The Resplendent Relais & Chateaux Sri Lanka Journey Tea, Sea & Safari www.resplendentceylon.com
2005 2014 2017
Conceived by the Fernando family prominent Sri Lankan tea producers and founders of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Resplendent Ceylon is creating a collection of small, luxury resorts that offer the discriminating traveller a unique circuit across Sri Lanka, with a range of authentic cultural experiences, while contributing towards local communities and the environment through the MJF Foundation & Dilmah Conservation. We currently have an extraordinary circuit of three Relais & Chateaux resorts. We call the circuit The Resplendent Relais & Chateaux Sri Lanka Journey - Tea, Sea & Safari. The resorts are quickly connected by float plane, helicopter or scenic car journeys. Ceylon Tea Trails is the world s first tea bungalow resort, perched at an altitude of 1250 metres in Sri Lanka s panoramic Ceylon tea region, bordering the World Heritage Central Highlands. 27 rooms in 5 bungalows. Cape Weligama; the most sumptuous resort along this fabled island s palm fringed shores. Thirty minutes east of Galle, Cape Weligama inhabits 12 manicured acres atop a singular promontory rising 40 metres above the Indian Ocean. 39 villas and suites. Wild Coast Tented Lodge sits on a secluded beach on the edge of Yala National Park. 36 vaulted Cocoon tents offer the comfort of a luxury hotel with the excitement of a safaristyle wilderness experience. Under development: 36 rooms and suites in the Cultural Triangle, in a stunning resort designed by star architect Lek Bunnag to open 2019. A 25 room heritage property in Colombo Fort, in design stage. A 35 villa clifftop resort near Trincomalee on the east coast, in design stage. Tea Trails and Cape Weligama have been awarded as the No 1 and No 2 luxury hotels in Sri Lanka. They are both members of Relais & Chateaux. THE NEW LUXURY IS DEFINED BY SMALL BRANDS WITH BIG STORIES Merrill J. Fernando, Founder of Dilmah
CEYLON TEA TRAILS Ceylon Tea Trails is the world s first tea bungalow resort, perched at an altitude of 1250 metres in Sri Lanka s panoramic Ceylon tea region, bordering the World Heritage Central Highlands. Castlereagh Bungalow Summerville Bungalow The five historic colonial era bungalows vary from 4 to 6 rooms & suites; 27 rooms in all. Each bungalow is unique lakeside Castlereagh, Dunkeld & Summerville, Norwood with panoramic views and Tientsin, in the next valley and the most traditional colonial. The bungalows are located between 2km and 15km apart and are connected by walking trails through picturesque Ceylon tea gardens. Follow the Tea Trail from one unique bungalow to the next, staying a night or two at each or just laze in one. Dunkeld Bungalow Norwood Bungalow Tientsin Bungalow This is the ideal setting for trekking and biking against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, lakes, winding roads and waterfalls. If you prefer to unwind, observe life on a working Ceylon tea estate while being pampered by your butler, enjoy a spa treatment, croquet on the lawn or sunbathe alongside the pool. Heritage with a contemporary style and non-hotel, private house ambiance is the hallmark of the award winning Tea Trails experience. 5 historic tea planters bungalows 2-15km apart 27 rooms and suites Rates at Tea Trails are fully inclusive of gourmet meals and drinks, including spirits.
