Ella
After the excitement of wildlife spotting at Chaya-Wild it was time to head for the hills! In search of the perfect cup of tea of course. First stop was Ella, a lovely little town nestled in the foothills amidst lush tropical foliage, a plethora of waterfalls, rugged mountains, scenic train journeys, and of course fields of tea leaves. As the road climbed ever upward and we reached closer to Ella the drive became very picturesque with countless cascades tumbling down the nearby cliff faces as we reached the mountains. We had just one night here so after dropping our bags at our guesthouse, and lacing up our trainers, we headed for the track to Little Adam’s Peak.

Little Adam’s Peak
Starting from the centre of town the hike to Little Adam’s Peak was a fairly steady walk up a wide path passing through villages and tea plantations before getting a little more rugged as the mountain vistas opened up before us. We passed children playing volleyball, workers collecting tea leaves and spotted a cute kitten ready for a cuddle. On the way up I had spotted a beautiful little boutique hotel called 98 Acres Resort (which I promised myself I would return to stay in one day!). As golden hour lit up the countryside on our way back down we couldn’t resist the urge to stop at the resort for a sun downer. Beer? Wine? G&T? No, it had to be a cup of Sri Lankan tea!

Where to stay
After the extravagent accommodation at Chaya-Wild it was time for us to bunk down in a little more modest lodgings, but we were by no means disappointed by our choice. We had booked into a fantastic little guest house, Waterfalls Homestay, run by a wonderful Australian lady which was set high up on a hillside with an outdoor terrace and the most wonderful waterfall views. After our hike to Little Adam’s Peak we enjoyed a wonderfully unique (and delicious) communal dinner, sat around a long table with fellow guests fro around the world and our enchanting house. Eating breakfast alfresco the next morning and watching the train wind along the scenic tracks, past waterfalls and through the thick foliage was a great way to start the way.

Traditional Sri Lankan spa experience
I am a big fan of spa treatments, and travelling gives me a great excuse to try the local pampering experiences, the more unique the better! We had just enough time in the morning before we boarded the train to where we would celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary, Newara Eliya, the heart of Sri Lankan tea country, for a spot of relaxation. I had read about a spa treatment called vashpa swedha, which is basically being enclosed from your feet to your neck in a coffin-like box, full of herbs, whilst you are engulfed by steam to open your pores, relax your body and infuse you with these health-giving herbs. I was willing to give it a try! The previous day we had gone to a spa, which we thought was the one recommended in our guide book, and made an appointment. After our tuk tuk driver dropped our luggage at the train station we told him where we wanted to go next and he was not impressed, at all. He insisted we visit the original spa and tell them that we didn’t have time after all, and that he would take us to the place we should have booked. Potential travel disaster averted! The place we went to was by no means salubrious, however it was clean and efficient and we emerged feeling relaxed and pampered and ready to celebrate the passing of time.

Ella to Nurwara Eliya Train Journey
I love a good train journey and after reading so much about the beautiful trail from Ella to Nurwara Eliya we were very excited to spend the next few hours watching the scenic world pass us by. The huge picture windows, which could open wide, were perfect for taking photos and getting a good look at the view. We passed tea plantations with ladies picking leaves and placing them in the large wicker baskets on tied around their foreheads, busy stations full of school children, ladies in saris and men in business suits, cloud forests, tiny villages, rainforests and plenty of mountain vistas.

I can’t wait to share the stunning destination hotel we stayed at in Nurwara Eliya with you in the next Sri Lanka blog!