7 of the best tours to not be missed when in Nuwara Eliya – experience the allures of Little England

With the option to reserve first and pay later, this private day tour to Nuwara Eliya accommodates a multitude of fancies including trips to the beautiful Victoria Park and Gregory Lake respectively. Aside from these sought-after landmarks, one will be led on a journey toward the Hanuman Temple in Ramboda before being allowed access to marvel at the majesty of the Ramboda Waterfalls which will present wonderful photography opportunities.

Begin your day at one of Sri Lanka’s most loved UNESCO World Heritage sites in the form of Horton Plains National Park where you will be guided en route to reaching and enjoying its distinct features and offerings. As you walk across the expansive plains, scenes of Sambar, Bear Monkeys and a wide array of bird species the likes of the Sri Lanka Bush Warbler will fall into focus as the free-flowing waters of Bakers Falls call out to you. Afterwards, ready yourself for a tea factory visit which is a popular pastime to engage in when in this part of the country. Learn how Sri Lanka’s most famed beverage is prepared, beginning from when the tea leaves are plucked and ending at the point at which the leaves are packaged.

Board the Kandy-Ella train that will transport you through Sri Lanka’s lush green tea country before you make your first stop at the Nanu Oya Railway Station. Upon meeting your guide, you can expect to be treated to the sights and sounds of Little England where time will certainly stand still. Roam around town, and savour the rolling hills out in the distance as you take in an ambience made up of quaint cottages, lovely mansions and a cool climate that will undoubtedly grow on you the longer you stay. In fact, choosing to be based at Araliya Red will have you well placed to while away the hours within some of the finest places to visit in Nuwara Eliya as referenced above. 

Cover the length and breadth of the city in the company of a chatty local while being driven around in a tuk tuk which is a motorised three-wheeler. Though, not for the fainthearted, riding in a tuk-tuk will have the cool wind in your face as you beeline for local tea factories seeking to come to terms with how tea is produced.

The Lipton’s Seat Viewpoint is arguably, one of the better destinations that you can spend time at. This is because not only will you have ease of access to sprawling panoramas of well-manicured tea gardens but also you can add to the history surrounding the said Viewpoint by posing alongside the late Scottish baron whose efforts were influential in building Sri Lanka’s longest-standing tea factory – Dambatenne Tea Factory. Once inside, you will be educated on how tea is manufactured and given a chance to sample a cuppa freshly brewed black tea.

Put yourself in the shoes of a local tea plucker as you are given your own bag and educated on the finer points of what goes into making a skilled tea plucker. Move through the sublime settings of a local tea estate where expert guides will feed you with helpful advice en route to unearthing a new skill you never knew existed.

The stunningly positioned Hakgala Botanical Gardens has certainly grown in stature and appeal ever since its establishment in 1861 to promote the cultivation of Cinchona in the country. Found in the Nuwara Eliya District, these Gardens are a sight for sore eyes given the spectacle that will unfold no sooner you step inside its welcoming embrace. Housing sub-tropical flora in its entirety, visitors will be moved by its collection of roses and orchids which is by far, one of its major draws and talking points.