Luxury Sri Lanka holidays: colonial grandeur to palm-fringed shores

You have found the ideal location if you are looking for luxury Sri Lanka holidays: colonial grandeur to palm-fringed shores. Sri Lanka has diverse cultures, wildlife, and stunning beaches. Whether you travel by private chauffeured cars, picturesque trains, or light planes, you will enjoy the scenic views and the comfort of your journey. With My Way Travel, you can also benefit from the expertise of our Sri Lanka Travel Guide, who will show you the best of this island nation.

Hotels usually feature excellent finishes, helpful personnel, and desirable locations. Whether it's secluded tents in Yala National Park, colonial cottages in the tea area, or overwater bungalows in the central paddy fields—the place, in my opinion, is the most crucial factor in the quality of staying in Sri Lankan accommodations.

Colombo

Few other tourists often overlook the advantage of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, as an airport hub. As the city grows, you'll see artisan-led shops, trendy restaurants (the Ministry of Crab has the greatest crustaceans) and trendy pubs. The residents are always jumping on the trend bandwagon. Gleaming skyscrapers are springing up among colonial palaces and ancient temples, making the architecture seem like an Asian megacity.

Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo

I went on a small group tour of Colombo with a local, who showed us the sights as we passed colonial boulevards and manicured gardens. The British, the Portuguese, and the Dutch constructed and preserved several structures. Among them are the Old Dutch Hospital, the Red and White Brick Plantation House, and the National Museum, which has elaborate cornices and balconies.

We went to the holiest place in the city, the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. Some believers offer everything from old eyeglasses to gold jewelry as an offering and park a few donated automobiles outside in a garage. Pettah Market, where the trip concluded, is a one-stop shop for local wares, including cinnamon, karawala (dried fish), and Vesmuhunu (traditional wooden masks).

Luxury hotels in Colombo

Other lovely boutique hotels in Colombo, like Tintagel, offer ten rooms adorned with priceless artwork. However, the Galle Face Hotel is my top pick. Opened in 1864 by British entrepreneurs, the grand dame of Sri Lanka is a hotel that has entertained notable visitors such as the Duke of Edinburgh, Mahatma Gandhi, John D. Rockefeller, and others.

Galle Face Hotel, Colombo

Although it has been extensively renovated and expanded since then, the hotel's colonial-era features, such as its cloistered ceilings and checkered passageways, remain. Looking out over the Indian Ocean is the best sea view accommodation with a balcony. On the porch, I had a lavish afternoon tea with scones, clotted cream, and a selection of Ceylon teas.

The cultural triangle

From Anuradhapura's deserted palace to Dambulla's cave paintings, the cultural triangle, located three hours north of Colombo, is Sri Lanka's most concentrated treasure trove of attractions. If you want to make things right, you'll need three nights.

Sigiriya Rock, Kandy

When you hire a chauffeur-guide to show you around, you may go at your leisure. Sandun, our driver and guide, pulled over many times as we passed rice terraces and coconut trees to see temple ruins, golden stupas, and a Buddha statue that the forest had almost swallowed up.

We left for Sigiriya Rock, a platform that protrudes 200 meters (656 feet) above the surrounding forest at dawn one morning. In addition to avoiding the heat and crowds of people who show up later, if we tackled the peak first thing in the morning, we might see the sunrise over the plains.

Ascending the metal stairs and a labyrinth of carved staircases brings you to a vantage point over the scrublands and rainforest below, where you can make out the ruins of a royal palace from the 5th century.

Luxury hotels in the Cultural Triangle

As for me, having enough room to unwind is essential, and Vil Uyana provides just that. Each "dwelling," as the hotel refers to the thatched cottages, has an open-plan living area, porch, and garden and is situated on a separate plot of paddy field, marsh, or floating island.

Stilted dwellings, Vil Uyana

Each two-story home in the woods has an eating area and swimming pool. The hotel hosts nightly walks across the grounds as part of its eco-reserve programming to see the red slender loris that are called the forest home.

Kandy

"Please note that you can reach Kandy." by taking a three-hour trip south of the cultural triangle. The city is prominent in the island's centre and is the endpoint of most highways in Sri Lanka. Located in the middle of it all are hills covered in forests surrounding Kandy Lake. Temple of the Tooth, situated on the shores of a lake, is the main draw. It is the final resting place of the most sacred artefact in Sri Lanka: the tooth of the Buddha.

I visited the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens on the outskirts of town, which I enjoyed exploring. The British formally created it using seedlings from London's Kew Gardens in the nineteenth century. Although each plant had a name, my guide filled me in on the gardens' past, telling me that they were King Wickramabahu III's royal gardens in the 1400s. Lord Louis Mountbatten also utilized these buildings as the South East Asia Command headquarters during World War II.

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy

Luxury hotels in Kandy

Pristine lawns, adorned with bougainvillea and hibiscus plants, line the path leading up to Kandy House amid the tropical grounds. The stately mansion was constructed in 1804 by the Chief Minister of Kandy, drawing inspiration from colonial Dutch architecture with its gambrel roofs and bell-arch doors. The nine apartments are furnished with heavy teak furniture and diverse antiques as if they were still private residences. The pool area may seem like it's in the middle of nowhere, yet the significant attractions of Kandy are only a short drive away.

Kandy House, Kandy

Tea region

I recommend taking the train from Kandy to the tea highlands of Sri Lanka since the roads there are twisty and often bumpy. Strolling through towns and tunnels, with the lowlands below, it's a six-hour hike into the highlands.

Although your class assignment is often in the air (train layouts are subject to last-minute changes), the train cabins are always pleasant.

