As Fernando continued to train and work in the tea industry, he noticed that Ceylon tea was increasingly being mixed with teas from other origins and that profits from the tea mainly went to foreign investors. But most things should still be the same. This is the most recent bungalow to open at Tea Trails, restored in 2015. First, we were shuttled from Tientsin to the Dunkeld Tea Factory located on the. We were traveling with Jetwing Eco Holidays and our driver/guide Nawfer picked us up from our hotel in Colombo and drove us to Tea Trails. We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign-up. Room Types: There are currently 26 rooms available across the 5 bungalows, and there are four room types offered at Ceylon Tea Trails. © Copyright 2013 - 2020, Ceylon Tea Trails in Sri Lanka: Luxury, Tea, and Colonial Ambiance, Basic Information about Ceylon Tea Trails. This sounds like such an interesting tour and hotel, Jessica. It is here that many British tea (and coffee) planters set up homes and villas in Sri Lanka in order to be able to supervise work at their tea fields and factories. Here, five classic colonial bungalows, built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj, have been caringly restored by Dilmah Tea with the cooperation of Bogawantalawa Tea Estates. Cinnamon Air operates flights that land in Castlereagh Reservoir (just next to both Castlereagh and Summerville bungalows). : No, Ceylon Tea Trails bungalows are private property and cannot be visited without a prior booking. Our room was comfortable, spacious, clean, and had all the amenities we needed and more. ✔ 30% discount with business rate ✔ Cancellation is free of charge ✔ {hotel.recommendation} Note that an overland drive from Colombo can be a bit long and tedious so you may want to consider the scenic train ride from Kandy to Hatton or a seaplane ride. Hi Alesha, Yes, Ceylon Tea Trails is indeed a great mix of luxury and history which is why we enjoyed it so much! OOh this could be really interesting to do! I am constantly drawn to Castlereagh until I read someone else comments on another bungalow. 1.9K likes. Today five of these colonial-era tea planters’ bungalows have been restored by Dilmah as Tea Trails. Everything can be personalized. Profits are shared with the workers and local communities, and a percentage of the profits are also used to fund both the MJF Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. We loved the Tientsin Bungalow and its Old World charm and hope that some day we have a chance to return and stay in some of the bungalows which each have their own character. Situated in the middle of a tea plantation with a view of the lake and the green mountains, each building offers guests a journey through time in a refined atmosphere. Many people coming to stay at Ceylon Tea Trails are interested in learning about the tea industry in Sri Lanka and learning about the tea making process. It incorporates colonial elements but feels quite modern at the same time. • Check in to the hotel and leisure. Note that throughout Sri Lanka, including hotels, alcohol cannot be served on the Poya holidays, which occurs once a month during the full moon. CEYLON-LANKA: Tea Trails - Sri Lanka 14 Days, 13 Nights . If you don't see the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam folder. If you are looking for reading materials for your stay, all the bungalows have small libraries or you can bring your own. The train ride from Columbo to Ella is a great one and very scenic Best, Jessica, Wow, this place looks amazing. Rooms do not have televisions, but you can request one to be brought in and there is also a DVD player with a small selection of classic DVDs. Ceylon Tea Trails at Hatton is an iconic small luxury resort, a Relais & Chateaux member, of 27 rooms located between five restored historic tea planter bungalows at 1250 metres in Sri Lanka's picturesque tea region. But if you are staying at Tea Trails, you can visit the other bungalows for lunch or tea during the day, so you can always visit the others. The panoramic views over mountains and emerald tea plantations are breathtaking. ), but one did on Laurence. Clearly you can sort of roll from one meal to the next, but it is best to get in some exercise and sightseeing in between to help work off some of the indulgent meals. We got the impression that if there is something you want to do, you should just ask and the staff will arrange it if it is at all possible. If you are looking for a few books set in colonial Sri Lanka, you might consider, Dining & Afternoon Tea at Ceylon Tea Trails, Tea is obviously the star beverage at Ceylon Tea Trails, and we were given a list of the, Note that throughout Sri Lanka, including hotels, alcohol cannot be served on the. If driving yourself or taking an overland transfer, it is about a 4 to 5 hour drive from