TRAVEL Escapes

Sri Lanka is well known for its relaxed vibe, delicious food and beautiful beaches. This relaxing paradise is on the doorstep to GGC dwellers and luxury hotel brand, Anatara has opened multiple properties on the island over the last few years. Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle is located on the coast close to the southern end of Sri Lanka and the resort sits at the back of a crescent of sandy beach enclosed by granite arms at either end. To the east, beaches scallop the coastline all the way to the backpacker hangout of Tangalle, a couple of kilometres away. The scenery is quite simply, breathtaking. Everything is veiled in dense greenery and there are plenty of stunning tropical flowers about. This is the only resort hotel of this calibre on this part of the coast. Since most travellers are on a clockwise journey through the country, this hotel makes a perfect choice to relax and recover after a trip through, the tea country and many other attractions. The resort is large and feels quite majestic upon arrival, taking its design cues from the traditional Sri Lankan plantation house, and the hotel looks out onto the large pool and beach. At the upper end is the reception area and in front, poised on a headland, the resort’s Italian fine-diner, Il Mare. A meal here is not to be missed and the view don’t get any better.

The rooms are elegant spacious and feature well-equipped bathrooms with all the amenities you could need, a gorgeous bath tub, decadent furnishings and a Nespresso machine along with Sri Lankan teas. Cleverly, rooms are all seaward facing, those on the upper floors get a big balcony, a patio for those on ground level. Guest rooms are also located as separate villas featuring their own pools with lawn and the palms of the former coconut plantation separating them from the beach. Peacocks wander around the grounds and the gardens are lush and impressive. At 150 rooms, the resort is big enough to have a good array of facilities but not overwhelming.

You certainly won’t go hungry here and breakfast is a really stand out. Catering to all tastes, breakfast is a decdent array of freshness and goodness including fresh smoothies and juices. A standout dish is the egg hoppers, a Sri Lankan specialty, a paper thin, conical pancake with an egg at the bottom. Try it with local condiments and you won’t be sorry. Il Mare, the resort’s breezy Italian restaurant, glows by night and the menu impresses with the local seafood and lots of delicious Italian fare such as pizza and pasta. If you are looking for something really special then you can’t go past Anantara’s Dinner by Design, a dinner for two, served in a curtained pavilions set among coconut palms with the waves just metres away, this will be an experience you won’t forget.

If you can manage to pull yourself away from the water, there are plenty of things to do and see, all of which are easily arranged through the hotel by their attentive and friendly staff. You can take a day trip to the historic Galle Fort, or to one of the protected national parks, like Udawalawe to see elephants of all sizes, or to Yala to spot a leopard in its natural habitat. The region is famed for its tea, and their are plantations nearby to visit. If you are looking for a foodie experience, an absolute highlight is the hotel’s Spice Spoons tour. You’ll be accompanied by one of the resort’s head chefs to the local fish and vegetable markets, where you’ll pick out exactly what you’d like to eat. Once back at the hotel, you’ll learn how to prepare traditional Sri Lankan dishes from scratch before enjoying a sumptuous feast of everything you’ve just cooked for lunch. This is a fantastic experience that lets you explore how things are done food wise in Sri Lanka and will leave you with wonderful memories for years to come.

Tangalle.anantara.com