Tientsin Bungalow 1898-6 bedrooms
Castlereagh Bungalow 1925-5 bedrooms
30 minutes from Colombo and Cape Weligama by 9 seater float plane
CAPE WELIGAMA Where trade winds carried legendary explorers like Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and Fa-Hsien past Sri Lanka s soaring southern cliffs on some of history s most celebrated nautical journeys, sits Cape Weligama; the most sumptuous resort along this fabled island s palm fringed shores. Thirty minutes east of Galle, Cape Weligama inhabits 12 manicured acres atop a singular promontory rising 40 metres above the Indian Ocean. Stunning panoramas naturally complement all 39 villas & suites designed by one of Asia s most celebrated architects, Lek Bunnag. An array of dining venues capture Weligama s iconic sunsets, as does the 60-metre crescent-shaped infinity pool that appears to flow seamlessly into the shimmering sea. While a diverse range of activities are on offer year round, from surfing lessons, scuba diving and lake kayaking to rice paddy bicycling and even leopard safaris, many of our guests find the greatest pleasure in simply unwinding on their private shaded terraces, with a pot of freshly brewed, single origin Ceylon tea for which this fabled isle is rightly famous. Curl up with a novel from your residence s private library, or amble barefoot to swim in your shimmering infinity pool. Dine on Western favourites or luscious Sri Lankan flavours anytime you like. Our wish is that you consider yourself at home along our headland. Whenever and whatever you desire, Cape Weligama s dedicated butlers stand ready to make your dream holiday an effortless reality. CONDE NAST TRAVELLER HOT LIST 2015 - MOST EXCITING HOTEL OPENINGS TRAVEL & LEISURE IT LIST 2015 - BEST NEW HOTELS ON THE PLANET TATLER TRAVEL GUIDE 2015 - BEST NEW HOTELS HOUSE & GARDEN - THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED HOTELS IN THE WORLD 23 villas 130-310m2 16 suites 130-150m2
Top 10 pool in the world - Conde Nast Traveler
The most sumptious bedrooms & bathrooms in Sri Lanka
WILD COAST TENTED LODGE This luxurious tented lodge on a secluded beach on the edge of Yala National Park, the Leopard hot spot in southeastern Sri Lanka. 28 vaulted Cocoon tents offer the comfort of a luxury hotel with the excitement of a safari-style wilderness experience. The air-conditioned Cocoons measure a generous 55m2 and are furnished to the highest specification. Some have their own plunge pools. They are dotted around five watering holes designed to attract a variety of birdlife and amphibians, which can be viewed from each Cocoon s outdoor viewing deck. The family area Cocoons come with a fun adjoining twin-bedded children s Urchin tent. A bamboo-clad bar and restaurant serves creative daily changing menus, whilst a delicious picnic tea forms part of the safari drive experience. The lodge boasts a Sanctuary Spa offering a range of natural treatments developed in-house. The library doubles up as an educational centre where guests learn about the wildlife in the park and watch documentaries, further explained by the lodge s expert guides. 28 Cocoon Tents 8 Urchin Tents Wild Coast Lodge s unique design, masterminded by a consortium of Dutch, English and Sri Lankan designers, sees the man-made structures blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape thanks to the use of carefully selected natural materials. The use of fabric and bamboo allows each of the 28 tents to take on the shape and colour of the rocks and boulders that lay scattered nearby, whilst a clever layout in the shape of a leopard s paw alludes to the area s elusive resident.
SIGIRIYA - CULTURAL TRIANGLE Thirty-five rooms and suites elevated to tree top level, with spectacular views of lakes, rice paddies & mountains, set in a 14-acre ancient forest. The resort is designed by star architect Lek Bunnag who also created Cape Weligama. Expected to open 2019, it will bring Resplendent Ceylon s signature blend of sumptuous accommodations, personalised service, gourmet dining and authentic experiences to the Cultural Triangle, the most visited part of Sri Lanka, capped by the World Heritage Sigiriya Rock Fortress. After climbing Sigiriya or an elephant safari in the nearby National Parks, cool off in the longest swimming pool in Sri Lanka. TRINCOMALEE - EAST COAST 35 rooms and suites on a pristine jungle headland with panoramic views over the famous Trincomalee bay in eastern Sri Lanka.
Ethics Dilmah is the world s first ethically made tea; earnings from its global sales remain in Sri Lanka and are shared with workers, and the community and re-invested in the industry to make tea sustainable. The success of this family business has been in caring for the workers who produce Dilmah as much as it cares for its customers. The MJF Charitable Foundation established by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando, implements over 150 different projects which touch the lives of over 10,000 underprivileged Sri Lankans each year. Small Entrepreneur Programme Local Heroes Changing Lives Women s Empowerment Water Conservation Community Welfare Sports for the Differently Able Human Service in the Tea Gardens Prison s Small Entrepreneur Programme Enabling the Differently Abled Empowering the North of Sri Lanka MJF Kids Programme MJF Centre Moratuwa Sustainability Fully funded by Dilmah, Dilmah Conservation extends the credo that business must go beyond commercial objectives. Formed with the involvement of IUCN the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Dilmah Conservation strives to ensure the sustainable interaction of man and his natural environment. Through its programmes in the areas of habitat and species conservation, ecosystem restoration, environmental education and protection of biodiversity and indigenous communities, a firm commitment to sustainability in every part of the Dilmah business is complemented by a substantial effort to protect the environment. Facilitating Nature Studies Facilitating Discovery of New Amphibian Species Sharing Knowledge Where Butterflies Dance Bioregional Initiative Asian Elephant Conservation Creating Eco-friendly Tea Gardens Empowering Communities Conserving Marine Habitats Commitment To Sustainability Making Business Climate & Ozone Friendly Encouraging Sustainable Agriculture