Camellia Hills

Rooms

Interiors are contemporary and stylish, with a feel that's more home than hotel: warm timber floors, honey-coloured furniture, armchairs for sinking into, and vibrant printed cushions infusing colour. Open-plan living areas flow into the bedrooms, each of which is distinct in design and decor.

All but one room faces the lake through enormous windows, and most lead directly into the garden. We were very comfortable in Osbourne (Lakeview Suite), a corner suite with both lake and mountain views, a gorgeous bathroom with tub, and a private garden terrace. Dickoya (Lakeview Family Suite) is the largest suite, with a pair of wicker armchairs on its terrace perfectly positioned for taking in the dreamy views. Its bathroom connects with a small room that can sleep 1-2 children.

Hidden below the house, closest to the pool, is light-bathed Warleigh (Lakeview Room), a spacious honeymoon suite. Maskeliya (Camellia Twin Room) is twin-bedded and faces the mountains, and we loved Norton's (Lakeview Room) chic palette of muted green and blues, emboldened by pops of hot pink.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

All meals, snacks and drinks are included in the rate, and refreshingly, menus are a la carte rather than set. The upcountry rice and curry is always available for lunch or dinner, and it’s great fuel for long walks through the tea fields. There are lighter meals, soups and salads too, such as grilled chicken and mango salsa, plus good options for vegetarians. We loved our delicate mille-feuille dessert, which used local strawberries from Nuwara Eliya.

Breakfast is also a la carte. We tucked into Sri Lankan hoppers with curries and sambols on one morning, and on another, local buffalo curd with red berry compote and granola. Both were delicious.

There’s a semi-formal dining area, though food is often served in an adjoining room open to the views. Afternoon tea and cake are laid out on the living room terrace, paired with panoramic mountain views.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• A visit to a tea factory, where you can view the aromatic, ages-old process of tea production, is included in your stay here
  
• Swim in the pool, pick a book from the library for reading on a terrace, or take a Sri Lankan cookery class with the hotel chefs
  
• Explore your surroundings on foot – wander estate trails, picnic at scenic secret viewpoints, and visit local villages on your own or with a guide
  
• The wide vistas make this a fantastic spot for birdwatching, with over 20 species inhabiting the gardens; you get a bird reference book in your room to assist you, or you can head out on a guided walk with a naturalist
  
• Float through the Castlereagh Reservoir in a traditional dugout canoe, or travel by boat to the intimate, century-old colonial Warleigh Church
  
• Hike to regional waterfalls, up Adam’s Peak, or across Horton’s Plains to World's End
  
• Test your nerves and go white-water rafting at Kithulgala

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Plantlife / flora
• Rafting
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures

Kids

Children are welcome but the vibe here is serene, so hotel is best suited to those willing to engage with nature and get outdoors. There's a family suite and a shared pool, but no other provisions.

Family friendly accommodation:

Dickoya is the hotel’s family suite: a very large double bedroom, a bathroom (tub and shower) and a second bedroom with a single bed and pull-out trundle bed. Families with older children might consider booking Osbourne (a double) and Maskeliya (a twin), which are located opposite each other (not adjoining) at one end of the bungalow.

Distances:

• Airport: 30 mins' drive (Castlereagh Reservoir)
• Shop: 18km (Hatton)
• Medical facility: 18km

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Camellia Hills is located near Dickoya, 18km from the market town of Hatton (with a railway station), on the side of a deep valley amid rural villages, tea estates and mountains.

By Air
Colombo Bandaranaike is the closest international airport (126km), but it's a good 4-5 hour drive away so an alternative is to book a seaplane with domestic airline Cinnamon Air directly to Castlereagh Reservoir, just below the hotel (20-30 mins' drive). Camellia Hills can organise transfers.

If you want to hire a car and driver for your whole holiday, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator; they can collect you at Colombo airport when you land, drive you to the hotel, then drive you to your onward destination(s) after your stay, as well as taking you on all day trips etc.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.