Colombo, 2 hours from Nuwara Eliya, or 2.5 hours from Kandy. A few hours later it was time for a 3-course lunch, a few hours later a 3-tiered tea tray full of finger sandwiches, scones, and little cakes and pot of afternoon tea, and then that evening a 4-course dinner. Best, Glenna, Hi Glenna, It is definitely an indulgence to stay at Ceylon Tea Trails but it is also probably the best hotel in Sri Lanka. Tientsin Bungalow was originally built in 1888 but rebuilt in 1939. As always, feel free to ask us any questions or leave us any tips or advice of your own! Also note that all rooms have a shower, but some are affixed over the bath tub and some are separate walk-in showers, so if a walk-in shower is important, be sure to request it. There are options to have meals and afternoon tea on the verandah, lawn, or in the dining room. Comprising of five restored tea planters' residences in the heart of Sri Lanka's tea region, each bungalow offers a slice of history and an opportunity to experience the romance of Ceylon Tea. It is Sri Lanka’s first Relais & Chateaux resort. Sorry! Definitely looked like a nice getaway. It offers 6 guest bedrooms, and is decorated in High Colonial style. Sri Lanka is definitely an up-and-coming destination and has become a pretty popular one these past few years since it has re-opened for tourism after the ending of the civil war in 2009. Ceylon Tea Trails is a collection of five colonial era tea planters' bungalows restored to impeccable style, offering a taste of gracious living in 27 suites and rooms, with butler service and original furnishings, accompanied by gourmet meals. Don't miss out on our exclusive monthly giveaways with lots of fun travel and photography related prizes! View all posts by Gabi. It was during the British colonial period that a network of roads were developed, the country was surveyed, hospitals were opened, the railway system was introduced, and major shipping ports were developed to aid in the importing and exporting of goods. The scenery, food, and service at Ceylon Tea Trails are great reasons to go as well as the open bar ~ Jessica, Wow, this estate looks gorgeous and truly luxurious! Chef always asked us about our preferences and any dietary restrictions. One of my previous firms used to stock Dilmah tea exclusively so I’ve drunk my fair share of Dilmah tea, but I had no idea about its history. The bungalow at Norwood offers 6 rooms and commands a fine view of the eastern end of the Bogawantalawa valley and has some amazingly large bamboo surrounding it. You can read more about our full tour in Sri Lanka in an article Laurence wrote. We did this on our first full day at Tea Trails. y pleasant and was happy to answer all our questions. Ceylon Tea Trails - All Inclusive offers 5 forms of accommodation with iPod docking stations and a safe. Thank you for sharing! It was easy for us to forget we were at a hotel as we very much felt at home in the bungalow. Beds feature premium bedding. Who wouldn’t enjoy swimming in those crystal clear pools and wandering through those gardens? For instance we had meat marinated in tea and tea infused crème brûlée. The cultivation and exportation of spices, coffee, and tea in Sri Lanka was very important to the development Sri Lanka, and the infrastructure set up by the British allowed for the large-scale worldwide exportation of tea and other agricultural products. in Yala National Park and our recommended 1 week Sri Lanka itinerary for couples. All the tea is hand picked and we were welcome to give it a short go and pick the “two leaves and a bud”. In addition to a menu listing available drinks, there is also a small open bar area in each bungalow’s lounge which has a selection of wines, spirits, and mixers. Perched at an altitude of 1250 meters, Ceylon Tea Trails is the gold standard for luxury bungalows in Sri Lanka. Would Ceylon Tea Trails be included in your dream luxury getaway in Sri Lanka? ), snacks are also available all day long! A typical day here includes waking up to a traditional Bed Tea each morning served by the butler, spending the afternoon by the pool or taking a scenic hike, and then finishing the day with canapés and an evening drink by the fire before heading off to a 4-course dinner. The drive took about 5 hours and was a bit tedious with traffic. Each bungalow offers 4-6 rooms and comes with its own dedicated staff (manager, butler, chef, and houseboys). **Disclosure: We were provided free accommodation at Ceylon Tea Trails in order to review the resort as travel writers. Besides, these bungalows seem so luxurious! It is situated in a position high above the reservoir and offers amazing views over the lake, tea fields of the Dunkeld estate, the Dunkeld Tea Factory, and mountains. Book Ceylon Tea Trails - Relais & Chateaux, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor: See 1,619 