Stunning Sri Lanka has it all - Luxurious hotels, beaches, culture, wildlife, tea and spices
If Sri Lanka is not already on your bucket list, then it really should be. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to visit this fabulous country as a guest of Mags Worldwide, Distant Frontiers and All about Flights to find out what it has to offer for the incentive travel market. And I was seriously blown away!
Getting there was very straightforward, with no Covid testing requirements and flights available daily from the UK. I flew from Heathrow via Doha with Qatar Airways, which takes around 13 hours depending on flight connections. I flew into Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, it’s largest city and financial centre. Here I was welcomed by the Distant Frontiers DMC Team, who had put together a fabulous itinerary to explore across the southern tip of Sri Lanka.
Our first stop was the Viceroy Heritage Train yard. Train travel in Sri Lanka is a magical way to experience unspoilt countryside and scenic hills, right down to the secluded beaches of the Indian Ocean. The Viceroy Train is a bright red vintage luxury steam train that can be chartered exclusively for group transfers, travelling directly to some hotels and providing a quite wonderful way to arrive. Whilst in Colombo, we also stopped for a site visit and lunch at the Shangri-La Colombo, a 5-star luxury city centre hotel. My favourite space here was the covered lawn, with its panoramic views across the bustling city. It would make for a very special event.
Around 1.5 hours south of Colombo, the Anantara Kalutara Resort boasts a secluded beachfront setting on the southwest coast. The hotel has 141 rooms, suites and luxury villas complete with private pools, plus an Ayurvedic spa and makes an idyllic retreat for meetings and conferences. After a long journey, it was so nice to have the afternoon to relax, unwind, and explore all the resort had to offer, before cocktails and dinner at the hotel’s Aquiline Restaurant.
One of the most unforgettable moments of the trip was our visit to a local school. The children came out in force to greet us and present us with floral leis made from Frangipani flowers. They then performed traditional songs and dances for us. Responsible, socially conscious and sustainable tourism is a guiding principle for Distant Frontiers and they were keen to highlight the opportunities here. Prior to our visit, we had all donated money to help buy shoes for the children and it was so humbling to see them being presented to them. Donations from previous groups had helped build a toilet block and put a roof on the classroom. This really is a must-do experience and can be customised as part of an incentive itinerary.
"We got a little luckier at Udawalawe National Park, learning how sick and orphaned elephants are cared for by the team at the park, before being released back into the wild”
Next up was the Cinnamon Bentota Beach Hotel on what’s fondly know as the ‘Gold Coast’ for an amazing breakfast and site visit. The luxury beach resort dates back the 60s and houses the best water sports facility in the area, as well as being close to historical landmarks, attractions and cultural sites. This would make a superb venue for corporate events.
Much of the world’s cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka, so a visit here wouldn’t be complete without taking part in a cinnamon experience in Ahungalla to learn about planting and harvesting this exotic spice. We were also lucky enough to visit a turtle hatchery in nearby Kasgoda to see baby turtles and help release those that were ready back into the sea. That evening we feasted on delicious seafood under the stars at Jungle Beach, a remarkable location for beach weddings and parties.
Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea and so it seemed only right to visit the Handungoda Tea Plantation, which specializes in the manufacture of artisanal virgin white tea, reputedly one of the most expensive teas in the world. Master tea maker and sole proprietor, Herman Gunaratne, showed us around, before letting us taste his tea. From here, we travelled to the Batik factory at the craft centre to watch local artists designing Batik sarongs, designing our own to take home as a memento.
Much of the world’s cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka, so a visit here wouldn’t be complete without taking part in a cinnamon experience in Ahungalla to learn about planting and harvesting this exotic spice. We were also lucky enough to visit a turtle hatchery in nearby Kasgoda to see baby turtles and help release those that were ready back into the sea. That evening we feasted on delicious seafood under the stars at Jungle Beach, a remarkable location for beach weddings and parties.
Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea and so it seemed only right to visit the Handungoda Tea Plantation, which specializes in the manufacture of artisanal virgin white tea, reputedly one of the most expensive teas in the world. Master tea maker and sole proprietor, Herman Gunaratne, showed us around, before letting us taste his tea. From here, we travelled to the Batik factory at the craft centre to watch local artists designing Batik sarongs, designing our own to take home as a memento.
