There are moments in life when the world feels just a little too loud. For me, it came after a particularly difficult year—one of those chapters filled with uncertainty, change, and too many people asking, “How are you holding up?” when I hadn’t quite figured out the answer myself.
That’s why I chose Sri Lanka.
I didn’t want a resort or a rigid itinerary. I wanted time. Time to breathe, to walk, to sip tea slowly in the shade of a eucalyptus tree, and to feel the rhythm of life again—at my own pace. Sri Lanka, with its green hills, slow trains, and soft-spoken beauty, felt like the perfect balm for a tired spirit. It wasn’t about running away—it was about coming back to myself.
And what a place to do just that.
Why Sri Lanka’s Trains Are a Glorious Rollercoaster for the Soul
You haven’t truly felt magic until you’ve leaned out the open doorway of a jostling Sri Lankan train, the wind in your greying hair, tea hills tumbling past like a green velvet wave, and a cup of sweet milky chai in your hand that’s likely hotter than the surface of the sun. These trains aren’t about getting somewhere fast. They’re about slowing down enough to actually arrive.
On one ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, I had a quiet moment that stayed with me. The landscape was misty, the windows fogged. I was alone in my thoughts, but for the first time in ages, it didn’t feel heavy. It felt healing. That train, with its sway and song, rocked something loose in me—and I welcomed the shift.
My Favourite Train Journeys
Colombo to Kandy: The gateway to the highlands. I recommend taking the early train—it’s quieter, and the light is lovely as it filters through banana groves and sleepy stations.
Kandy to Ella: Often called the most scenic train ride in the world, and I’d agree. I shared my compartment with a cheerful Sri Lankan family who insisted I try their home-made curry puffs. As the hills rolled by, we laughed and swapped stories despite our language gaps.
Nuwara Eliya to Ella: Short, sweet, and breathtaking. I’d tucked my journal into my lap and scribbled notes between sips of ginger tea and “train nuts” . It’s the kind of ride that feels plucked from the pages of a novel.
Tea Plantations: Hiking, Sipping, and Sweating Gracefully
Now, if you’re like me, a day that starts with a brisk hike and ends with a good cup of something fragrant is a day well lived. Tea is the heart of Sri Lanka, and there’s no better way to appreciate it than by walking through the fields that grow it.
Tea Estates I’ve Loved (and Nearly Got Lost In)
- Nuwara Eliya – Pedro Tea Estate: This misty highland town feels like it belongs in the Scottish countryside. Pedro’s estate offered a gentle walk and a quiet tour, which was exactly what I needed—a peaceful place to think and steep (pardon the pun) in solitude.
- Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory – Ella: Here, I found myself on a group tour, unexpectedly chatting with a group of German hikers and a retired teacher from Cape Town. Sometimes, when you’re healing, connection finds you gently.
- Around Adam’s Peak: While the climb was ambitious, it felt deeply personal. I made the pre-dawn hike alone, whispering a few intentions into the darkness. The sunrise at the summit? Let’s just say it was worth every sore muscle.
Travel, Tea, and the Quiet Joy of Women’s Company
Even when travelling alone, Sri Lanka offers a subtle kind of companionship. In the quiet, I found conversations with strangers that felt like little gifts. I met an Ayurvedic healer who spoke about balance and breathing. I met a tea picker who let me hoist her basket and join her for a laugh and a ginger biscuit. And I met myself again, slowly, gently, between cups of tea and silent hikes.
When I set out for Sri Lanka, I was seeking silence, nature, and a bit of comfort from the chaos back home. What I found was more than that. I found a place that welcomed me without question, where every tea leaf, temple bell, and passing smile reminded me that healing doesn’t always look like grand gestures—it often looks like misty hills and a slow-moving train.
So to my fellow women who are navigating change, loss, or simply seeking stillness: go. Let the tea be hot, the hikes be slow, and the healing be as gentle as the morning light in Ella.
And pack stretchy pants. You’ll thank me later.
