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Hill Country
A cool, misty hill station at the heart of Ceylon tea country, full of colonial nostalgia.
At nearly 1,900 metres, Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka's highest and coolest town — the British built it as a hill-station retreat and the half-timbered houses, hedged gardens and a racecourse still earn it the nickname 'Little England'. The air is crisp, the mornings are misty, and you may even want a jumper.
This is the epicentre of Ceylon tea. The slopes all around are quilted with estates you can tour and taste, and the town makes a natural base for the early-morning hike to World's End in nearby Horton Plains.
Tea estatesTour a working factory and taste single-estate Ceylon tea at the source.
World's EndA sheer 870m cliff edge in Horton Plains — hike early before the mist rolls in.
Gregory LakePedal boats, gardens and a lakeside promenade in the town centre.
Colonial architectureThe Grand Hotel, the post office and the racecourse, all pure nostalgia.
From boutique to value, the spread of stays in and around Nuwara Eliya.
Boutique
Cosy cottages on working tea estates with log fires and garden views.
Luxury
Colonial-era hotels with billiard rooms, high tea and roaring fires.
Value
Warm, simple rooms close to the lake and market.
Pack a warm layer — nights here drop close to single digits, which catches a lot of travellers out after the coastal heat.
All year1 day · Nuwara Eliya
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From $45 per person
Dec–May1 night · Hatton
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From $30 per person
All year1 day · Kandy → Ella
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From $12 per person
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