Sri Lanka Locations & Hotels

Colombo

Sri Lanka´s capital is a fascinating city and has been a flourishing seaport for centuries. Today the bustle of the harbour mingles with the activity of its busy commercial, banking and shopping areas. The original trading settlers - the Portuguese, Dutch and the British have all left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankans. Some of the hotels we recommend here are:

Cinnamon Grand

This five-star hotel stands in 10 acres of greenery, a few yards from the Indian Ocean, on the edge of Colombo's commercial area. One of a elite band of hotels that can lay claim to be the most luxurious hotel in the capital.

The Trans Asia Hotel

This hotel offers a variety of facilities for its visitors and is situated in the central business district of Colombo, close to shopping and entertainment facilities, and within short walking distance of the beach.

The Galle Face Hotel

A Colonial style property with world old charm and the comforts of the modern age. Situated in the heart of Colombo, this hotel is in an ideal location to enjoy the tranquillity of the ocean whilst being in the city.

Anuradhapura

This was Sri Lanka's first capital and is situated about 206km from Colombo. The Sacred Bo Tree is arguably the city's holiest site and is the world's oldest historically documented tree at 2,200 years old. It is home to many major ancient attractions including the Isurumuniya lovers carved in stone and the 42ft rock cut Buddha.

The Palm Garden Village Hotel

Situated just three kilometres from the ruins of Anuradhapura and ideal for relaxing in the midst of nature, offering considerable facilities.

Polonnaruwa

The Island´s medieval capital (11th-13th century A.D.) is situated 216 km from Colombo and rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. You could also go to see the ruins of the King´s Council Chamber, the Royal Citadel, the Kumara Pokuna, Royal Pavilion and the Vatadage Relic House which is lavished with moonstones, guard-stones and sculptured railing.

Also, Kiri Vehera - the best preserved of all Sri Lanka's un-restored dagabas, and Gal Vihare where the most impressive sculptures are the colossal Buddha images carved on the face of a granite boulder. The recumbent Buddha measures 14 metres and the standing figure is seven metres in height.

The Deer Park

A boutique style hotel in the most lovely setting facing the Giritale Reservoir within the district capital of Polonnaruwa. The hotel is surrounded by a number of national wildlife parks and in close proximity to many rural villages. All 77 cottages are furnished in vibrant colours and asian craft - 61 of these rooms have open air bathrooms.

Mahout Adventure Club

This hotel has its own spa facilities, both indoor and outdoor, with a wide range of treatments. There are two restaurants and two bars which offer both local and international cuisine (the food is of an excellent standard) and there is even an 'adventure club'. You can book any one of a number of excursions including a night safari, a journey through the jungle on elephant back or an ancient kingdoms tour.

Amaya Lake

This is a hotel and eco-lodge. There are 100 bungalow style rooms situated around the lake all with air conditioning, mini-bar, en-suite facilites and a small veranda. The hotel has a large open air dining area and offers a choice of international or Sri Lankan cuisine. Wild birds can be freely seen in the trees surrounding the lake and bats come out in the early evening and swoop amongst the trees.

The hotel has the most wonderful Ayurvedic spa centre which is the best cure for jet lag! For approximately £10 you'll have an hour and a half treatment that finishes with a herbal bath. You can lounge in the bath with views over the palm trees and countryside whilst monkeys casually watch you from the trees!

Sigiriya

This majestic 82m high rock fortress was constructed by King Kashayapa and is famous for its enchanting frescoes of sky maidens. There are spectacular views from the fortress. Other points of interest include the Lion Stairway, the lovely ornamental water garden and the mirror wall with its ancient egg white and lime glaze, which gleams even 1,500 years later.

The Sigiriya Village Hotel

Located in the Cultural Triangle, with a serene and rustic atmosphere this hotel offers spectacular views of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress from the swimming pool. This hotel has a choice of accommodation but throughout the rural grounds you'll see monkeys in the trees and rooftops!

Elephant Corridor Hotel

A new luxury eco-project designed to leave the local habitat undisturbed and allow animals to wander unimpeded through its 200-acre grounds. This hi-tech 24-suite boutique hotel offers guests a chance to go back to nature in style, as well as making the perfect base from which to explore the fascinating ancient sites of the Cultural Triangle.

The grounds incorporate a water tank where elephants regularly come to bathe, sports facilities, Ayurvedic Spa, large outdoor pool and 'jungle bar'. The roomy and elegant suites with a huge picture window, private terrace with private plunge pool, easel and pair of binoculars.

