This honeymoon is private, unhurried and luxurious. We’ve
plumped for the finest hotels, hill-country bungalows and
villas to create a truly special honeymoon. The 13-night trip
includes stays in only four locations which minimises wasted
driving time and maximises the time in the very best locations:
the calm cultural triangle, the dreamy hills and the delicious
south coast. It is not a cheap honeymoon as the design brief
was simple, to design the ultimate Sri Lanka honeymoon, but
we have also kept a distant eye on rates, steering away from
properties and villas that we believe are overpriced.
Holiday highlights
• Palm-fringed sandy beaches
• A proud cultural heritage
• Spectacular hill country
• The most genial of welcomes
• Elegant & private accommodation
Itinerary:
Day 1 & 2: 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. Spend two nights
relaxing after all the excitement and stress of the wedding;
allowing you both to be alone at last.
Accommodation profile: This lovely
new property has been carefully and tastefully converted into
a small and luxurious boutique villa by its Sri Lankan owners.
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. The evenings are special
as oil lamps ring the small pond and sweet scented oils waft
through the villa. The staff are ever-smiling and discreet.
The decision to develop the property in an unusual location
was bold, but it is a true to its name – this is a wonderful
hideaway.
Day 3, 4 & 5: Sri Lanka's famous cultural triangle offers plenty
to fire both mind and body over the next three days. The ruined
capital of Polonnaruwa, the lion rock of Mount Sigiriya and
Dambulla’s Buddhist Cave Temples are all UNESCO world
heritage sites and are included in your package. En route, you
also have the option of visiting Yapahuwa, an ancient temple
and place built on a rock described by the Insight Guide to
Sri Lanka as "one of the great architectural wonders of
the island”, and Aukana, where the Buddha stands 42 feet
high, the best-preserved statue in Sri Lanka.
Accommodation profile:Kandalama Hotel
is the finest hotel in the cultural triangle. Cleverly designed
by Geoffery Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most referred architect,
to snake along a rock outcrop overlooking Kandalama tank (ancient
reservoir), the hotel is a naturalists dream. Stroll along its
restful, atmospheric corridors and you may spot a tame monkey,
or some of the 160 resident bird species. And you can experience
it all in the finest comfort. Tasteful bedrooms possess telephone,
satellite TV, mini bar, hairdryer, bath/shower/WC, and all facilities
aim for the highest standards Sri Lanka. Refurbished in 2005.
Day 6, 7 & 8: The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's
hill capital - the small lakeside city of Kandy - will occupy
most of the morning. We stop for a visit to the Temple of Tooth
and a possible stroll through the picturesque botanic gardens
before some lunch at a Kandy hotel.
But rather than stay overnight in
Kandy we instead drive on deeper into the tea-growing hills,
to the southern highlands, a land of stirring peaks, gushing
waterfalls and pretty estates. You will be staying in one of
the finest properties in the island, Castlereagh Bungalow, which
is part of recently opened Tea Trails bungalow quartet.
Accommodation profile:Travelers
approaching Castlereagh from the road can glimpse tantalising
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. Delicious meals are served up by a butler in your
room, in the dining room or on the terrace overlooking the pool.
The grounds are extensive and include summer houses where Ceylon’s
finest tea is served. The bungalow includes a swimming pool,
summer house, croquet lawn, library and various indoor games.
Rooms are sold on an all-inclusive basis, including breakfast,
lunch, an afternoon cream tea, dinner (inclusive of wine), soft
and non-premium alcoholic drinks, laundry and local calls. Guided
walks can be arranged in the surrounding hills. Circuit walking,
trekking, biking, kayaking, white-water rafting, rock climbing,
paragliding and golf are possible.
Day 9:
Depart early in the morning for your perfect beach hideaway:
the Beach Hut. This remarkable small villa, built purposefully
for couples, is tucked away on the south coast close to Galle,
a town with magnetic appeal for some many interesting travellers
and tourists, and provides a wonderful setting for five days
of beach heaven. Lie back, relax, recharge.
Accommodation profile: The Beach Hut is
a fabulous new addition to the beach villas available close
to Galle. It is ideal for couples and a perfect escape for a
romantic honeymoon. But there is also a small bedroom for children
so the property is also popular with small families. The villa
is indulgently spacious with upstairs reserved for sleeping
and the downstairs for relaxation. The interior is chic and
bright. The pool is magnificent and the beach sits at the end
of a well cared for garden. There is a fine beach at the end
of your garden but you may also like to explore the picture-postcard
perfect Mirissa to the south, Unawatuna with its abundance of
friendly beach bars and Hikkaduwa to the north for its foaming
surf.
Day 14: Depart in time for your return
flight to London
Cost: TBC
Package price includes:
• 13 night’s
accommodation on twin-sharing basis • Breakfast only at Hideaway
and Kandalama • All-inclusive luxury suite
at Castlereagh (all meals and beverages) • Room-only basis at The
Beach Hut (chef can be hired) • Airconditioned car and
English-speaking driver for tour and transfers • Entrance: Dambulla Cave
Temples, Sigiriya Rock, Polonnaruwa, Temple of the
Tooth
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flights from us. So, for full protection on your Sri Lanka holiday book your Sri
Lanka flights with Red Dot, as well as your Sri Lanka accommodation. Red Dot has
the largest selection of Sri Lanka hotels, villas and guest houses at competitive
prices and offers independent advice and flexible itineraries. Trust Red Dot for
your holiday needs in Sri Lanka, Kerala and the Maldives. ATOL protection extends
primarily to customers who book and pay for their Sri Lanka tours or Sri Lanka
hotels in the United Kingdom. [ Check
our licence ]
This honeymoon is private, unhurried and luxurious. We’ve
plumped for the finest hotels, hill-country bungalows and
villas to create a truly special honeymoon. The 13-night trip
includes stays in only four locations which minimises wasted
driving time and maximises the time in the very best locations:
the calm cultural triangle, the dreamy hills and the delicious
south coast. It is not a cheap honeymoon as the design brief
was simple, to design the ultimate Sri Lanka honeymoon, but
we have also kept a distant eye on rates, steering away from
properties and villas that we believe are overpriced.
