Whether it is a commanding view of the vast turquoise Indian Ocean or the enveloping mountains and hills, the elevated experience of a clifftop hotel is unparalleled. They are also spectacular vantage points when you want the scenery to draw out and immerse you in it. Hills cloaked in tea plantations, mountains covered in misty cloud forests and the ocean rolling and dancing beneath, some retreats blur the boundary between Earth and sky. So, where in Sri Lanka can you find the summits that stun in absolute luxury?
Pointe Sud Mirissa by Eden Villa
This Palladian-style villa is only metres away from a beautiful secret spot for surfing. Mirissa is known for its fantastic surf breaks and is an internationally renowned destination for surfing. The 4-acre terraced garden with coconut palms peppered through perches on a clifftop. The main house incorporates locally sourced reclaimed antique wooden floors, windows and interiors, including a 16m high vaulted ceiling.
With 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, it comfortably sleeps 10 guests. The 18m infinity pool also offers infinity views of the ocean. The yoga pavilion in the lower garden calms your senses, rejuvenates your mind and awakens your soul to natural beauty and serenity.
Relax or dine on its manicured terraces, surrounded by epic views. The secluded private beach below has a small rock pool perfect for paddling and dipping. The expansive and immaculate lawn below is perfect for a spot of cricket, the island’s favourite sport. The chef and housekeeping staff attentively cater to your needs.
Mirissa, on the southern coast, is an ideal location to spot whales and dolphins. Blue whales are a common sight among sperm whales, humpback whales and orcas. You can also spot dolphins, turtles and flying fish.
Aarunya Nature Resort & Spa Matale
Commanding ultra-panoramic views of the Knuckles Mountain Range, this exceptional retreat is within a 9-acre estate adorned with tea groves and spices. Situated between Kandy and Dambulla, on the outskirts of Kandy City, it is the gateway to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. 4 luxury private pool villas offer seclusion and sanctuary with 270-degree expansive views. The bracing mountain air and natural surroundings bring a sense of inner peace.
Nestled in a tranquil corner by a natural stream and waterhole is Aarogya Spa & Wellness Center. It offers tailored Ayurveda and Balinese therapies and tailor-made wellness retreats. A qualified Ayurveda practitioner oversees the beauty, detox, relaxation, and weight loss treatments. Therapies incorporate organic herbs and ingredients found in the wild. Curated packages also include meditation and yoga.
Explore the peaks and valleys of Knuckles, the indigenous villages of Veddah people in Mahiyagana, tea gardens & factories, sacred temples, golfing at Victoria Golf Course in Kandy, and head to the central plains to see the land of the kings.
Saffron House Villa Hiriketiya
15 km from southernmost Sri Lanka, 250 metres from Hiriketiya Bay and 350 metres from Dikwella, on the south coast of Sri Lanka, is this fully staffed villa set in 3 acres of tropical walled gardens and croquet lawn. Set 35m above sea level, the house sits within a central paved courtyard. 4 bedrooms in villa-style spread across the garden, offering privacy, uniqueness and captivating views.
Uninterrupted ocean views, soothing sea breeze, 100 metres of dramatic rocky seafront, safe swimming and mellow waves & point breaks for surfing for all levels usher you into a piece of paradise you have never experienced before. Sights of monkeys, tortoises, grizzled giant squirrels, monitors and various birds on the grounds are frequent. In the evenings, peacocks come to roost in the coconut trees. Blue whales frequent the waters, just 1000m away from the bottom of the garden.
Hiriketiya offers year-round surf breaks, and Dikwella is fun for body boarding. The nearby Mawella and Talalla beaches are stunning. Dondra Lighthouse on the southern tip of Sri Lanka is only a 3-minute drive. East of the villa is the Rekawa turtle beach, where 5 of the 7 sea turtle species of the world come to nest. Take a boat trip at Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, visit the UNESCO city of Galle, paddle board at Weligama and get closer to whales and dolphins at Mirissa.
Cloughton House Dikwella
Perched on the headland of Dikwella, this beautiful villa is a creation by preeminent architect Geoffrey Bawa. The five-bedroom house seamlessly blends traditional Sinhalese design, colonial stylings and modern open-plan living, creating a testament to his tropical modernism. It can comfortably sleep 11 people and incorporates five en suites, a pool, yoga shala, massage room and poolside dining pavilion. In-house staff includes a chef and a personal butler. The pool built into the natural rock has stunning views of the bay.
