OVERVIEW

AIRPORT TO TEA TRAILS

The 30 minutes floatplane transfer offers stunning vistas of the central highlands, with a glimpse of the world-famous Adam's Peak on a clear day, landing in the Castlereagh reservoir, flanked by emerald tea fields. 

The road transfer takes 4.5 hours, winding up into the hills, passing rice paddies and urban lowlands, into the manicured tea-fields and forests of the highlands, with refreshment breaks along the way. 

Travel in style aboard the Viceroy II, a restored rail carriage with 24 seats. This is one of the world’s great rail journeys, enjoying the island at a leisurely pace. Duration about 5 hours.

TEA TRAILS TO WILD COAST

Floatplane transfer departs Castlereagh Reservoir daily 11:15, arrive Mattala airport 12:30 (or sooner if no intermediate stop). 45 min drive to the Lodge. 

There are 3 route options for scenic road transfers from the mountains to the south east plains, including a stop at the Elephant Transit Home for orphaned baby elephants. Duration approx. 5-6 hours depending on route selected. See Details section.

The slow-paced train journey to Haputale offers vistas of mountain forests, valleys, tea fields, waterfalls and more. From there by road to Wild Coast.

WILD COAST TO CAPE WELIGAMA OR COLOMBO/AIRPORT

Easy drive on the Southern Expressway - 2 hours to Cape Weligama or 4 hours to Colombo or Airport. Wild Coast to Airport floatplane option available 40 minutes

CAPE WELIGAMA TO COLOMBO OR COLOMBO AIRPORT

Easy drive on the Southern Expressway. 2 hours to Colombo or Airport

SILK ROUTE FACILITY AT COLOMBO AIRPORT

The Silk Route VIP arrival and departure service at the Colombo Airport is recommended. service is $50 each way per guest [for the Topaz level] and can be booked with us.

DETAILS

COLOMBO TO CEYLON TEA TRAILS

By Air

Colombo Airport - guests will be met at the main terminal and transferred 5 minutes by vehicle to Cinnamon Air Domestic Terminal 

Departure 10:00 daily. Flight time 30 mins. $495 per guest one way. Charters are also available, details later on in this document.

By Road

The road transfer takes 4.5 hours, winding up into the hills, passing rice paddies and urban lowlands, into the manicured tea-fields and forests of the highlands, with refreshment breaks along the way. Opt to take a break at either Kitulgala rest house or Plantation Hotel. Please note that the latter option has a series of stairs before reaching the hotel. Resplendent Ceylon uses Luxury Vans with experienced Resplendent Chauffeur Guides [or equivalent] with a 4 passenger capacity. Route map here

By Rail

45 minute drive from the airport to Veyangoda station, train departs 10:30 Sun, Tues, Thurs. Arrive Hatton station 14:30, Tea Trails road transfer 30 mins. This is a tourist carriage connected to a regular train service. Meals and drinks are available. More info here

Airport to rail station transfer $50

Train fare $62

Hatton station to Tea Trails bungalow $30

Named “one of the world’s most scenic train rides” by Lonely Planet, the railway lines that stretch out across Sri Lanka’s highlands were originally built to transport coffee across the island’s most treacherous terrain. Following both the coffee blight and the birth of the tea cultivation in Sri Lanka, the railway system became intrinsically entwined with the tea industry, facilitating the transportation of both labour and produce across these mountainous regions. 

The railway system remains much the same today, with one main line running right the way from Colombo through to major destinations such as Kandy, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and finally Badulla – a ten hour trip in total, stopping at every station along the way. Teetering on the top of tea-coated mountains, the daily scheduled trains weave their way slowly through some of Sri Lanka’s finest landscape, offering breathtaking views that you just won’t see from the road. 

The luxurious Viceroy carriage offers a chance to step back in time to the days of the British Raj. Expect wooden panelling, butler service, a well-stocked bar, and hearty Sri Lankan dining along with scenery that will take your breath away. A ride on the Viceroy is a step back into the golden age of travel.

Usually operates Nov-April and July-August.

TEA TRAILS TO WILD COAST 

By Air

Floatplane transfer departs Castlereagh Reservoir daily 11:15, arrive Mattala airport 12:30 (or sooner if no intermediate stop). 45 min drive to the Lodge. $495 per guest one way.

by Road

road transfer via Nuwara Eliya and Ella, 215km, 6 hrs map here

This is a scenic route via Nuwara Eliya and Ella. You have the chance to visit some of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island, lakes, rubber plantations, as well as other points of interest that are part of the central-highland heritage. 

Stops include: 

• Devon Falls – ‘Veil of the Valley’ is named after a pioneer English coffee planter. 
• Lake Gregory - Lake Gregory was constructed during the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873. 
• Seetha Amman Temple - This place is believed to be the site where Sita was held captive by (Vikram) king Ravana, and where she prayed daily for Rama to come and rescue her in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. On the rock face across the stream are circular depressions said to be the footprints of Lord Hanuman. 
• Ella - a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Snacks at Ella Rest House (or lunch).
• Ravana Falls – One of the widest falls in the country 
• Budurwagala Viharaya – An ancient Buddhist temple. The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted. 
• Rubber Plantations 

road transfer via Uda Walawe with visit to Elephant Transit Home, 208 km 5hrs 45 mins. map here  

We recommend a stop en-route in Uda Walawe, to visit the Elephant Transit Home (a Dilmah Tea supported refuge for orphaned elephant calves who are cared for and re-introduced into the wild), and the Mankada Pottery Centre (a Dilmah community project based on Sri Lankan crafts). Elephant feeding times to target are 12:00, 15:00 daily. A village lunch can be arranged at the Mankada Pottery Centre

road transfer via via Kaltota, 184 km 5hrs 15 mins (scenic route with a shorter driving time) map here

This is the shortest route from Tea Trails to Wild Coast Lodge. The route winds through beautiful hills, plantations and rice paddy fields.  

By Train & by Road

The journey from Kandy to Hatton, for Tea Trails, and then across the eastern hills, is one of the great rail journeys of the world. The BBC recently made a film about it.

The train journey from Tea Trails to Haputale offers scenes of mountain forests, valleys, tea fields, waterfalls and more.

Departure is from the historic Hatton Railway Station, which is approximately 35 minutes from your Tea Trails Bungalow

The train operates on the following schedule on Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday:

• Departure Hatton Railway Station ETD 14.30
• Arrival Haputale Railway Station ETA 17.27
• Ground transfer from Haputale to Wild Coast Lodge will take 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Transfer to Hatton station $30

Train journey $62

Road transfer Haputale station to Wild Coast $200

We recommend this option for guests staying 3 nights or more at Wild Coast, as arrival at the lodge will be at approximately 2100 hrs.