heart of the tea estate. The 5 suites and rooms, some with four-poster beds, are complemented by a library, veranda, summer house, large swimming pool, sun deck, croquet lawn, imposing colonial furniture and elegant bathrooms.

Tientsin, 15 km upriver from Norwood, is named after the Chinese village from where the original tea came. Six airy suites and rooms, polished wooden floors, high ceilings, log fires, four-poster beds, infinity pool, sun deck, tennis court and delightful rose gardens contribute to the ambiance.

We stayed at Dunkeld, nestled in the mountains, high above the lake. The 4 suites have plush four-poster beds, velvet and leather sofas and antique touches, while the secluded Taylor Owner’s Cottage is hidden among the tea fields and has its very own heated Jacuzzi on the veranda.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available

Eating

Each bungalow has its own chef and staff. Meals are cooked fresh to order, with dishes ranging from Western fare to tea-infused creations and Sri Lankan classics.

Wake up to a full English or a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast served with a fruit platter. Picnic lunch baskets can be provided - perhaps cold roast beef sandwiches with a delicious salad - while for those who'd rather savour the views back at the house, there's soup and a range of curries. Just make sure you return by 5pm for a traditional English afternoon tea.

We loved the sundowners in the garden - there's a different 'cocktail of the day' - or choose from the drinks menu of spirits and Australian wines. Dinner usually has 4 courses: for example, lamb with Earl Grey tea crust followed by chocolate mousse cake. You can dine on the terrace, in the dining room, in your suite, on the veranda or in one of the summer houses in the garden (weather permitting).

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Trek along marked trails through the wonderful Ceylon Tea country, past tea-draped hills, the placid reservoir and pine forests full of wildlife; you get a trek for two with the resident naturalist for booking through i-escape (excl 20 Dec-10 Jan)
  
• Ask about the 4-night Tea Trails Package - spend the first night at Castlereagh, walk to Norwood for the second night, then head on to Tientsin for the final 2 nights. Travel at your own pace and enjoy picnics along the way
  
• See Sri Lanka from above on the 12-day helicopter adventure - amazing views without the winding roads. The tour includes Galle, Sigiriya, Colombo and 5 nights at the Tea Trails bungalows - click here for more details
  
• Enjoy the tea experience: watch the harvest, visit a tea factory and discover the skills of tea blending and tasting
  
• Take the boat across the lake for tea from Castlereagh to Summerville or vice versa, or try kayaking with well-trained guides (only available sometimes)
  
• Get up before sunrise to climb the famed Adam's Peak mountain (1.5 hours away); the huge 'footprint' at the top has been a place of pilgrimage for more than 1000 years
  
• The reservoir and nearby rivers provide excellent fishing
  
• Mountain biking excursions are easily arranged and guests can bike from one bungalow to another
  
• Whitewater rafting is available at Kitulgala, about 1.5 hours away
  
• Spend an afternoon golfing in Nuwara Eliya
  
• Get involved with a reforesting programme, where guests help offset their carbon emissions by creating a 'conservation corridor' for Sri Lankan leopards

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Rafting
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Trekking

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and cots are provided. At least one extra bed can be provided in every room for a fee.

There are lots of fun activities for kids, including swimming in the lakes and exploring the grounds, as well as boating, cycling and nature trails for the whole family. There is even a Junior Tea Experience especially for children.

Note that Ceylon Tea Trails is primarily set up for couples and an older clientele, they try not to have several families staying at the same time.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Taylor Owner's Cottage is ideal for families as it has 1 master bedroom with 1 small, interconnecting bedroom with twin beds.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Ceylon Tea Trails are situated south of Hatton in the Dickoya region, which is in the hill country of south-central Sri Lanka.

By Air
Colombo Bandaranaike (175km away) is the closest international airport. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
Most guests come by private car, either as part of a bigger exploration around Sri Lanka or arranged by Ceylon Tea Trails (enquire when booking). The journey time is 3-4 hours from Colombo or 2-3 hours from Kandy.

There is also a seaplane (enquire when booking) to Castlereagh reservoir. This cuts journey times to 30 minutes from Colombo and 15 minutes from Kandy.

Getting around
The hotel can arrange taxis or cars with drivers for day trips and excursions.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Sri Lanka and getting around