Romantic Escapes

Sri Lanka is an island that is teeming with flora and fauna with a large number of endemic species. This island will truly delight nature lovers. There are currently 61 sanctuaries which include Maduganga, Wilpattu North, Yala, Minneriya, Udawatta Kele and Rummassala.

A visitor to the idyllic Hill Country of Sri Lanka will be greeted by vistas of sloping green tea plantations and misty mountains. Tea production which was introduced to the island by James Taylor in 1867, has grown into a giant industry, creating one of the main sources of foreign income for the country.

Enjoy guided cycling tours in the district of Galle. Hop on a mountain bike and cycle along the 12 km Paddy Trail from Wijaya Beach. Over the next 1.5 hours, ride past picturesque paddy fields and enjoy a relaxing break at a quaint open-air eatery. Up for a challenge? Choose the 30 km Paddy and Lake Trail, which lasts two to three hours. It extends past the paddy fields, towards the gorgeous waters of Koggala Lake.

For a more indulgent experience, pick the 18 km Kahanda Kanda Ride. Partake in lunch or cocktails as well as have a swim at the Kahanda Kanda boutique hotel. Tours start early in the mornings or late afternoon. A tuk-tuk escort will follow with drinks and your belongings.

Hop aboard a vintage steam train in Kandy, and enjoy a picturesque ride into the heart of Sri Lanka’s charming hill country. The winding railway tracks chart a scenic course through the rolling hillsides of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Unwind in your air conditioned compartment, as you take in the majesty of the verdant landscape unfolding before your eyes.

Observe the shades of emerald that blanket the horizon, brimming with precious tea crops that are the nation’s pride. Envision the splendour of the island’s colonial heyday, as you tuck into a delicious four-course lunch accompanied by sparkling silverware and fine china. This journey is best begun in the late morning hours and lasts four to five hours.

Discover the cultural and architectural legacy of Galle, inherited from the Portuguese and Dutch colonialists from centuries past. Familiarise yourself with its streets, as your experienced tour guide narrates intricately woven folktales, that have been passed down through generations. Observe the local practice of stilt fishing and pay a visit to highlights such as the iconic Galle Fort.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is the last European-built fortress still standing in southern Asia. Watch with bated breath as daring cliff divers spring themselves off the citadel’s walls and plummet into the waves below. The tour lasts two hours and starts early morning or in the afternoon.

Observe the century-old tea manufacturing process at Ceylon Tea Trails. Meet up with your guide at 09:00am and set off into the estate. Walk in the footsteps of the tea planters of Ceylon’s heyday, as they traversed the leafy inclines in search of ideal pastures for tea cultivation. Understand the challenges involved in the skilled art of tea plucking and learn the secret behind the aromatic black tea blend; only two tender leaves and the bud, are harvested from each plant, by hand.

Study the traditional English machinery used at the Norwood Tea Factory, which dates back to colonial times.

As your 2.5 hours draw to an end, sit back and sample fragrant brews from the factory’s many grades of tea.

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