Sri Lanka is one of 2015’s trending travel destinations. There’s masses to explore but with limited time does one head to the hills or hit the beach?
Thanks to Resplendent Ceylon’s clever new Tea & Sea package it is quick and easy to do both. BIRD of Mouth brings news of this perfectly paired twin-centre trip, which captures the soul of the country by showing off Ceylon’s lush tea country and the golden beaches of the South Coast.
First stop ‘Tea’ and a two-night stay at Ceylon Tea Trails, a collection of colonial-style bungalows located on a working tea estate. First built between 1890 and 1939 for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and recently restored, the luxury bungalows are the essence of grand vintage charm. Dotted across the countryside within a few miles of one another, guests can tread the scenic tea trails, visit tea factories and meet with tea planting royalty Andrew Taylor (a descendent of James Taylor , the first British tea planter in Ceylon circa 1867).
Taking the hassle out of a long and bumpy car journey (usually four hours) a speedy seaplane scoops guests up from Tea Trails on Castlereagh Lake, flying them over paddy fields and temples to touch down 20 minutes later on Lake Koggala.
Next stop ‘Sea’ and a ten-minute drive to one of Sri Lanka’s hottest new hotels, Cape Weligama. ‘Knocking spots off other hotels on the coast’ (Conde Nast Traveller) the award winning, all-villa hotel sits on a dramatic headland above Weligama Bay. Since opening in October 2014 the hotel has been heralded for bringing a new level of luxury to Sri Lanka. Flanked by two peaceful beaches, it is the spot from which to drink in views of the south coast’s palm fringed shores, sapphire Indian Ocean and craggy coastline.
The Ts and Cs – Resplendent Ceylon is offering the Tea & Sea experience for $4,225 per person. This is a seven-night trip, with three nights at Ceylon Tea Trails on a fully inclusive basis, four nights at Cape Weligama on a half board plus basis, seaplane transfer between the hotels, a complimentary massage, daily activities throughout and private ground transfers.