Dambulla

Dambulla is, like Sigiriya, a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that King Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1st century B.C. He later turned the caves into a rock temple. Some of the frescoes are over 2,000 years old and there is a colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the living rock, some 14 metres long.

The Kandalama Hotel

Tucked away in a virgin tropical jungle, this hotel occupies one of the most exotic sites in the heart of the cultural triangle, overlooking the Kandalama tank and the range of Knuckles hills. Its comfortable surroundings of tropical jungles, calm waters and mountain rock countryside offer visitors absolute luxury.

Kandy

This is Sri Lanka's hill capital, stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, and regarded by most Sri Lankans as the country's most beautiful town. It is 488m above sea level and is built around a peaceful lake and set in a picturesque natural arena. Next to Colombo, Kandy is Sri Lanka´s most visited destination. The focal point of the town is, without a doubt, the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa where the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined. You could also visit the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, where the ill or injured wild elephants are looked after.

The Hotel Topaz

This magnificent hotel is situated in Kandy Town on a hilltop overlooking splendid views of Hantana, Knuckles group, Hunas Giriya, Matale hills and The Bible Rock, and offers its residents use of many facilities.

Swiss Residence

A 3* property within a five minute walk from the centre of Kandy, The rich blend of Swiss and Kandyan architecture combined with the hospitality of the staff makes this an ideal budget hotel.

Amaya Hills Resort

Set high up in the hills above the ancient city of Kandy, this offers a welcome relief from the bustling scene in the town below. Cooler at night time due to the altitude, the Amaya Hills has a large pool with wonderful views over the hills. The rooms are large and comfortable all with ensuite facilities, safes and mini bar. The rooms all have a city view and it is pretty hard to beat sitting on your balcony with a gin and tonic looking at the city lights of an evening. With a choice of Sri Lankan or international cuisine, the food is excellent and the staff all very friendly.

The Mahaweli Reach Hotel

Offering a tranquil ambience in relaxing surroundings, this hotel offers all your creature comforts and is situated 110km from Colombo on the outskirts of the old royal city of Kandy at the Mahaweli River.

Nuwara Eliya

Set in the heart of the tea-country, this beautiful town is where the British succeeded in creating an English countryside with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne. Well-kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican church and the famous golf course and beautiful parks give the place an air of nostalgia.

Situated at 1,890 metres above sea level, the air here is cool and fresh - a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo. Close to Nuwara Eliya are Horton Plains, Sri Lanka´s highest and most isolated plateau. Recommended hotels are:

Grand Hotel

With a 100-year-old heritage, this was the former residence of Sir Edward Barnes, Governor of Sri Lanka from 1830-1850. Situated in the Central Province amidst mountain greenery and lush valleys, the hotel offers many rooms and facilities, adjacent to the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.

Galway Forest Lodge

Just 1.5 kms from the town of Nuwara Eliya, overlooking the verdant of the Galway Nature reserve, the Galway Forest Lodge has spacious rooms. There is also a large recreation room featuring a billiards table, darts board and TV lounge. They offer high standard menus and the food is excellent. We recommend this as a good simple budget hotel.

Heritage Hotel

Situated opposite Nuwara Eliya race course, the old English governors residence is more English than the English home. The house could have been taken from England and placed in the middle of Nuwara Eliya, so much so that when you sit in the bar, you wonder what the room was used for. The interior and flooring are of dark wood, which could lead to noisiness of people walking around. Rooms are of a good size with four-poster beds.

The Tea Factory Hotel

Built several decades ago during the British Era, the tea factory has been converted into a unique luxurious hotel. This rather unusual hotel, situated amidst misty mountains and the tea plantations of the Hill Country, has retained its character and offers a wide variety of services and facilities.

Embilipitiya

A small village on the edge of a rice growing area. On the main road going to the village you pass an Elephant Corridor where you are likely to see wild elephants, as well as water lizards and plenty of tortoises. The Born Free Foundation also has its orphaned baby elephant transit house here, with a view point to watch the babies being fed. All of these babies will be returned to the wild.

Centuria Hotel

A 51 room air-conditioned touring hotel, in a prime location for visiting Udawalawe National Park, Ratnapura and Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve. The hotel has spacious gardens extending over four acres bordering the Chandrika Lake and jungle. At the bottom of the garden they have their own Ayurvedic centre with rooms above. In addition to hourly programmes you can have 7 or 10 day treatments. There is a doctor available to discuss the treatments that you need.

