Sri Lanka keeps getting more popular. The South Asian island attracts a medley of different travelers: the social media-obsessed want to take ‘Instagrammable’ pictures at the country’s hallmark tea plantations, surfers aplenty search for the perfect wave on the isle’s free-spirited southern shores, and we at HAP make a beeline for the destination’s wealth of boutique hotels.
And on the topic of inimitable stays, let us introduce you to one of our favorites on the island: Glenross Living. Set in the bucolic Kalutara Highlands, this 10-bedroom retreat is a dream. The Sri Lankan-helmed sanctuary occupies a 98-acre rubber, tea, and cinnamon estate.
Waking up at one of the seven standalone villas here inspires awe: floor-to-ceiling windows stare at hyper-verdant plantations cascading mountainsides, serving as total landscape eye-candy best enjoyed from one’s personal balcony. Head to the lower level of your villa for a private plunge pool, where a refreshing dip to combat Sri Lanka’s heat awaits.
The remaining three colonial suites occupy morsels of the property’s historic plantation house. Also in this building are the lobby and onsite Sri Lankan restaurant—sunsets from the front lawn here are magical.
The hotel puts self-care at the forefront. On the wellness menu are a three-night restorative Sleep Retreat (think aromatherapy blends, daily yoga, sleep-promoting foods, chamomile teas), morning yoga sessions pairing tree pose with sensational views as far as the eye can see, plus lessons in Sri Lanka’s storied martial art, Angampora. The spa menu comprises a slew of treatments, from rejuvenating facials to relaxing massages.
Activity-wise, when onsite, guests can trek through resident cinnamon fields, where they can opt for a tour covering the ins and outs of Sri Lanka’s cinnamon trade.
From the postcard-perfect setting to its luxe accommodations, Glenross Living is due to steal your heart.
Top Takeaways
Location: Neboda, Sri Lanka
Rating: Five-star
The Vibe: Cinnamon, spice, and all things nice.
Food + Drink: The hotel has a breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant on the ground floor of the stay’s main manor house, with the most charming table on the front lawn staring at the miles and miles of verdant tea plantations. The menu features both international and Sri Lanka-centric plates.
Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, spa, yoga pavilion, fitness center, room service, restaurant, bar, and breakfast
Our favorite thing about the hotel? The villas are a dream and a half, packed with floor-to-ceiling windows, jungle-facing balconies, and private plunge pools.
Any personal neighborhood recs? Ok, so it’s about 1hr15 minutes away by car (a long drive, we know), but the colonial coastal town of Galle is worth the trip. Historic and imprinted with a past that brought in Dutch, Portuguese, and British influences, the colonial architecture here is some of South Asia’s best. With shops and restaurants aplenty, pop into Barefoot for hand-crafted souvenirs, notebooks, and textiles; KK Boutique for fun-loving pajamas and kimonos; then Stick No Bills for vintage prints of Sri Lanka that’ll take you back in time.
What’s nearby?: The hotel is quite secluded (and that privacy is one of the reasons it’s so special). That said, a few hiking trails can be found on the premises, including one that weaves through the onsite cinnamon estate (ask the hotel for a guided tour—you’ll learn all about the plantation and Sri Lanka’s prominent role in the cinnamon trade, as mentioned above). A short drive from the hotel grounds are Kande Vihara—one of the nation’s largest Buddhist temples—and Thudugala Ella Waterfall.
Pricing: Rates start at $426/night
Room count: 10
Closest Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport (1h30 drive to hotel)
Anything else to note? The hotel is accessible via a curvaceous dirt road that gets narrow at certain points, requiring some skillful driving and maneuvering along the way.
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