traveller reviews, 1,966 candid photos, and great deals for Ceylon Tea Trails - Relais & Chateaux, ranked #1 of 9 hotels in Sri Lanka and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. • Transfer to beach hotel at Negombo. Each of the historical bungalows has its own distinctive character and offers a boutique luxury experience in Sri Lanka’s Tea Country. I’d definitely love to visit Sri Lanka and Ceylon Tea Trails someday . In our guest room at Tientsin, there was a service button located next to the bed, and when rang our butler or one of the other staff members would come to our room. It is much less common in the U.S. and it is not sold in most places here in the UK yet. There are Luxury Rooms (smallest rooms), Master Suites with a separate living room, Garden Suites with a verandas to a private garden area, and a secluded Owner’s Cottage. For the Sri Lankan dishes it is best to request these options the evening before as they take a lot longer to prepare. Sri Lanka is definitely becoming a more popular destination and if you are already heading to India or the Maldives, an easy place to add in as a stop. The hotel consists of 5 colonial bungalows nestled within one of the best tea regions in Sri Lanka. That was really interesting to know, thanks! Hi Lydia, Indeed, not every day you play croquet (especially as an American) but at Ceylon Tea Trails you can play in several locations:) ~ Jessica. Find me on @chiclebelle Ceylon Tea Trails lies in central Sri Lanka, just four hours from Colombo by car to Castlereagh Lake in the Bogawantalawa Valley. The tour took about 1.5 hours and was quite relaxed and informative. Love the chandeliers in the bungalow and would enjoy relaxing on the terrace for a scrumptious breakfast or afternoon tea. For the active, there are guided hikes and climbs of Adam’s Peak, day excursions, tennis, croquet, a tour of a tea factory, kayaking, and swimming. The staff has plenty of things you can borrow (hiking trail maps, a salt water spray for the leeches, umbrellas, rain coats, insect repellent) and they can advise you on proper clothing. This was the beginning to our two days in Sri Lankan paradise! Chaminda told us to treat the bungalow like our home and that no room keys are provided unless requested, which was a nice feeling! The all-inclusive nature of Tea Trails makes it a delight as you don’t have to worry about a bill at the end of your stay, and we especially loved that laundry service is included. I had actually learned to. Tea Trails is operated by Resplendent Ceylon Ltd. which also operates Cape Weligama, a beach resort that sits along Sri Lanka’s southern cliffs which is currently the only other Relais & Châteaux resort in Sri Lanka. I love the story and association with Dilmah and the Fernando family. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Luxury hotels and spas are definitely springing up in the country, and Ceylon Tea Trails is sort of the gold standard. We saw just about every unoccupied room in four of the bungalows ranging from the Luxury Rooms to the Owner’s Bungalow, and honestly we would have been happy to sleep in any of them. However, due to disease and growing conditions, tea soon replaced coffee with Scottish planter James Taylor starting the first tea plantation in 1867. Such luxury and beautiful scenery! The Owners’ Cottage is located just above the Dunkeld Bungalow that is accessed from a small private path, and is perfect for a romantic honeymoon or private family getaway. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks are available on request at any time of the day. ~ Jessica, Your email address will not be published. Ceylon Tea Trails is located 3 hours from Colombo and 2 hours from Kandy by road. Castlereagh Bungalow was built in 1925 and offers 5 guest bedrooms, and is a popular guest favorite with its eclectic style. ~ Jessica. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Meals can also be arranged in one’s suite with advance notice. The recommended hikes are scenic through the tea fields, past the lake, and some go through local villages. In addition to the tea factory tour, Ceylon Tea Trails offers a number of activities for guests and many of these are complimentary, such as swimming, croquet, tennis, board games, kayaking, hiking, billiards, mountain biking, etc. It felt unique. On the terrace, we were greeted with a choice of hot beverages and fresh juices and given the morning news (a 2-page printed copy based on your nationality) to read. Love the croquet! Our butler Chaminda introduced himself, told us a little about the property, and asked us how we’d like to spend the rest of the day. It was a perfect 2 days of absolute paradise and if you ever have the chance, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a honeymoon, anniversary, or luxury getaway in Sri Lanka! It’s a beautiful bungalow, and the pool looks amazing:) ~ Jessica. Dunkeld Tea Factory is about 150 years old and uses traditional methods to process its tea, which have largely remained unchanged for the past 100 years. