Welcome to Haputale
Perched at the southern edge of the Hill Country, the largely Tamil town of Haputale clings to a long, narrow mountain ridge with the land falling away steeply on both sides. On a clear day you can view the south coast from this ridge, and at night the Hambantota lighthouse pulses in the distance. On a not-so-clear day, great swaths of mist cling magnetically to the hillsides. Either way, it’s a spectacular part of the country.
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Haputale activities
02 DAY HAPUTALE
ItineraryDay 1: Hotel pick-up - Ella - HaputaleStop At: Haputale Railway Station, Haputale, Uva ProvinceWe will pick up the guests from any hotel in the following areas - Bentota / Beruwela / Kalutara / Wadduwa / Koggala / Ahungalla / Hikkaduwa and proceed to Ella.Ella has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.Afterwards, you will go on a Train ride from Ella to Haputale or from Haputale to Ella. Haputale has The South-West boundary of Uva basin is marked by the Haputale mountain ridges, which continue on to Horton Plains and Adam's Peak to the west. CNN in 2010 named Haputale as one of Asia's most overlooked destinations.You will spend the evening leisurely at the hotel in Haputale.Duration: 12 hoursMeals included: • Dinner: You will have your Dinner at the hotel in Haputale you will be staying overnight.Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a hotel in HaputaleDay 2: Lipton's Seat - Dambethane Tea Factory - Hindu KovilStop At: Lipton's SeatEarly morning you will be driven toward Lipton Seat. You will take a tuk-tuk ride to the Lipton's Seat.The Lipton’s Seat is located at Dambetenna in the Haputale Mountain region. This place was a favourite look-out point for Sir Thomas Lipton. The point has a fabulous view over Uva, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces.You will have a morning tea/breakfast here.Duration: 5 hoursStop At: Dambatenne Tea Factory, Haputale, Uva ProvinceYou will visit the Dambatenne Tea Factory and Plantation. You will next visit the Hindu Kovil for sight-seeing.Later you will return back to the hotel for a late breakfast.Duration: 4 hoursNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.
Enjoy the Sunrise at the Famous Lipton Seat - Tea and Picnic Breakfast included
At 4.15am you will be picked up from Haputale in a Safari Jeep. Following a scenic route through the Dambatenne tea plantation you will reach the Famous Lipton Seat View Point in time for Sunrise to enjoy spectacular views and a nice cup of tea. On your way back to Haputale we will treat you to a Picnic Breakfast in the middle of this epic Haputale mountain range whilst enjoying the mesmerising views. Our experienced local drivers know every inch of these beautiful circuitous roads and will ensure your safety and comfort. The whole tour will last approximately 4-5 hrs and we ensure you lasting memories of this unforgettable experience.
Trekking Camping
Perched along a stunning mountain ridge, the quiet town of Haputale holds a treasure trove of activities and experiences for the wandering explorer. Labelled as one of the most overlooked destinations in Asia in 2010 by CNN, this sleepy town is approximately 1431 m above sea level and is rich with flora and fauna. Surrounded by mountains of tea and cloud forests, Haputale is generally colder than its surrounding towns. One of the most famous attractions here is known as Lipton’s Seat; where Sir Thomas Lipton would sit on a fine day and admire his tea plantations from. Take a stroll through lush plantations, hike up stunning hills, wander through national parks or simply sit in your garden with a warm cup of Ceylon tea as you enjoy the cold weather and the breathtaking landscapes. • Nature and tea plantation trekking to world famous Lipton seat. (7.00 am) Lipton’s Seat was the iconic point where Sir Thomas Lipton, the Scotsman who followed James Taylor’s footsteps in tea plantations, would sit and admire his acres of tea plantations. The Dambatenna Estate where the tea from his estate is produced and packed, has been in operation since the 1800s. It’s a great place to enjoy a mesmerizing view of the surrounding verdant hills of tea and vegetable patches. • Visit highest waterfall of Sri Lanka, Babarakanda waterfall (11.00 am) Trek to the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, Bambarakanda Falls measures about 263 m in height and is said to be amongst the tallest in the world. Cascading between acres of pine forest, the area is ideal for a picnic. The natural pool at the base of the waterfall is great for a quick plunge, do keep in mind that the currents can get strong, so swim with caution. You can hike to the top of the falls if you follow the Horse Trail. • Taste delicious local Tamil foods (Lunch) Tamil food is packed with a range of flavour and spice, mostly inspired from the southern Indian state of Kerala. With influences from Kerala and the island itself, the cuisine here is scrumptious and mouthwatering. • Visit Adisham Bungalow (After lunch) The Adisham Bungalow is a country house located in Haputale that is now being used as the Adisham monastery of Saint Benedict. The bungalow was initially the home of the famous tea planter, Sir Thomas Lester Villiers, who built it to resemble his house back home in England. Although only parts of the house can be visited, much of the original antiques and furniture still remain inside. • Camping in untouched high lands in haputale (Overnight stay) Camping gear in tow, spend the night in the highlands of Haputale, surrounded by the blissful sights and sounds of rugged nature.
