Tea is synonymous with Sri Lanka, and the name Lipton is synonymous with tea, so it was only natural that our Sri Lankan travels would eventually bring us to Lipton Seat. This is the famous viewpoint where entrepreneur and tea mogul, Sir Thomas Lipton, used to sit and contemplate his vast plantation and the magnificence of Sri Lanka’s high country, and sample some of the world’s finest tea straight from the source.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy the panoramic views as we would have liked thanks to heavy rain and dense fog surrounding the summit upon our arrival, however on a clear day you can see as far as Udawalawe National park and beyond to Hambantota port.
Despite the inclement weather, you can definitely enjoyed the fresh cup of Sri Lankan tea (LKR 50 per person) at the top, while watching the clouds roll by. The drive from Haputale station through the verdant tea fields and colourful towns was also stunning, so if the weather’s looking a bit iffy, we’d still recommend venturing at least part of the way there just for the scenery.
If you’re looking to visit Lipton Seat from Ella, we’d advise taking the 6am Ella to Kandy train and jumping off at Haputale (let’s face it, any excuse to spend additional time on that train is well worth it – it’s amazing!), and then paying a tuk tuk driver to take you to Lipton Seat from the station (LKR 2000 – 3000 for a return trip).
A visit to Lipton Seat and tea plantation tour should take around four hours, providing you with enough time to return to the station for the 11am return train to Ella.
