SRI LANKA
Bandaranaike International Airport, has reopened after a $5 million refurbishment. The 105-room resort sits on the mouth of the River Kalu, facing the lagoon in one direction and the Indian Ocean the other. There are four room types, each with a private balcony or patio overlooking the ocean, river or tropical gardens. The AVANI Bentota Resort & Spa opened in the south of the island in November 2011. The country’s mostly pristine coast is set for development, also opening up. The resort of Trincomalee is now more or less established and Passikuda is developing fast with 15 hotels currently under construction. In February 2013, The Beach House
at Passikudah Sri Lanka will be one of the fi rst boutique fi ve-star resorts to open in the newly developed area of Passikudah Bay in the country’s Eastern Province. Before the civil war Passikudah was a popular tourism destination. The 32-room resort, some with plunge pools, is accessible via a scenic 60-minute seaplane transfer from Colombo or a fi ve-hour drive. With interconnecting bedrooms the resort is ideal for families. Also on Passikudah Bay, Centara is opening a property next spring with a second, the Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa on Bentota Peninsula. The Minor Hotel group will also open its fi rst Anantara in 2014. The Kalutara Resort & Spa will be located on the southern coast, 80 km from Bandaranaike International Airport. The resort, which will sit between
the sea and a lagoon will offer 138 guest rooms and suites, an Anantara Spa and, two swimming pools. Hyatt Regency Colombo will be
the fi rst Hyatt-branded hotel in Sri Lanka when it opens in 2014 while the Hong Kong-based Shangri-La fi ve-star luxury hotel chain has also started construction in the city. There is also a new airport opening in 2013 in Hambantota which will make the south coast more accessible. The new Southern Expressway has shortened the travelling time from Colombo to Galle to one-and-a-half hours.
Ask The Operator HANNAH METHVEN
Product Manager, Explore
“The more relaxed
region of the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka is home to smaller traditional towns, stunning scenery and rich cultural history. “Our ‘Active Sri Lanka’ tour allows
customers to get off the beaten track and get a feel for the country and its people. For those who don’t want a multi-active break, our ‘Secrets of Sri Lanka’ tour is another popular choice.”
CAROLINA SVENSSON Product and Purchasing Manager (Middle East & Indian Ocean), Travel2
“The majority of our customers to Sri Lanka are booking a combination of a tour and a beach stay. Sri Lanka is such a diverse destination and has
SRI LANKA top tips...
• Colonial style… “After the long flight, I would recommend going to the Mount Lavinia Hotel. It’s a colonial hotel, not too far from the airport, and you can relax here before going off on a tour” KIRSTY KEELING-JONES Baldwins Travel, Maidstone
• All-rounder… Sri Lanka is the ideal location for an active break, and this, combined with its wildlife and spirituality, is what makes it such a unique destination” HANNAH METHVEN Product Manager, Explore
• Perfect set up… “Sri Lanka is easy to sell in terms of price and is good for couples of all ages. It has diverse scenery, tea plantations, temples and a rock to climb, something for everyone.” KIRSTY KEELING-JONES Branch Manager, Baldwins Travel Maidstone
• Tee it up… “The Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya is a colonial hotel in the middle of a golf course.” RICHARD WILLIAMS Travel writer
ANYONE FOR TEA? BY RICHARD WILLIAMS
“Sri Lanka is an island of contrasts. One day you will be trekking up the 370-metre rockface of Sigirya,
marvelling at the remains of the huge sculptured lion and the beautiful rock carvings of dancing girls, and the next you will be lying on a perfect beach, drinking an ice-cold raki and ginger beer. One day you will be exploring the Dambulla Cave Temple, with its 153 Buddha statues and ancient frescoes, and the next tracking leopards on a jeep safari in Yala National Park. “You can take a perfect cup of tea in a colonial hotel overlooking a golf course in Nuwara Eliya, and return to the coast for some outstanding seafood in a boutique hotel, enjoying levels of luxury you didn’t think you could
afford. It’s not a big island, and you can do all this in a week, but why rush it?”
“Sri Lanka is firmly back on the travel map and there has never been a better time to visit”
From left: Chaaya Wild Yala resort in Yala National Park; Dambulla Cave
Temple, which dates back to the 1st century BC; a golden temple dome; leopard; Sigiriya; tea country.
www.sellinglonghaul.com • December 2012 23
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