Natural Sri Lanka

Our Highlights:

• Reaching Ranweli across the river by hand-cranked ferry ride, you walk through a water-lily courtyard to reach the main hotel
• Explore the old Dutch canals by small boat and spot an array of bird and wildlife

Our holiday to the Ranweli Hotel provides a very special Sri Lankan experience largely due to the hotel’s location. Only accessible by boat, the hotel offers an unrivalled sense of tranquillity as it is bordered on two sides by rivers and on the other by the Indian Ocean. With extensive tropical gardens, long sandy beach and rustic, but stylish rooms this idyllic resort offers something for everyone.

The Ranweli lies in a protected forest environment, close to Waikkal on Sri Lanka’s west coast. Its harmony with the local environment and general conservation of the natural world is of paramount importance to owners and staff alike.

We include 2 unusual excursions on this holiday, each limited to no more than 12 people at any one time. We visit the country home of a well-known Sri Lankan artist, Marie Alles Fernando, and her family. This is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes. The house, built by the current owner’s parents, has some interesting antique furniture, good local art and we have arranged for light snacks and a typical local ‘sundowner’ to refresh you before returning to your hotel.
For your second excursion, travel by boat along the waterways to enjoy the scenery and birdlife. Look out for the stork-billed kingfisher, purple, night and open-billed heron, various sunbirds, bee-eaters and many more land and water birds. You will probably also see large water monitors (lizards), swimming lazily or sunbathing on the branch of a tree!

You can upgrade on this holiday to an all inclusive basis from £13 per person per night.

Kandy and the Hill Country alternative:

Optional 3 night alternative itinerary from £145 extra per person

For those who wish to experience a little more of Sri Lanka we offer a 3 night trip to the Hunas Falls Hotel. Set in a spectacular location in the cool hills above Kandy, the hotel offers 31 well appointed rooms and suites with air-conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, balcony or terrace and private bathroom. The hotel offers restaurant, bar, swimming pool and tennis court.

We include a stop at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and a full day sightseeing in Kandy. Includes all meals, but please note that drinks are not included during this excursion/stay, and we regret you will need to check out of your room at Ranweli.

» Accommodation