Off the beaten track in Sri Lanka

Don't be put off by The Wallawwa being only a 15 minute drive from Colombo's international airport, for this serene spot really feels like a world away from planes, trains and automobiles. In fact, we really don't think there's a better spot to recharge your batteries before you start to explore, or to decompress after an adventure. The 200-year old country house hotel is set in lush tropical gardens, filled with gorgeous flowers, and with a beautiful pool to laze by, delicious food to eat, and a spa to work on tired muscles. Add a cool drink and a warm smile, and you may never leave.

Over 50 acres of well-kept gardens and water-logged rice fields hide a 150-year-old mansion at their centre and just outside, you'll find the UNESCO-honoured city of Anuradhapura - a collection of ancient ruins and palaces. Ulagalla feels like a village in itself where you can trundle between activities in a buggy and enjoy an authentic meal in the threshing ground of a rice field. The resort combines rural charm and polished facilities with finesse - the villas are rather stylish! Days at Ulagalla unfold with ease with bike rides to the village, kayaking across the lake and flying kites - one of the most Sri Lankan things you could do.

Uga Bay was one of the first resorts to be built in the Pasikudah area and it's also one of the most glamorous. Set just back from the beach and centred around a sprawling infinity pool, everything is present and correct for a lazy-days beach holiday. It's a tad on the larger side, but still manages to maintain a bijou charm, and the staff are fabulous, friendly and will remember your name (and cocktail order) from the day you arrive. Spend your days paddling in the calm waters, reclining on a sun lounger, or doing very little. Bliss.

If uninterrupted nature and boat safaris watching elephant swim between islands pique your interest, the secluded Gal Oya Lodge is calling your name. One of Sri Lanka's myriad nature reserves, Gal Oya National Park is the most secluded - just the place to avoid crowds as you roam through the quiet of the jungle with a member of the ancient Veddha tribe. Built in honey-coloured wood, the lodge blends in with its surrounds and takes care of them too with solar-heated showers and conservation projects. Tuck into breakfasts on the river bank, watching as kingfishers in their jewel-bright coats flit over the water, and trek through the trees as local guides share the area's history.

If you were to describe your dream wellness retreat, you may well request it to be surrounded by lush green forests with the most glorious of panoramas from every yoga mat. It would perhaps be modern in design with beautifully minimalist rooms, an array of tranquil meditation corners and, of course, a spa to rival any other. Well, welcome to Santani! Set in the hills just outside Kandy, this idyllic, soul-soothing retreat will redefine your idea of 'wellness'. With hot stone massages, a three-tiered spa carved into the hillside, Ayurvedic treatments with world-renowned therapists, yoga classes and thermal salt baths, you'll emerge a totally different person...

Steeped in history yet entirely modern, this light, bright and thoroughly beautiful hotel sits high in the Sri Lankan hills offering gorgeous views of Castlereagh Lake. With just five bedrooms, it's intimate and relaxing and the service is always second to none (especially when your dedicated butler makes an appearance...). Days are all about taking in the stylish luxury, wandering the beautiful gardens and cooling off in the crystal-clear infinity pool. It's the sort of spot we wish we could teleport you to, pronto.

Situated on hip and happening Park Street, this refurbished 19th century mansion is a perfect jumping-off point to explore Colombo. The lakeside neighbourhood is a firm favourite in the wining and dining stakes and the city's most-visited Buddhist temple, the Gangaramaya Vihara, is a mere stroll away. But despite this uber-central location, the Residence manages to retain an air of tranquility. In fact, we would happily describe it as a haven of peace, albeit a glamorous one! The 11 suites are spacious and incredibly luxurious and all have access to small courtyards. There's even a 15-metre pool to cool off in - and not many central hotels can claim that.