Yala

Yala is famous for its national park, the largest of all the parks in Sri Lanka with a varied terrain ranging from open parkland to dense jungle. Waterholes, small lakes, lagoons and streams feed the large number of elephant, bear, wild boar, and deer. There is also a wide variety of birds in the park that are very easy to spot. The highlight of everyone's trip is if they are lucky enough to see a leopard.

Rosen Renaissance

Located in the foothills of Wedahiti Kanda and in close proximity to the world famous shrine in the religious City of Kataragama and Wildlife Sanctuary of Yala, this 5* property with 52 Luxury rooms all have bedrooms exceeding 400sq ft. Here they boast the only underwater music system in their main pool.

Yala Village Hotel

Situated at Kinda, bordering Yala Wildlife Sanctuary and the Indian Ocean, this hotel is set in 10 acres of Jungle and offers deluxe accommodation in Jungle and Beach Chalets all furnished to a high standard. There is a large swimming pool with a pool side bar which you may even share with the monkeys!

The restaurant serves international as well as local cuisine. As you come out of your chalet the staff will be waiting for you to escort you to the hotel as elephants, bears, and even on occasions a leopard may visit the hotel. There is a 360 degree view suite hidden behind the trees for you to view the wildlife. This hotel is great for visiting Yala and Bundala.

Ella Adventure Park

Ella Adventure Park is great for all the family, as the accommodation fits in with its surroundings and gives a jungle atmosphere, with en-suite rooms with hot and cold water, there is even a tree house that sleeps four. Activities range from aerial ropes, para-gliding, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, abseiling, canoeing and for children Frogging, walking, bird watching, plus many more.

Negombo

A characteristic fishing town about 37km north of Colombo and about 6km from the International Airport. Set amid lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet´s paradise with plenty of seafood. Old world fishing craft like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran bring seer, skipjack tuna, herring and mullet, pomfret and amber-jack whilst lobster and prawns are caught in the lagoon.

The Blue Oceanic Hotel

Subtly elegant and effortlessly stylish, this hotel allows its guests to experience the exotic scenic beauty of Negombo, with its alluring coastline of surf-washed beaches and green coastal plains, from a pampered perspective.

Browns Beach

3* property, ideal for a week or as a one night stop over on arrival as it is only 6km from the airport. The hotel has 3 restaurants, a poolside and beach bar, Karaoke bar and a night club. They have plenty of sports and leisure activities.

The Beach Hotel & Spa

This is the first 5* hotel in Negombo which lies nestled among the palm trees along the beautiful beach. The hotel is tastefully decorated and each room opens up onto a large private balcony or terrace, overlooking the Indian Ocean. Just 12 kms from the airport, this is a great hotel to spend a holiday of luxury. We highly recommend this hotel.

Mount Lavinia

Just 12km south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is an immediate city suburb and the beach is one of the better-known even in colonial times. It lies alongside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sand is the softest and the waves calm and clear. The Governor´s House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel

With extensive beach frontage, and a spacious terrace overlooking the bay and Colombo skyline, this is the true romantic hotel of Sri Lanka, with many facilities available for the use of its visitors.

Kalutara

Kalutara has a huge stretch of fine white sand with numerous coconut palms on the edge. There are plenty of restaurants all along the beach offering suburb food. Sri Lankan ladies sell Sarongs on the beach for a relatively small amount. The town is also known for its basket making out of wild date leaves.

The Tangerine Beach Hotel

This hotel offers many facilities and services and is situated just ten minutes from Kalutara town. The main restaurant overlooks the sea and water garden and the supper club offers a panoramic view of the beach.

Beruwala

56km south of Colombo, Beruwala marks the beginning of a 130km stretch of beach where resort development has taken immense strides in the past few years. The sea is safe to swim in all year around. River trips are popular here, where you will see a variety of wildlife and fauna.

Eden Hotel & Spa

This 5* hotel meets every comfort from the smiling welcome to the luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. Situated right on the beach at Beruwala, the Eden has a large swimming pool, billiards, snooker and table tennis, squash court, nightclub, fitness facilities, three restaurants, five bars, and a shopping arcade.

The Club Palm Garden

A club-style all-inclusive hotel with many facilities on offer, this is perfect for families wanting a holiday filled with activity. The best rooms are on the ground floor with terraces, ideal for keeping an eye on the children in the pool.

