Day 1:
Upon arriving in Sri Lanka transfer to Hideaway, a
beautiful new plantation villa tucked away in the countryside,
a relatively short drive from the airport and from Colombo.
The Hideaway is a quaint Sri Lankan home, where your every need
will be taken care of discretely, allowing you to relax and
indulge in complete privacy. Evenings are magical with the flickering
light of oil lamps that ring the small pond and the waft of
sweet scented oil that sooths your soul. An ideal place to rest
after your flight and prepare yourself for your journey through
Sri Lanka’s magical south.
Accommodation profile: Hideaway’s
owners have carefully and tastefully converted this lovely new
property into a small and luxurious boutique villa. The attention
to detail is impressive, from the welcoming betel leaf and refreshing
pineapple juice on arrival to the soft white cotton sheets on
the beds. There are two suites – the Sun and the Moon
– and a deluxe room called the Stars, all complete with
high wooden ceilings, four-poster beds and outdoor bathrooms
that have Jacuzzis. The interior décor mixes old antiques
with modern touches.
Day 2, 3 & 4:
Travel to Sri Lanka’s tea-growing highlands and
stay for three-nights at Ceylon Tea Trails, a wonderful collection
of refurbished tea planter’s bungalows in the southwest
corner of the hills, an area renowned for its fine tea and beautiful
countryside. The following morning you might like to enjoy the
“Tea Experience”, which involves a visit to a plantation
to observe first hand the process, starting from the plucking
field where it all begins with the picking of “two leaves
and a bud”, to the factory where the processing begins.
The Tea Trails also provides an excellent base for a variety
of adventure activities. There are a number of mountain bike
trails that loop through the surrounding tea estates. The reservoirs
of Castlereagh and Maskeliya offer a pristine lake environment
for kayaking – stable one or two-man kayaks are available
for hire. Maps, guides and safety gear are all provided. A number
of treks and scenic walks are also available, including the
famous pilgrimage site, Sri Pada, known in English as Adam’s
Peak, which is a conical mountain 7,360 feet above sea level.
Accommodation profile: Travelers
approaching Castlereagh from the road can glimpse tantalizing
views across the lake. Nestled in a wooded dell close to the
water, this century-old bungalow offers unrivalled water views
and superb garden suites. Elegant parquet floors with open fireplaces
in the dining and drawing rooms evoke recollections of a bygone
colonial era. Castlereagh is a private bungalow: delicious meals
will be served up by a butler in your room, in the dining room,
or on the terrace overlooking the pool.
Day 5 & 6:
Next morning you leave the hills behind and travel
to the southwest corner of Sri Lanka to the Sinharaja rainforest.
The tropical rain forest straddles a series of mountains and
ridges in the country’s wet zone, containing a number
of streams, waterfalls and fresh-water springs. Moist and muggy,
murky and mysterious – trekking through this magnificent
jungle, the last surviving stretch of virgin rainforest is an
experience like nothing else in Sri Lanka. From top to bottom
the forest is teeming with life whether it be gushing waterfalls,
gurgling streams, ants marching, leaves rustling, leeches waiting
(you’ve been warned!), crickets creaking or butterflies
fluttering by. Apart from the very distinct atmosphere, which
is created by this great cacophony of noise and movement, Sinharaja
is particularly renowned as a hotspot for bird life. There are
140 bird species seen here during a calendar year including
34 out of 36 species endemic to Sri Lanka.
Accommodation profile: Rainforest
Edge offers rustic style high above the beautiful rolling hills
of Waddagala, only five miles from the northern entrance to
the Sinharaja rain forest. It is blessed by one of the most
restful panoramas in Sri Lanka – and harmony with nature
is the essence of its appeal. This is an isolated, pollution-free
environment without discomforts. The hotel has seven creatively
designed rooms (including one family room) with a rest area,
with bolster pillows and mattress where you can take a book,
gaze upon the tea slopes beyond and listen to the birdsong.
You may also just wish to relax with a simple spa or massage
at the Ayuvedic room offering a full range of natural therapies.
An attractive natural-water pool, surrounded by water lilies,
and a simple thatched roof restaurant offering both western
and eastern dishes are all added features to this beautiful
setting.
Day 7 & 8:
More wilderness and adventure awaits you the next two days with
a camping safari in the Uda Walawe National Park. Located in
the south-central region, Uda Walawe, which is 30,821 hectares
in extent, is the area which most resembles an African game
park. Wildlife reports say there are about 500 elephants in
the park and they often roam in herds of up to 100. Experience
this natural wilderness in the luxury of a Kulu camping safari.
|
Accommodation profile:
Kulu Safaris is a high –end wildlife camping
experience within the Uda Walawe National Park. The Kulu safari
campsite has no permanent structures. Prior to your arrival,
all the necessary gear is brought into the park for your convenience.
The campsite is beautifully laid out with canvas tents, sturdy
hammocks, hot and cold showers, and wooden table and chairs.
