Follow the Trails of Mist-wrapped Tea Country with Ellerton Bungalow

sri lankan culture

nature walks

Curated & Hosted By

Ellerton Bungalow

Location

Kandy

Sri Lanka

Duration

4 Days/3 Nights

Price Starts At

TBA

About The Journey

At Ellerton Bungalow, the best of Sri Lanka's Hill Country lies just beyond the front door. From walking scenic stretches of the Pekoe Trail and wandering through working tea estates to uncovering the origins of Ceylon tea and visiting hidden shrines woven into the landscape, every experience has been thoughtfully curated to help you discover the region beyond its postcard views. Guided by local knowledge and genuine connections, you'll gain knowledge of the stories, traditions, cultures and communities that continue to shape life in Sri Lanka's tea country.

Over four days, you'll explore forested trails, tea fields, charming villages and places of cultural significance, while meeting the people whose lives are strongly connected to this place. Whether you're walking alongside a naturalist, learning how tea has shaped the region's identity, or pausing to enjoy the views from the hills, each experience offers you a great chance to learn about Sri Lanka.

The postcards that follow offer a glimpse of the moments that shape your stay at Ellerton Bungalow. We look forward to sharing them with you.

CURATED & HOSTED BY

Ellerton Bungalow

Kandy, Sri Lanka

High in the hills near Kandy, Ellerton Bungalow is a charming heritage retreat surrounded by lush gardens and the rolling landscapes of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Originally built as a planter’s residence, the bungalow combines colonial character with the comforts of an intimate boutique stay. Its peaceful setting makes it an ideal base for experiencing the countryside at a slower pace, with opportunities to cycle through tea plantations, visit nearby villages and temples, and hike through the surrounding mountains. At Ellerton, days unfold simply — over leisurely meals, afternoon tea and quiet moments immersed in the beauty of Sri Lanka’s highlands.

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STANDARD PRICE

TBA

3 Nights / 4 Days, Double occupancy

6 EXPERIENCES | ALL INCLUSIVE

The moments that make

this journey

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.

STAR PARTNER

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.

STAR PARTNER

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.

STAR PARTNER

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.

STAR PARTNER

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.

DAY-BY-DAY

Your

Itinerary

DAY

WHERE YOU WILL BE

Ellerton Bungalow

Morning

‣

Arrive at Ellerton Bungalow and settle into your hilltop retreat nestled among Sri Lanka's rolling tea estates.

Afternoon

‣

Relax at the bungalow and take in panoramic views of the surrounding hills.

‣

Enjoy freshly baked cake and a traditional afternoon tea while soaking in the cool mountain air.

Evening

‣

Savour dinner showcasing local Sri Lankan flavours.

‣

Spend the evening unwinding in the peaceful surroundings of the bungalow.

DON'T MISS

Watch the sun disappear behind the tea-covered hills while enjoying a freshly brewed cup of Ceylon tea.

DAY

WHERE YOU WILL BE

The Pekoe Trail

Morning

‣

Set out on one of two sections of Sri Lanka's award-winning Pekoe Trail, depending on your preference and pace.

‣

Choose between Stage I, a scenic 10.5 km trail of approximately 4.5 hours, or Stage II, a more adventurous 14.5 km trail of approximately 6 hours.

‣

Walk through lush tea plantations, forests and the dramatic landscapes of Sri Lanka's hill country.

‣

Look out for endemic bird species and discover the rich natural life of the highlands.

Afternoon

‣

Learn about the history of Ceylon Tea and the communities that shaped Sri Lanka's tea country.

‣

On Stage I, discover famous filming locations from *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom*.

‣

On Stage II, pass through local villages and vegetable gardens, enjoy views across Galaha and Hanthana, and stop for a tea break with local snacks in Deltota.

‣

Depending on the route, continue through pine forests and scenic viewpoints towards the iconic Loolkandura Estate.

‣

Enjoy a traditional local snack during the hike before making your way back by scenic tuk-tuk.

Evening

‣

Return to Ellerton Bungalow and spend the evening at leisure.

‣

Relax after a day immersed in Sri Lanka's tea-covered highlands.

DON'T MISS

Walk through Sri Lanka's spectacular tea country and keep an eye out for the dramatic landscapes and filming locations hidden along the Pekoe Trail.

DAY

WHERE YOU WILL BE

Ganegoda Village and Ellerton Bungalow

Morning

‣

Begin with a peaceful guided village walk through Ganegoda.

‣

Visit a 13th-century shrine dedicated to God Kataragama.

‣

Wander through lush paddy fields and experience everyday life in Sri Lanka's hill country.

‣

Enjoy tea and homemade cake in a tranquil natural setting.

Afternoon

‣

Return to Ellerton Bungalow and spend a relaxed afternoon at leisure.

‣

Enjoy the peaceful surroundings, gardens and views across the tea-covered hills.

Evening

‣

Join a naturalist for a guided two-hour nature walk through tea fields, village pathways and local home gardens.

‣

Discover traditional village life and pass Buddhist temples and Hindu kovils along the way.

‣

Visit a local village home and enjoy traditional tea and homemade Sri Lankan sweets with a local family.

‣

Return to Ellerton Bungalow for dinner and a restful evening.

DON'T MISS

Share tea and homemade sweets with a local family, offering a genuine glimpse into the warmth and hospitality of Sri Lankan village life.

DAY

WHERE YOU WILL BE

Ellerton Bungalow

Morning

‣

Wake up to sweeping views across Sri Lanka's rolling tea estates.

‣

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking the misty hills and distant mountain ridges.

‣

Spend your final hours enjoying the peaceful setting of Ellerton Bungalow before your onward journey.

Afternoon

Evening

DON'T MISS

Savour one final moment overlooking the tea-covered hills and take in the peaceful beauty of Sri Lanka's hill country.

Starting Package Price

STANDARD PRICE

TBA

3 Nights / 4 Days, Double occupancy

Inclusions

✓

3 nights' accommodation in a Standard Room

✓

Daily breakfast and dinner (Half Board)

✓

Daily afternoon tea and cake

✓

Complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability)

✓

Guided experiences with local experts

✓

Choice of one Pekoe Trail hiking experience (Stage I or Stage II)

✓

Traditional local snacks and refreshments during guided experiences

✓

Scenic tuk-tuk transfers included as part of the Pekoe Trail experience

✓

Guided Temple & Paddy Field Walk

✓

Guided Evening Nature Walk with a Naturalist

Exclusions

Lunch and other meals not specified

Transportation to and from Ellerton (available at an additional cost)

Higher room categories (available with supplementary charges)

Personal expenses

Alcoholic beverages and additional drinks not specified

Optional activities not mentioned in the package

Travel insurance

Flights and airport transfers

Ready to experience

Ellerton Bungalow?

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TBA