sri lankan culture

nature walks

tea plantation visit

heritage tour

monument visit

temple visit

Ellerton Bungalow ♦ Kandy · Sri Lanka

Tea Trails, Pekoe Hiking & Village Experiences

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Days / Nights

Postcards

Itinerary

STAR PARTNER

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Settle Into Tea Country at Ellerton

Sri Lankan Culture

Ellerton Bungalow

Ellerton is a planter's bungalow, built about a century ago for the manager of a tea estate and standing at around eight hundred metres in the hills south of Kandy. The bungalow and the afternoon-tea habit that comes with it — cake at four, looking down the valley — date from the same moment: the 1860s, when a leaf disease wiped out Ceylon's coffee and the whole island turned to tea. You arrive to the view across tea-covered slopes, cool mountain air, and the kind of quiet that is mostly birds. Most of what you do here is within a walk or short tuk-tuk ride of the veranda.

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Walk the Pekoe Trail Through Tea Country

Nature Walks Tea Plantation Visit

Ellerton Bungalow

The Pekoe Trail is Sri Lanka's first long-distance walking route, stretching roughly 300 kilometres across 22 stages through the hill-country estates. Opened in 2023, it links some of the country's most scenic tea-growing landscapes. From Ellerton, guests can explore Stage One across the seven-peaked Hanthana Range and Stage Two onwards to Loolkandura. The walk combines tea-covered hillsides, forested ridges and village landscapes, with a tuk-tuk transfer back at the end.

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Stand Where Ceylon Tea Began

Nature Walks Tea Plantation Visit

Ellerton Bungalow

Stage Two of the Pekoe Trail ends at Loolkandura, widely recognised as the birthplace of Ceylon tea. In 1867, Scottish planter James Taylor established the island's first commercial tea plantation here while the coffee industry was collapsing. Taylor initially processed tea leaves by hand on his bungalow veranda before establishing a factory on the estate. His experiment eventually transformed Sri Lanka's economy and global identity.

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Find the Temple of Doom Hills

Heritage Tour Monument Visit

Ellerton Bungalow

The Kandy hills served as the filming location for parts of the 1984 adventure film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. After permission to film in India was denied, Sri Lanka became the stand-in setting for several scenes. Around the Hanthana area, the iconic rocky outcrop known as Katusu Konda (Lizard Back) was used as one of the filming locations featured in the production. Today, the surrounding hills, forests, and dramatic ridgelines continue to evoke the same sense of adventure that made the landscape a memorable backdrop for the film.

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Visit the Kataragama Shrine at Ganegoda

Temple Visit

Ellerton Bungalow

A gentle village walk leads to the Kataragama Shrine at Ganegoda. Kataragama is a unique deity revered by both Buddhists and Hindus across Sri Lanka, known as Skanda to Buddhists and Murugan to Hindus. The shrine sits amid paddy fields and village life, offering insight into the cultural and spiritual traditions that have connected communities across the island for generations.

STAR PARTNER

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Walk the Tea Fields with a Naturalist

Nature Walks Tea Plantation Visit

Ellerton Bungalow

As evening approaches, join a local naturalist for a walk through tea estates, village lanes and home gardens surrounding Ellerton. The route offers opportunities to spot hill-country birdlife while learning about tea cultivation and daily life in the region. Along the way, guests encounter both Buddhist temples and Hindu kovils, reflecting the communities that have shared this landscape for generations.

Tea Country Trails & Village Life at Ellerton Bungalow

Nestled in the hills above Kandy, Ellerton Bungalow offers an intimate gateway into Sri Lanka's tea country. Far from the crowds, this journey combines scenic hiking, working tea estates, rural village life, and meaningful local encounters, revealing a side of the Hill Country often overlooked by visitors.

Over four days, walk sections of the acclaimed Pekoe Trail, discover the stories behind Ceylon tea, explore ancient shrines and paddy fields, and connect with local communities through authentic experiences guided by those who call this landscape home.

Day 0 — Arrival in Sri Lanka's Hill Country

Settle Into Tea Country

Arrive at Ellerton Bungalow and settle into your peaceful surroundings overlooking the rolling hills of central Sri Lanka.

Spend the afternoon unwinding after your journey with freshly baked cake and a traditional afternoon tea service while taking in the cool mountain air and panoramic views.

