Here are highly recommended luxury and boutique resorts in Sri Lanka’s hill country (Nuwara Eliya / Kandy / Ella / Haputale areas), with a short description of what makes each special so you can pick by style and location.

Top picks

• Ceylon Tea Trails (tea-bungalow luxury, near Hatton/Nuwara Eliya): Restored colonial planters’ bungalows on a working tea estate — classic, intimate service (butler service), walking trails through tea gardens, excellent for slow, immersive stays. (true.travel)

• 98 Acres Resort (Ella): Eco-luxury boutique resort built on a 98-acre tea estate with villas that open to sweeping views of Little Adam’s Peak and tea-country panoramas — strong for photography, hiking, and a secluded hill-top feel. (farandwild.travel)

• Santani Wellness Resort (near Kandy / hill-country): A wellness-focused, minimalist luxury retreat on a former tea estate with Ayurvedic programs, spa and recently added private villas — ideal if you want wellness, design-forward architecture and quiet immersion. (wallpaper.com)

• Taylors Hill (Kandy area): A small, stylish tea-estate boutique hotel with English-country-house charm, large lawns, pool and activities like croquet and birdwatching — good for relaxed, family-friendly luxury in the tea hills. (farandwild.travel)

• Camellia Hills (Dickoya / central hills): Boutique “tea-planter” style bungalow with spectacular reservoir-and-hill views — suits travelers seeking a private, house-like luxury stay on a working estate. (tikalanka.com)

• Thotalagala (Haputale area): Converted 19th‑century plantation bungalow set within a tea plantation (Sir Thomas Lipton connection), intimate suites and estate views — great for heritage, history and dramatic eastern-hill panoramas. (privatetraveldesigner.in)

Other notable hill-country options

• The Clingendael (near Kandy): Ultra‑luxury colonial boutique with a very small number of suites, formal gardens and bespoke service — suited to travelers seeking exclusivity and privacy. (resortsrilanka.com)

• The Tea Garden / boutique villas around Nuwara Eliya: A number of small, high-end villas and guesthouses (colonial‑style) around Lake Gregory and tea country that offer more intimate stays and proximity to Nuwara Eliya town. (theteagarden.lk)

How to choose (quick guide)

• For classic colonial tea‑bungalows and estate immersion: Ceylon Tea Trails or Thotalagala. (true.travel)
• For dramatic mountain views and easy hikes (Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock): 98 Acres (Ella). (farandwild.travel)
• For wellness, minimalist luxury and private villas: Santani. (wallpaper.com)
• For boutique, English-country-house atmosphere near Kandy: Taylors Hill or The Clingendael. (farandwild.travel)

Practical notes

• Hill-country weather is cooler and can be misty; pack layers and rain protection (particularly June–September in some eastern parts, and November–February cooler months in higher altitudes). (Regional climate context: central highlands are cooler than the coast.) (en.wikipedia.org)
• Many properties are on working tea estates — expect some walking on uneven paths and limited road access; transfers from Colombo or Kandy usually take several hours. (true.travel)

Would you like:

• rates and availability for specific dates (I can check current prices/availability), or
• a short 3–4 day sample itinerary that includes one of these resorts plus local activities (tea‑factory visit, short hikes, Hakgala or Gregory Lake, etc.)?

(If you want me to check live availability or current rates, I can look them up now.)