While I'm sure there are many tourist attractions in Sri Lanka's tea area, the most important thing is to slow down and enjoy the scenery. A great setting to unwind would be among the gently rolling hills of tea farms adorned with lush, well-kept bushes. You may find walking paths throughout the grounds of most hotels. Some of these paths go to neighbouring views, while others wind through tea farms.

Tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya

Luxury hotels in Sri Lanka's tea region

The managers or owners of Ceylon Tea Trails have meticulously refurbished five colonial plantation houses near Castlereagh Reservoir. Each has its unique charm, from the pastel pink Castlereagh Bungalow to the stone walls of Tientsin Bungalow. Dunkeld, the newest addition, stands sentinel on the slope above the lake where I stayed. The gardens' infinity pool offers a view over the lake that, on a sunny day, stretches to Pidurutalagala, the highest hill in Sri Lanka.

Staying in one of the bungalows is like being a guest in a magnificent private house—it's all-inclusive and relaxing. Rooms in the cottages are on the small side, but there is a common living area and a bar there as well. You may take a guided walk or kayaking trip or sign up for a tea tasting with the in-house expert.

Castlereagh-Reservoir

Chartered flights

Traversing Sri Lanka, particularly its steep interior, may be challenging. Flying a light aircraft allows you to avoid uneven roads entirely. Domestic airline Cinnamon Air has a route system all across Sri Lanka. These amphibious boats often dock on reservoirs and lakes and can only transport eight people.

Dickwella Reservoir is one of the most spectacular paths from Kandy to the south coast. The terrain transforms from lush, verdant mountains to pale, green palm groves in the south of Sri Lanka as you descend from the island's highest point to its lowest point, with hills plunging precipitously into the plains below.

Wildlife in Sri Lanka: Yala National Park

Although Sri Lanka is home to over a hundred parks and sanctuaries, the nearby hotels might need to be more extensive. Yala National Park has first-rate facilities and knowledgeable tour guides.

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• Read about safaris in Yala in our guide to seeing Sri Lanka’s wildlife
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Leopard, Yala National Park

Luxury hotels in Yala National Park

Each of the fourteen villas at Chena Huts has its private pool. The expansive living areas are natively constructed and adorned with a classic thatched roof. Dispersed among the lowland woodland that borders a pearly-grey beach are the bungalows. The builders or owners of Chena Huts situated it near the park entrance and employed their own jeeps and knowledgeable naturalists.

Despite lacking traditional luxury, Noel Rodrigo's Leopard Safari tents provide a one-of-a-kind experience. These roomy tents in the park's buffer zone have a flush toilet, an outdoor shower, and cosy mattresses. Our naturalist was an expert on the animals we saw since she had studied zoology. Every night, I went out to the outdoor buffet with the rest of the guests for our evening meal.

Chena Huts, Yala National Park

Galle

It takes three or four hours to travel from Yala to reach Galle Fort, a Dutch-built fortified settlement situated on a point on the island's southeast coast. You can certainly go around the fort on foot, but I opted for a private bicycle trip as it allowed me to see more. We circumambulated the structure's interior by pedalling under the fort's strong stone walls and sea-facing bastions.

As we rode our bikes out from the fort, we swung by the Galle International Stadium, where people play cricket, and then we hung around the neighboring paddy fields and lagoons. We encountered a bustling fish market as we veered off the main road. The fisherman there proudly displayed their harvest while the professional workers were diligently filleting and de-scaling thousands of fish. Afterward, my guide and I proceeded to a nearby beach to view Galle Fort and the coastline beyond.

Since this is a customized tour, your guide will tailor the route to your fitness level; nonetheless, I rode around 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) overall. Roads are often straightforward since the area is pleasantly flat.

Galle Fort

Luxury hotels in Galle

Remaining within the fort walls is my recommendation. The hotels, which have painstakingly transformed several Dutch colonial buildings, are conveniently located within walking distance of the restaurants, shops, and cafés that put the lights on the streets at night.

After they initially constructed the Amangalla in 1684 as quarters for troops, the buyers or owners of it transformed it into the New Orient Hotel in 1865. It was a must-visit location for Europeans traveling through Asia for over a century. The Aman Resorts organization has just taken over and renovated the hotel, but it has kept its original charm with its arching eaves and shining teak furniture.

Amangalla, Galle

Luxury beach hotels in Sri Lanka

The coastline of Sri Lanka ranges from rose-gold coves in the south to black mineral-rich beaches in the north. When looking for convenience and serenity, the southwest coast is where you want to be.

Located on a rocky outcrop that faces the Indian Ocean, Cape Weligama is about a 30-minute drive east of Galle. A crescent-shaped infinity pool, elevated above the sea, connects the 39 villas and suites that dot the tropical grounds. Despite the steep stairs leading down to the beach, you will find a golden sand cove almost to yourself once you get there.

If you're interested in scuba diving, surfing, sailing, or guided tours of the region, the sports team is there to help. The hotel workers, who drive golf buggies about the property, were always happy to provide a hand and even brought popcorn to my villa when I asked them to. There's a spa villa with an extended variety of services, or you may arrange for a professional to come to your villa.

Aerial view of Cape Weligama

Extend your trip to the Maldives

From Colombo, you may reach The Maldives in about one hour. Things may become pricey fast here, but Baros provides excellent service at a reasonable price. Baros is readily accessible by speedboat from Male, the capital, making it ideal for a quick stopover on the way back from a tour of Sri Lanka (though you'll probably want to extend your visit).

The villa I stayed at had a private balcony that extended to the beach. House reefs are accessible by swimming up from the beach; they're a famous feeding ground for turtles and nurse sharks.

I had a seafood plate with prawns, lobster, squid, and langoustine at the Overwater Lighthouse Restaurant, one of five excellent eateries.