Lipton’s Seat

A 15km tuk tuk ride (Rs 3000 round trip, 45 minutes) northeast of Haputale, Lipton's Seat (adult/child Rs1000/500) is one of Sri Lanka's most impressive viewpoints and Haputale's top attraction. The Scottish tea baron used to survey his burgeoning tea empire from here. On a fine day you can see beyond the hazy contours of nearby hills and tea estates to no fewer than seven provinces, all the way to the south coast. Most visitors aim to arrive at sunrise or early in the morning, before the mist rolls in at 10am. From here, one of Sri Lanka's easiest and most scenic short hikes (6km) takes you down to the Dambatenne Tea Factory: for the most part, you'll follow the hairpin bends of the tarmac road through tea fields. Take a shortcut down stone steps through the tea estate once you see the dramatic Dambatenne Valley spread out beneath you.