Sri Lanka is entering the exclusive world of Relais & Chateaux for the first time with Ceylon Tea Trails as the first member.

Relais & Chateaux has recognised Ceylon Tea Trails gourmet cuisine and outstanding service, with an invitation to become its latest member and the first from Sri Lanka.

CEO of Forbes & Walker Leisure, Dominique Nordmann attended the 36th Relais & Chateaux International Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa Nov 6-8 for the formal induction of Ceylon Tea Trails into this prestigious association of top end boutique hotels and restaurants.

Relais & Chateaux, established in France in 1954, is the hallmark authority when it comes to selecting the finest and most unique establishments around the world, such as the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat South Africa, Kauri Cliffs New Zealand, or UK’s Amberley Castle. Its mission is to spread its unique ‘art de vivre’ across the globe by selecting and representing outstanding properties with a truly unique character, vision, gourmet cuisine and outstanding service.

Ceylon Tea Trails’ recognition by Relais & Chateaux is a testament to its fine gourmet cuisine and outstanding, award-winning service. These aspects, in combination with the ambience of original colonial planter’s bungalows and the surroundings of Sri Lanka’s lush tea country, serve to position Ceylon Tea Trails as one of the world’s most unique holiday experiences, guaranteeing ‘an unforgettable celebration of the senses’.

In addition to Relais & Chateaux, Ceylon Tea Trails has won global awards from TripAdvisor based on extraordinary praise recorded on its third party website by past guests. “Ceylon Tea Trails is now a globally recognised, high end boutique hotel, which has gone beyond the ambience of the original planter’s bungalows to excel in its cuisine and service, to provide guests with a truly memorable experience that they happily praise in their comments to friends and prospective guests” adds Malik J. Fernando, a director of Ceylon Tea Trails.

Ceylon Tea Trails is a scenic 4 hour drive from Colombo, perched in the heart of Ceylon Tea country, replete with rolling green hills, colonial plantation bungalows, high tea and exquisite service. Here in solitude, at an elevation of 4000 feet above sea level, are four traditional tea planters’ bungalows, infused with a new and decidedly gourmet vibe. Each Ceylon Tea Trails bungalow, built between 1890 and 1939, offers butler service & authentic period furnishings, accompanied by gourmet meals, inclusive of wine and other beverages. Activities include hiking, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor games, such as croquet and tennis. In room spa treatments are offered. Tea Trails is the ideal base for climbing Adam’s Peak as well as visiting Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. A 30-minute seaplane service from Colombo is about to start, landing on Castlereagh Lake.

The bungalows offer the upscale traveller both traditional and modern comforts like wi-fi in a “non-hotel” atmosphere. Each bungalow has a Manager, Chef, Butler and support staff to welcome guests as at a tea planter’s home. The discreet Butler is always at your beck and call.

Rates at Ceylon Tea Trails are inclusive of meals and drinks including spirits & wines, and the special Tea Experience with our tea planter-in-residence. The chef prepared gourmet meals are beautifully presented, based on home grown fresh produce from the bungalow’s garden, and range from western fare to traditional Sri Lankan classics, and tea inspired dishes such as Earl Grey tea infused cured Atlantic salmon. Ceylon Tea Trails has crafted a series of innovative gourmet menus for this festive season, in keeping with its newly acquired Relais & Chateaux status.

One of the unique aspects of Relais & Chateaux is its evaluation scheme along the 5Cs, namely caractère, courtoisie, calme, charme and cuisine. All of these qualities must be harmoniously woven together in order to create the magical experiences that Relais & Chateaux properties are renowned for. Ceylon Tea Trails exceeds Relais & Chateaux’s expectations in these criteria and is a perfect addition to the group’s collection of boutique hotels. Discover the beauty and magic of Sri Lanka by staying at Ceylon Tea Trails, the newest Relais & Chateaux member.