Picolo recommends · Tea estate in Sri Lanka
Ceylon Tea Trails
Colonial-era bungalows among the tea estates of Sri Lanka’s hill country, all inclusive, with afternoon tea on the lawn. Guests rate it 9.8 out of 10.
The mist still lies in the valley as the tea pickers head out between the bushes. Tea is waiting on the veranda, and the only decision you need to make is whether to walk before or after breakfast.
The bungalows have fireplaces, verandas and gardens overlooking the tea hills. Meals are served wherever you like, including private dinners or picnics, and afternoon tea is a fixed appointment.
The spa offers massages, aromatherapy and reflexology, and between meals there are trails straight out into the estates. It is a place for long days without a plan.
How to get to the tea estates
Hatton lies in the hill country between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Many arrive by train through the highlands, one of the finest train rides in Sri Lanka, or by car with a driver from Colombo.
Evenings can be cool in the hills, so pack a jumper. The stay pairs well with the Cultural Triangle around Sigiriya and Dambulla.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Ceylon Tea Trails
There are only 27 rooms, spread across bungalows in the middle of the estates. It feels like staying with a tea planter, not at a hotel.
Everything is included, and there is a spa, a tennis court and several outdoor pools. Ask for a private picnic among the tea hills.
What you get
- All meals included, served where you like
- Afternoon tea on the lawn
- Spa with massages and aromatherapy
- Outdoor pools
- Bungalow rooms with fireplaces and verandas
A day at Ceylon Tea Trails
- Morning
- Tea on the veranda as the mist lifts off the estates.
- Late morning
- Walk the trails straight out into the tea hills.
- Afternoon
- A massage in the spa, then afternoon tea on the lawn.
- Evening
- Dinner wherever you like, by the fire or in the garden.
Location
Hatton, Hill Country, Sri Lanka
Open in MapsWhen to go to the hill country
The hill country is green all year, and the estates are a cool escape from the heat of the coast. Evenings can be chilly, so pack a jumper.
Many pair the stay with the train ride through the highlands or the Cultural Triangle around Sigiriya and Dambulla.
Questions about Ceylon Tea Trails
Is Ceylon Tea Trails worth it?
Yes, because everything is included: meals, drinks and activities. With only 27 rooms it feels like staying with a tea planter rather than at a hotel. Allow several hours on winding roads from Colombo, and stay at least two nights.
Where is Ceylon Tea Trails?
Ceylon Tea Trails is in the tea estates near Norwood and Hatton in Sri Lanka’s hill country.
Is it all inclusive?
Yes, stays are all inclusive.
Does Ceylon Tea Trails have a spa and pools?
Yes, there is a spa offering massages and aromatherapy, and several outdoor pools.
Is it suitable for children?
At least one guest must be 18 to check in. Check the terms for children on Hotels.com before you book.
Would you rather stay somewhere else?
Two other remarkable hotels in Sri Lanka.
Updated 5 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
Topics
