Tea Tours, Sri Lanka
Highlights
- Cultural visit to Sigiriya, Dambulla
- Visit a Gem Refinery
- Visit the Tea Museum
- Visit a Tea Estate
- Enjoy plucking tea leaves
- Tea Tasting Session
- Sri Lanka
Experience Overview
Today known as Sri Lanka, the “resplendent” isle of Ceylon has a long and colorful history. It is also one of the top tea exporting countries in the world. A tropical wonderland, this developing nation has been shaped by Dutch, Portuguese and English influence since the 1600’s.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival Colombo / Negombo
On arrival the client will be met by the representatives and will be decorated with garlands of “Temple tree flowers”. Afterwards transfer to Negombo for leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2
Negombo – Ratnapura - Bandarawela
This morning we depart our ocean side retreat and head inland to Ratnapura, an area known for precious gems. We will enjoy a visit to a gemstone refinery and then take our first visit to a tea garden and factory. Enjoy a discussion on the unique aspects of the Ruhuna teas from this area and participate in a tasting of some representative samples.
We’ll continue on our way and stop for the night in Bandarawela.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3
In Bandarawela
Rise early and head to the verdant surrounds of the region’s tea plantations. Learn about the country’s most important export, meet local tea pickers who will show you their craft and let you have a hands-on go at picking and then weighing tea before it heads off to the factory. Enjoy a cup (or two) at the source! Then travel out to the town of Haputale (approximately 1 hour) for a home-cooked lunch with a Tamil family. Tear into traditional Tamil cuisine with dosa – a crispy rice pancake – and idli, a savoury steamed rice cake served with curry sauces or chutneys. Return to Bandarawela in the late afternoon and soak up the rural charm of the town and the beautiful surrounding landscapes.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4
Bandarawale / Nuwara Eliya
Our destination today is the Uva district and visits to the Uva Highlands. Uva teas have a reputation as some of the finest in Sri Lanka and have captured the highest prices ever paid at the auctions. Strap on the tea picker’s basket and head for the tea garden where we will receive instruction on how to pick the finest teas. We’ll bring our pluckings back to the factory and learn the entire process of tea manufacture, leaving the estate with our very own tea. After a tasting session where we’ll experience the special qualities of these fine teas, we continue to arrive in the hills of Nuwara Eliya.
DAY 5
In Nuwara Eliya
*Numara Eliya – The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night.
All around Numara Elisa you will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
Tea Plantation – Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867 a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on an 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolcondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow well only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown, medium grown, high grown, into 3 main groups. In 1996 Sri Lanka has produced 258 million kgs. Of tea and has earned Rs. 34,068 million by exporting 244 million kgs. of tea.
Afternoon commence city tour in Numara Eliya.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 6
Nuwara Eliya - Kandy
Kandy is a pleasant city surrounded by lush green countryside, and it’s home to a picturesque lake, old shops, a bustling market and some great restaurants. This evening observe locals worshipping in Kandy’s Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred shrines that houses a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha.
Evening is free. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 7
In Kandy
Today’s plan is one full of all kinds of delights for the senses. We will visit a colorful batik workshop and have a try at wearing a traditional sarong. At the spice garden we will have a fragrant tour of the grounds, refresh with some invigorating spiced tea and even enjoy a soothing and aromatic spice massage. This evening we will take in the spectacular display of Kandyan culture with performances of traditional dance, music, acrobatics and more.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 8
Kandy – Dambulla
Drive towards Dambulla to witness the impressive Dambulla Cave temples. You will have time to explore these this morning and admire the many Buddha images, frescoes and paintings. On the way to the physical and spiritual heart of the country and the former home of the last Sri Lankan king, stop for lunch at a spice garden in the renowned spice-growing region of Matale. Sri Lankans are the masters of spice and here you can learn how spices aren’t just used in food, but also cosmetics and ayurvedic medicine. Smell the fragrant odours of cumin, cinnamon and curry leaves before tasting pumpkin curry flavoured with aromatic fenugreek, with a side of dry chilli sambol and the uniquely Sri Lankan coconut roti. As the spice gardens here are popular with tourists, you will find the prices to be higher than outside, but it is the ideal place to learn about the best Sri Lankan spices.
Later venture even farther back into history with a visit to the ruins of the ancient palace on Sigiriya, a monolithic plateau that still shows the magnificent frescoes from ages past. And, since we are in the area, we can stop off for one last tea garden visit (time permitting) to learn about the robust mid-country teas.
Overnight at the hotel
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