The Beach Hut is a special tour of Sri Lanka; a combination
of the most intimate and personal hotels coupled with one
of best little beach villas in the island, a delightful property
called The Beach Hut that was conceived as a glorious tropical
escape for loving couples. You start on the beach too, enjoying
two days to rest and unwind after what will have been an exciting
but exhausting few days. Aside for a long stay on the beach,
you would also tour in land, spending three memorable days
in the cultural triangle at the magnificent Kandalama, now
all refurbished and better than ever, before another three
blissful days in the tea-growing hills. As ever, we are willing
to make modifications if requested and would be delighted
to talk through all the options.
Holiday highlights
• Palm-fringed sandy beaches
• A proud cultural heritage
• Spectacular hill country
• The most genial of welcomes
• Galle’s magnetic coast
Itinerary:
Day 1 & 2: Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer to Horathapola
Estate, a small planter’s house set in a fruit and spice
estate a short 45-minute drive from the airport. This planter’s
bungalow is an ideal haven for acclimatising to Sri Lanka’s
tropical climes and rejuvenating after the long flight.
Accommodation profile: Horathopala
is a small five bedroom British planter's bungalow that was
built in the 1920's. The building design follows the traditional
architectural style of columns and verandahs. Ancestral antique
furniture, including four-poster beds lined with handmade lace,
gives a glimpse of this idyllic Planter’s lifestyle. Surrounded
by well-clipped lawns and breathtaking hardwood trees, ample
bird song and butterflies, all contribute to a calm and peaceful
atmosphere that can be best enjoyed just relaxing in a Planter’s
chair in the verandah with a good book and a cup of tea. The
estate, which produces coconut, mango, pineapple and spices,
is still run by the Fernando family, Javanah and Pia, who add
a friendly, laid-back but efficient air. The Sri Lankan rice
and curries cooked in traditional clay pots over a firewood
flame are mouth-wateringly delicious with many of the ingredients
grown on the state.
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: The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's
hill capital - the small lakeside city of Kandy - will occupy
most of the morning. In the afternoon, a city tour includes
such delights as the fabulous botanical gardens and the Temple
of the Tooth, which is said to hold a holy relic of the Lord
Buddha. We have recommended spending one night at Villa Rosa,
a small boutique hotel on the outskirts of town.
Accommodation profile: Villa
Rosa is a new, small boutique hotel, and a welcome addition
to the properties currently available in the hill-country capital.
Built in 2000, the house was
re-converted into a boutique hotel in mid-2003. The hotel provides
a welcome escape from the larger Kandy hotels that are often
overpopulated with package tour groups. The atmosphere is relaxed,
friendly and private. The views over the wide, brown Mahaweli
River are stunning. The rooms are comfortable and tastefully
furnished, as is the rest of the hotel.
Day 7 & 8:
Today you head for Bandarawela, a “forgotten hill station”
deep in the island’s southern highlands, an area famed
for its fine teas and breathtaking scenery. We have recommended
staying at Kirchhayan Bungalow, an old planter’s bungalow
set in beautiful gardens. The bungalow is well-place for the
exploration of Horton Plains, visits to tea estates, walks to
waterfalls and ancients caves. The more adventurous may be interested
in some mountain-biking; others will just lie-back in the garden
and read their favourite novel.
Accommodation profile: Kirchhayn Bungalow
stands in peaceful grounds on the edge of the Aislaby Tea Estate,
near Bandarawela, surrounded by misty mountains and breathtaking
scenery. The property still owned by the only remaining British
planting family in Sri Lanka, the Bostock's, arrived in Ceylon
in 1884. The estate has been in the family since the early 1920's.
The bungalow, which can be rented as a whole or by the suite,
has an expansive and relaxing feel. To stay here has been accurately
described as "like having the use of some friends' home
while they're away." Peace and solitude reigns here and
Kirchhayn really does have the trappings of old colonialism.
The interior of the bungalow has barely changed from the 1920s
- apart from a few gestures towards the comforts of modern living
- but for many this will add to its appeal. There are high ceilings,
period furniture, family photographs and well-thumbed books.
You approach the bungalow along a rudimentary road from Aislaby
Tea Factory takes you to a driveway flanked by immaculate lawns
and well-maintained flowerbeds. You will be met by a cook or
room boy in white jacket with a welcoming smile
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:
• 8 night’s hotel accommodation
on twin-sharing BB basis
• 5 night’s villa accommodation without
any meals
• Airconditioned car and English-speaking
driver for tour and transfers (not on the
beach)
• 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 ]
The Beach Hut is a special tour of Sri Lanka; a combination
of the most intimate and personal hotels coupled with one
of best little beach villas in the island, a delightful property
called The Beach Hut that was conceived as a glorious tropical
escape for loving couples. You start on the beach too, enjoying
two days to rest and unwind after what will have been an exciting
but exhausting few days. Aside for a long stay on the beach,
you would also tour in land, spending three memorable days
in the cultural triangle at the magnificent Kandalama, now
all refurbished and better than ever, before another three
blissful days in the tea-growing hills. As ever, we are willing
to make modifications if requested and would be delighted
to talk through all the options.
