Camellia Hills

Live the life of a modern-day tea planter in the heart of Sri Lanka’s spectacular Hill Country at Camellia Hills. An intimate five-bedroom boutique lodge, hugged on all sides by impossibly neat rows of tea leaves, a stay here may look like a return to the simple life – but with chic furnishings and discreet butlers on hand, it’s anything but. Personalized down to the letter, a stay at Camellia Hills is perfect for everyone from the loved-up honeymooners looking to hide away, to the multi-generational family looking to take over the whole property.

Location

Perched on a gently sloping hillside and looking out over the mirrored waters of Castlereagh Reservoir, Camellia Hills is an escape to the country and a breath of fresh air. Trails lead out from the property in all directions with the hillsides peeling away to reveal hidden waterfalls, colonial churches and colorful Hindu shrines. Why not pick up a picnic on your way out and make a day of it? The best way to get here is to catch the train into Hatton, from where the hotel is just an hour’s drive away. Or, to arrive in style, there’s always the option of landing by seaplane on the reservoir below.

Your Room

Each of the five bedrooms at Camellia Hills has their own unique personality, yet are united by the sweeping views that extend from the foot of the bed. Timber floors are offset by crisp white linens and bright embroidered cushions, whilst beyond the picture windows lie only shades of green. Our favorite room though has to be Warleigh. Located at the opposite end of the house to the other rooms, it defines seclusion and with three sets of French windows opening up onto the lawns beyond, it’s impossibly romantic.

Why we like it

Surrounded by tea plantations, it would be impossible to come to Camellia Hills and not visit one of the colonial tea factories – especially when the hotel organizes one for you on the house. Pass by the ladies picking leaves out in the fields and head inside for a behind-the-scenes look at how tea goes from leaf to cup. Completed with a tea-tasting session, you’ll never think of it as a simple brew ever again.