Tea Country Trails: From Leaf to Cup
Eight days through Ceylon tea country, from the plucked leaf to the poured cup, in the hills where it is grown.
- Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
- Route: Sri Lanka
- Travel style: Tea & Plantations
- Best time: Year Round
- Page last updated: 14 October 2026
Overview
Ceylon tea grows across the central highlands, and each district tastes different. This journey climbs through them in turn, visiting working estates and factories, watching the leaf being plucked and processed and tasting the results with people who make it.
Between estates there are waterfalls, viewpoints, colonial-era towns and one of the world's great train rides through the hills. Pace, estates and tastings can all be adjusted to your interests.
Price
Price: on request. Request a quotation with your dates, group size and preferences.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Day 1: Arrival and Negombo
Meet your driver-guide at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Negombo to rest after the flight.
Places: Negombo
Day 2: Day 2: Negombo to Kandy
Drive to Kandy and, on the way into town, visit a tea museum in the hills above it to learn how Ceylon tea began. Take an evening walk beside Kandy Lake.
Places: Kandy
Day 3: Day 3: Kandy to Hatton
Travel into tea country towards Hatton and Maskeliya, stopping at estates to watch the plucking and, at a factory, the withering, rolling and drying that follow. Stay in a planter-style hotel among the tea.
Places: Hatton, Maskeliya
Day 4: Day 4: Hatton to Nuwara Eliya
Follow the scenic road past St Clair's Falls and Devon Falls to Nuwara Eliya. Visit an estate and factory here and taste teas side by side, from delicate to strong.
Places: Talawakele, Nuwara Eliya
Day 5: Day 5: Nuwara Eliya to Haputale
Drive south-east to Haputale, where the Dambatenne estate climbs towards Lipton's Seat. Walk or drive to the viewpoint for sweeping views over tea slopes and the plains beyond.
Places: Haputale
Day 6: Day 6: Haputale to Ella
Ride the scenic hill-country train from Haputale to Ella if seats are available, or drive the short distance. Visit a tea factory nearby, then walk through the tea fields to Little Adam's Peak for views over the Ella gap.
Places: Ella
Day 7: Day 7: Ella to Galle
Descend to the south coast and travel to Galle. In the evening explore Galle Fort and end the day with tea and sweets in one of its cafes.
Places: Galle
Day 8: Day 8: Galle to the airport
Drive up the coast to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight.
Places: Colombo, Airport
Package Inclusions
- Accommodation at selected hotels on the specified meal plan
- Private transportation throughout the tour
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- English-speaking chauffeur / guide
- Meet & greet assistance at the airport
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary
- All transfers and transportation mentioned in the itinerary
- Highway tolls, parking fees and driver-related expenses
- Fuel charges
- Government taxes and service charges applicable to included services
- Complimentary bottled drinking water during transfers and sightseeing
- All services specifically mentioned under the package inclusions
- 24/7 assistance from our local team during the tour
Package Excludes
- International Air Tickets
- Sri Lanka Visa / ETA Fees
- Entrance Fees to Attractions
- Optional Excursions & Activities
- Lunches, Beverages & Personal Meals
- Personal Expenses (shopping, laundry, telephone, minibar, tips, etc.)
- Airport / Hotel Porterage
- Travel Insurance
- Camera & Video Charges / Permits, where applicable
- Alcoholic Beverages & Other Drinks
- Early Check-in / Late Check-out, unless specifically mentioned
- Expenses arising from delays, natural disasters, closures, disturbances, or circumstances beyond our control
- Chauffeur-Guide Tips / Gratuities
- Any Services Not Mentioned in the Package Inclusions
General Booking Conditions
These conditions apply to every booking made through Figo Holidays. They cover booking and confirmation, prices and inclusions, payment terms, amendments to bookings, cancellation by the client, cancellation or changes by Figo Holidays and more.
Experiences
- A tea museum and plantation walk above Kandy
- Plucking, withering and rolling shown at a working factory
- Tasting teas from different hill-country districts
- St Clair's and Devon Falls on the road to Nuwara Eliya
- Lipton's Seat and the Dambatenne estate near Haputale
- Tea fields and Little Adam's Peak at Ella
Plan this trip
Send an enquiry or message us on WhatsApp from the page to adjust dates, hotels and pace. All journeys can be tailored.