Welcome to Ceylon Tea Trails, a range of luxurious planters’ bungalows in Dickoya, found approximately 4,000 feet above sea level in the southern highlands of Sri Lanka’s tea country. Tea Trails comprises five classic colonial bungalows, all of which are Relais & Châteaux bungalows, built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. Each bungalow is different, combining both classical and contemporary styles: the effect is quintessentially luxurious and colonial, a stroll back in time but entirely resplendent in modern amenities. Within the confines of each bungalow guests will find over-sized rooms with four-poster beds, lavish bathrooms and a blazing log fire in the dining and drawing rooms. The meticulously maintained gardens also feature sun-decks and summer houses where traditional English Cream Teas are served by the bungalow’s resident butler. Enjoy reading by the pool, having high tea in the summerhouse or a gin and tonic on the terrace.

This bungalow, built in 1925, lies nestled on the banks of Castlereagh Lake in a woody glade and is perhaps the most romantic of the five. It is also the most remote and is reached along a windy, sometimes bumpy road that passes through tea plantations where pickers are busy at work. All the bungalows have three types of rooms: Luxury Suites, Garden Suites and Master Suites, each with its own touch of opulence, and individually named after former tea planters who served the estate. With the exception of Tate Luxury Room, which has twin beds, the rest of the rooms at Castlereagh include king-sized beds. The Garden Suites have sensational views over the glassy waters of the lake.