Sri Lanka – the teardrop island in the Indian Ocean, neighbouring the Southern tip of India – has been having another moment in the sun as of late. With its beachside allure, endlessly dynamic wildlife and famously delectable food , this vast and varied country has become a must for anyone looking to escape the grey-toned tedium of city life. But where to go and what to do? Here, one Vogue editor checks into one of Sri Lanka’s most immersive, peaceful and one-of-a-kind retreats. Below, find everything you need to know.
On Sri Lanka’s southeastern tip, tucked uniquely between the Indian Ocean and Yala National Park, sits the 5-star resort in question: Uga Chena Huts . One part coastal getaway, one part lush safari lodge, this is where unspoilt access to nature communes with comfort and good taste. What’s more, from three-course dinners to minibar indulgences and even daily laundry, Uga Chena Huts is entirely all-inclusive.
Inspired by traditional Sri Lankan farming huts, each private villa at Uga Chena Huts is a cocoon of timber, stone and glass that blends seamlessly into the surrounding bush. Though the interior leans “safari”, don’t be fooled into thinking that this doesn’t also mean luxury. Inside, you’ll find a freestanding tub set before floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the untamed landscape: scrubland, sea and, if luck tips in your favour, a lone elephant or purple-faced langur swinging from the trees.
Outside, a shaded veranda and private plunge pool invite long, languid afternoons following early morning game drives (excursions into the surrounding area, with hopes of sighting some wild animals in their natural habitat). Throughout, guests are ferried from reception to room and vice versa via electric buggies for both convenience and safety – a service we could certainly get used to.
Guests at Uga Chena Huts travel with intention. A discerning, well-heeled mix who favour immersion over a packed itinerary and story over spectacle. Think: honeymooners trading Maldivian infinity pools for something a bit more rugged (but no less refined), and ethically-minded travellers drawn to Uga’s light footprint and deep local ties. They prize privacy, slowness and a sense of place – though they’ll happily wake at the crack of dawn for the chance of a leopard sighting.
Shaded by knotted trees and woven thatch, open-air restaurant The Basses (named after a nearby reef and off-shore lighthouse) offers guests a front-row seat to the action, with a rotating daily menu of Sri Lankan cuisine. This Vogue editor opted for the “Ambula” – a tangy dish inspired by the wholesome and nutritious meals served in the fields to the farmers – and clay pot fish curry, coconut-sweet sambol, warm roti and zingy lime squeezed over crisp fried okra. Their “bush grill” was another menu highlight, with fresh seafood and meat prepared over an open flame on the beach, with guests invited to dine barefoot under a canopy of stars. Not infrequently, an elephant will wander through the surrounding scrub mid-meal, a reminder that this is their home after all.
Post-dinner, guests are taken down to the cliff’s edge among the sand dunes of Yala Beach, where golden hour bleeds into the ocean. Order their Chena Fizz or Sunset Sour and swap stories of spotting monkeys and wild boar with strangers.
Each of the 18 villas at Uga Chena Huts are identical in design, ensuring all guests receive the same exceptional experience. That said, it’s worth requesting an ocean-edge villa when booking to thoroughly enjoy the resort’s rare intersection of beach and bush — Yala is one of the few national parks in the world that kisses the sea.
Uga Chena Hut’s biggest draw is, of course, the game drives, and the hotel’s proximity to Yala National Park is what ensures you have front-row access to leopards, elephants, sloth bears and sea-turtles beneath the moonlight. Where other cars raced past us, hungry for a leopard sighting, our in-house “naturalist” and tracker steered us away from the crowds, using their sixth sense to identify quiet signs of life and, in some cases, indications of a hunt, all the while encouraging us to enjoy the natural stillness of the bush.
With Sri Lanka re-emerging as the go-to destination for thoughtful, immersive travel, Uga Chena Huts is leading the pack in sustainable luxury. Pair Sri Lanka with the Maldives for the ultimate multi-destination honeymoon .
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