Tea Country & Ella

About this tour

Sri Lanka's hill country is the home of Ceylon tea. The roads wind through plantations where leaves are still picked by hand, and the temperature drops noticeably as you climb, especially in Nuwara Eliya.

The itinerary can include one of the island's best-known train rides. Seats on the scenic hill-country line are limited and sell out, so we arrange them in advance wherever possible.

Route: Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Haputale

Best for: Couples, nature and photography lovers, walkers, and anyone who wants a break from the heat of the lowlands.

Tour highlights

• Tea plantations and a tea factory visit
• Nuwara Eliya, the highland town known as 'Little England'
• A scenic hill-country train journey towards Ella
• Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak and Ravana Falls near Ella
• Haputale and the southern edge of the hill country
• Private transport throughout

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1

   Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

   Drive up through the hills past waterfalls and tea estates to Nuwara Eliya. Stop for views along the way and settle in for a cool evening.

2. Day2

   Nuwara Eliya

   Visit a tea plantation and factory to see how Ceylon tea is made. Spend the rest of the day at Gregory Lake, the town's colonial-era streets and Hakgala Botanical Garden.

3. Day3

   Scenic train to Ella

   Join the hill-country railway for one of its most scenic stretches, with views over tea slopes and valleys. Your driver meets you at the other end and takes you on to Ella.

4. Day4

   Ella and Haputale

   Walk to Little Adam's Peak and visit the Nine Arch Bridge, a stone viaduct set in the forest. Continue to Haputale, on the edge of the southern escarpment, for tea country views.

5. Day5

   Departure or onward journey

   Transfer to the airport, or continue to the south coast or a wildlife park if you are combining this with another tour.

Sample itinerary. Every journey is private and can be changed to suit your dates, pace and interests. Timings and activities depend on season, opening hours and local conditions, and are confirmed when your tour is planned.