The Knuckles Mountain Range is one of Sri Lanka’s biodiverse natural treasures, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed wilderness of jagged peaks, cloud forests, waterfalls, river valleys and remote highland villages, located just east of Kandy. The range supports an array of endemic flora and fauna, and its network of trekking routes through mist-shrouded forests and past cascading streams represents some of the finest hiking.
Nuwara Eliya is a charming colonial-era town set amid tea-covered mountains at nearly 2,000 metres above sea level, famous for its English-style gardens, racecourse, Gothic post office, and the cool, refreshing climate that earned it the nickname “Little England.” The town serves as the heart of Ceylon tea country and offers a wonderful base for tea estate visits, highland walks, and the excursion to Horton Plains.
Horton Plains National Park is a sweeping plateau of cloud forests, montane grasslands, and crystalline streams culminating in the sheer cliff of World’s End, where the land drops nearly 900 metres to the lowland plains far below. The park is home to endemic bird species, sambar deer, and the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, and the circular trekking route to Baker’s Falls offers one of the most rewarding nature walks on the island.
Haputale is an atmospheric hill country town perched on a ridge overlooking both the highlands and the coastal lowlands, offering one of the most extraordinary panoramic views in Sri Lanka on clear days. Less visited than Ella or Nuwara Eliya, Haputale retains a genuinely local character, surrounded by working tea estates, forest trails, and the Adisham Bungalow monastery. Haputale is best enjoyed from January to April.
Ella is a small mountain town in Sri Lanka’s southern highlands that has captured the imagination of travellers worldwide with its lush valley views, iconic Nine Arch Bridge, hiking trails and vibrant collection of cafes, guesthouses and wellness retreats. The town sits at around 1,000 metres above sea level, surrounded by tea plantations, jungle-covered hills and waterfalls that make every walk and every view feel cinematic.