The villa overlooks the cobalt-blue Indian Ocean, exuding a sense of calm. It opens onto a secluded white, sandy beach where you can swim and relax, watching the sunset.
Whether sea turtle watching in Rekhawa or whale watching in Mirissa, the area is perfect for discovering the island’s sensational south coast. Head over to Yala, Sri Lanka’s iconic national park. Explore the ramparts of the Dutch Galle Fort. Ride the waves at the hottest surf spots in Hiriketiya, Weligama and Mirissa. Snorkel in the natural pools of Rekawa.
Malabar Hill Weligama
A modern luxury boutique hotel set on a lofty ridge among the lush hills above Weligama Bay, Malabar Hill offers a unique experience with its Moorish architecture. 12 exclusive villas gaze oceanwards and inland.
Ocean View Villas have far-sweeping views of Weligama Bay and the distant sea. Wetland Sanctuary Pool Villas afford sights of the forested hills, paddy fields and river bank. They open onto private terraces and salt-water chlorinated infinite pools. The hotel occupies only 15 per cent of the 33-acre former cinnamon plantation, now rewilded into a rainforest. The 35-metre salt-water chlorinated infinite pool takes you from ocean vistas to forest views. Garden courtyards flow freely onto inviting terraces punctuated by leafy paths.
Pamper yourself with world-class treatments at the spa and luxuriate in the unrestrained beauty with meditation and yoga. There is a reading lounge and library for uninterrupted reading, with bird calls the only sound to be heard.
It is a stunning encampment for whale watching in Mirissa, safaris in Yala and Udawalawe, Galle Fort excursions, Madu River safaris, low country tea plantation visits, cinnamon plantation experience and boating in Koggala Lagoon. The hotel offers an interactive tree trail, vegetable garden tour, traditional cooking demos, village temple visits, wetland birdwatching treks and countryside cycling.
Ceylon Tea Trails
Perched at an altitude of 1,250 m among the hills of Bogawantalawa in the Dimbula in south-central Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tea Trails combines five authentic tea planter bungalows from the colonial era located between 2 km and 15km from each other. Decorated with period furniture and furnished with modern, elegant comforts, they are the epitome of luxury. Known as The Golden Valley of high-grown tea, priced for its taste, aroma and colour, Bogawantalawa grows the creme de la creme of Ceylon Tea.
A personal butler service is at your service with just a pull on the old-fashioned call bells. Each of the bungalows is unique and charming, with varying features. They all have 5-6 well-appointed suites and swimming pools. Dunkeld, Castlereagh and Summerville bungalows have exquisite views of Lake Castlereagh. Castlereagh bungalow is set in a wooded glade by the lake.
Norwood affords unparalleled views of the eastern end of the Bogawantalawa valley and has the finest bamboo grove in Sri Lanka. A spacious lounge and billiard room lead to a manicured croquet lawn, a large swimming pool, sun deck and jacuzzi with scenic views. Tientsin bungalow, named after the Chinese village from which the original tea seedlings came, has an extensive tropical garden, swimming pool, jacuzzi and clay tennis court. It affords panoramic views of the tea-carpeted mountains and Horton Plains beyond.
Go on a day trip to the UNESCO city of Kandy, with its sacred temple and vibrant displays of rituals, dancing and rhythm. Hop on a train for scenic rides across Nuwara Eliya. Hike to Adam’s Peak, the multi-faith spiritual pinnacle. Learn the art of original Ceylon tea at Dunkeld Tea Factory. Kayak on Castlereagh and go white water rafting in Kitulgala. Walk and bike the trails over the valleys and hills. Discover hidden waterfalls, temples and shrines. Visit the outstanding Horton Plains National Park and its World’s End.
The rare, singular and exceptional with Blue Lanka Tours
Sri Lanka’s luxury resorts and hotels are as exotic as the island itself. Set in wild, beautiful and unique landscapes, made sumptuous with modern comforts, they make travel more memorable. We offer over 1000 accommodation properties in our portfolio. From city skylines to clifftop villas, wild coastal tents to jungle retreats, there’s always a place where your wishes manifest. Explore Sri Lanka and its iconic retreats with Blue Lanka Tours. Specialised in curated holidays bespoke to you, we make travel all the more enjoyable from its beginning until the very end. Raise your expectations with our award-winning standards. Which clifftop retreat is your favourite?