The tiny diamond island in South Asia, Sri Lanka is a hidden gem for avid travellers. With remote endless beaches, indulgent tea, exhilarating food and wildlife you only usually catch on documentaries, Sri Lanka offers an eclectic range for explorers wanting to try a little bit of everything.
The island has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites: from ancient temples to caves and rainforests, Sri Lanka can help you unearth culture and history. Whether you want to witness an elephant enjoying a refreshing afternoon drink from its favourite waterhole or meditate alone on a pristine, golden-specked beach, a break in South Asia’s best secret island is more than a wise choice.
Here are our top five hotel picks:
1. ANANTARA KALUTARA
Located only an hour from the Bandaranaike International Airport, Anantara Kalutara Resort boasts a secluded beachfront setting on the picturesque southwest coast. The guest rooms, suites and pool villas immerse guests in jaw-dropping views, with private balconies and terraces overlooking lush gardens, the ocean or lagoon. In fact, it is the only luxury resort in Sri Lanka with a 360-degree ocean view. At the resort, you can go river cruising one day and enjoy a lazy beach day the next.
2. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL COLOMBO
Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo presents a new level of luxury in Sri Lanka’s capital, yet offers a tropical sanctuary that is perfect for escaping the city. The hotel offers the finest accommodation in Colombo, an exciting dining and social scene and the largest and extensive hotel conference and event facilities. Colombo is the gateway city to discovering the rich culture, natural world, mountains and beaches that make Sri Lanka so unique and this resort allows you to explore the best of both worlds: the city life and wildlife.
3. WILD COAST TENTED LODGE
Adjacent to Yala National Park, the is renowned for something not many resorts are known for: its leopard population. Let this not scare you away, however, as this spectacular luxury tented camp - which is situated on a rugged, empty beach, overlooking the Indian Ocean - redefines “safari” as a holistic wilderness experience. Blessed with a range of critters, mammals, flora and fauna, the Lodge allows you to feel a little more primal and connected with the Earth, without skipping on any of the luxuries. Whether you opt for jungle afternoon tea or a guided bush walk, your stay here will be sure to welcome you in trying something you have never done before.
4. AMANGALLA
In the historic port of Galle, Amangalla lies within the ramparts of Sri Lanka’s 17th-century Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where it holds a bustling time capsule: narrow streets lined with old houses, churches, boutiques and restaurants displaying their colonial heritage beneath terracotta-tiled rooftops. Offering views of the Fort and harbour on one side and the hotel’s lush gardens and swimming pool on the other, this resort boasts Dutch and British history. This grand resort attracts cultured comfort-seekers with its blend of nostalgic fittings, centuries-old charm and modern luxuries. Drowning in culture, the resort has literature (and a library) for history fanatics, gardens and nature for yoga lovers and an onsite ayurvedic doctor to give lifestyle advice or help heal ailments.
5. AMANWELLA
Amid 37 acres of coconut trees Amanwella – ‘Aman’ meaning peace in Sanskrit and ‘Wella’ meaning beach in Sinhalese - offers a tranquil retreat aptly suits its name. On Sri Lanka’s sun-drenched south coast near the fishing village of Tangalle, you unveil the resort in all its beauty that complements its most outstanding feature: a turquoise ocean that offers warmth and comfort. The golden beaches are ideal for activities ranging from surfing and snorkelling to whale watching and fishing in the Indian Ocean, but not so far from the hotel lies jungles where you can discover ancient temples and holy caves, tea plantations and natural treasures including Bundala Bird Sanctuary and Udawalawe National Parks.
*All images taken from respective websites. Please check travel restrictions.
