Ceylon Soul with Uga Resorts

For the next two days, you’ll stay amid the stunning scenery of the Sri Lankan tea country.

Part of the experience of staying at Uga Halloowella is the opportunity to visit a local tea plantation and factory to learn all about the intricate processes that go into making the perfect brew.

This insightful excursion begins with an interactive tea plucking experience, where you can try your hand at selecting the finest leaves and conversing with local tea pickers about their daily lives. You’ll then witness the fascinating process of weighing and sorting fresh tea leaves, before enjoying a 30-minute tour that reveals the secrets behind crafting the perfect cup of tea, from drying and fermenting to sorting and packaging. To conclude the experience, you can sit down and enjoy a cup of premium Ceylon tea.

Optional activities you can partake in include kayaking across the placid waters of the Castlereagh Reservoir and embarking on a late-afternoon hike through Hatton’s scenic tea estates and breathtaking hill country to soak up the astonishing views of Adam’s Peak and cascading waterfalls.


Accommodation: Uga Halloowella

Enjoy a private morning or evening game drive in Yala National Park for further opportunities to encounter its variety of wildlife, which includes crocodiles, spotted and sambar deer, wild water buffalo and more than 200 species of bird.

These private game drives are hosted by experienced, in-house rangers who gravitate towards quieter areas of the park, ensuring a more intimate safari experience.

During the cooler hours of the afternoon, you can head out on an immersive Bush Walk to look out for tracks and footprints that may signal sightings of elephants, wild boar or rusty spotted cats. Stalking through the arid scrublands and dry forests of the park provides a deeply immersive interaction with the surrounding wilderness, encouraging you to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the Sri Lankan wilderness at a more intimate level.


Accommodation: Uga Chena Huts

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before checking out at around 10:00 and transferring along Sri Lanka’s rugged Indian Ocean coastline to the tranquil town of Tangalle, a journey of approximately 2hrs 30 mins.

You’ll check into your next accommodation, Uga Prava, which sits atop a palm-dotted headland with panoramic views over the rolling Indian Ocean shores, encircled by lush gardens that descend gently onto a beautiful private beach.


Accommodation: Uga Prava

You’ll have the next two days to spend at leisure, exploring the picturesque coast that borders Tangalle or enjoying the hotel facilities, from its beautiful outdoor pool to its relaxing spa.

You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in optional excursions. You can embark on a late-afternoon boat tour to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, drifting across the mangrove-lined waterways and lagoon to spot the diverse birdlife.

You can also choose to take an afternoon hike to the Mulkirigala Temple, a 2,000-year-old Buddhist cave complex perched atop a 205-metre-high rock near Tangalle. Climb around 500 carved steps to explore the seven terraced shrines which are adorned with colourful Kandyan-era murals and reclining Buddha statues.

Another optional activity is kayaking through the tranquil Rekawa Lagoon, taking in the thick tangles of mangrove and observing an impressive array of birdlife.


Accommodation: Uga Prava