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Merrill Fernando’s two son, Dilhan and Malik (their names led to the name Dilmah), continue in the family business. Tientsin Bungalow offers a swimming pool, clay tennis court, billards room, library, croquet lawn, and gardens. A luxury room is the lowest category of room offered by Ceylon Tea Trails, but I think it is almost impossible to have a bad room at Tea Trails after checking out a good number of the rooms across the bungalows. ( Log Out /  The carriage Even tea was incorporated in many of the meals which was a nice touch. Ceylon Tea Trails is the most coveted place to stay in Sri Lanka, and a perfect place for history and tea lovers like us. The food is delicious and well-presented. Eventually government pressure would allow six Ceylonese men to become the first native tea tasters in 1950, one being young Merrill Joseph Fernando. Staff carried in our luggage and showed us into the lounge area where we were given a welcome drink which was a refreshing juice and tea infusion. It was a great way to relax and spend a few very unique days in the middle of a long journey. 1.5 miles from Ceylon Trails #29 Best Value of 3,337 places to stay in Colombo “ Went out after a long time and I thought to go cloud red since I do always love the Long Island ice tea … Nestled among the scenic tea-carpeted hills of the Bogawantalawa region, you’ll find five colonial-era tea planter bungalows which have been turned into a private luxury resort. After morning tea, we’d roll out of bed and get ready for breakfast. The five bungalows of Ceylon Tea Trails are scattered among the emerald hillsides of Sri Lanka´s Golden Valley of tea, Bogawantalawa. The gorgeous green hills, the river and reservoir down below, everywhere, I mean everywhere you looked was just … So does the pool and the jacuzzi right next to the lake. Want to keep up to date with us and our latest travel tips? We spent two nights at the Ceylon Tea Trails as part of a 5 day trip we took that started and ended in Colombo. We personally chose to have a very relaxed schedule and in between the wonderful meals and afternoon teas, we chose to hang out at a couple of the pools, play croquet, do a little reading, visit the other bungalows, and enjoy the gardens and hiking paths. Stay in one of five authentic tea planters’ bungalows, each one of which has its own charm. My first experience with Dilmah was while having afternoon tea at the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris. Being a subscriber also makes you eligible to enter our monthly travel and photography giveaways! The Ceylon Tea Trails looks very stunning hotel and we are tea lovers.. He showed us tea plants of various ages and explained the work related to planting and picking the tea leaves. It seems to me that you guys stay in the nicest places! I think if I stayed in one of the bungalows I would never step foot outside it – except maybe for the tea factory tour. There are now six major tea regions in Sri Lanka, and Dimbula, where the Tea Trails bungalows are located, was one of the first areas to be planted in the 1870s. ou can also email them at reservations@resplendentceylon.com or call them at +94 11 774 5700 for reservations or questions. Future luxury properties are planned for both Yala and Sigiriya. For those who crave relaxation, there are swimming pools, the gardens, board games, in-room spa treatments, paneled libraries, and bay windows framing beautiful scenery. Although the Dutch had first introduced coffee in Sri Lanka, it was the British (with the labor of the local people) who were able to open large commercial plantations making it a profitable crop. Ceylon Tea Trails is not a hotel. Five hours drive from Colombo on windy roads, passing through lush tropical vegetation and bustling towns, bring us to luxurious tea-planter bungalows tucked amongst the plantations. Settle in one of the four restored tea, planters bungalows with period furniture and, gourmet cuisine. Food was fresh and local and we loved that our preferences were taken into consideration by the chef. You can also email them at reservations@resplendentceylon.com or call them at +94 11 774 5700 for reservations or questions. ( Log Out /  After dinner I like reading a book in the common living room, next to the fireplace. If you want to travel by helicopter, Tea Trails can provide a list of companies that provide transfers to and from the hotel and rate sheets. Hours a day in case you were wondering one ’ s Tea country tour.. Bring in their leaves from the 5 bungalows at Tea Trails, and rain shower in. 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