Whilst I have always loved travelling, I have also always stayed well within my comfort zone. This means that most of my trips have taken me across Europe or North America. But then images of Sri Lanka's misty tea plantations and intriguing temples started popping up on my socials.
As soon as I told anyone that I was going to Sri Lanka, they all said how amazing this country would be. But the fact remained that this would be a very different holiday from what I was used to.
What I had not realised at the time, was that Sri Lanka is the perfect holiday for anyone looking to step outside their comfort zone. After an incredible (and nowhere near as scary as expected) adventure, I've written up some of the highlights of my
luxury holiday to Sri Lanka, including my top stays and sights, as well as some travel tips to help you feel at ease.
Hotels
The hotels you choose for your visit will make all the difference to your experience. All of the hotels I stayed at in Sri Lanka are part of Elegant Resorts' portfolio, so luxury was guaranteed.
My first stay was
Wallawwa, and though it was just for a night, this small and intimate stay was a lovely start to the trip. The little details gave me not only an insight into the country but also the level of service I could expect throughout my trip. The room was welcoming; the food was light, perfect for hot evenings and the in-room body lotion doubled as a mosquito repellent.
Uga Ulagalla and
Ceylon Tea Trails were both stays that had some amazing stories to tell. Uga Ulagalla is Sri Lankan in every essence, from the welcoming atmosphere that starts the second you arrive to the breathtaking scenery discoverable by buggy or bike. Monkeys roam the property, the suites feature a private pool to cool off in and the staff were super keen to make Sri Lankan culture accessible.
Ceylon Tea Trails is set amongst the most incredible scenery - right in the heart of tea country, and lives and breathes luxury while encouraging you to explore.
![Two bikes on a dirt path in front of tropical trees]()
Bike ride round Uga Ulagalla
![A glass of orange juice held against a view of a lake]()
Welcome drink and view at Ceylon Tea Trails
I finished my trip with a stay at
ÀNI Sri Lanka, and wow, what a finish. ÀNI Sri Lanka is everything you want from a luxury holiday. Every morning you're met with a sea breeze and the sound of the waves, and every evening you return to a new gift in your room that becomes a collection of little treasures.
Between each hotel and every excursion, we had private transfers. I cannot recommend this enough - our car had air conditioning to help with the heat, WiFi to stay in touch with everyone at home, and the driver even doubled as a tour guide as we drove!
Activities
When I arrived in Sri Lanka, the airport was decorated with lanterns. This had me immediately excited about getting to know the culture and country. Throughout my trip, I saw some amazing sights and experienced some unforgettable moments.
Cultural
The Sacred City of Anuradhapura
This ancient city was the first capital of Sri Lanka, given the title of capital by the first king of the country. We visited for the late afternoon offering that lets you explore the city after dark - whilst this also adds a little extra magic, its main benefits were avoiding the midday sun and big crowds.
This is a must for anyone wanting to discover the cultural side of Sri Lanka, with ancient temples and shrines, and even a sacred bodhi tree thought to be grown from a clipping of the tree of enlightenment. As we learnt that Buddhism is more a standard of living and hunt for happiness than a religion, it was lovely to see so many people come together with one goal.
![Pink flowers held up in front of white building]()
Flower offering at Sacred City of Anuradhapura
![Large white domed temple]()
Temple at Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Meditation with a Monk
Our first full day at Uga Ulagalla was all about culture and I was so excited. We met a local monk for a meditation session at his temple, where he told us how he became a monk and what that meant, and also talked us through how to meditate. Meditation is best done away from distraction and pollution so you can concentrate on getting clean air into your body, so the experience was set on a rocky hilltop surrounded by jungle. It was an extraordinary experience.
![Monk sat on rock with jungle behind]()
Meditation with monk
![Ritigala Monastry]()
Ritigala Monastry
When going to places of worship or significance to Buddhism, many locals will wear white as a sign of humbleness. Whilst you don't have to, it is nice if you can join in on this part of the culture.
For Foodies
Dunkeld Estate Tour
Whenever I go away, I love to catch something like a winery or distillery tour. When you stay at the Ceylon Tea Trails, you get to visit the Dunkeld Estate tea factory.
This was probably the activity that I was most excited about, and the excitement only increased as we drove down winding roads lined with cascading rows of tea plants. The tour takes you from how the bushes are kept and the leaves picked, all the way to the packing and selling process - plus a tasting!
![Tour guide standing in front of tea plants pointing]()
Tea Factory Tour
Cinnamon Workshop
ANI's cinnamon workshop was another insight that I loved and would recommend to anyone visiting. We had visited a spice garden earlier in our trip so had learnt some bits about Sri Lankan cinnamon already, but this workshop took us through the whole process. To see it turn from tree branches to cinnamon tea in front of us was so interesting. It's a process that cannot be done by machine, so watching it be done by hand felt really special.
![Cup of cinnamon tea in front of person stripping cinnamon bark]()
Cinnamon tea during workshop at ÀNI Sri Lanka
![Cinnamon made into stick]()
Cinnamon workshop at ÀNI Sri Lanka
Rice and Curry
Whilst this isn't exactly an 'activitiy', rice and curry is a staple of Sri Lankan cuisine. All the food was so flavourful and almost like the country itself - tropical, vibrant and welcoming. Rice and curry lets you try a selection of different rice varieties and so many delicious curries.
![Bowls of rice]()
Rice at Kamatha dining experience
![Bowls of vegetable curries]()
Sri Lankan curries
A traditional dinner at Uga Ulagalla's Kamatha is a must-do for this. Sat under sparkling festoon lighting beside the rice paddies, we sampled so many amazing dishes that were all cooked by two sisters using the traditional kitchen. Despite being vegetarian there was still so much to try: pumpkin, jackfruit, starfruit, mango, pineapple. The last two made me laugh as these were some of my favourites, yet my mum has always said she hates fruit in curries - I'm sure these could've changed her mind!
Luxury in Sri Lanka
Exploring the Tea Trails
Ceylon Tea Trails is a remarkable stay - it's so peaceful and calm, yet draws out your inner adventurer. The bungalows are designed so that you can either enjoy the unique scenery of one bungalow, or spread out your stay along the tea trail.
![Person on kayak in middle of lake]()
Kayaking at Ceylon Tea Trails
Whilst there are loads of hiking routes that you can take to, our bungalow had an amazing view of the lake, so we couldn't resist getting on the kayaks. The views and sounds out on the water were amazing! Then since we were already in our costumes, we made a pit stop in the infinity pool where we chatted about our adventures so far with a G&T.
Ayurveda Massage
In true ANI style, ancient Ayurvedic treatments and the benefits of local produce are brought into ÀNI Sri Lanka with a large dose of luxury. During my stay I had the Traditional Ayurveda Massage, and it was all about relaxation. On arrival, I was asked about areas and pressure, but unfortunately, I can't share more as I was lost in massage heaven almost immediately.
![Beach hat with "ANI" on in front of private pool]()
Private pool at ÀNI Sri Lanka
![Spa menu]()
Spa menu at ÀNI Sri Lanka