Teardrop Hotels launches an 8-Night ‘Tea Odyssey’ itinerary, perfect for adventurous food and drink purists who want to deep dive into the country’s history, local culture and the farming traditions of Sri Lanka through one of the island’s most famous exports – tea.

The itinerary is a chance to sample the flavours and quality of tea varieties grown across the country at different altitudes, whilst indulging in authentic Sri Lankan wellbeing, cuisine, and touring experiences across Teardrop’s collection of intimate tea bungalows and country garden hotels. You will come away with a deeper understanding of how nature and wildlife can live in harmony with the tea country and how Teardrop Hotels’ positively impact local communities who rely on the tea trade.

The journey begins at Wallawwa where wellness and tea make the perfect blend. Just a short drive from Colombo, where tropical gardens surround a jungle pool and an 18^th century manor house, you can sample herbal teas throughout the day, a Jet Lag recovery spa treatment incorporating black tea and take a masterclass with the chef on how to make the perfect cup of Sri Lankan ‘Yaara’ tea. Yaara tea involves “pulling” tea from one cup to another to create a frothy and flavoursome concoction of milk tea.

Camellia Hills, a characterful five-bedroom bungalow, located in the high growth ‘Golden Valley’ tea region and surrounded by pea-green tea bushes is where the humbling and inspiring real-life stories behind a cup of tea are uncovered.

You can visit a centre run by The Tea Leaf Trust, focusing on upskilling young tea pickers to lift them out of poverty through education. Along with a local resident, you will tour a school and be given a brief history of the tea estates and tea plucking communities.

There is also an opportunity to immerse in local traditions by taking a ride on a traditional canoe with a local fisherman on nearby Castlereagh reservoir, where a flask of Belimal tea and jaggery (Sri Lankan alternative to sugar) is served to accompany every trip.

The spectacular landscape surrounding Camellia Hills can be best enjoyed on a guided walking or cycling tour led by Teardrop’s naturalist, along one of the many scenic trails running through the tea estates. However, for the more adventurous, a late-night wilderness walk is a chance to get a glimpse of the nocturnal wildlife that lives within the tea bushes, such as leopards, deer, porcupines and buffalo.

Heading deep into tea country, Goatfell is a four-bedroom hill top bungalow where The Pekoe Trail, a newly opened 300 km-long walking trail through verdant tea fields can be easily explored independently or with Teardrop’s resident guide. A popular way to immerse in local culture is making the most of the complimentary Guided Tea Factory Tour offered to all guests on property. After working up a thirst, you can order high tea sundowners served by a roaring fire pit from Goatfell’s stunning viewpoint overlooking the Badulla mountain range and sprawling tea plantations below. There is also the opportunity to dine on a tea-infused dinner and take the train from the hotel to Nuwara Eliya, a region known for its beauty and high-quality teas.

Nine Skies, majestically perched on a tea-fringed hill near Ella, offers an authentic tea tasting experience. From learning the art of rolling and making artisanal teas surrounded by waterfalls and caves to taking a picnic of flavoured tea and Sri Lankan snacks on the mountain side, this is the ideal property to combine tea and culture – with visits to Ella Rock, Nine Arch Bridge, and beautiful Hindu temples.

The Tea Odyssey ends in the bohemian and lively UNESCO-listed forted city of Galle where Teardrop Hotel’s Fort Bazaar provides a stylish base from which to explore the unique storytelling around the Virgin White Tea – the purest and one of the most expensive in the world. A tour of the Handungoda tea estate on route to the property, located in the low grown tea region, offers a fascinating step back in time to when the Chinese would only use virgins in white gloves and gold scissors to pick the tea.

The new ‘Tea Odyssey’ 8-Night package with Teardrop Hotels is priced at USD 5,970 / HKD 46,6 00/SGD 8,100 based on two adults sharing and includes 1 night at Wallawwa on B&B, 2 nights at Camelia Hills all inclusive, 2 nights at Goatfell all inclusive, 2 nights at Nine Skies all-inclusive and 1 night at Fort Bazaar on B&B, plus all transportation, tastings, tours and experiences connected with tea, plus a tea turndown bedtime ritual at all Teardrop bungalows. Excludes international flights into Colombo. For reservations visit: www.teardrop-hotels.com or email enquiries@teardrop-hotels.com

Teardrop Hotels Tea Odyssey: Perfect Blend Of Tea & Culture

Teardrop Hotels has taken over the management of Lunuganga Estate, country estate home of renowned Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Having acquired the estate in 1948, Lunuganga was one of Bawa’s first projects and became a continual source of inspiration as he went on to be regarded as one of Asia’s most influential figures in architecture and design. Teardrop Hotels is working closely with custodians of Lunuganga, The Bawa Trust, to revitalise the six-bedroom property as well as opening the three bedrooms of revered batik artist, Ena de Silva’s relocated home.

