Sri Lanka tours have become one of the World’s most popular holiday choices.
This holiday hotspot seemingly has it all – Charming people with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. The island and the landscape of Sri Lanka is as diverse as its people and I think this is what has been the major pull.
Spanning 430 km North to South and with a width of 225 km, Sri Lanka Holidays offer so much.
From the idyllic coastline that stretches a lengthy 1340 km to Sri Lanka’s tea country, where the landscape is dramatically different with lush surroundings and temperate forests, there is much to see and do.
Tea Country
Safari seems the way forward. Asian specialists, cazenove+loyd like to do things a little differently. Why safari in a battered, bumpy four x four when you can take to the skies and really get to see Sri Lanka…all of it.
From Colombo, the private Bell Jet Ranger helicopter heads for Kandy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one corner of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle.
The other two corners, the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the north can be circled in a few hours by helicopter, giving passengers a clear aerial view of the ancient ruins. The helicopter lands next to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sigiriya.
Sigiriya
From the north, it is just a one hour flight to Sri Lanka’s Tea country. Clients stay in a converted tea plantation bungalow and can visit local tea factories and explore the countryside by foot, bike or raft.
Galle, the most important town in the south of Sri Lanka, is the final stop on the safari. The flight from the Highlands to Galle takes in the sights of the Kothmale reservoir, local waterfalls and the sacred Adam’s Peak which contains the footprint of Buddha.
Fly over Adam’s Peak at sunrise and witness the distinctive triangular shadow the mountain casts on the surrounding plain.
View From Adams Peak
An unbelievable island offering mile after mile of Seductive beaches, cultural heritage sites, differing landscapes of Mountains to lush green lagoons and leafy forests and waterfalls and rivers bursting with suitably diverse organisms.
It has to be seen by air, surely the only way to take in all this Island has to offer.
A five night flying safari with cazenove+loyd (http://www.cazloyd.com 020 7384 2332) costs from 3,455 per person based on four people travelling, as part of a tailormade itinerary. The price includes a night at Kandy House, two nights at Lavender House in the Highlands and two nights at Galle Fort Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis with private helicopter flights throughout. The itinerary does not include international flights.
The Magical and mystical Cornwall has so much to offer. Every time I have visited Cornwall, It has been memorable.
For such a location, I prefer to rent cottages instead of a Hotel. This is where there has been a slight issue.
More times than I would prefer, there has been an element of “roughing it”. Maybe that has been down to my choice of rental cottages in Cornwall, maybe it has been down to the standard available.
This problem has been picked up by the team behind Simply Time in Cornwall. Experienced in self catering in Cornwall, The Ogg family have inserted luxury and quality into their 3 cottages USP’s. They have created the ultimate Cornwall rent cottage in 3 variations.
Here’s the Oggs – “We learned from first hand experience what makes or breaks a self-catering holiday. We decided that you shouldn’t have to comprise on quality, style or location and have strived to combine the best of everything in our properties. Our approach is based on the levels of service and hospitality we expect ourselves.”
Too right.
The three cottages are located in Mid Cornwall, in the Historic and picturesque port town of Charlestown, complete with harbour and sea views. For perfect holidays cottages Cornwall can offer no more luxurious than these.
Extensive renovation and thoughtful interior design has resulted in 3 cottages suitable for those with exacting standards. The finish is professional and makes for three homely, functional, highly presentable, Luxury Cornish holiday lets.
Differing from most Cornish rentals, each cottage has its own garden and outdoor eating space. Two of the cottages are next door to each other, whilst the third is a couple of doors away.
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Posted by Paul Handley on Mon 30th August 2010 at 06:34 AM, Filed in Luxury Holidays
Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa are unique in the fact this is the only location in Mauritius offering villa only accommodation.
This rather tempting resort stretches 27 acres and you can expect to enjoy butler service and private pools.
The recent acquisition of spa director, Dr Rajneesh Kumar, a leading authority in Ayurvedic spa treatments has just made the Maradiva Resort a must visit location.
Abercrombie & Kent are offering the total luxury package for Ayurveda healing.
The word “Ayurveda” is from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, and literally means “Knowledge of Life”.
Dr Rajneesh Kumar has devised a series of three day Ayurvedic spa programmes in December 2010, providing a complete holistic health MOT.
These intensive programmes are tailored to each individual and focus on re-sculpting the body, both inside and out, using the ancient art of ayurveda. Aprés treatment, guests can soak up some rays on Maradiva’s beautiful 750 metre white sand beach while those in need of some ‘alone time’ can chill out at their private pool.
The personalised Ayurvedic spa programmes are ideal for those looking to recharge their batteries and shape up ahead of the party season.
The spa itself is an island within an island, separated from the rest of the property by tropical gardens and an infinity pool.
The spa at Maradiva blends contemporary Indian design with an authentic Ayurvedic treatment focus. All therapies are administered by highly experienced therapists from India and take place on smooth wooden Ayurvedic tables, designed around the body’s chakra points.
