Haputale tea & activity guide
Haputale tea & activity guide - Sri Lanka's Green Heart
Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping, then opening your eyes to a breathtaking valley filled with lush tea plantations. That is Haputale, a charming local village nestled in a serene, green environment. Sometimes, it gets so misty here that you will literally find yourself in the clouds. From here, you can easily explore places like Lipton’s Seat, various waterfalls, and enjoy stunning walks through local villages and tea plantations. Ready to journey into the Green Heart of Sri Lanka with my Haputale tea & activity guide?
Haputale travel guide, what to do?
Situated right in the heart of tea plantations, Haputale is located at an altitude of 1431 metres, which gives you great views of the surrounding area. Even when the fog rolls in, it feels magical here. The area around Haputale is surrounded by green tea plantations, a simple walk through the area already reveals so much beauty. The town itself is not that lively, but you will find plenty of local restaurants and small supermarkets. Staying here, gives you the chance to experience the purity of Sri Lanka. If I can give you any advice, make sure you spend a night on a campsite, because waking up to views of Sri Lanka’s rolling hills is fantastic, but more on that later in this article.
Some good restaurants in Haputale
- The Green Paradise, a curry or Kottu is always a good idea here.
- Mint of the Mist, try some fresh made juices and ask for ‘Pittu’, as it is really tasty (a rice flour dish mixed with scraped coconut).
- Risara Bakers & Restaurant for the tastiest egg samosas at the bakery.
Visiting Lipton’s Seat: Sri Lanka’s best tea plantations near Haputale
One of the reasons people visit Sri Lanka is undoubtedly its endless tea plantations. Mr. Lipton thought so too when he decided to purchase part of these plantations towards the end of the 19th century. This allowed him to offer tea at a lower cost to his fellow countrymen in the UK by exporting tea to his own stores. Since then, the market has grown tremendously, giving rise to the Lipton tea brand we all know today.
Watching the sunrise at Lipton's Seat is amazing
Arriving early in the morning, you will witness the tea plantations bathed in golden sunlight. Mornings are usually clear, while afternoons can turn cloudy and rainy. Whenever you are here, take a moment to appreciate the surroundings and visit the spot where Mr. Lipton enjoyed his tea at an elevation of 1970 metres.
How to get to Lipton's Seat - Haputale tea & activity guide
By scooter, tour or TukTuk driver
From Haputale, you can easily visit Lipton’s Seat, for example by scooter. If you are not keen on driving yourself, you can easily hire a TukTuk driver or book a tour online to Lipton’s Seat. The advantage of the online tour is that you have a guide along who can tell you interesting things about the area & someone who makes wonderful pictures of you, but of course you pay more for that. If you opt for a TukTuk driver via your accommodation, he will be there purely to take you to the destination and back, the costs of a TukTuk driver are approximately 3000 rupees.
By local bus
A great way to explore Lipton’s Seat on a budget is by local bus. Only one downside, it only departs at 08:30, so you would miss the sunrise. If you would like to know the bus times, ask your accommodation. Also, Google Maps shows some routes & times.
This is how we visited Lipton's Seat from Haputale
By TukTuk (we parked it just before the entrance)
The route to Lipton’s Seat is insanely beautiful, except that you only see this on the way back if you want to be there before sunrise. You can choose to park your scooter or TukTuk just before the entrance. Since we arrived extra early, hoping to catch the sunrise, we could not drive through the entrance gate right away. So, we parked our TukTuk along the road before the entrance and walked in (without paying). Normally, you can enter around 05:30 via the ticket office, but since no one was there, we waited for a bit. Eventually, we cheerfully walked up, thinking: “we will pay later.”
