Ceylon Tea Trails  

Ceylon Tea Trails comprises of four classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. The Ceylon Tea Trails bungalows have been beautifully restored by Dilmah Tea with the cooperation of Bogawantalawa Tea Estates.

Each bungalow is different: Summerville has the air of a country cottage, Castlereagh has an eclectic style, Tientsin is unashamedly colonial, and Norwood is more modern, abounding with 1960′s character. Summerville and Castlereagh are situated opposite each other on the shores of 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.

Guests of Ceylon Tea Trails are situated in solitude, at an elevation of 4000 feet above sea level and are infused with life of a working tea estate, whilst reveling in five-star luxury. Ceylon Tea Trails will teach you everything you need to know about the perfect brew. The unique Tea Experience Tour with the tea planter in residence will show you the wonders of Camellia Sinensis (the botanical name for tea).

Scenic walking trails link the properties (which are from 5-15 km apart) and offer magnificent views in all directions. Trekking along the Tea Trails takes you through the heart of the magic Ceylon tea country. A wide variety of activities and excursions are available including climbing the famed Adams Peak mountain, day trips to the ancient hill capital Kandy and golfing in Nuwara Eliya.

At Ceylon Tea Trails every day is an adventure!

Butler Service

Each bungalow has a Manager, Chef, Butler and support staff to welcome guests as at a planter’s home. The discreet Butler is at your beck and call. The service is outstanding throughout your stay, with either the butler himself or one of the support staff always appearing magically at the right moment – without ever being intrusive.

Cuisine (All Inclusive)

The cuisine at Ceylon Tea Trails takes its cue from the long tradition of dining well at the tea planter’s table: nostalgic flavours of Europe and a tradition of service and pampering unique to British colonial times. Ceylon Tea Trails is all about the time-honoured planters’ traditions – Roaring fires and the comfort of a single malt whiskey 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 high teas in gardens curiously English and exotic at the same time. A four-course dinner that is at once contemporary and colonial with its garden-fresh ingredients married with good 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.

The day at Ceylon Tea Trails starts with that wonderful colonial institution, Bed Tea. Served by your butler as part of a gentle wake-up call, this must be the most civilized way to start the day. An early morning walk followed by an English breakfast-with-everything is a must at least once during your sojourn at Tea Trails. A perfectly brewed cup of tea accompanies eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, toast, jam, a freshly squeezed juice, and anything else you may care to add.

A unique aspect of Tea Trails’ cuisine is the use of fresh, home grown vegetables, herbs and teas from the surrounding gardens. Crunchy baby carrots, luscious purple beetroot, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, deep red cherry tomatoes, green and yellow zucchini, celery, crisp cucumbers, radish, rhubarb and red, green and yellow peppers. Salad greens – iceberg lettuce, roquette and local red and green varieties — are freshly picked from the bungalow gardens. Fresh home-grown herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, sage, parsley and mint inspire and enliven the chef’s menus every day: Broccoli with roasted almond soup with blue cheese. Keemun tea and fresh tarragon infused roasted chicken with braised curly cabbage and baby carrot. Oyster mushroom soup with garden fresh basil pesto. Moroccan mint tea crusted lamb rump steak with grilled herb polenta and roasted peppers in tamarind sauce. Zucchini and pumpkin frittata with rocket and pine nut salad.

Desserts are unashamedly luscious: Orange and lime cheese cake with cinnamon rhubarb. Apple tart with Assam tea cream anglaise. Cinnamon tea poached pears with butter scotch ice cream. Passion fruit pannacotta with minted citrus fruit salad. Banana and sultana compote served with Hibiscus sorbet.

Traditional English afternoon tea is an intrinsic part of plantation life, a much-appreciated ritual served on the bungalow lawns by immaculately sarong clad “apoos.” High Tea comes replete with a traditional tea service, dainty cucumber sandwiches, scones, fresh cream and strawberry jam.

Excursions

The Ceylon Tea Trails offers plenty of attractions for active-minded travelers including: guided trekking in the surrounding estates or Horton Plains, climbing of Adam’s Peak – Sri Lanka’s holiest mountain and a pilgrimage site for all four of the world’s main religions. There are various Mountain Biking trails in the vicinity and water-sports are also available both on the lake and in Kitulgala – the main location for whitewater rafting trips in the island. Golf enthusiasts can take a day trip to Nuwara Eliya for a round of golf on a picturesque course. A ‘Tea Experience’ is also offered, providing interesting insights into the growth and manufacture of tea – Sri Lanka’s most famous crop.