The day at Tea Trails starts with that wonderful tradition of Bed Tea. Served by your butler as part of a gentle wake-up call, this must be the most civilised way to start the day. The butler will also draw your bath. Then an early morning walk followed by an English or Sri Lankan breakfast. A unique aspect of Tea Trails’ cuisine is the use of fresh, home grown vegetables, herbs and teas from the surrounding estates. Basil, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, sage, parsley and mint inspire and enliven the chef’s menus every day.

Tea Trails is all about the time-honoured planters’ traditions: roaring fires and the comfort of a single malt whisky 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 cream teas in gardens curiously English and exotic at the same time. A four-course dinner that is at once contemporary with its garden-fresh ingredients married with choice 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.

Rates at Tea Trails are fully inclusive of gourmet meals and drinks, including select top shelf spirits and wines. 


Dining Experiences

Afternoon Cream Tea
A Tea Trails ritual; delicious savouries and cakes served by your butler, accompanied by yesterday’s Ceylon tea manufacture. The custom of tea drinking dates back to the third millennium BC in China, although it was highly popularised in England in the later centuries. However, it was not until the mid-19th Century that the concept of 'afternoon' or 'high tea' first appeared.

The concept was introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in England, in 1840. She’d become hungry around 4 o’clock in the afternoon and as dinner was a fashionably late affair, she'd request for a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake. This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880’s upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock.

Alfresco BBQ Lunch
Enjoy slow living with a sumptuous BBQ lunch, cooked for you by the hotel's chefs, complemented by their butler service. This experience takes place along the tea valleys with a commanding view of the mountainscape and lake below. Celebrate the great outdoors, sip on a chilled glass of the finest champagne while you feast on staples including grilled homegrown vegetables, creamy mash and a selection of meats and seafood.

Tea Planter’s Tiffin Lunch
The “"Planters’ Lunch" is a plusher version served in tiffin boxes in a picnic setting. The location is on the hillside above Dunkeld Bungalow flanked by tea and jungle on either side, with vistas of the rolling tea fields that start from the glassy Castlereagh Lake and creep up on to jagged mountaintops. The way up to the picnic spot is via a scenic trail that commences at Dunkeld Bungalow and we recommend guests take the walk either up to the picnic spot or from lunch back down to the Bungalow.

Tea Infused Dinner
The passion for good food begins in the hotel's very own garden patches. Maintained by their own kitchens, they have an increasing quantity of herbs, chillies and organic vegetables including carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, rosemary and other greens to name a few. The Tea Infused Dinner brings together the subtle influences of the flavours of tea, combined with their homegrown produce to create this signature culinary experience unique to Tea Trails.

Teas grown in various areas of Sri Lanka have distinctly different flavour profiles, and each lends a different effect to types of ingredients and methods of preparation.

Wellness is treating the mind, body and spirit. At Ceylon Tea Trails, they embody this ideology by curating holistic therapies infused with tea-based ingredients and nurturing practises. Their spa menus draw inspiration from traditional healing methods and a bountiful collection of hyperlocal herbs. Enjoy one of their special aromatic baths to begin or complete your day…or just as an indulgence whenever you so please. Or luxuriate in a spa treatment in the privacy and the comfort of your room after a hike or bike ride and soothe any aches and pains away.

Luxury Baths
Bath rituals embody the idea of cleansing the soul, restoring the body and soothing the mind. Choose from a range of cinnamon spice, green tea, and black pepper and orange bath soaks to complete this experience.

Beyond the more obvious relaxing and muscle-soothing benefits, baths can clear the way for soulful transformations. Light a scented candle or two, dim the lights and take a much needed soak in their sumptious baths.


In-Room Spa Treatments
Whether you are after a trek on the trails or wish to simply indulge, call in for some 'me time' at the end of the day to soothe, comfort and allow your mind and body to relax with an in-room spa treatment or therapy.

Choose from their selection of body rituals that relieves tension and stiffness, relax and rejuvenate, and bring a sense of calm and overall well being.

The Tea Experience
The guided tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory is the quintessential tea experience in Sri Lanka. The resident Tea Planter passionately delves into all aspects of tea in just the right amount of detail – from a look back to the early days of "planting" and the lifestyles of the early colonial settlers, to the manufacturing process, to how flavours are created to suit various palates – he’s got it covered. What went into creating the perfect cup of refreshing Ceylon tea in 1867 were equal parts science, art, sleight of hand, and a spot of luck. And not much has changed since! As some of the methodology and machinery are over a century old we strongly believe that Ceylon Tea itself is part of the world’s living heritage. And this is your invitation to partake in it.

Private Tea Tasting
An interactive and guided experience where guests will taste and learn to identify (and appreciate!) the unique flavour profiles that give different teas their distinction. Bernard Holsinger is the resident Tea Planter at Tea Trails and brings with him a wealth of experience, complemented with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek wit. Compared to the complimentary Tea Experience at the Dunkeld Tea factory – which is a general overview of the history of tea and its product – the Private Tea Tasting is a far more detailed, immersive and intimate experience.

Adam’s Peak Ascent
There is probably no mountain anywhere more famous than Sri Pada – Adam’s Peak (7362 ft/2250m) for reasons that are cultural and spiritual. It is sacred to three religions at least; to Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus. The mountain is signified by a large depression on the summit that resembles a "foot" to which all three religions draw significance.

