Ceylon Tea Trails bags first TripAdvisor World award, opens new Dunkeld bungalow

Although Tea Trails has been recognised for the past decade in TripAdvisor’s coveted Travellers’ Choice Sri Lanka and Asia category; in the recently announced 2016 Awards the iconic tea planters’ bungalow resort was awarded a Top Hotel for Service in the World category, a first for Sri Lanka. In addition, two Asia category awards were garnered – Top Small Hotels and Top Luxury Hotels.

Tea Trails is readying its fifth bungalow to open in February. Named Dunkeld, the new bungalow will afford spectacular views of Castlereagh Lake and the Great Western mountain range. Dunkeld will offer a taste of bygone era pampering with a master suite, two garden suites and a luxury room in addition to the secluded Owner’s Cottage a romantic one-bedroom residence hidden in the tea fields that will be positioned as ‘the best room in Sri Lanka’.

Poised high above Castlereagh Lake at 4,750 ft altitude, the infinity-edge swimming pool at Dunkeld will offer awe inspiring panoramic views, whilst the hot tub will seemingly float above the lake surface. Guests will have the opportunity to partake in activities including croquet on the lawn and hiking or mountain-biking the many trails winding through the hills of the working tea estate. 

In its first full year of operation, sister property Cape Weligama was recognised in the Sri Lanka category for Top Hotels, Top Luxury Hotels & Top Hotels for Service. This luxurious cliffside retreat sits on a stunning Indian Ocean headland near Galle, where 39 private residences and master rooms, the largest and most lavish in the country, have been designed by star architect Lek Bunnag. Each of the spacious residences is surrounded by a flower-filled garden, 15 m infinity edge pool and attended to by a private butler.

Accolades Cape Weligama has received include Conde Nast Traveller Hot List 2015 – Most Exciting Hotel Openings, Travel & Leisure USA, IT List 2015 – Best New Hotels On The Planet, Tatler Travel Guide 2015 – Best New Hotels, House & Garden – The Most Beautifully Designed Hotels In The World.

Both resorts are part of Resplendent Ceylon, the Dilmah tea arm that is creating a unique trail of boutique luxury resorts across Sri Lanka tagged ‘Resplendent Journeys’.