Tea stays in the Kandy hillcountry
5 Answers from travellers
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Look into the Hanthana mountain range just 30 minutes south of Kandy. The Ceylon Tea Museum is located there, and the surrounding hills are full of old colonial planter bungalows converted into boutique stays (like Hanthana Boutique Villa). You are completely immersed in the tea fields, free to walk the trails, and totally isolated from the Kandy city traffic.
Make sure to bring a jacket. It gets surprisingly cold up in those hills at night compared to the city.
Your boutique stay will have a dedicated driver. Do not rely on street tuk-tuks in the remote hills.
Hanthana is gorgeous. Waking up to the mist over the tea bushes is unforgettable.
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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