Biking the Trails
Ceylon Tea Trails has opened up a world of adventure and discovery in the Bogawantalawa Valley at an altitude of over 1500 meters. The unspoiled beauty of the surrounding valleys and hills are a great biking experience. For adrenaline seekers of different levels of ability, they  have mountain bikes in the bungalows for your use. For short distance rides you can go on your own but for longer rides, it is recommended that you take one of their Guides along.

Discover Sri Lankan Cuisine
A hands on experience with one of the amazing Tea Trails chefs. Learn the basics of Sri Lankan cooking, from the range of spices and ingredients, to techniques and recipes behind the magic of this island cuisine. Guests are invited to get hands on with mixing spices, preparation and cooking to immerse themselves in this fun and sensory experience. An ideal prelude to a full Sri Lankan dinner option on the same night.

Guided Trail Exploration
In the company of a Tea Trails Naturalist or Trail Guide, walk or cycle (or both!) through the trails and explore the scenery of Sri Lanka's tea country. A broad spectrum of biodiversity exists in hill country - especially here - as the plantations are interspersed with forest patches that are home to a variety of biodiversity from endemic amphibians to birds and leopards. The Naturalist will offer in-depth narrative to the surrounding flora and fauna, share insights on life on a working tea plantation, as well as interesting factoids on history and heritage that combined make for an informative experience. The Guides are also privy to some fun 'off the beaten path' trails for more adventurous explorers. A great way to spend a full day outdoors is to hike, walk and bike between all five bungalows, stopping for refreshments, lunch and tea at each.

Junior Chef
They have a collection of yummy, interactive and immersive culinary experiences for kids with a local twist, tailored for various age levels. Kids will enjoy the first-hand experience of making local favourite 'coconut and treacle pancakes', or coconut and cinnamon cookies.

Kandy Heritage Excursions
The UNESCO World Heritage listed "Sacred City of Kandy" is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and is steeped in political, cultural and religious history and indeed, played a central role in the tea plantation industry once tea production took sway in Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was previously known) in the latter part of the 19th Century. The Kingdom of Kandy was established in the 14th Century, becoming the country’s capital city in the 16th Century. Kandy is particularly famous for being home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Commonly known as the Dalada Maligawa, the temple is believed to house the left canine tooth retrieved from the Buddha’s funeral pyre. It is regarded as a symbolic representation of the living Buddha. Worshipping at the temple is believed to improve one’s karma immeasurably and the shrine receives a constant flow of worshippers and tourists alike. The day trip to Kandy is in the company of a Tea Trails resident naturalist and the first stop is at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. A picnic lunch in the gardens ensues followed by a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Guests also have the option of making part of the commute by train, as it is one of the most scenic experiences, winding its way along lush green mountains with vistas across the valleys below.

Kayaking on Castlereagh Lake
Enjoy magnificent views of tea-carpeted mountains as you paddle along the Castlereagh Lake in hi-spec kayaks. Mornings are most beautiful as the weather is often fairer and the sun breaks through to gleam over the glassy water, and the foreboding mountains surrounding the lake emerge from the thinning mist. Kayaking can be enjoyed and experienced in the company of one of their resident Trail Guides who will provide safety instructions as well. All their kayaks are two-person kayaks which also make for an ideal activity suited toward couples or families.

Nuwara Eliya Heritage Excursions
Nuwara Eliya, 48 km from Tea Trails, was first conceived as a health resort - a 'hill station' in British jargon - around the year 1825. After the area was 'discovered' by a British hunting party in 1819, Sir Samuel Baker, the well-known explorer, fell under its spell in 1846 and planning to make it his home, imported to Nuwara Eliya all the appointments of an English country town, including a bailiff, Hereford and Durham cows, and even a blacksmith and a forge.

Nuwara Eliya is where old-world English architecture meets an evolving city striving to define a new identity, with old symbols of British Heritage standing strong. One such example is the 'Hill Club' – a castle-like private resort that was once a bastion of leisure and lifestyle of the elite. Visitors are welcome for a brief tour and a spot of tea on the lawn.

Other sites that can be visited include Lake Gregory, the Hakgala Botanical Gardens and the lively commotion of the Nuwara Eliya Market. The age-old Grand Hotel which also houses Dilmah Tea Lounge is also part of the experience. The day trip to Nuwara Eliya is in the company of a Tea Trails resident Naturalist who is well versed in the significance and detail of key points of interests. Guests also have the option to experience part of the excursion by train, which we recommended for beautiful views and scenery.

White Water Rafting
After coming off the slopes of Adam's Peak, the clear waters of the Kelani River wind their way through the Hill Country of Sri Lanka before emptying into the Indian Ocean. Your adventure starts at a beautiful nature base in Kitulgala about 1.5 hours from Ceylon Tea Trails. Seven high quality, class III rapids and warm water make the Kelani a premier introduction to the sport of whitewater or an exciting choice for experienced rafters. Tea Trails works with the premier adventure sports company in Sri Lanka that meets international safety standards What’s included: approximately 1.5 hours of Rafting, all equipment, experienced guide from the base, transfers from and to Tea Trails, picnic lunch.

Lake Cruise
Embark on an experiential day out on the Castlereagh Lake complemented by stunning views of the misty mountainscape and tea valleys. This experience is complemented by an indulgent breakfast and/or lunch, complete with a bottle of wine or champagne.

Tennis
Play Tennis at Tientsin Bungalow’s clay court, reminiscent of British planters having an afternoon game after a hard morning in the fields and factory. Planters of the yesteryears relished an afternoon game on the clay court at Tientsin Bungalow, after a hard day in the fields. If you’re not staying at Tientsin, do pay a visit at lunch or afternoon tea and enjoy a game of tennis thrown in!