Head to the hills of Sri Lanka’s seriously stunning Tea Country

What: Given that Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth-biggest producer of tea (and its second-largest exporter), a caffeine-charged cuppa here is the real deal. Categorised as high-grown tea, mid-grown tea, or low-grown tea, most of it comes from Hill Country - the fairytale-like region in the southern heartlands that’s filled with mist-shrouded mountains, lush rolling hills, gushing waterfalls, and emerald-coloured tea plantations stretching out as far as the eye can see. Easily accessed by train or by plane (the ultra-modern Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is only a 90-minute drive away), there’s a slew of tea estates to explore - many of which offer personalised tours and ad-hoc tea tastings. Some of the best places to learn about what happens to the cured leaves of the camelia sinensis shrub prior to you mixing it with milk and sugar include Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, Amba Estate, and Dambethenne - the factory built by Sir Thomas Lipton in 1890 (it is one of four estates purchased by the fabled Scottish tea pioneer).

Don’t miss: Often referred to as ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya (meaning City of Lights) is the too-quaint community famous for its temperate climate, pretty English-style bungalows, and rather splendid 18-hole golf course. At an altitude of 6,128-feet, this is the country’s most important tea hub (big-name producers Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Estate, Blue Field Tea Centre, and Pedro Tea Factory are all based in this Victorian-era little town).

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