Less is More in Sri Lanka

Day 1 : Colombo > Hatton

On arrival you will be met and transferred to Hatton by road (4.5 hours). Check in to your lovely boutique style hotel surrounded by tea estates and overlooking the Castlereagh Reservoir.

Day 2 : Hatton

Enjoy the morning at leisure by the pool before heading out for a boat trip on the lake this afternoon.

The Castlereagh Reservoir stretches 5 km between steep mountains cloaked in green tea. Getting out on the water is a really tranquil way to appreciate this stunning scenery and on this experience you’ll board a traditional dugout canoe, and gently explore the lake with a local fisherman.

As you travel, almost silently, across the still water of the lake, you could enjoy a short circuit or a longer one taking in perhaps a visit to Warleigh Church at the reservoir’s northern end. Another option is to stop off at one of the many islands on the reservoir and enjoy a very secluded picnic or a snack as you admire the scenery.

Day 3 : Hatton

After breakfast, explore the local trails around your hotel. There are a variety of routes, whether you want a full day’s hike or just a gentle stroll.

You might see groups of women methodically plucking tea leaves, the trails also pass little Hindu shrines and tea weighing stations where the workers congregate to get their sacks of leaves weighed a few times a day. In the villages, you may suddenly find yourself surrounded by a gaggle of children, eager to practise their English skills and say hello. Many species of birds reside in the forests fringing the tea fields, as do wild cats and leopards.

Day 4 : Hatton

Today, after breakfast, you will take in the glorious vistas of Hatton from a secret viewpoint whilst enjoying a delicious picnic lunch later on.

The story of tea in Sri Lanka starts with the Scottish planter James Taylor in 1866 in “Loolecondara” estate in Galaha the remnants of his cottage and tea bushes are still preserved as a permanent memento to the man credited for introducing tea to Sri Lanka.

Day 5 : Hatton > Galle

Leave the dramatic, verdant scenery of the central hills behind and either drive (6.5 hours) or fly (additional cost) down to Koggala, a laidback beach town on the south coast which is just a stone’s throw from Galle. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 6 : Galle

Today you will explore Galle’s idyllic inland countryside on a guided bike ride, passing small village markets, swaying paddy fields and spice estates before ending at a lunch spot or the beach.

Embark on a voyage of discovery in Sri Lanka’s southern countryside, as your local host takes you along the rural waterways and back roads of Galle. Begin your journey on a small vessel past the soul-soothing scenery and daily life of rural Galle. Glide along river banks fringed by local villages, rubber and cinnamon plantations.

Later in the afternoon, explore the Historic Galle Fort accompanied by your guide. With 150 acres to explore, this tour follows a route that whets the appetite, with a comprehensive and captivating selection of facts and stories drawing from religion, history, architecture, daily life and the devastation of the 2004 Tsunami.

Day 7 : Galle

This morning, after breakfast, visit a cinnamon plantation to learn all about the spice that has lured traders from across the globe to Sri Lanka for hundreds of years. Explore the estate with your guide and see how cinnamon is grown, peeled, distilled and processed for its varied uses in cooking, aromatherapy and Ayurvedic medicine.

Afterwards, head to a wattle-and-daub hut in a nearby rural area and learn how to cook traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Finish the experience with a hearty lunch of the fare you have made, eaten the authentic way – on a banana leaf with your hand!

Day 8 : Galle

Enjoy your breakfast and take a day to completely relax on the beach.

Day 9 : Galle > Colombo

After your breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight.