Luxury Holidays Asia

Sri Lanka, a teardrop-shaped island nation off the southern coast of India, offers a diverse range of experiences for travelers seeking adventure, culture, and relaxation. From the ancient ruins of Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the wildlife-rich Yala National Park, home to leopards, elephants, and a variety of bird species, Sri Lanka has something to offer everyone.

Explore lush tea plantations in Ella, a charming hill town nestled amidst the mountains, or relax on pristine beaches in Galle, a historic port city with a Dutch colonial influence. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, and witness the traditional Kandyan dance performances. With its stunning landscapes, friendly people, and delicious cuisine, Sri Lanka is a destination that will leave you wanting to return.

No matter how many times you may have crossed oceans and/or continents, finally arriving at your destination in a different country is always going to be exhilarating and filled with endless possibilities. The flight is going to be tiring no matter how long it’s been, so it makes sense to stay that first night in a city that is within an hour from the Airport.

Located in the west coast of Sri Lanka, just 30 minutes from the Airport, Negombo is adorned by the beach, a variety of dining options including Sea food straight from the lagoon. A tour of the city is ideally done in the morning with a visit to the beach to observe the fishermen in action, fishermen’s huts, the canal leads south to Colombo and a wide array of Churches including some that feature ceilings decorated with vivid religious paintings in this predominantly Catholic city. Accommodation in the region can be found by the beach, near the lagoon and inland, away from or by the busy bustling nightlife of Negombo.

I met my counterparts when their journey on the Central expressway ended in Kurunegala. There was a brief snack and a washroom stop at Saruketha by Oakray before continuing to Sigiriya.

Our first official stop was at Aliya Resort & Spa. The walk up the iconic stairway and the signature view was sufficient to enchant everyone to spare a few minutes and get some photographs. After refreshing ourselves, we were briefed about the property and were led to the restaurant for a very delicious lunch. It was the first time some of them tried the tropical fruits and found it delightfully fresh and scrumptious. Some were bold enough to attempt the local cuisine and sampled the spicy levels in the food they were going to enjoy for the next few days.

A fascinating Safari game drive to Minneriya National park was lined up next giving us an opportunity to witness a part of the biggest concentration of wild Asia Elephants. It was absolutely fascinating to see Elephants walking from one place to another within the park in small groups safeguarding the babies in-between their mothers and aunts. We were fortunate to witness a larger gathering of these gentle giants by the open area by the tank and watched them moving from one place to another with the occasional elephant twisting its trunk against anothers’ as if in a friendly dispute of sorts. In addition to a variety of Species, Minneriya is home to nearly 170 bird species as well.

We were approaching the sunset when we drove to Water Garden; a fascinating ride especially as the drive came with a beautiful view. The white lotus welcome and wet towel was extremely refreshing. I absorbed the breathtaking view of the Sigiriya rock at a distance as we walked towards the fields by the swimming pool where a scrumptious High tea was beautifully laid out for us. The staff struggled to safeguard the setup from the whirling wind and peacocks walked by with no care in the world before we found our seats and devoured the feast. It was delightful to enjoy the delicacies as the sun set slowly and a large number of bird sounds heightened around us.

The roads were lit when we reached our final destination for the day. A warm welcome awaited us at Habarana Village by Cinnamon where we checked in. A traditional oil lamp was lit amidst a beautiful chant after which we retired to our rooms. Only a few of us had energy left in us to return to the restaurant to indulge in a glass or beer or wine and enjoy a delicious dinner from the buffet that night.

An early start was mandatory if we were to watch the sunrise from atop the Sigiriya fortress. We spent some time upon the plateau engrossed in the fascinating view and loving the remnants as well as the mirror images from the top. This ancient palace and fortress complex is one of the most valuable historic monuments of Sri Lanka. This rocky plateau includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys, and fountains. Significant for its archeological importance, Sigiriya attracts thousands of tourists annually.

We returned to Habarana Village by Cinnamon to a delectable breakfast buffet which was very welcome after that challenging but extremely rewarding climb.

After checking out we headed towards Kandy.

En route we passed The Golden Temple of Dambulla; a World Heritage site. This famous cave temple comprises of five sanctuaries and is one of the largest and best-preserved temple complexes in Sri Lanka. This cave comprises of Buddhist mural paintings as well as a grand total of 157 statues.

A visit to a Spice Garden will help you discover the wide array of exotic, tantalizing and luscious spices and herbs that are found in plenty in Sri Lanka. Learn how ayurvedic medicines are made from these herbs and provide cures for a wide variety of illnesses.

