DESTINATIONS INDIAN OCEAN | SRI LANKA


stay WHERE TO


Ulagalla This sprawling all-pool-villa resort near Anuradhapura combines character – thanks to the 150-year-old mansion at its centre – with modern, luxurious accommodation. Its 25 sizeable villas feature four-poster beds, free-standing bathtubs and private pool terraces. Book it: B&B from £395. ugaescapes.com


Jetwing Vil Uyana With a rustic feel, this resort would suit clients looking for eco-friendly credentials without sacrificing a spa or infinity pool. Large rooms overlook paddy fields, forest or water, some with balconies and plunge pools, and dining is top-notch. Book it: From $330. jetwinghotels.com


Rosyth Estate House Set in a 1920s tea planter’s house and just two hours from Colombo, this peaceful estate is a perfect spot to wind down after a tour. Expect outstanding service, excellent food from the organic garden, yoga and rooms ranging from classics with character to high-spec suites. Book it: Doubles from £190. rosyth.lk


Uga Bay East coast beaches are some of the best in Sri Lanka, and the private two-mile stretch at Uga Bay is no exception. The resort has airy rooms, a relaxed vibe and great watersports, plus inventive add-ons such as a sand-dining experience. Book it: B&B from £256. ugaescapes.com


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Elephants in Minneriya National Park; Uga Bay beach; Jetwing Vil Uyana PICTURES: Jaideep Oberoi; AndoShah+LightWorx; Katie McGonagle; iStock


fast fact


British travellers can get a free visa on arrival in


Sri Lanka in a six-month trial which began on August 1, saving the previous $35 fee


wildlife are as enticing now as they ever were, perhaps even more so since they’re not as jam-packed with other tourists.


Sigiriya, the ancient rock fortress and probably Sri


Lanka’s most-visited site, was certainly easier to get around without the crowds. Quite how the followers of fifth-century king Kassapa managed to construct an imposing citadel atop this rock, which rises dramatically from the plains of central Sri Lanka to a dizzying height of 180m, is hard to comprehend. The skill and effort it took for those ancient engineers to hack out a path to the top, to divert water along channels that feed fountains still functioning today, or to carve the huge paws of a lion at the entrance to the king’s palace is truly impressive – as are the incredible 360-degree views over the surrounding plains when you finally reach the summit.


GOING WILD Sri Lanka’s wildlife is also as much of a draw as ever, and with fewer safari vehicles lining up at every whiff of a sighting, your clients’ journey through the country’s national parks might even be more rewarding. That was certainly the case at Minneriya National


Park, a short drive from Sigiriya. Locals told us the migration of elephants to nearby park Kaudulla had already begun, so we weren’t too confident of our chances of a sighting. How wrong we were.


We saw an elephant come into


view, then another and another, until a whole herd could be seen chomping away on trees


After a few minutes’ jolting along in an open-air safari truck, our driver stopped abruptly and reversed a few feet, pointing enthusiastically to the left. We followed his gaze, and saw an elephant come into view between the trees, then another and another, until a whole herd, including adorable calves and enormous tuskers, could be seen chomping away on trees and meandering back and forth across the road. We were the only ones there, free to stop for as long as we wanted to watch these animals in their natural habitat – until one started to take a little too much of an interest in our vehicle, and we thought it time to move on – but nothing could match the excitement of that first, unexpected sighting. Elephants aren’t the only ones to watch out for,


though. While most leopard lovers make a beeline for Yala, we went to the opposite end of the island for a safari through Wilpattu National Park, once a no-go area during the civil war. We were lucky enough to spot an elusive leopard


² 54 8 AUGUST 2019 travelweekly.co.uk


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