DESTINATIONS SRI LANKA | HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS views views AGENTS’
Steph Pitcher, personal travel consultant, Hays Travel “My favourite
place to stay was Amaya Lake, with its huge, tastefully decorated rooms. I loved the winding pathways that led to the rooms and were lit up at night. It overlooks Kandalama Lake and has an inviting swimming pool. The reception and bar area are beautiful, and the welcome from local dancers was a lovely touch.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Refreshments at Chaarya Resort & Spa, served both indoors and at the pool; yoga session at Amaya Lake; the swimming pool at Turyaa Kalutara PICTURES: Shutterstock/Ondrej Prosicky; Devaka Seneviratne
of the hotel. For those who want to explore, it’s close to the city’s buzzing Fort area, with its boutique shops and landmarks such as the Old Lighthouse. There’s also good road access to Galle, home of Asia’s largest surviving European-built fortress, and Ella, near the photo- worthy Nine Arch Bridge viaduct. Rooms: From £97 per night, room-only.
Amaya Lake, Dambulla Best for . . . peace and quiet On the shores of Lake Kandalama and surrounded by lush woodland, Amaya Lake has 101 individual chalets. The secluded, private feel makes it an ideal place to unwind after exploring nearby attractions, including the imposing Sigiriya rock fortress and historic Dambulla cave temple, while additional in-hotel services such as breakfast in bed, cocktails at sunset, high tea, candlelit dinners and
boat rides on the lake can be arranged on request. Rooms: From £132 per night, based on two adults sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Turyaa Kalutara, Kalutara Best for . . . entertainment Offering seaview rooms with private balconies, coconut palm-lined gardens and easy access to the beach, Turyaa Kalutara ticks all the boxes. But entertainment is where it really shines, with live traditional
BOOK IT
Mercury Holidays’ nine-day Jewels of Sri Lanka tour, which includes visits to Dambulla, Kandy, Yala and Galle and stays at Amaya Lake, Amaya Hills and Chaarya Resort & Spa, starts at £1,999, including meals, transport and flights, departing June 8. The operator’s 17-day Grand Tour of Sri Lanka visits Kandy, Colombo, Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla and Yala, and includes stays at Amaya Hills, Amaya Lake and Ramada Colombo, with prices starting at £2,499 for a September 6 departure, including meals, transport and flights. All individual hotels can also be booked with flights through the company.
mercuryholidays.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk
Sri Lankan drum and pipe music in the lobby, and a dedicated nightclub space with its own bar, stage and DJ booth. There are also two bar areas – Taaza, a standalone hut in the garden with low tables and cushioned floor seating, and Twist, which looks out over the ocean and specialises in cocktails – not to mention plenty to do in the daytime, with two pools, a badminton court and pool table. Rooms: From £90 per night, room-only.
TW
Sharon Goodship, branch manager, Hays Travel
“Turyaa Kalutara was in a great location for exploring southern Sri Lanka. Its clean, comfy rooms all overlook the Indian Ocean, with stunning sunsets. It serves tasty Sri Lankan dishes and sits alongside white sand lined with coconut palms – the perfect place for families or couples looking for a beach holiday.”
Nicola O’Keeffe, The Personal Travel Agents “After a day
exploring Kandy, there was nothing better than being welcomed by the tranquillity of the Amaya Hills hotel. The rooftop bar is perfect for pre-dinner drinks and the buffet restaurant means there’s something for everyone. The morning views of the hills and city were incredible.”
13 APRIL 2023
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