We took a different route back
Once we reached Lipton’s Seat, we noticed a path going down through the tea plantations (opposite the toilets). Naturally curious, we decided to explore and found out via Google Maps that you could also walk back this way. This route accidentally allowed us to avoid the entrance fee, not our intention, but we had no regrets. We strolled through the waking landscape of Sri Lanka, right through the tea plantations. Furthermore, we saw tea pickers at work, locals cultivating vegetables on the plains, and a multitude of colourful birds flying by. It was a truly unforgettable experience and a lovely walk.
Visiting Diyaluma Waterfalls - Haputale tea & activity guide
At 220 metres, Diyaluma is Sri Lanka’s second-highest waterfall and definitely worth a visit. For a modest fee of 350 rupees per person, you can enjoy the falls all day long.
How to travel to Diyaluma Falls
There are several ways to get to Diyaluma Falls. You could take the local bus, hire a TukTuk driver, or drive yourself with a scooter or TukTuk.
Climbing up on your own
Just before the entrance, locals may approach you offering their services as guides, suggesting it is dangerous to go up alone. Do not be fooled; the 30-minute hike to the waterfall is quite easy and does not necessarily require a guide, unless you want one, of course. At the split, you can choose to visit the upper or lower sections of the waterfall.
Swimming at Diyaluma Falls
Upon reaching the waterfall, a refreshing swim is a must! The water, fresh from the mountains, offers the perfect cool down. If you head to the upper falls, you can slide down a mini waterfall. Otherwise, relax in one of the many natural pools and take in the breathtaking views from the lower falls.
Hiking in Haputale: Eagle Rock Viewpoint - Tea & activity guide
Once you step outside your accommodation, you will feel the urge to embark on a beautiful walk through the tea plantations (at least I did!). From Haputale, you can walk through the plantations to a stunning viewpoint called Eagle Rock. The hike involves a bit of climbing and scrambling through nature, but once you reach the top, you can soak in the view. You might even spot an eagle, making it an ideal photography spot in Haputale.
Misty Conditions? Enjoy a cup of tea at White Monkey Dias House
Sometimes, a thick mist rolls into the mountains out of nowhere, making it difficult to see even a few metres ahead. In such cases, head to White Monkey Dias House for a comforting cup of tea. They will be happy to offer you a warm drink. At the top (near the road), you can also grab a bite to eat at the little restaurant, which serves delicious food. After the mist clears, continue your journey to Eagle Rock.
Go camping in the wild of the Sri Lankan Hill Country
After our warm drink, we were invited by Viraj to visit his campsite, a local who built his own campsite in the hills around Haputale. It is impossible to describe how insanely beautiful this place is, until you stand there yourself. On this awesome tour of 1 night, you will first go on a trekking with guides and then finish your fantastic day with a delicious dinner and fine sleeping. In the morning, you will wake up to the best view you are likely to experience during your Sri Lankan trip.
Tea factory tour - Sri Lanka tea country
This region is home to numerous tea factories. Before visiting, check Google Maps for reviews, as some factories charge a lot for tours that may not be worth it. The most popular factory in this area is the Dambatenne Tea Factory. While it is a common choice, I recommend visiting a factory in Kandy. We visited the ‘New Giragama Tea Factory’ there, and they offered a free tour. It is a fantastic way to learn more about the renowned Ceylon tea!
Haputale to Kandy train journey - Tea & activity guide
The train journey between Haputale and Kandy in Sri Lanka is often hailed as one of the most scenic in the world. That is why you should take the train! Besides that, connecting with locals is really easy, unless you are travelling first class. Online tickets can be booked via this site. Should you want to know more about this amazing train journey, check out this guide!
Travel to Kandy, the cultural city of Sri Lanka
After a long journey through Sri Lanka’s most scenic environment, you will arrive in the cultural hub of Kandy. Unless, you decided to make some stops along the way in places as Nuwara Eliya or Hatton. Should you want to travel directly to Kandy, you could read up on in this travel guide for the things to do in Kandy.
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Last update: 16-01-2025 © Doris Leone
‘Un abrazo’ and maybe we will see each other one day; Doris Leone