Evening | Relaxed Hill Country Hospitality

As the sun sets across the tea-covered valleys, enjoy a leisurely dinner showcasing local flavours before retiring for the evening.

Day 1 — Walking the Legendary Pekoe Trail

Morning | Journey Through Sri Lanka's Tea Highlands

Today, choose between two spectacular sections of the renowned Pekoe Trail, widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka's most scenic long-distance hiking routes.

Option 1: Pekoe Trail Stage I

Follow winding paths through tea plantations, forest patches, and historic estate landscapes while learning about the origins of Ceylon Tea and the people who shaped the region's history.

Along the way, discover filming locations featured in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, enjoy birdwatching opportunities, and pause for traditional local refreshments amidst the hills.

Option 2: Pekoe Trail Stage II

For those seeking a longer adventure, explore dramatic mountain scenery connecting Galaha, Hanthana, and Loolkandura Estate.

Pass vegetable gardens, local villages, pine forests, and spectacular viewpoints while gaining insight into daily life in Sri Lanka's highlands. A tea break in the village of Deltota offers a chance to pause and connect with the local community before continuing through some of the region's most beautiful landscapes.

Afternoon | Return Through the Highlands

After completing your chosen hike, enjoy a scenic tuk-tuk journey back through the tea country.

Evening | Rest & Reflect

Return to Ellerton for a relaxed evening and dinner, reflecting on a day spent exploring some of Sri Lanka's most remarkable walking trails.

Day 2 — Temples, Paddy Fields & Village Stories

Morning | A Walk Through Rural Sri Lanka

Begin the day with a guided village walk through Ganegoda, offering a glimpse into the rhythms of everyday life in the Hill Country.

Visit a centuries-old shrine dedicated to God Kataragama, wander through emerald-green paddy fields, and experience the warmth of village life away from the main tourist routes.

Midway through the walk, pause for tea and homemade cake served in a tranquil natural setting.

Afternoon | Leisure at the Bungalow

Return to Ellerton and enjoy a leisurely afternoon.

Relax on the veranda, enjoy the surrounding views, or simply embrace the slower pace of life that defines Sri Lanka's highlands.

Evening | Nature & Community Connections

As the day cools, set out with a local naturalist for a gentle exploration of tea fields, village pathways, and home gardens.

Along the route, encounter Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, local wildlife, and traditional village life. The experience concludes with a warm welcome at a local home, where you'll enjoy traditional Sri Lankan sweets and tea while sharing stories with members of the community.

Night | Farewell Dinner

Return to Ellerton for your final dinner overlooking the hills.

Day 3 — A Slow Morning in the Highlands

Morning | Breakfast with a View

Wake to the sights and sounds of Sri Lanka's Hill Country and enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking tea-covered slopes and distant mountain ridges.

Take time to savour the final moments of your stay before beginning your onward journey.

Departure

Leaving Tea Country Behind

Check out and continue your travels, taking with you a deeper appreciation for Sri Lanka's tea heritage, rural traditions, and the communities that bring these landscapes to life.

Journey Highlights

Stay in a boutique Hill Country bungalow
Daily afternoon tea and cake
Guided hike along the renowned Pekoe Trail
Explore working tea country landscapes
Learn about the history of Ceylon Tea
Visit filming locations from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Guided village walk through Ganegoda
Visit a historic Kataragama shrine
Walk through traditional paddy fields
Nature walk with a local naturalist
Tea and homemade sweets with a village family
Authentic cultural encounters in Sri Lanka's Highlands

Inclusions

3 nights accommodation at Ellerton Bungalow
Daily breakfast and dinner
Daily afternoon tea and cake
Complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability)
Guided Pekoe Trail experience (Stage I or Stage II)
Traditional local refreshments during hikes
Scenic tuk-tuk transfers related to the Pekoe Trail
Guided village walk
Tea and homemade cake during village experience
Evening nature walk with local naturalist
Traditional tea and Sri Lankan sweets at a village home
Services of local guides and hosts

Exclusions

International and domestic flights
Airport and intercity transfers
Travel insurance
Lunches and beverages not specified
Personal expenses and gratuities
Additional excursions not listed in the itinerary
Spa treatments or wellness services
Government taxes and fees not included in package pricing

Coming Soon.