Rooms

Surrounded by lovely manicured gardens, the five bungalows have been elegantly refurbished by interior designer Deirdre Renniers to showcase their colonial architecture. Think vintage photographs, collectables from tea pots to wind-up gramophones, impressive coffee table books (that you actually want to read), and beautiful parquet floors throughout. 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. Ample bathrooms come with twin sinks and claw foot or slipper baths as well as rainfall showers.

The Castlereagh bungalow is an imposing century-old house overlooking the reservoir, with 3 superb garden suites and 2 luxury rooms. It features summer houses, a library, a 15m swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and open fireplaces.

Summerville, 4km away across Castlereagh reservoir, is more of a traditional cottage. Some of the five suites have private gardens; all have easy access to the cosy living room with a fireplace and picture windows. Set above the lake with arguably the best views of them all, it also has an 18m infinity pool, summer house and sunbathing deck.

Norwood is at the eastern end of the valley, 12km from Castlereagh (15 minutes by car), and is where we stayed on our most recent visit. Rebuilt in the 1940s, Norwood is set up away in the heart of the tea estate and has views over plantations down to the lake and to the hills beyond. The six suites and rooms, some with four-poster beds, are complemented by a library, billiards room, long covered veranda, a Jacuzzi with a view, the largest swimming pool of them all (over 22m in length), sun deck, croquet lawn, and long dining room opening to a south-facing dining terrace.

Tientsin, the furthest afield, 15km upriver from Norwood, is named after the Chinese village from where the original tea came, and has the largest garden of all and also a tennis court. Six airy suites and rooms, polished wooden floors, high ceilings, log fires, billiards room, four-poster beds, 15m infinity pool, sun deck and delightful rose gardens contribute to the ambiance.

We stayed at Dunkeld, nestled in the mountains, above the lake, with its 18m pool, open-sided dining/living rooms and billiards room. The four 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 Jacuzzi on the veranda.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Butler service
• Cots available
• Fan
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Plunge pool
• Safe box
• Slippers
• Toiletries
• Torch

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. It is fair to say that we were blown away by the flavour, presentation and abundance of the food on offer.

Wake up to a Western-style (usually eggs done your way) or a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast served with a fruit platter and bread basket. Picnic lunch baskets can be provided if you're out and about – perhaps cold roast beef sandwiches with a delicious salad – while for those who'd rather savour the views back at the house, there's usually a three-course lunch affair on offer. Do make sure you try the wonderful English high tea (if you have any room) comprising the usual tier of scones, cakes and sandwiches, with home-made jams of local fruit.

We loved the sundowners in the garden or in the living room, a chance to mingle with fellow guests, canapés are offered too – there's a different 'cocktail of the day' or choose from the complimentary drinks menu of spirits and wines. Dinner usually has 4 courses: for example, a tea-themed feast (we had tea-infused chicken one night, absolutely delicious) followed by chocolate mousse cake. Or they may offer a traditional Sri Lankan feast where you choose the protein curry (we had crab one night) which is served with a range of vegetarian curries as accompaniments. Dine on the terrace, in the dining room, in your suite, on the veranda or in a garden summer house (weather permitting).

Features include:

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

Activities

• Enjoy the tea experience: watch the harvest, visit a Dilmah tea factory and discover the skills of tea blending and tasting, buy tea to bring home
  
• Enjoy a cooking class with your in-bungalow chef
  
• Try kayaking with well-trained guides (enquire ahead of arrival)
  
• 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
  
• 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
  
• See Sri Lanka from above on the helicopter adventure – amazing views without the winding roads. The tour can include Galle, Sigiriya, Colombo and 5 nights at the Tea Trails bungalows
  
• Whitewater rafting is available at Kitulgala, about 1.5 hours away
  
• Spend an afternoon golfing in Nuwara Eliya, also about 1-1.5 hours away
  
• 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. Otherwise all rooms can take an extra bed or baby cot. There's a twin room at each bungalow too.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Shops: 20-25 minutes

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