Lunuganga Estate – The Legacy

Lunuganga Estate was the country home of the renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Started in 1947, the garden led Bawa, a lawyer called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1940, to decide to become an architect. As he went on to become Sri Lanka’s and one of Asia’s most prolific and influential architects, the garden at the Lunuganga estate remained his first muse and experimental laboratory for new ideas.

He continued to change and experiment with its spaces and structures throughout his life until his final illness in 1998. Left to the Lunuganga Trust on his demise in 2003, the gardens are now open to the public and the buildings on the estate are run as a country house hotel.

Lunaganga Estate – Location & Getting There

Lunuganga is set at 6 degrees north latitude and 78 degrees west longitude. The estate may be approached from Colombo, which is connected by air to most international destinations. Lunuganga is two and a half hours drive from the international airport and one and a half hours from Colombo. Lunuganga will arrange an airport pickup if so required and requested.

The Lunuganga estate is set in the wet tropical zone and is warm throughout the year. Average temperatures range from 26 degrees in November/February to 32 degrees during the day from March/July. The Southwest monsoon brings intermittent torrential rain in June and July with November to March being mostly dry and sunny. In addition, garden tours within the 15 acres of gardens, will enhance the entire experience of the estate for a new generation of traveller. 

To create a more all-round Teardrop Hotel’s feel, a Resident Manager will join the current team on the 1^st July to enhance the service offering. Meanwhile, the F&B team is working to bring a taste of Teardrop Hotels signature local dishes ensuring that the menu is focused on authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.

In addition, Teardrop Hotels’ team of destination experts is creating a series of experiences and excursions to incorporate visits to the world-famous Bawa properties dotted around Sri Lanka, cooking demonstrations and trips to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort.

Lunaganga Estate – A Pinnacle Of Sri Lanka’s Design Heritage 

Lunuganga (meaning ‘Salt River’) was originally a derelict rubber estate, which resided on a promontory in the Dedduwa Lake on the island’s South Coast in Bentota. Over the course of 50 years, Bawa worked tirelessly to transform it into his own personal Garden of Eden and today it is regarded as a national treasure. The estate’s design includes elements of Italian Renaissance, English romantic and Japanese garden arts. Since Bawa’s death in 2003, the Lunuganga Trust has preserved the estate to ensure that visitors are able to experience Bawa’s vision just as he intended.

The property itself comprises a former 1930’s plantation bungalow, with six private guest suites located around the estate and is an ode to ‘tropical modernism’ – a blend of antique and modern furniture with traditional and contemporary art, which was a trademark of Bawa’s eclectic signature style.

Common rooms include the sitting room and veranda in the main house where Bawa would enjoy tea each afternoon overlooking the lake. There is also the Garden Room, an airy structure constructed almost entirely out of recycled materials and plenty of other terraces and pavilions to encourage those wandering around the estate to stop and take in the surrounding vistas.

Lunaganga Estate – The Restored Home Of Batik Artist Ena De Silva

Teardrop Hotels will also launch the three-bedroom house of Ena de Silva as part of the offering. A batik artist and Bawa’s dear friend, Ena de Silva and her husband Osmund commissioned Bawa to design her home in 1962, which went on to become a pivotal project in his life’s work as it was one of the first times he executed the joining of radically modern design with traditional Sri Lankan elements.

In 2009, she decided to sell the house, which in turn prompted The Bawa Trust to move the property brick by brick from its location in Colombo to the Lunuganga Estate in Bentota. The house took three months to disassemble piece by piece and six years to rebuild, led by Architect Amila de Mel and conservation specialist Nilan Cooray. Everything from the frangipani tree in the front courtyard to the slabs of river stone remains just as it was in the original house.

Lunuganga will join Teardrop Hotels’ portfolio of stylish properties dotted throughout the country, giving guests an insight into the country’s past, whilst delivering genuine Sri Lankan hospitality and authentic local cuisine.

Relaxing on one of Sri Lanka’s deserted beaches and indulging in a spicy seafood curry might not be such a distant dream now. The country has announced it will open its borders to international travellers from 1 August 2020, and Anantara’s two luxurious resorts on the island are looking forward to welcoming guests once again. Come discover Sri Lanka at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle & Kalutara Resort.

