Ceylon Tea Trails is the world’s first tea bungalow resort, perched at an altitude of 1250 metres in Sri Lanka’s panoramic Ceylon tea region, bordering the UNESCO World Heritage Central Highlands.
Each house comes with its own Manager and staff of 20 including chef and butlers. The bungalows feature 4 to 6 luxurious Master Suites, Garden Suites and Luxury Rooms, which can be booked individually or collectively. Each room is decorated in its own unique style ranging from neo-colonial to classic English and the Master Suites come with a separate living area, while the Garden Suites have their own private verandas.
The properties have immaculate grounds, with sweeping lawns, clear blue swimming pools and English gardens filled with roses, dew-filled agapanthus and spring crocus. There are communal living areas with sumptuous sofas, open fires and an extensive array of reading material, plus a separate room for watching television and DVDs. Limited internet access is also available for those who need an occasional dose of modernity.
The food at Tea Trails is outstanding. Almost everything is imported to ensure standards that we would expect from any European restaurant. Even the Sri Lankan chef at Norwood was shipped back from a 15 year career in France and all members of staff have been carefully selected with extensive experience in their field.
We enjoyed afternoon tea on arrival, with fresh homemade scones which were cooked as we waited. Then a 4 course dinner of caramelized duck with a chilli, cucumber and spring onion salad. Pumpkin soup then followed, with a perfectly cooked sea bass fillet for main and a triple chocolate moose infused with 'tea' and accompanied with a lime jus to finish. After dinner we were served coffee and liqueurs in the lounge. Simply delicious!
One of the best things about the Tea Trails is the concept. Although you only stay in one of the four bungalows located around the magical Castlereagh Reservoir, they are all open to you. So if you want to have breakfast at your bungalow and then stroll down to another through the tea plantations for lunch you are more than welcome. Likewise if you fancy afternoon tea or dinner at a different one, that too can be arranged. Summerville and Castlereagh bungalow sit opposite each other on the shores of the reservoir about 10 mins from each other. Norwood is in the same valley but located high up on the tea terraces 15-20 mins from the two lower bungalows. Then finally Teinsten in just over the way in a neighbouring valley (30mins away) but still equally as beautiful.
Other activities include, a complimentary visit to the estate's tea factory, mountain biking, kayaking, croquet on the lawn or excursions to Horton Plains, Adams Peak and World's End. You could even catch the scenic railway down to Kandy for the day or up to Nuwara Eliya, otherwise known as Little England due to its colonial past.
In keeping with the private bungalow atmosphere, and as there are no restaurants or bars in the area, rates are all inclusive. The price includes:-
Bed tea
Cooked English or Sri Lankan breakfast
Lunch (packed lunch if on excursion)
Afternoon cream tea
Pre-dinner cocktails
4-course dinner
Australian house wines
International house spirits
Beer, juices and soft drinks
Tea & coffee
Laundry
Calls within Sri Lanka
Tea fields and factory tour
Other bungalow amenities
Spa treatments, premium spirits, a la carte wines and cigars excluded.
Max of 2 extra beds per room and only in the Master Suites. The Luxury rooms and Garden Suites can take 1 extra bed comfortably.
