COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — One of the oldest and grandest hotels east of the Suez is no longer leaving anything to chance as its staff sing the praises of Sri Lanka. Galle Face Hotel recently opened its first ever travel office and rolled out a suite of new packages that shine a light on the island’s most glorious attractions.
First and foremost of this ambitious new move by the iconic 152-year-old hotel is the,“The ABCs of Sri Lanka,” which schools guests on an appreciation of the country’s animals, beaches, and culture.
Other excursions include overnight trips to the UNESCO World Heritage site Sigiriya, to see a colossal rock fortress built in 477 AD; or Kandy, famous for its Buddhist cultural sites. Two-night packages can take in both of the destinations while four-night stays venture further to include other popular locations, such as Nuwara Eliya, the heart of the country’s tea production; and Polonnaruwa, an ancient capital with timeworn ruins.
“Our enthusiasm for this country is boundless, and could no longer be contained by the walls of our hotel,” said Sanjeev Gardiner, chairman of the Galle Face Hotel Group. “And so now we’re building bridges right from our lobby to all of the wonders of Sri Lanka.”
It’s not just the hotel that is singing the country’s praises. Sri Lanka may very well rate as the world’s hottest travel destination at the moment, having been touted by leading publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, The New York Times, and Travel + Leisure as one of the top places to go in 2016.
After the civil war came to an end in 2009 a destination that for a quarter of a century had been avoided by all but the intrepid is once again on people’s bucket lists. Since then the country has been experiencing record year-on-year tourism growth.
Spanning three nights and four days the ABC journey begins in Colombo before heading south to the coastal diving hotspot of Hikkaduwa and a turtle hatchery in Kosogoda, one of the oldest conservation centers on the island. Also on the multi-day schedule are Galle, with its centuries-old Dutch Fort; Madol Duwa, a mangrove island famous for notable novelist, Martin Wickramasinghe’s, book Madol Doova; and a visit to Martin Wickramasinghe Museum, the author’s former home turned folk museum. Mirissa, Sri Lanka’s best whale watching spot, is the final stop before returning to Colombo for a city tour.
In addition to tours outside of Colombo, Galle Face Expeditions has launched several day trips that range from the beaches in the south to the scenic former hill stations in the island’s center.
As all tours are customized in terms of the destinations visited and accommodation the package rates vary. For more details contact expeditions@gallefacehotel.net.