Discover Sri Lanka – What You Are In For

Discover a world of tantalising adventures and genuine encounters. Venture into jungle rich in wildlife. Bask in tropical bliss on the palm tree-lined beaches. Or elevate your journey with a visit to a tea or spice plantation hidden in the hills. Sri Lanka offers unforgettable experiences on every level. Spend a total of six nights or more in Anantara Kalutara Resort and Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort with a 30% saving on any room categories and complimentary luxury round trip transfers from and to the airport and between resorts.

Wake up to take in stunning ocean views set on a dramatic seaside cliff at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort on the island’s southern coastline, set amidst a 22-acre coconut plantation with golden crescent shores and the glorious Indian Ocean views. Discover secluded villas with private pools, indulgent dining experiences, personalised service and family filled nature and wildlife activities.

Or find yourself nestled between a stunning lagoon and the ocean at Anantara Kalutara Resort, located on the coast south of Colombo a mere 55-minute drive from Bandaranaike International Airport. This tropical beach resort, which is naturally exclusive, showcases stunning open spaces while large corridors lead to wonderfully landscaped garden spaces. From luxury private transfers and secure check-in to in-room dining experiences in the privacy of your own pool villa.

To ensure guests feel safe and secure during their stay, Anantara’s new Stay With Peace of Mind programme builds on existing health and safety measures for heightened sanitisation and hygiene. Every Anantara property has a dedicated ‘Guest Guardian’ responsible for regular disinfection and implementing social distancing measures where appropriate. From the fully sanitised airport transfers to the breakfast experience, guest to team member interactions is minimised to ensure that guest safety and wellbeing remains the utmost priority.

Discover Sri Lanka Package

The package includes a stay of six nights or more at two luxury resorts in Sri Lanka and complimentary transfers upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport to Anantara Resort, between Anantara Resorts and upon departure from Anantara Resort to airport

Accommodation at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

• 30% off best flexible rate in a room category of your choice
• Daily buffet breakfast for two persons
• One High Tea per stay for two persons
• One complimentary local experience per stay for two persons
• One 30-minute spa treatment per stay

Accommodation at Anantara Kalutara Resort

• 30% off Best Flexible rate in a room category of your choice
• Daily buffet breakfast for two persons
• One High Tea per stay for two persons
• One complimentary local experience per stay for two persons
• One 30-minute spa treatment per stay

Package bookable from now and valid from 1 August until 23 December 2020. To book, visit www.anantara.com/en/peace-haven-tangalle/offers/6-night-discover-sri-lanka-package

This guide is for explorers who relish the thought of catching the little details that make up a city, from the colourful street art in an alleyway to the sweet scent of fresh fruits and flowers from the morning marketplace. Travellers who carry cameras to capture candid smiles from cheeky children and enjoy striking up conversations with locals do not see the need to rush the experience. Let’s follow the destination-savvy experts from OZO hotels on their recommended self-guided Sri Lanka walking tours around two lively cities.

Sri Lanka Walking Tours – Bogambara Lake, Kandy

If you love green landscapes and tranquil cities, look no further than the historical capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy. Surrounded by tea plantations and rainforests, one of the most popular walking trails in this UNESCO World Heritage Site runs through the city and around Bogambara Lake, also known as Kandy Lake.

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Royal Palace Park is perfect for a leisurely stroll through gardens on shaded pathways. It sits atop a small hill where visitors can overlook the mountainous city and its manmade lake. Conveniently located in the heart of Kandy, the park is only a 15-minute walk away from OZO Kandy and five minutes from Kandy City Centre, where visitors can leisurely browse bookstores and boutiques, as well as enjoy a snack at one of many eateries and chic cafes.

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Down the road from there is the famous Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple, which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic believed to have come from Lord Buddha. This complex of temples and museums is usually open until 20:00 every day, except during special religious events such as the Kandy Esala Perahera festival. During normal periods, guests can easily spend over an hour exploring the different buildings and learning about their architecture and history.

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Wrap up the day with an energetic Kandyan Dance and Drum performance, a colourful display of music, theatrics and acrobatics! Shows start at 17:00 daily and are easily accessible from the trail around Kandy Lake. The performance at Kandy Lake Club also has a sensational fire show afterwards. And, all proceeds from the show at Mahanuwara YMBA are donated to the Red Cross, making both of these lesser-known venues great to visit.

