Nestled on a mountain with stunning views, Amba Estate is famous for its hand-rolled teas and specialty coffee. It is also the perfect place for an athleisure holiday, where you can be as active as you want: head out on treks through the hills, or choose to unwind with a good read whilst taking in the views.
Being away from the Ella town means that you will be with locals, learning the intricacies of hand rolling tea, and getting to know about sustainable farming practices and the fair-trade policies that uplift the local community. Amba is also a launchpad for a number of treks through the mountains surrounding the estate.
We recommend the following 4-night all-inclusive journey to slow the pace of your holiday and give you a meaningful experience of Amba Estate:
Day 1 :
In the late morning, arrive at Amba Estate and settle in. We recommend taking a 10-minute stroll through the tea fields to the natural pond for a dip and a picnic lunch.
On the way back to the estate, have a look at the old tea factory which the estate plans to restore in the near future.
The evening is at leisure to explore the farm.
Day 2 :
After an early-morning cuppa, head out at around 7am to try your hand at plucking tea with the locals. This technique will require some time to perfect, but the friendly tea pluckers will pass on their expertise as much as they can. Tea plucking can be a therapeutic process: we recommend spending around 45 minutes doing this activity, or as long as you prefer.
After breakfast, around 10am, we recommend taking a guided hike to the Ella Rock through a path that is not used by other travellers. This return trek of 4 hours is moderate in difficulty and takes you to one of the best viewpoints in the valley. Amba Estate will organise a picnic lunch at a viewpoint, or you can choose to trek down to Ella town for lunch and return to the estate in a tuk tuk.
This evening around 4pm, we recommend taking the Amba tea tasting class, to try some of the intriguing and unique teas produced at Amba, followed by the teology session which teaches you how best to pair these world-renowned teas with food.
Day 3 :
For early risers, we recommend taking a self-guided trek to Eagle rock to catch the sunrise over the mountain valleys. This 1-hour return trek is easy and it’s a great way to start the day.
At around 9.30am, after a leisurely breakfast, the tea that was plucked yesterday will be ready to be hand-rolled. Some consider this to be a Zen art and the technique will require some time to be perfected. During this session, learn more about what’s involved in the process of handmaking tea.
Closer to lunchtime, we recommend taking the jackfruit curry cooking class. This local superfood is a treasured traditional recipe loved by Sri Lankans.
This afternoon is at leisure, or it can be turned to an afternoon of environmental learning. Start with planting trees in the mango orchard, then take a guided walk through the cultivated areas and learn about nitrogen-fixing plants, shade cover, rainwater-harvesting, different fruit and spice trees. Walk through the forest, where you might witness how Kithul trees are trapped for treacle and how honey is collected, depending on the season.
Day 4 :
There are a few options for day 4, to be spent in any way that you prefer.
Option 1: A day of relaxation and reflection. Unwind in the gardens on a hammock; spend time at the natural pool; do some self-guided yoga, or embrace the peace of your surroundings through meditation.
Option 2: Experiencing the‘village-life’, learning more about how local people live and how various local dishes and handicrafts are made:
- Start by seeing how the ladies at Amba make the local delicacy buffalo curd, as well as coffee and jam, by hand. Then walk or cycle through a section of the village near Amba, have tea or even lunch in one of the retired workers’ houses, see how locals live and, depending on availability, visit one of the houses where local chutneys are made or where one retired worker makes handicrafts. If time permits, you could also visit the village school, local temple or fields where boys play cricket.
Option 3: Adventure day
- An English-speaking guide and the local jungle-man will guide you to a cave system and a lesser visited waterfall in the vicinity. The cave is impressive but it is a very high-risk activity: we recommend you assess the risk level on your own before you take on this adventure.
Day 5 :
Spend a leisurely morning and depart after breakfast.
Location:
Ella
Meal plan:
Home cooked meals included from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5
Important to know:
- All activities mentioned above are included, except lunch and tuk tuk ride if you decide to visit Ella town after the Ella Rock trek.
- There might be other guests at Amba Estate during your stay but your activities are private.
- We will be booking the rooms of the Clove Tree House which we consider to be the best at the property. These guesthouse style rooms are comfortable but basic, with table fans and hot water.
- The service at Amba is similar to that of a guesthouse, with friendly staff.
- It can get chilly in evenings; we recommend bringing a light sweater.
- There could be leeches in the rainy season and some mosquitoes in the evening.
- Alcohol is not included but you’re welcome to bring you own.
What to bring:
- Swimwear
- Activewear
- Walking shoes
- Mosquito repellent