Next on the list was Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the crystal-clear waves gently lap against the old Dutch-built fort walls. A quaint colonial-era town with cobbled streets lined with shops and boutiques, we lunched at Amangalla, a luxury boutique hotel inside Galle fort and a great venue for incentive groups.
We were staying at the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle, a 5-star resort with 152 rooms and pool villas and spectacular cliffside dining. For dinner, we visited the neighbouring Amanwell Tangalle, a smaller, 30-suite beachfront hotel, perfect for romantic stays, where we feasted on freshly grilled seafood and meats. Whilst a little further from the airport, this is a great base for exploring Udawalewe National Park and whale watching. Unfortunately, we failed to spot any whales or dolphins on our trip from Marissa Harbour the next day, but it was still a lovely start to the day and gave me a different perspective on the island.
We got a little luckier at Udawalawe National Park, spotting a real variety of animals on our jeep safari, from elephants, deer, buffalo and birds, as well as learning how sick and orphaned elephants are cared for by the team at the park, before being released back into the wild.
We were staying at the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle, a 5-star resort with 152 rooms and pool villas and spectacular cliffside dining. For dinner, we visited the neighbouring Amanwell Tangalle, a smaller, 30-suite beachfront hotel, perfect for romantic stays, where we feasted on freshly grilled seafood and meats. Whilst a little further from the airport, this is a great base for exploring Udawalewe National Park and whale watching. Unfortunately, we failed to spot any whales or dolphins on our trip from Marissa Harbour the next day, but it was still a lovely start to the day and gave me a different perspective on the island.
We got a little luckier at Udawalawe National Park, spotting a real variety of animals on our jeep safari, from elephants, deer, buffalo and birds, as well as learning how sick and orphaned elephants are cared for by the team at the park, before being released back into the wild.
“Working in events, you get to see hundreds of venues, but this one is definitely up there with my all-time favourites”
Our final night we dined in at the Anantara’s Verala restaurant, which a served a delicious blend of Sri Lankan Teppinayaki and Japanese cuisine.
There was time for one final stop before heading back to the airport and that was at the Cape Weligama, a Relais & Chateaux Resort perched 40 metres above the Indian Ocean and am I glad we did! Working in events, you get to see hundreds of venues, but this one is definitely up there with my all-time favourites. Designed by Lek Bunn, one of Asia’s most celebrated architects, this is a real hidden gem. 39 private retreats, 12-acres of manicured lawn and views to die for. We had lunch in the Ocean Terrace Restaurant before making our way back for our flights home.
A jam-packed itinerary really gave me a chance to see that this beautiful island has so much to offer. Sri Lanka really does have it all – new culture, history, delicious cuisine (the local curries were out of this world), wildlife, countryside, gorgeous beaches and so much more.
A big thank you to Mags @ Mags Worldwide, Karan & Dilshad @ Distant Frontiers, Suranga (our lovely local and very knowledgeable guide) and Kathy @ All About Fights for organising this fabulous trip! If you’d like to find out more, so please do get in touch. with me.
There was time for one final stop before heading back to the airport and that was at the Cape Weligama, a Relais & Chateaux Resort perched 40 metres above the Indian Ocean and am I glad we did! Working in events, you get to see hundreds of venues, but this one is definitely up there with my all-time favourites. Designed by Lek Bunn, one of Asia’s most celebrated architects, this is a real hidden gem. 39 private retreats, 12-acres of manicured lawn and views to die for. We had lunch in the Ocean Terrace Restaurant before making our way back for our flights home.
A jam-packed itinerary really gave me a chance to see that this beautiful island has so much to offer. Sri Lanka really does have it all – new culture, history, delicious cuisine (the local curries were out of this world), wildlife, countryside, gorgeous beaches and so much more.
A big thank you to Mags @ Mags Worldwide, Karan & Dilshad @ Distant Frontiers, Suranga (our lovely local and very knowledgeable guide) and Kathy @ All About Fights for organising this fabulous trip! If you’d like to find out more, so please do get in touch. with me.