Nuwara Eliya

As a Brit I was both amused and genuinely moved by Nuwara Eliya in equal measure. Walking through this extraordinary little town perched high in the Sri Lankan mountains and finding manicured English gardens, a Victorian golf course, a horse racing track, and grand colonial hotels wrapped in cool mountain mist was one of the most surreal and delightful travel experiences of my life. But what elevates Nuwara Eliya far beyond mere novelty is the breathtaking natural beauty that surrounds it on every side. The tea plantation landscape stretching endlessly across the misty hillsides is simply one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen. We stayed in a beautifully restored colonial planter's bungalow, woke up to views of rolling emerald hills disappearing into the clouds, and spent three perfect days exploring tea factories, mountain trails, and the most charming little town in all of Asia. Nuwara Eliya is an absolute treasure.

Amanda Wilson

United Kingdom

I arrived in Nuwara Eliya on the famous hill country train from Kandy and the journey alone was worth the entire trip to Sri Lanka. Three hours of the most jaw dropping mountain scenery imaginable — waterfalls, tea plantations, misty valleys, and ancient viaducts — culminating in the arrival at this wonderfully unexpected colonial hill town that felt like stepping through a portal into another era entirely. The atmosphere in Nuwara Eliya is unlike anywhere else I visited on the island — cool, unhurried, and wrapped in a romantic mountain mist that softens every edge and makes everything feel slightly dreamlike. The tea tasting at a local estate on our second morning was a revelation — I had no idea that Ceylon Tea could taste so extraordinarily delicate and complex. I left Nuwara Eliya with three kilograms of the finest high grown tea I have ever tasted and a heart full of the most beautiful memories.

Jason Lee

France

Nuwara Eliya was the destination on our Sri Lanka itinerary that generated the most surprise and wonder among our travel group of four — none of us had any idea quite what to expect and nothing could have prepared us for the extraordinary reality of this remarkable place. The combination of the cool misty mountain climate, the perfectly preserved Victorian colonial architecture, the world class tea plantation landscape, and the wonderfully warm and welcoming local community creates something genuinely unique that exists nowhere else on earth. We spent a wonderful morning at a working tea factory learning about the entire production process and the afternoon cycling around Gregory Lake as the mist rolled in across the hills — simple pleasures made extraordinary by the most beautiful setting imaginable. Nuwara Eliya is not just a destination — it is an experience that stays with you long after you return home.

Sarah Patel

United States