With its daily sunshine, miles of wide golden sand beaches, lush green forests, brightly colored buildings, buses, tuk tuks and smiling people, the island of Sri Lanka richly deserves its title as “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” And it also seems fitting that Time magazine described the country’s first luxury wellness retreat, Santani, high in the Dumbara mountains above the town of Kandy, as “one of the world’s 100 best places.” Following its launch in 2018, Santani Wellness topped the “best spa” lists of the world’s lifestyle press, including Vogue, Tatler, Conde Nast Traveller and Forbes.
Santani (Sanskit for “in harmony with”) is indeed worthy of these accolades: it really is a unique and special place. At 2,800 feet above sea level, in a beautiful 116-acre tea plantation within a forest, Santani feels like a secret retreat where you can come to be transformed or simply just to relax away from our hectic, fast-paced world. Santani is the first and only purpose-built wellness resort offering luxury escapes in Sri Lanka, designed according to the highest sustainability and eco-standards. Founder Vickum Nawagamuwage believes that sustainable wellbeing begins by bringing oneself into balance and this idea is at the core of everything at the Santani retreat. Santani offers a range of wellness programs in Ayurveda, detox and cleansing, yoga and relaxation that combine on-site pampering and rejuvenation with advice on healthy living and habits that you can take away. Guests come here for either a full-on wellness program starting with an assessment by an Ayurvedic doctor or as a leisure guest, with optional daily group Hatha yoga, guided nature walks, spa treatments or excursions off the property.
Accommodation is blissful, in separate chalets for two, perched in the hills, with terraces overlooking the valley. The stand-alone, single-bedrooms are a spacious 500 square feet. There are sixteen Mountain View Chalets and four Garden View Chalets that are designed for families with children (above 12). The chalets have a chic, minimalist vibe with cool polished concrete floors, ceiling fans, up-cycled rubber wood lounge chairs and recycled teakwood safari chairs on the balcony. Each room has a rainfall shower, fridge, water in glass bottles and tea and coffee.
The rooms are built for natural ventilation and are air-condition free – far healthier for you and better for the environment because this saves over 70% of energy compared to an air-conditioned hotel. Everywhere on the green, lush property you will hear the surrounding wildlife. Early mornings and evenings especially provide a delightful natural symphony of forest noises including monkeys, crickets, wild cats and birds.
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Sri Lanka may conjure ideas of tropical coastlines flanked with palm-trees but this island is more than just a paradise for beaches. With 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, sacred cities and tea plantations, there’s a lot to experience in Sri Lanka’s interior during your trip. The “Cultural Triangle” — which includes Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Kandy — showcases the glory of Sri Lanka’s ancient empires, while its hill towns speak to its modern history as a British colony and are ideal for hiking, relaxing and immersing yourself in the country’s lush landscapes.
Blessed with a tropical coastline that stretches over 830 miles (1,340 kilometers), Sri Lanka beckons travelers with promises of sun-drenched shores and azure waters. Whether you’re looking for tranquil coves for sunbathing and snorkeling, thrilling surf breaks on a pristine reef, or vibrant beachside cultural hubs, Sri Lanka offers a diverse range of experiences to cater to every taste — with plenty of beautiful boutique hotels to boot.
What better way to celebrate the start of a marriage than with an unforgettable honeymoon in a dream location? But with so many exquisite island destinations to choose from, it can be difficult for honeymooners to decide which is the best for a romantic getaway. On average, couples spend around $5,000 on their honeymoon, so they’ll want to make sure they get the most value for money.
Thinking about travel to Europe this summer? I’ll whisper this two-word, game-changing suggestion in your ear: Swiss Bliss. Switzerland is a spectacular vacation escape, promising plentiful pampering, playful diversions, culture (music festivals, art experiences, unique museums—from sports to science, film to food) and stellar gastronomy. Taste Chasselas wine; its white grapes are grown in the terraced Lavaux vineyards along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva, where vintners produce artisanal batches that are rarely exported, so 98 percent of their singular sips can only be savored within the country. Discover abundant natural beauty and peaceful hideaways. Hike Alpine mountains. Swim in glistening lakes. Picnic amid wildflower meadows. For high-speed outings, ample opportunities abound: boating, road cycling, mountain biking, paragliding, skydiving and white-water rafting. Transportation within this tidy nation, especially via its SBB trains, is smooth and swift, accessing scores of destinations. (For itinerary details and surprising delights: My Switzerland Tourism.) Internationally renowned for training extraordinary hoteliers, hospitality is a revered profession, which adds smiles to your stay. Choose from a wide variety of accommodations—campgrounds to chalets to castles. If your vacay preference tends toward one-of-a-kind, five-star hotels, this article shines on three favorites, which are among French entrepreneur and winemaker Michel Reybier’s impressive collection of wellness-promoting properties.
As the sun descended into the horizon, a Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island speedboat whisked us to a secluded sandbank that, at first sight, was deserted. Our arrival, however, revealed a solitary pergola draped in gauzy fabric and adorned with fresh flowers, moving in the breeze.
Capital A—the parent of budget carrier AirAsia that’s owned by tycoons Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun—is merging its various airline affiliates across Southeast Asia in a deal valued at 6.8 billion ringgit ($1.4 billion).
Next month, Nick Ozemba and Felicia Hung, the co-founders of the Brooklyn-based design studio In Common With, plan to open Quarters, a shop housed in a 19th-century TriBeCa loft. The 8,000-square-foot space is laid out like a well-appointed home: Guests enter through the library and can wander the great room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, bar and lounge at their leisure. Everything within — furniture, lighting, art and even the pantry provisions — is available for purchase. Ozemba and Hung collaborated with several of their creative friends on the objects and décor that fill the space. They designed the tiling throughout with the New York City-based artist Shane Gabler, while a fresco depicting eels with earrings by the painter Claudio Bonuglia adorns a portion of the bar and lounge, which will open for evening service beginning this summer. The furniture on display is a mix of restored vintage pieces and new designs by Ozemba and Hung, some of which can be customized with imagery drawn up by various tattoo artists. “We’ll be able to sit down with people and play,” Ozemba says of the space’s potential to spur conversation and inspire new projects. “Retail shouldn’t be so serious. Take off your shoes and have a glass of wine.”
Passing over the Atlas Mountains in 1925, the French military photographer Marcelin Flandrin spotted a Barbary lion walking through the sand. Flandrin had flown the route often enough to realize that the sighting was uncommon. He took a picture, which he published as a postcard sold to travelers visiting Casablanca.