TRAVEL | TEA TRAILS, TEA COUNTRY, SRI LANKA

One of the amazing things about Sri Lanka is the island's diverse scenery. Within a two hour drive, the landscape can dramatically change and case in point was our drive from the steamy jungle of the central highlands to the fresh rolling valleys of Tea Country, one of my all time favourite places.

We stayed at Tea Trails, made up of five bungalows, dotted around the lake in the Bogawantalawa hills, the most famous region for Ceylon Tea. We opted for the Tea Trail Experience and stayed a night at three of the bungalows; Norwood, a beautiful lodge in the hills, lake-side Castlereagh, a traditional English abode and Tientsin, a colonial house with incredible gardens and breathtaking tea country views.

Tea Trails is an incredibly special place; it feels like you've escaped to a country home with its English touches including afternoon tea, Pimms No 1 on the drinks trolley and the croquet lawn. With there being only four rooms in each bungalow along with the welcoming and warm staff, you're spoilt from day break to dusk; waking up to tea in bed, relaxing in their beautiful gardens, sundowners on the terrace and feasting on delicious meals, with the Sri Lankan curries being a firm favourite. 

Since the bungalows are on working tea estates, you’re also able to see how Ceylon tea is made, watching the ladies picking the tea leaves by hand before being processed in the nearby factories, ready to be sent to the weekly tea market in Colombo. Other activities include tea country walks, cycling between bungalows, rowing on the lake or simply relaxing and enjoying the bungalow and tropical gardens.

Each bungalow offers a variety of short and long trails into the surrounding tea country and I was surprised to learn that there has been the odd leopard sighting. The sunset walk at Norwood was a highlight, hiking up the tea terraces with each ascent outdoing the other and given us impressive tea country views against pink and lavender breaking cloud formations. We also spent a morning at Castlereagh walking through the tea estate, waving to the friendly and welcoming tea pickers who were hard at work whilst taking in endless views of vibrant green leaves glistening in the bright morning sunshine.