Review: Nine Skies

This Sri Lanka gem sits atop a lofty and luscious green hill in the heart of Sri Lanka’s famous tea-growing region

Location: Nine Skies sits atop a lofty and luscious green hill in the heart of Sri Lanka’s famous tea-growing region, Demodara, near the town of Ella.

Its name takes inspiration from the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, which you can reach in about 15 minutes by tuk-tuk.

Rather than being in the middle of the action of backpacker favourite Ella, Nine Skies is more secluded and offers guests the chance to view stunning scenery from above, sometimes even above the clouds.

First impressions: Originally a tea plantation, the house was built in 1920 and retains many of its original features. Four-poster beds and private verandas, fitting with the period style of the property, feature in each of the five double rooms, all of which are named after a different local town.

Its boutique size gives the property an intimate feel and allows the flexible and hard-working staff to pay close attention to all your needs.

Nature is on your doorstep with an array of tropical birds resident on the grounds – and there are books in the room to help you identify species, from babblers and parakeets to red-backed flamebacks and purple-rumped sunbirds.

The facts: Part of the Teardrop Hotels collection, Nine Skies is sold on an all-inclusive basis, which includes breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea and dinner at any time you want up until 9.30pm – plus premium drinks and snacks.

A butler service is offered 24/7 and staff are keen to go above and beyond, from adapting meals to taste or dietary requirements to talking you through the site’s tea-producing history.

Private dining is available and tends to be taken advantage of by groups and families booking multiple rooms or the entire bungalow.

Ideal for: The intimate and remote nature of this hotel makes it perfect for couples.

Explore: Being in the middle of such a popular holidaying area, Nine Skies is not short of excursion options. For a taste of the property’s own tea-making history, take a factory tour of one of the plantations with their neatly-plucked tea bushes surrounding warehouses – some of which date back over 100 years.

You’ll learn how your brew is produced from the very start of the process and can taste a cup fresh from the source. Staying in-house, you can learn how to cook a Sri Lankan-style curry in a clay pot with one of the hotel’s chefs.

For more active adventurers, recommend hikes to view the jaw-dropping Ella Gap from the summits of Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak.

Wow: Soak up the mesmerising views over Demodara from the garden’s infinity pool – a perfect spot to take stock of your surroundings after a hike through the rolling hills and peaks.

Book it: Rooms start from $435 a night. Teardrop-hotels.com/nine-skies

Ben Ireland

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