Once in Kandy, we visited Sthree, a craft shop led by the Women’s development centre aiming to provide a holistic development approach for women-owned businesses. Their goal is to create resilient businesses owned by women and persons with disability who are able to sustain themselves as well as their respective businesses. After skimming through their souvenir items, we were able to participate in a very interactive cooking class after which we were able to eat the same Rotti, Pol Sambal and Dhal curry that we made ourselves along with a fabulous rice and curry spread that awaited us as well.

A visit to Kandy is incomplete without a visit to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic; a world-renowned place of worship, where the left Canine tooth of Gautama Buddha is enshrined. The temple has a unique Kandyan architectural style also has immense cultural value therefore carries a lot of value to Buddhists all over the world. It was fascinating to learn of the history ad architecture while walking along this beautiful temple in-between a large crowds of locals gathered in many places meditating and placing their offerings in great veneration before the many magnificent statues of Lord Buddha.

A few minutes’ drive is all it took before another warm welcome awaited us at Earl’s Regency Kandy. Upon refreshing ourselves with a cool towel and a welcome drink, we all took turns to light the traditional oil lamp and were led to our respective rooms. Without much delay, a few of us headed to the restaurant to enjoy the wide array of food that was available for buffet that night. It was soothing to listen to the one-man band that provided live music while we enjoyed an absolutely delectable dinner before retiring to our rooms for a good night’s sleep.

Yet another early start was required to drive straight to Badulla so that we could board the train for a brief but extremely scenic ride to Ella. This journey gave us an opportunity to see some highlights of this particular railway route. The Nine Arches bridge, one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country, was designed to accommodate a challenging nine-degree curve and steep gradient. The Demodara loop is where an approximate distance of 900m the rail line goes around a loop and emerges from a 320m long tunnel located directly beneath the Demodara railway station.

We drove to Ekho Ella where we enjoyed a delicious lunch and I continued to Hide Ella to check in and refresh. Later that afternoon, it was time to take a drive to the Mahamevna Buddhist Monastery where we were privileged to meet and speak Ven. Pothuhera Mahindasiri Thero, an internationally acclaimed monk well known for his words of wisdom on social media, which was a truly enlightening experience.

The Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Ella is the perfect location to immerse yourself in the serene world of mindfulness and meditation. Join their monks on a journey of tranquility, where ancient teachings meet modern minds. Discover the art of calming your soul amidst the peaceful embrace of this sacred space. Embrace the stillness within, as you learn the timeless practice of meditation from wise monks and connect with the essence of serenity and find solace in the beauty of this monastery.

Upon our return to Ekho Ella we were treated to an absolutely heavenly four coursed dinner on the garden with some mesmerizing music being played live by a flutist in just a few feet away from us.

I was fortunate to enjoy a lovely breakfast buffet surrounded by trees and the distant sound of trains passing by every few minutes from stop the mountain adjacent to the one I was on.

After checking out, we were driving by a tea estate in Ella when we got a unique opportunity of engaging with some locals and join them in plucking some tea leaves. It was captivating to speak with them and to find out that some were quite conversant in English and chatty even. There was a sense of joy in learning the art of this activity from the source itself.

While on our way from Ella, we were able to stop by the viewpoint of the Ravana Waterfall, a beautiful waterfall by the main road that cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita hid her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave.

It was midday when we arrived at Jetwing Kaduruketha where we felt spoilt for choice with the wide variety that was laid out as their welcome drink. Upon checking in, we headed straight to the hut by the paddy fields to take part in the cooking demonstration they had prepared for us. This interactive session ended with us being able to devour about 8 different varieties of curries (including vegetables and meat) along with some rice.

Later that evening a few of us opted to take a swim while the others indulged in some cycling within the premises which gave a chance to absorb the serenity of the property to its fullest.

As we had a late lunch, only a few of us returned in the evening to enjoy a very light dinner which we chose from the fabulous set menu that was arranged for us.

After a scrumptious breakfast at Jetwing Kaduruketha, we were treated to an iced popsicle to refresh ourselves before we headed eastward and each of us received a gift a pack of raw rice to take home.

It was exciting to follow the map during our journey towards the East coast and observe the changes in the environment around us. After an interesting journey that has not taken us across to the Eastern coast of the country, we checked in upon reaching Jetwing Surf Arugambay and found ourselves loving this cabana resort just a few steps aware from the Ocean. After indulging in some delicious lunch at their restaurant, we boarded a few tuk tuks and found ourselves at Pottuvil point just a few minutes after.