Whether looking out over a water hole at breakfast,
snoozing in a hammock after lunch, stargazing over dinner or
a jeep ride into the thick jungle accompanied by a specialist
wildlife expert, the Kulu Safari is an experience not to be
missed.
Day 09 & 10:
Leave first thing in the morning and travel towards Sri Lanka's
southeast tip. En-route visit Buduruvagala to see Sri Lanka's
tallest rock-cut Buddha statue, 51 ft. in height, and other
Mahayana Buddhist statues dating back to the 8th-century AD.
Close to Buduruvagala, you could visit the Handapangala Tank,
a watering hole for Yala elephants in the summer months. In
the afternoon travel east to a town called Galge, which is located
on the outskirts of Yala National Park. Here you will be staying
at Galapita Eco Retreat, a particularly charming eco-lodge whose
atmosphere is completely attuned to Mother Nature’s rhythms.
Activities available include nature trails (with the possibility
of encountering an elephant on foot), cycling, river bathing,
tyre tubing (sailing downstream wedged in a tyre) plus a host
of nearby cultural sites, including Kataragama, an ancient sacred
pilgrimage site where all religions are worshipped. Galapita
staff will provide information on exact timings of the special
Poojas, fire walking rituals and festivals that takes place
at this holy site.
Accommodation profile: The Galapita
Eco Retreat sits on the banks of the Menik (Gem) River. What
began as an idealistic rural retreat for friends and family
is now the ultimate escapist retreat for independent travelers.
Life can hardly be more natural than this. Across Galapita bridge,
your world may change. Your bedroom on stilts will be one of
four huts perched on the rocks by the river. It will have a
straw roof, bamboo walls, a futon bed, mosquito nets and a bit
of driftwood furniture - nothing much else. You can opt for
the Tree House that peers over paddy fields. Galapita only offers
vegetarian food but the rice and curries are mouth-wateringly
good.
Day 11, 12 & 13:
Your next destination is one of the finest boutique properties
in Sri Lanka on the west coast, Aditya, located mid-way between
Galle and Hikkaduwa on a secluded stretch of beach in Rathgama.
Spend three nights here indulging yourself in the splendour
of this luxurious boutique hotel. If you can tear yourself away
from the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, we recommend
a visit to Galle, one of our favourite corners in this magical
island with its Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage
site and a melting pot of cultural influences. Several hours
can be spent wandering along narrow streets, well preserved
ramparts overlooking the cricket stadium, lighthouse staring
in to the Indian Ocean, and browsing through art galleries and
shops, including the newly opened `Barefoot’ on Peddlar
Street. There are several newly renovated interesting boutique
hotels with excellent cafes and restaurants within the Fort,
where you can stop for a meal. Hiddkaduwa is another interesting
town with its youthful and informal feel with some of the best
surfing beaches in Sri Lanka and a wide range of water sports
a including windsurfing and diving on coral reef.
Accommodation profile: Aditya
is one of the finest boutique properties in Sri Lanka with 12
spacious, elegant suites each furnished to create an individual
mood. Each suit is equipped with a private plunge pool/Jacuzzi,
large-screen TV, sumptuous king-size bed and all other high-end
comforts. Guests may request the master chef for their own choice
of menu and they can eat whenever they choose. Swim in either
the large pool or along the secluded stretch of tropical beach.
To further pamper body and soul, there is an en suite spa service,
a well-equipped gym, and yoga room.
Day 14 & 15:
As you travel further north along the West Coast, you reach
your next destination, The River House, located midway between
Hikkaduwa and Bentota. Half a mile up a narrow dirt-track road,
the splendid River House villa lies on a grassy hillside, shaded
by palm trees, looking down to the Madhu River. We recommend
a visit to the Brief Garden in Kalawila, an enchanting garden
in an undulating landscape of paddies and scattered villages
on a hillside designed by Bevis Bawa, the brother of Geoffrey,
Sri Lanka’s most revered architect.
Accommodation profile: The River
House, located on seven acres of private hillside land is an
entrancing holiday location created by one of Sri Lanka’s
foremost fashion and lifestyle designers, Nayantara Fonseka.
The villa furnishings are inspired by traditional South Asian
designs. There are five elegant rooms with luxurious bathrooms
and all other comforts of an up market villa. An infinity swimming
pool rests in seclusion on another part of the hillside. Meal
times are arranged by request and can be taken in the garden,
restaurant or the privacy of your own room. The River House
is thoroughly escapist; truly magnificent.
Day 16: Depart in good time for your flight
home |
This ‘Stylish Southern Explorer’ takes you through
Sri Lanka’s most interesting and beautiful landscapes
– from the lush green tea covered hills through tropical
rainforest, and finally to the tranquil beaches of the south-west
coast. We have selected some stylish and luxurious boutique
hotels and colonial bungalows as well as some unique properties
that blend into the natural surroundings – making each
day and night a special experience on this beautiful island.
