Accommodation; The Wallawwa

It might be situated just a few kilometers from the airport but The Wallawwa feels nothing like a transit hotel. Sitting in acres of beautifully mature gardens, The Wallawwa or ‘ The W’ as it is affectionately known is a sanctuary of serenity and style where the old is merged beautifully with the new. Built over 200 years ago in the traditional “Dutch warehouse’ colonial design, the W is the most ancient manor house in the entire province and was the ancestral home for many years of the Dias-Abeysinghe family - Maha Mudaliyas who originally hailed from Galle. With its completely secluded location, The W is a luxurious private hideaway whose 14 boutique bedrooms, exquisite food and wonderfully oversized Z Spa provide the perfect ingredients for a relaxing and memorable stay, even if a couple of nights can only be squeezed in at the beginning or end of a holiday.

Accommodation: The Kandy House, Kandy

The ancestral home of one of Kandy’s most influential aristocratic families, Ratwatte Walauwa was built by Chief Minister Ratwatte Adigar in 1804. Relive some of the regions traditional pageant and custom in this beautifully restored manor house which retains the atmosphere of a private country home while its colonial influence, providing seclusion and serenity in its countryside setting only a short distance from Kandy. Dine in style in the original dining-room surrounded by ancestral portraits or less formally on the verandah overlooking the Kandyan hills.

Room type: Luxury Suite Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Tea Trails

In central Sri Lanka lies the Bogawantalawa Valley, known as the Golden Valley of Tea and home to old Ceylon, replete with rolling green hills, plantation bungalows, high tea and exquisite service. Here in solitude lies Ceylon Tea Trails, 4 luxurious colonial bungalows, built over 100 years ago for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and sympathetically restored by the owners of Dilmah Tea. Experience life on a working tea estate, unchanged for over a hundred years. Of course we now provide the little luxuries denied to the planters of yore. Unwind in the beautiful gardens, visit a tea factory for gentle education in the art of making the world’s finest tea, or spend an adventure filled day trekking, biking or white water rafting.’

Room type: Garden Suite Meals: Full Board

Uda Walawe National Park – Kulu Safaris

Kulu Safaris present mobile Safaris that combine professional naturalists, luxurious facilities and exclusive surroundings deep inside the National Park. Photograph wild elephants and an abundance of wildlife. Return to your camp for a swim, watch the wildlife at sunset ambling along the water’s edge. Uda Walawe National Park is best known for its large and very visible herds of elephants, often visible even at mid day. The resident population of elephants is in excess of 350.

Room type: Tented Camp Meals: Full Board

Accommodation: Amanwella

Amanwella is situated in a mature coconut grove fronting a crescent-shaped beach close to the village of Tangalle. Combining aman or peace in Sanskrit with wella, the Sinhalese word for beach, all 30 suites of this contemporary beachfront resort feature their own private plunge pool and terrace. Linked by pathways, suites are interspersed along the hillside and offer sweeping views of the ocean and the beach. Guests can enjoy the 45m swimming pool and expansive terrace, the well-stocked Library, spa treatments, the Restaurant serving Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local seafood and casual, beachside dining at the Beach Club. Sightseeing to rustic villages, temples and wildlife nature reserves offers perspectives on Sri Lanka's traditions and its bountiful flora and fauna.

Room type: Suite Meals: No Meals

Accommodation: The Galle Fort Hotel

For those seeking an evocative base from which to explore the Galle’s beaches, temples and tea plantations this fascinating 17th century property is the perfect colonial meets Ceylon chic bolthole. Set on a narrow street where auto rickshaws and cycles vie with the occasional linen upholstered Ambassador, the Galle Fort Hotel conjures up a lost era when Somerset Maugham blazed the traveller’s trail. Think whirring fans and cocktails on the terrace served by serene sarong clad staff.

Room type: Deluxe Room Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Park Street Hotel

This beautifully restored 250-year-old colonial bungalow was once the abode of Colombo entrepreneur Sheikh Salehbhoy Moosajee and his second wife Begum Zarina, a flamboyant artist, fashion and social icon of the time. It was the third of lifestyle guru Taru’s impeccably stylish properties to open, and her graceful renovation has carefully retained the elegant colonial ambience of this ancestral home whilst bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Ornate chandeliers, Dutch-period furniture and magnificent antiques provide plenty of interest while as a personal touch, Begum Zarina’s portraits and paintings liberally adorn the crisp white walls. Located on a quiet leafy side street The Park Street is a solace in a busy city and its high level of personalized service makes it incomparable with the city’s large five star properties.

Room type: Luxury Suite Meals: Breakfast