It was very relaxing to watch the gushing of waves and see how the surfers took turns to balance on their surfboards with each wave.

Pottuvil Point is a somewhat exposed point break that has fairly consistent surf with offshore winds coming in from the west/southwest. The point also receives a mixture of windswells and groundswells, usually from the south/southeast. It was very relaxing to watch surfers taking turns to balance on their surfboards on each wave before it reaches the sand. The biggest excitement of this evening was the unexpected visit of an elephant who is said to be a regular at the beach.

There was time to go for a quick swim in the pool at Jetwing Surf before joining the others for dinner that night, which turned out to be yet another gastronomical masterpiece.

It’s important to start the day early if you wish to view the glorious sunrise from the east coast before indulging in a relaxing yoga session on the pool deck.

After indulging in yet another delicious meal for Breakfast at Jetwing Surf, it was time to check out and travel further south for yet another exciting adventure and a long awaited camping experience in Yala.

The briefing session is mandatory when checking in at Big Game safari Camp as there are very important instructions that need to be followed. After enjoying a snack-lunch we went straight ahead for an evening safari at Yala National park. A fascinating journey awaited us where we saw peacocks, buffaloes and crocodiles in large numbers along with Elephants, Spotted deer, monkeys, birds, wild boar and a very brief glimpse of a Leopard at a distance before we rushed out of the park prior to its closure.

After freshening up back at Big Game camp, we were treated to an absolutely delightful candlelit BBQ dinner by a bonfire. The night walk after dinner started around 9pm and lasted just about an hour where we were able to spot some scorpions, frogs, bats and tortoises of the wild while listening to the loud cacophony of birds and bats trying to outdo each other in the darkness.

Waking up to the commotion of monkeys playing havoc on the tent caused a combination of excitement and fear alike. By the time I finally gathered my courage and walked out of my tent, the monkeys had settled and all I could hear was the intense chirping of birds ringing in my ear from every angle.

After a delectable local breakfast that included some rotti along with some pancakes, we checked out and left the Yala region.

It was time to hit the southern expressway for a short distance before our first exit that took us to a few brief stops at a few Surfing points at Unakuruwa Beach by Aga Surf view in Tangalle and Hiriketiya beach by La Playa, Dickwella, and our main photo stop which was Coconut Tree Hill in Mirissa.

Everyone loved the vibe at Angel Beach Unawatuna where we spent a considerable amount of time taking photos and riding their signature swing before enjoying a delicious lunch.

Once in Galle we checked in to Fort Bazaar and enjoyed the tour of our room so much a few of us actually ‘pushed’ for champagne. Once settled I took the opportunity to indulge in their Happy hour offering by accepting a cocktail to go. A walk along the Galle fort was refreshing in spite of the large crowds that were gathered that weekend. A few of us decided to do some shopping within the fort where a few purchased some outfits and gems to take back home as souvenirs.

We were entitled to an absolutely special dinner at Fort Bazaar that night which we thoroughly enjoyed before retiring to our comfortable rooms for the night.

Some would’ve expected the rain to have dampened the early morning run along the Galle fort. But in fact, it was exhilarating for those who chose to start their day as early as 6am.

I enjoyed a stimulating cup of coffee to start the day before joining the others for yet another fabulous Breakfast at Fort Bazaar. I also found time to walk around the hotel admiring their library, bar and their common areas until it was time to check out and return to Colombo.

Another few hours on the Southern expressway brought us back to Colombo. We headed straight to Kingsbury for a magnificent lunch buffet with a wide spread of mouthwatering cuisine that everyone absolutely devoured.

It was time for everyone to check in at Cinnamon Lakeside and then prepare for a Colombo city walk that they enjoyed with Brindley of Sensory Indulgences. They had the most fantastic time walking the streets of Colombo and playing a game of cricket with some locals as well.

The day ended with a delicious meal at The Ministry of Crab followed by some drinks and some well-deserved time of fellowship and relaxation at Nihonbashi.

The Breakfast Buffet at Cinnamon Lakeside had been delectable as much as it was busy that morning. After a week of traveling and participating in an endless list of activities, it was finally time to relax, do some own personal shopping and to slowly start packing to get back home.

The final farewell dinner we had at Cinnamon Lakeside was arranged at the Kings Court that evening as The Dining room was undergoing renovation those days. As usual, the dinner was filled with a bountiful spread of delectable food options so no one was left disappointed in any way.

The night ended with us bidding our adieus to each other as there were different flights involved in the departures. As for me, it was a truly wonderful experience to go around Sri Lanka, partake in so many exciting activities and cover so much of the country in such a short span of time.