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Why you should visit Sri Lanka in 2022
By Tempus | 5 April 2022 | Travel
With the pandemic era of travel coming to an end, why not head further afield for your first big trip of the year?
It goes without saying that Sri Lanka has long been considered one of the best travel destinations in the world. Indeed, with a glorious tropical climate, beautiful beaches, water sports, unique wildlife, fascinating history and culture, it remains at the top of many traveller's bucket lists as we move away from an era of travel curtailed by the pandemic.
With wellness so paramount post pandemic, Sri Lanka is also considered the perfect destination to visit for that much needed R&R and holistic healing. And with endless sunshine and temperatures of 30 degrees almost year-round, it is the perfect antidote to being stuck in rainy old Britain for two years.
To that end, Uga Escapes, a leading Sri Lanka luxury resort operator with five boutique hotels spread across breathtaking destinations, and The Luxury Travel Book, villa rental specialists with an incredible selection of villas on the south coast beaches of Sri Lanka, have teamed up to recommend the best getaway destinations across the country, each with a highly individual style. So if you're planning on going further afield this year, make Sri Lanka your first port of call..
Ulagalla, Anuradhapura
Ulagalla is a boutique hotel surrounded by nature – Once the ancestral estate of local Anuradhapura nobility, this 150-year-old grand Sri Lankan home has been renovated and transformed into 20 private raised Villas stretching across 58 acres of verdant land.
Guests can enjoy the ambience of ancient kingdoms or nature-based adventures whilst immersed in luxurious, ecologically-sustainable beauty. The lush environment, stunning landscaping, and exquisite attention to comfort, makes for an unforgettable experience amidst a green oasis.
Uga Bay, Pasikudah
Uga Bay is a luxury Pasikuda beach hotel situated on one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated beach stretches – Pasikuda. Brimming with coastal charm, our property’s stunning architectural design incorporates Mediterranean elegance and tropical simplicity, making it stand out amongst the Pasikuda hotels.
Uga Bay provides guests with 3km of untouched and private coastal beach stretch and it is renowned as the best beach in Sri Lanka. It is also in close proximity to world class scuba diving locations and a great spot to take part in some exhilarating water sports activities.
Jungle Beach, Trincomalee
Simply known as Uga Jungle Beach, this Sri Lanka beach resort stylishly incorporates its existing environs into its design and experience. Blending in with its surrounding flora, the resort looks and feels like a luxurious tree house.
Situated in close proximity to Trincomalee city, this picturesque Sri Lanka resort with private pool options, offers a unique blend of exhilarating adventure activities and sightseeing opportunities – which display its inimitable cultural landscape. Jungle Beach is also the perfect place to see the amazing whales and dolphins off the coast of Uga Jungle Beach.
Residence, Colombo
Nestled between the shady Park Street and the tranquil lakeside Buddhist temple of Gangarama, Uga Residence is one of the most lavish boutique hotels in Colombo. Built back in the 19th Century by a wealthy barrister by the name of Sheikh Salehboy Moosajee, this Victorian townhouse once welcomed governors, maharajas, nobility, and the cream of Ceylon’s colonial society. Today, Uga Residence is a unique 11-suite hotel in Colombo, offering guests the perfect secluded spot from which to explore the bustling commercial heart of Sri Lanka.
Chena Huts, Yala National Park
Located in the unspoilt and relatively undiscovered south of Sri Lanka, Chena Huts borders the Yala National Park on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. The main attraction of Chena Huts has to be the wildlife.
Yala National Park offers the highest leopard densities in the world, almost guaranteeing guests a sighting of these magnificent creatures. At this small, select property, the ‘huts’ are in fact luxurious detached, private pavilions, offering fine views of the surrounding wilderness and seascape.
Villa Badulla, Tangalle
This spectacular villa on Sri Lanka’s south coast near Tangalle, sits in a beautifully designed tropical garden with panoramic sea views, and private access to the beach. Within the landscaped gardens the large kidney-shaped infinity swimming pool with jacuzzi has sloping beach access, making it ideal for small children as well as adults. There is also a 20m water slide that falls into a plunge pool.
Further down in the garden, is a spacious yoga pavilion offering a gentle and quiet area for yoga and meditation, and with wonderful views out to sea. There is even a large lawn, suitable for playing cricket, with an umpire’s hut, which can double as a shaded ‘refreshment pavilion’. The villa comes fully staffed, including a chef who can provide an expansive range of cuisine and children’s menus, as well as provide cooking lessons on site.
Weligama Bay View
Located on Sri Lanka’s colourful south coast, this delightful five-bedroom villa blends beach chic with contemporary living. A modern-colonial property with carefully-appointed interiors, Weligama Bay View offers space for up to ten guests to enjoy the enviable views across the water this holiday season. Outside, large terraced gardens with an idyllic salt-water swimming pool and flourishing exotic flora and fauna add to the splendour of this tropical oasis.
But that's not all, as steps meander down to the sandy beach of Weligama Bay and to the swing overlooking the sea, allowing for optimal relaxation. Inside, elegant antiques, rich textiles, vaulted ceilings, open-plan living, and exposed polished cement add yet another layer of style to this Sri Lankan villa.
Galle Fort
This luxury villa to rent is situated within the atmospheric and historic 300 year old Dutch-built Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enabling guests to visit the iconic landmarks, restaurants and bars on foot, whilst Galle’s international cricket test ground is just 200 metres away.
Dating back to the Dutch colonial period, the villa features the original wide archways, exposed beams and black-and-white chequerboard floors. There is also an inviting swimming pool, a roof terrace for dining and sunbathing, and a billiard table.
Villa Mirissa
Upon arrival a stone path leads you past a wild and wonderful walkway of frangipani flowers to Villa Mirissa. Elevated upon a south facing clifftop with stunning sea views, Villa Mirissa enjoys open-plan interiors with high ceilings and arched doorways, and extending out from the main living space, a veranda for relaxing and dining, a prime spot to enjoy the Sri Lankan sunset over the water.
Outside, an array of tropical flora and fauna thrive throughout the landscaped property, while another path leads you past the infinity pool to a private beachside garden and yoga space.