DAY 7: ELLA

PEAKS & TROUGHS

A fitting destination for the wonderful train ride from Kandy, ELLA is one of the most appealing villages in Sri Lanka. It enjoys a superb setting on the very edge of the Hill Country, nestled amongst rolling fields of tea and with views that stretch out across the plains and down towards the coast. Ella is firmly on the tourist map, and its single street of guesthouses and funky cafés can get busy at times, so it’s nice to get out of the village for a few hours if you can – the surrounding hills make great hiking country. The most rewarding easy walk is up LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK, a couple of kilometres southeast of Ella. To get there, take the turning opposite the Curd Shop (signed “Namunukula” and “Passara”) in central Ella and follow this road (the Ella–Passara Road) for just over 1km; as the road curves round to the left, you’ll see a sign pointing to the pathway (“Mini Adam’s Peak”) straight ahead, next to the Ella Flower Garden Resort. The walk takes in tea plantations and little villages and lasts around two hours in total, more if you linger at the top to admire the views through the Ella Gap and across to the much higher Ella Rock.

Given your surroundings, Ella is also a brilliant place to take a tea-factory tour. You can find out what goes into making the perfect brew at the UVA HALPEWATTE TEA FACTORY [open daily from 8am to 4pm | Rs.525 with tasting], 6km northwest of the village, where your guide will talk you through the whole tea-making process, from picking to packing, before leading you round the withering troughs, fermenting tables and other machinery. It’s actually much more interesting for kids than it might sound, especially if you visit in the morning, when the factory is in full operational mode. Afterwards, you can try and distinguish between the estate’s different grades and strengths in a tea-tasting session.

THE LIJOMA LOWDOWN

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