Boutique Hotels in Sri Lanka

Why go?

This beautiful tropical island has something for everyone - palm-fringed golden beaches, cool hill stations, tea plantations, lush rainforest, wildlife, ancient cities, Buddhist temples and colourful festivals. There are some beautiful places to stay, the cooking is good and spicy, the cost of living is relatively low, and the Sri Lankan people are friendly and generous. Its compact size allows you to appreciate the diversified attractions in just a couple of weeks. And although it's an established tourist destination (mainly British and German visitors), Sri Lanka remains largely unspoilt.

And if Sri Lanka's beaches aren't enough for you, you can always end with a few blissful days on the Maldives - 1,200 sand-ringed drops of paradise, only an hour's flight away.

Any Downsides?

Due to the long-running Sinhalese-Tamil conflict, the far north and east of the island have been out of bounds to travellers for many years (none of our chosen hotels or villas are in this area). The conflict between the Government and the “Tamil Tigers” ended in May 2009, and all territory in Sri Lanka is now under Government control. However, there may still be outbreaks of politically-motivated violence, particularly in the north and east, so you should check the latest situation before travelling (see UK Foreign Office advice). In any case you should expect some roadblocks and checkpoints, and a continuing military presence in Colombo and at the airport.

Touting can be a nuisance, although less so than in India. And bear in mind that, although distances are not that great, journeys take longer than you might think due to poor road conditions.

What's where?

• Bentota: Glorious beaches - snorkel, dive, swim and learn to surf in calm turquoise waters Read More >>
• Colombo: Sleep away jet lag, stroll around the shops, watch the sun set over the ocean and unwind Read More >>
• Cultural Triangle: Rich in history, this area brims with ancient cities and Sinhalese ruins, majestic Buddhist temples, and Sigiriya, the fabulous Unesco rock fortress Read More >>
• Galle & South Coast: Beautiful beaches, historical Galle, traditional fishing and good reef diving Read More >>
• Kandy & Hill Country: Lovely laid-back Kandy, baby elephants at the orphanage, afternoon tea at a plantation and breath-taking views from Adam's Peak and World's End Read More >>
• Wilpattu & Northwest: Sri Lanka’s largest national park, unspoilt beaches with dolphin & whale migrations, rural villages with ancient ‘tanks’ and coconut plantations Read More >>