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Be sure to enjoy a wholesome breakfast with great lake views from OZO Kandy Sri Lanka before starting your walk

To help you explore beyond the city centre, OZO Kandy Sri Lanka is now offering the “Explore Kandy” package starting at 123 USD++ per night. In addition to early check-in/late check-out, complimentary room upgrade and energising breakfast buffet spread, you can enjoy a full-day Kandy excursion. From local shops to famous attractions, stops include the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and a visit to the Tea Factory. Available for stays through 27 February 2019. Book your adventure at www.ozohotels.com/kandy-srilanka

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Sri Lanka Walking Tours – Town Hall Highlights, Colombo

A melting pot of rich heritage and cultures, Colombo remains a lively city on the western coast worth spending at least a couple of days exploring. In between the colonial buildings and historical sites scattered about and the more recent high-rises and shopping malls, this city is full of walking trails to stimulate the senses. Unlike Kandy’s naturally flowing walking trail around the lake, Colombo challenges you to get creative and pave their own paths. Grab a tuk-tuk from OZO Colombo and ride into town for a walking route that is sure to bring out the adventurer in you.

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Step back in time with a visit to Independence Memorial Hall, the grand national monument commemorating Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule. Covering close to a thousand square metres, its design is based on the ancient audience hall of the Kingdom of Kandy and houses the Independence Memorial Museum. Offering a shopping break amongst the cultural sites is the neighbouring Arcade Independence Square. Once a government building, it has been converted into a stylish mall with dining options.

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Continuing toward Viharamahadevi Park on foot means passing one of the city’s most important spots: the cricket grounds. Cricket is referred to as the official sport of Sri Lanka, making Colombo Cricket Club Ground a great place to see how locals engage in recreational fun. If this spot is not for you, the path down Independence Avenue will eventually lead you to Colombo National Museum, as well as both the old and new Town Hall buildings.

From the ancient art pieces dating back over ten centuries to colonial paraphernalia, Colombo National Museum takes you on a journey through the ages, as does the Old Town Hall building. Standing quietly in the city centre, the abandoned building is mysterious, and a great example of Dutch gothic-style architecture. Entry is technically free, but it is recommended to tip the caretakers who guide you through the 18th-century structure to an unusual room featuring life-sized figures of past municipal members. Of course, with the old there comes the new; the current Town Hall, one of Colombo’s visual landmarks, is loosely based on the famous Capitol Building in Washington D.C. ⎼ you cannot miss it!

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The last stop on the OZO Colombo walking trail is Gangaramaya Temple, a religious complex made up of impressive architecture and carvings, a religious training centre and gorgeous night-time illuminations during the National Vesak Festival. Key attractions include the Borobudur Replica made up of numerous Buddha statues, and the Seema Malakaya, a structure located in the middle of Beira Lake which famously incorporates Southeast Asian influences into its design. From here, it is only a 20-minute ride back to OZO Colombo.

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Simple and modern, find your sanctuary in OZO Colombo Sri Lanka

After a long day of exploring Colombo on foot, it makes sense to return to your hotel for some much-needed rest and relaxation. From a warm power shower that soothes sore muscles to the perfect bed with soft pillows to lay down your head, you cannot go wrong with the simplicity and serenity of OZO Colombo Sri Lanka’s guest rooms. Get more out of your holiday with gorgeous sea views and a complimentary room upgrade when you book a Sleep or Dream room via www.ozohotels.com/colombo-srilanka. Available for stays until 31 December 2018.

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Sri Lanka Walking Tours – When to Visit

With any walking tour, it is important to avoid scorching heat and the wet rainy season. Kandy’s monsoon seasons range from May to November, with rainfall cooling the tropic heat, so bring an umbrella. Similarly, Colombo experiences monsoon season from April to October but enjoys gentler weather from December to March. If you want to avoid high season, mid-July to September is another period that can offer nice weather for long walks.

It is also worth noting that the religious nation of Sri Lanka offers visitors a glimpse of colourful celebrations at various times of the year, bringing together heritage and fun to the community. In either July or August of each year, “Kandy Esala Perahera”, or the Festival of the Tooth, is celebrated with music, parades, elegant costumes and decorated elephants. Another religious celebration is “Vesak”, a Buddhist festival famously held at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo for a week or so. The streets and buildings are lined up with decorations and lights, making the city shine brightly at night. Both celebrations are dependent on the Full Moon Poya Days, so keep that in mind before booking your next holiday.

For more information on cool attractions and other things to do around OZO hotels, check out the OZO Destination Guides at www.ozohotels.com/destination-guides.