Day 1:
We will meet you at the Airport and transfer you to
The Beach Hotel in Negombo, a short drive from the airport where
you can relax and unwind.
Accommodation profile: The Beach
offers luxurious five-star accommodation in Negombo, a west
coast beach resort north of Colombo. The resort offers a perfect
place to recuperate after a long flight being just 10 minutes
drive from the international airport. The Beach is arguably
the best thing to have happened to Negombo in the past decade.
The five-star hotel was reopened in Jan 2005 after a complete
refurbishment, which has transformed the property into a chic
and stylish hotel offering great luxury and a warm and attentive
level of service.
Day 2 & 3:
The Sri Lankan Air Taxi will take you to Koggala, a
short 20 minute drive from the Galle’s city centre. Here
you will stay at for two nights at Tamarind Hill, an ideal base
from which to explore the surrounding beaches and Sri Lanka’s
southern heritage. There are a variety of beaches within easy
reach of Tamarind Hill, including the beautiful crescent-shaped
Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa’s surfing paradise and picture-postcard
Mirissa bay. Visit Galle’s 17th century Dutch Fort, now
a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 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. There are several newly renovated interesting
boutique hotels with excellent cafes and restaurants within
the Fort, where you can stop for a meal.
Accommodation profile: Tamarind
Hill, one of Taru’s latest creations, is perched on a
hill overlooking the city of Galle. This 14 roomed luxurious
boutique hotel is housed in an elegantly restored Colonial mansion
with a 250 year old history.
Day 4 & 5:
Your next destination can either be River House in
Balapitiya OR Taru Villas in Bentota, a one-hour drive north
of Galle. The west coast offers beautiful sandy beaches and
mangrove-lined lagoons, which are ideal for water sports including
scuba diving, snorkeling and windsurfing. Bentota’s lagoon
is ideal for jet skiing, water skiing, banana-boating, sailing
and boat trips along the river. For those interested in Sri
Lankan architecture, a visit to Lunuganga is a must. Designed
by Sri Lanka’s iconic architect, Geoffrey Bawa, Lunuganga
is a garden retreat that was originally an old rubber plantation. |
The Bawa Brief Gardens in Bentota,
a fascinating landscaped garden created by Geoffrey’s
brother, Bevis, is also well-worth a visit.
Accommodation profile: There is no more entrancing
holiday location in Sri Lanka than the River House, which looks
down to the Madhu Ganga over seven acres of private hillside,
is a haven of style and tranquility for the luxury traveller,
proving that Sri Lanka can bear comparison with the best. While
the main villa is situated inland, a beautiful location that
provides it with a magical serenity, there is also a fabulous
private beach house located just five minutes by trishaw (provided
by the River House) allowing you to relax by the poolside overlooking
the Madhu Ganga's lush valley or beside the blue waters of the
Indian Ocean. The River House is thoroughly escapist; truly
magnificent.
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Accommodation Profile: Taru Villas, tucked
away down a by-lane of Bentota, is a romantic haven and an ideal
escape from the stress and tensions of contemporary living.
Cool cement floors, a garden full of frangipani blossoms, a
turquoise pool, individually designed antique-furnished rooms,
king size beds and an uncrowded beach just a few steps out of
the garden, across the still-rural railway line, all combine
to make Taru Villas a very special hideaway.
Day 6:
Early next morning, drive on to Colombo for your final night
where you will be staying at Taru’s latest creation, the
Park Street Hotel, a luxurious retreat in the heart of the capital
city. Colombo’s main attractions include the National
Museum, various temples and kovils, the Fort and Pettah Bazaar.
Many people also enjoy shopping in Colombo, which has a reputation
for excellent value when it comes to gems, clothes, home ware,
porcelain and fabrics. Shops worth visiting include Paradise
Road, Barefoot and Odels. During the evening we recommend a
farewell dinner at The Gallery Café.
Accommodation profile: The Park Street
hotel, scheduled to open in November 2006, is located on a leafy
street in the heart of Colombo and offers an ideal alternative
for visitors preferring to get away from the larger city hotels.
Park Street offers the perfect combination – a haven of
luxury and relaxation in the heart of bustling Colombo.
Day 7:
Depart in good time to the Bandaranaike Airport for your flight
home. |
Experience Sri Lanka’s vibrant southern heritage, rural
fishing villages, sun-kissed beaches staying in the magnificent
boutique hotels and villas created by Nayantara Fonseka, one
of Sri Lanka’s foremost fashion and lifestyle designers.
