Kandy, Nuwara Eliya's tea estates and Ella's Nine Arch Bridge, all through misty hairpin roads.
The Hill Country & Tea Trails tour climbs from Sri Lanka's cultural capital into the cool, green heart of the island. It begins in Kandy, home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the calm waters of Kandy Lake, before a short stop at the Royal Botanical Gardens in nearby Peradeniya. From there the road winds up through pine forests and waterfalls to Nuwara Eliya, the colonial-era hill station known as "Little England", surrounded by some of the island's finest tea estates.
The journey continues along one of Sri Lanka's most scenic stretches of road to Haputale, perched on the edge of the hills with sweeping views over the southern plains from Lipton's Seat. The tour ends in Ella, a laid-back hill town famous for the Nine Arch Bridge and walks through surrounding tea country, before the drive back down to lower ground.
A guiding structure for the four days — your driver can adjust pacing and stop order to suit your energy and interests.
Pickup from your Colombo hotel or the airport and a drive up into the hills. Break the journey at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya before continuing into Kandy, with the evening free to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and stroll around Kandy Lake.
A scenic drive up through pine forests and waterfalls to Nuwara Eliya. Visit a working tea estate and factory to see how the leaves are picked and processed, then take in the cool-climate colonial character of the town.
Continue along the ridge line to Haputale, stopping at Lipton's Seat for panoramic views over the tea country and the plains far below. Drive on to Ella in the afternoon, with time to walk out to the Nine Arch Bridge before evening.
A relaxed morning in Ella, with time for a short walk through the surrounding tea fields, before the drive back down to Colombo, the airport or your onward destination.
Send us your travel dates and group size — we'll help you plan the route, pacing and stops.
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