For a really special experience, guests can choose to have their spa treatment in a private Raj tent on the beach, the lapping waves lulling them into a deep state of serenity.
You can find out much more about Ayurveda and the 3 day treatment programmes at http://maradiva.com.
Abercrombie & Kent is offering 7 nights from £2,755 per person, including 20% off all spa treatments, complimentary half board, international flights, all transfers and breakfast in a Luxury Suite Villa. http://www.abercrombiekent.co.uk.
Parrot Cay in the Turks and Cacos is known as “northern Caribbean’s pre-eminent private island”. This is a destination of ultimate luxury with a suitably surreal dreamscape of pale green / turquoise sea and blinding white sand that goes on for a mile.
Paradise?
Uber designer Donna Karan owns a private estate on Parrot Cay, aka “The Sanctuary”. This family retreat is now an icon of architectural luxury. Donna Karan’s place in paradise…Want to go?
Now You can!
It’s obvious Donna Karan lives here!
Charitybuzz have received the tremendously kind offer from Donna Karan to use this premium property in a charity auction. Proceeds from this auction will help fund the Ellen Hermanson Breast Centre at Southampton Hospital, as well as other activities undertaken by the Ellen Hermanson Foundation.
Ellen Hermanson led the fight against breast cancer, devoting all her time and energy. It is important that the Foundation continues to do her good work.
Together, Donna Karan and luxury charity auction site charitybuzz.com are doing just that. The chance to stay on this Turks and Caicos resort at Parrot Cay is too good to pass up on.
Yep, Paradise.
The four night stay, valued at $40,000, for up to eight people at “The Sanctuary” will include highlights such as the stunning 360 degree views, the awesome infinity pool lined with black volcanic stone or the personal collection of African and Asian art that adorns the white walls. At the time of publishing this article, bidding is at $16,000.
Get Bidding!
To further sway you, listen to Donna Karan talking about Parrot Cay –
“Parrot Cay brings my favourite things in the world together,” Donna Karan told Travel & Leisure Magazine in October 2007. “It’s East meets West. It’s everything and nothing, if I can describe it that way. It’s a hidden treasure—the turquoise water, the white, white sand”.
And such a good, good cause. Bidding is open until Wednesday 8th September at: http://www.charitybuzz.com/categories/7/catalog_items/206167.
Charitybuzz raises funds for nonprofits around the globe through incredible online auctions, giving its bidders exclusive opportunities to make a difference.
Now…Lets have some fun!
Small Luxury Hotels Of The World is running a superb competition where you can win a 14-night trip for two together with £8,000 spending money. To enter the competition, all you have to do is choose three destinations from their great website. Small Luxury Hotels offer a vast choice, over 500 independent luxury hotels.
On paper, this seems easy. Then you look at each and every luxury hotel resort and realise that each one has its own merits. With Hotels this good, it is hard to choose between them!
The Aleenta Resort, Thailand
For me, the ultimate holiday destination has to include Thailand. For all the luxury hotels Thailand have, there is nothing like the Aleenta resort. The Aleenta resort and spa Hua Hin represents a modern take on all that is typical with Thailand. Custom built huts with thatch roof, authentic Thai food at its very best and a Thai spa for some real pampering.
The Modern twist of this destination is the huts come with a plunge pool and balcony….and even an iPod dock!
Would you maybe go for the Baros Maldives? A tiny tropical island set in a beautiful and naturally exclusive shallow lagoon, Baros Maldives is a scuba diver’s paradise with a reef vibrant with marine life, warm and crystal clear waters and a PADI dive school. Maldives luxury hotels are a-plenty, but The Baros goes on the list for the following reasons;
Baros Maldives
A fantastic selection of over-water restaurants, fashionable bars, lush vegetation and a pampering spa add to the charm of this idyllic retreat.
Thatched-roof villas with spacious verandas, the signature spa ritual aptly called Baros Indigenous Bliss, perfect white sands and clear blue seas…surely, this has to be on your wishlist?
What about Sun Rocks, in Santorini, Greece? If you are looking for a luxury hotel Greece offers an absolute paradise. An idyllic hideaway carved out of the cliffs of the Caldera with endless views of the azure Aegean Sea and the volcanic islands. The service level at this stunning retreat is well documented. Forget the gourmet food, This goes on my list, just for the awesome cliff side pool.
Sun Rocks, Greece
The competition, which is now live at http://www.slh-competitions.com, closes on 1st September 2010 and the lucky winner will be the entrant whose itinerary has received the most votes. To enter, simply choose your top three Small Luxury Hotels.
The runner-up will enjoy a luxury five-night stay in a Small Luxury Hotels property and there is also a luxury five-night holiday from the group’s worldwide portfolio up for grabs for the most original holiday photograph.
Luxury Hotels resorts like these make for a very difficult top three, but you will find great pleasure in trying to decide.
