The Hill Country

Sri Lanka’s Hill Country, stretching across Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Haputale and Ella, feels like a world apart. Cool mountain air, emerald tea gardens and old-world charm define the region, where mist drifts across terraced hillsides, waterfalls tumble from high cliffs and winding trails reveal landscapes both timeless and alive.

The Hill Country is famed for its historic rail journeys, with trains weaving through tunnels and across sweeping viaducts like the Nine Arches Bridge, offering some of the most scenic rides in Asia. For those who venture on foot, the Pekoe Trail opens up hidden villages, valleys and panoramic views across tea country, creating an intimate way to experience the rhythm of the land.

At Horton Plains, montane cloud forests and open grasslands provide refuge for wildlife. Sambar deer graze on the open plains, purple-faced leaf monkeys swing through the canopy and birdwatchers find endemics such as the Sri Lanka whistling thrush and dull-blue flycatcher.

The region is equally celebrated for its tea heritage. Visitors can step into working tea factories, wander among neat rows of Ceylon tea and learn the art of plucking before savoring a fresh brew. By evening, the Hill Country invites retreat into plantation bungalows, colonial-era residences reimagined as intimate luxury stays, where the crackle of a fireplace and sweeping mountain views create a deep sense of place.