Enjoy peaceful retreats, cool weather, nature walks and relaxation.

CategoryHill Country
Featured places5
Generally bestGenerally January to April
Famous destinations

Where to go — our favourite places for this experience, ready to fit into a route that suits your dates and pace.

  1. 01

    Nuwara Eliya

    Nuwara Eliya is a cool highland town surrounded by tea estates, with Gregory Lake, Victoria Park and colonial-period buildings.

  2. 02

    Ella

    Ella is a hill-country town overlooking Ella Gap, with walking routes towards Ella Rock, Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge.

  3. 03

    Haputale

    Haputale occupies a ridge on the southern edge of the central highlands, with tea estates and views towards the lowlands.

  4. 04

    Bandarawela

    Bandarawela is a hill-country market and railway town in Badulla District, surrounded by plantations and mountain settlements.

  5. 05

    Kandy

    Kandy surrounds a lake in the central hills; its sacred city includes the Temple of the Tooth and the former royal palace precinct.

Good to know

The highlands are much cooler than the coast, and mist or rain can roll in at any time of year — pack layers and a light rain jacket. Reserved seats on the hill-country trains can sell out, so we book them early.

From the first idea to the final detail, we design Sri Lankan journeys you'll remember forever.