Ella
. • 7.00 am – Pick up from the hotel near Ella, Wellawaya, Haputale and Bandarawela. • 8.00 am – Start the hike to Ella rock. En-route enjoy refreshments snacks and either king coconut or Ceylon tea. The iconic Ella Rock is a mesmerizing view point that gives you an unhindered view of the mountain silhouettes and the villages below. Loved by hikers and nature enthusiasts, conquering Ella rock during your stay here is an absolute must! • 11.30 am – depart for Demodara 9 arch bridge. The famous Nine Arches Bridge has made it to almost every Instagram feed of explorers to the island. The bridge is located between Ella and Demodara railway stations and is most famous because of its curved structure. Known to be the best example of a colonial-era railway, the bridge has attracted tourists from around the world. The bridge is approximately 30m high. • 1.00 pm – lunch • Start the hike for Little Adam’s peak. You will have refreshments on top of mountain while enjoying endless green views across south coast and sunset. Deriving its name from its big brother, the sacred mountain Adam’s Peak, Little Adam’s Peak is 2243m above sea level. The trail to the mountain is fairly average and would require you to have a medium level of fitness. With marked paths, you’ll have to clamber through some narrow rocky areas to reach the summit. The view from the peak is definitely worth the arduous climb. There are a number of hotels located in the area to cater to the large number of tourists that visit the mountain. The ideal time to start your hike is either in the morning or late evening, • 5.30 pm – Drop off to the hotel
Best Things To Do In Ella - 3 Icon Trekking Tour
• 7.00 am – pick up from the hotel near Ella, Wellawaya, Haputale and Bandarawela. • 8.00 am – Start the hike to Ella rock. En-route enjoy refreshments snacks and either king coconut or Ceylon tea. The iconic Ella Rock is a mesmerizing view point that gives you an unhindered view of the mountain silhouettes and the villages below. Loved by hikers and nature enthusiasts, conquering Ella rock during your stay here is an absolute must! • 11.30 am – depart for Demodara 9 arch bridge. The famous Nine Arches Bridge has made it to almost every Instagram feed of explorers to the island. The bridge is located between Ella and Demodara railway stations and is most famous because of its curved structure. Known to be the best example of a colonial-era railway, the bridge has attracted tourists from around the world. The bridge is approximately 30m high. • 1.00 pm – lunch • start the hike for Little Adam’s peak. You will have refreshments on top of mountain while enjoying endless green views across south coast and sunset. Deriving its name from its big brother, the sacred mountain Adam’s Peak, Little Adam’s Peak is 2243m above sea level. The trail to the mountain is fairly average and would require you to have a medium level of fitness. With marked paths, you’ll have to clamber through some narrow rocky areas to reach the summit. The view from the peak is definitely worth the arduous climb. There are a number of hotels located in the area to cater to the large number of tourists that visit the mountain. The ideal time to start your hike is either in the morning or late evening, • 5.30 pm – Drop off to the hotel
Day Tour Ella to Haputale
• 7.00 am – pick up from the hotel near Ella, Haputale and Bandarawela. • 8.00 am – Start the trekking / walking or biking tour to Leapton Seat. Lipton’s Seat is the most famous viewpoint where the man himself, Sir Thomas Lipton used to look over his tea plantation and host tea parties with his guests. Lipton’s Seat is the highest observation point located on the hills of Poonagala, near the Dambatenne Tea Factory. For the best view, visit before 10.00 am. Tea and vegetable plantations, endless views across south coast, smiling school children and amazing nature en-route makes you amazed. • 10.00 Refreshments with local tamil foods • 11.00 am – Enjoy Adisham Bungalow trekking / walking or cycling Adisham Bungalow is a country house located near Haputale. Built in 1931 by Sir Thomas Villiers, an English aristocrat and painter on an area of 12 acres, the bungalow consists of 40 rooms. Curious travellers can explore the grounds of the monastery at specific times during the day. Stroll through flourishing orchards and orchid paths as you admire the expansive, colourful gardens of the monastery. • 1.00 pm - Lunch • 2.00 pm - Visit Highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, Babarakanda Waterfall Trek to the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, Bambarakanda Falls measures about 263m in height and is said to be amongst the tallest in the world. Cascading between acres of pine forest, the area is ideal for a picnic. The natural pool at the base of the waterfall is great for a quickplunge, do keep in mind that the currents can get strong, so swim with caution. You can hike to the top of the falls if you follow the Horse Trail. • 4.30 pm -Refreshments • 5.30 pm - Drop-off to hotel