Bentota

62km south of Colombo, the Bentota Resort is a romantic rendez-vous of river and sea with several hotels, railway station, post office, shopping arcade, cafeteria and an open-air theatre showing folk and mask dancing with clusters of palms overlooking everything. The Turtle research project is here; they welcome visitors to their hatchery where you can see the five different species of Turtle that visits the Sri Lankan waters. Some recommended hotels include:

The Saman Villas

Beautifully located on a rocky headland separating two seemingly endless stretches of unspoilt beaches, with dense green coconut plantations, this hotel offers breathtaking views from anywhere in the hotel and pure luxury in the standard of accommodation and food.

Lihiniya Surf Hotel

The ever-present song of the surf makes the soothing background sound of the waves in this low rise, 2-storey hotel. The Lihiniya Hotel is of 3* standard with superior rooms all facing the beach, with a terrace or balcony. The most popular bar is the beach bar situated in the garden overlooking the sea. There are floodlit tennis courts, badminton and beach volleyball.

Taj Exotica

Located on a hillock overlooking the Indian Ocean and palm fringed stretch of golden beach of Bentota, the Taj Exotica Hotel is reputed to be the finest beach resort in Sri Lanka with 5* luxury. This hotel is some 90kms from Colombo International airport, offering 6 types of rooms, all with balcony or terrace, the ultimate beach hotel in Sri Lanka.

Hikkaduwa

98km south of Colombo, Hikkaduwa is a place of underwater delight. Site of the famed coral gardens, you can hire a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and explore the fantasies under your feet. Surfing and divers come from around the world to test the Sri Lankan waters and never leave disappointed.

Amaya Reef

With each room overlooking the Indian Ocean, this hotel is in a lovely setting. Directly on the beach, as you enter the foyer of the hotel you are greeted with a most welcome view through to the pool and the ocean beyond. All rooms have a simple, clean design with ensuite facilities, safe and mini bar. There is a small spa here and a latin American bar in the basement of the hotel.

The restaurant is open air and faces onto the ocean and offers a choice of international or local cuisine. A coral reef is approximately 40 minutes off shore and the Amaya Reef arranges snorkeling and diving trips. Also organized from the hotel are trips into Galle - the Dutch fort town or into the local villages nearby.

The Hotel Reefcomber

This hotel offers everything for an enjoyable affordable holiday in a land of sun, sea and sand. With rooms that look out over the sea and countless facilities, the Hotel Reefcomber is a great budget style hotel.

Galle

116km south of Colombo is the most important southern town with an old-world charm. Believed to be the ´Tarshish´ of the Bible, Galle´s natural harbour was a famous fort in days gone by. Famous for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing.

Lighthouse Hotel

Inspired by the majesty of the nearby fort, this hotel is made from heavy sandstone, making the interior cool to step into from the sizzling heat outside, and offering many facilities for its guests to enjoy.

Weligama

Weligama is situated 27km from Galle with its picturesque bay, and an offshore islet where a French Count built his dream house. Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt fishermen. Taprabone Island is a private island ideal for groups of up to 10, totally exotic and totally unique. Wading through the shallow sea water to reach the island just adds to the excitement, with sheer luxury greeting the visitor on arrival, with a staff of six, including a cook, to cater for your every need. There is even a personal security guard to patrol the island to maintain your privacy.

Maldives

Why not extend your holidays to incorporate one of the breath taking islands of the Maldives? There are 1,200 small coral Islands - a name derived from Sanskrit, meaning a Garland of Islands. Marco Polo referred to the Islands as "The flower of the Indies"

Here you will find yourself surrounded by turquoise lagoons and beaches of soft white sand. The waters are home to dolphins, turtles, Manta Rays and sharks as well as all the Coral and fish that live on the reefs - a divers Paradise.

The Islands vary from 3* to 6* standard - thatched huts to water bungalows with all the luxury that you could ever imagine.

We can recommend the perfect paradise island to suit your requirements - whether it is a deserted Robinson Crusoe style island or the most luxurious island with water bungalows or an excellent value island offering a full range of facilities. Please email Alison for her personal recommendations alison@worldwideholidays.co.uk

Dubai

Known as "The Pearl of the Arabian Gulf" Dubai has everything to offer; weather, beaches, luxurious hotels, desert safaris to championship golf courses. Only seven hours away from the UK, Dubai is the Gateway between East and West, flying Emirates to Sri Lanka what better way to break up the journey and have a few days to relax or shop in this Cosmopolitan resort.

We can give you our personal recommendations of the great hotels for a short or long stay.