Yet for all its refined elegance, the wilderness remains untamed.
I like my luxury served with a side of adventure, and so far, Sri Lanka has delivered.
Sri Lankas landscapes are vast and varied, welcoming and wild.
A view over Cape Weligama resort.
But, the past several decades have been challenging for Sri Lanka.
The legacy of colonization by the Dutch, Portuguese, and British left lasting scars.
Yet today, the country stands resilient.
Photo: Devaka Seneviratne / Courtesy of Wild Coast Tented Lodge
The question isnt whether Sri Lanka will captivate youits deciding how best to experience all it has to offer.
I found the answer inResplendent CeylonsRoute du Bonheur.
For rustic luxury and prime ocean access,Cape Weligama, recently renovated, is the ideal landing spot.
Photo: Courtesy of Ceylon Tea Trails
Each spacious villa, set in stone-walled gardens, includes a private pool with Laccadive Sea views.
Macaque monkeys swing overhead and peacocks strut through the grounds as if they own the place.
While its tempting to stay blissed out at the beach, the call of the wild is irresistible.
Photo: Courtesy of Wild Coast Tented Lodge
This eco-friendly retreat includes a bamboo-ceiling beach bar and 28 cocoon-like tented suites in the bushland.
The park hosts over 235 bird species, making it a birders paradise.
Though not on the coast, no visit to Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to hill country.
Photo: Courtesy of Cape Weligama
Outside, the fragrant gardens burst with ladys slipper orchids, roses, salvia, and citrus trees.
Days here unfold at a luxuriously slow pace.
And for the adventurous, a stretch of the newly developedPekoe Trailbeckons.
Photo: Devaka Seneviratne / Courtesy of Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Its everything Sri Lanka has to offer in a nutshell.
Photo: Courtesy of Ceylon Tea Trails
Photo: Courtesy of Ceylon Tea Trails
Photo: Courtesy of Ceylon Tea Trails
