Rooms

Named after Hindu sun gods, all suites are large, with cool white walls, tasteful Sri Lankan art, Balinese antiques and big comfy beds dressed in crisp linen. The 6 Shanthi Suites open out to small and private enclosed gardens, but we recommend spending the extra for one of the 5 Sagara Suites, which offer ocean views and balconies. The huge 2-storey Surya Suite, with its mezzanine sleeping area and large sun terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean, is an indulgent choice for honeymooners.

We loved our big, immaculately designed bathroom with its monsoon shower, double sinks and open wall leading to our cement Jacuzzi and decked balcony. The angles made it discreet enough not to bother with clothes (we checked!), and the balcony was a suntrap from afternoon onwards; it also made a great spot for sundowners as the sun sank behind the palms.

All suites come with the same mod cons: minibar, wide-screen TV, WiFi, safe, hairdryer, and tea- and coffee-making equipment; the Sagara and Surya Suites also have iPod docks. Two of the Shanthi Suites even have a funky UV lighting feature which allows an artificial night sky to be created on the ceiling (these suites do not have ceiling fans).

Since our visit, the Pool Suites and Sky Suites have also been added. We're yet to personally view them, but they sound every bit as tempting as their predecessors.

As with most modern hotels in Sri Lanka, the air conditioning can make the rooms chilly - we preferred to swing open the wide balcony doors at night, close the louvred shutters, and be lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean (mosquito nets are available on request).

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The hotel's restaurant, with its high ceilings, cool cement floor and one side open to the ocean-facing, palm-pocked garden, is a pleasant spot for dining and is particularly atmospheric when lit up at night. Special anniversary meals can also be set up by the pool surrounded by tea lights, or even at a private table on the beach.

Breakfast, served throughout the day, is good - eggs any style, fresh fruit, juices and homemade bread come as standard, and the coffee was the best we tasted in Sri Lanka. There are also a few local options - string hoppers with fish and dhal, perhaps, or egg hoppers with chicken curry and kata sambol.

Lunch is similarly tasty. We particularly enjoyed the enormous seafood platters - steamed fish, grilled tiger prawns and squid - accompanied by freshly baked bread. Sandwiches, soups and salads are available, too, including a chicken Caesar salad served in a huge bowl and laced with lovely salty anchovies. There are hammocks strung between the coconut trees in the garden for a post-lunch siesta.

Aditya’s international dinner menu covers quite a few world cuisines, including a scattering of Japanese and Indian dishes. We felt it excelled at Thai food and indulged in a delicious green papaya salad and Thai green chicken curry. There was also a selection of well-prepared Sri Lankan food (try the Batticaloa beef curry), along with a few familiar Western options such as Australian steak, coq au vin and lamb chops. The staff will go off menu if you ask them to. By Sri Lankan standards, the bar offers a decent selection of spirits, wines and champagne.

If you want to eat out, staff can recommend some fine dining options in Galle Fort (a 15-minute drive). For more lively bars and cheaper beachside eateries, head north to the nearby surf resort of Hikkaduwa (a 5-minute drive).

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Aditya offers a pleasant setting for sunbathing, swimming and strolling along the beach. Fabulous sunsets will keep your camera clicking, and there is a large collection of games, books and DVDs to choose from
  
• Try out the popular spa with its Jacuzzi, massage beds and private room for bath treatments. Choose from a range of pampering treats with a female or male therapist. Treatments can be carried out in your room, too
  
• Up-and-coming Galle, with its historic Dutch fort, boutiques and fine restaurants, is 15 minutes by car. The hotel can arrange transport for you
  
• Guided bicycle rides take you on serene peddles through the villages, paddy fields and back lanes of the hotel’s emerald hinterland, with a picnic included - just ask staff for details
  
• Boat rides up the nearby Rathgama river offer similarly scenic panoramas, as well as the chance to spot colourful birdlife and other creatures
  
• For watersports, head to nearby Hikkaduwa (5 minutes by tuk-tuk or taxi) - one of Sri Lanka's most popular resorts for surfing and diving
  
• For calmer beaches where you can swim, head south past Galle to Weligama and Mirissa. We also took the hotel Mini Moke to Unawatuna, where backpacker-style cafés along the beach make a pleasant lunch stop
  
• Ambalangoda, a 20-minute drive north from Aditya, is a centre for arts and crafts. Renowned for its distinctive devil masks, it's one of the best places in Sri Lanka to shop for antiques
  
• If you can’t get enough of Sri Lanka’s delicious cuisine, join a cookery class. Aditya’s chef will take you on a culinary journey, which begins at the local market and ends with a hands-on demonstration in the kitchen

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome at Aditya and staff will go the extra mile to help parents.

Children under 3 stay free of charge and those aged 4 to 11 will be charged 15-25% of the room rate per child, with a maximum number of 2 children per room.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Aditya is set on a secluded beach 15 minutes north of Galle, on Sri Lanka's south west coast. It's around 2 hours south of Colombo.

By Air:
Fly to Bandaranaike International Airport (135km away) in Colombo. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
Aditya can arrange a transfer from the airport (see Rates). If your flight arrives during daylight hours, you may wish to take the scenic coastal train from Colombo to Galle, from where you can pick up a local taxi. Alternatively, you can take an internal flight with Sri Lankan Airlines' air taxi service to Koggala Lake, where the hotel will arrange for a car to meet you.

By Car:
If you want to hire a driver and car for your whole holiday, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator; they can collect you at the airport when you land, drive you down to Aditya, then drive you to your onward destination after your stay.

Getting Around
You can rent a tuk-tuk or a car with a driver for day trips.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Sri Lanka and getting around