BLISSFUL ESCAPE TO SOUTHWEST SRI LANKA

Transported to Sri Lanka’s western coast, your first stop on this secluded holiday is Balapitiya, a small picturesque village with soft, golden sands and pristine beaches. Just two hours south of Colombo, Balapitiya is where you’ll experience the real Sri Lanka.

Set on the banks of the Madhu Gange river, you’ll stay at the jungle bolthole River House, for two nights where you can take boat trips along the river, kayak through the waterways and generally enjoy the landscape at your own pace. Go birdwatching in the hotel’s seven acres of tropical gardens, or go antique hunting in nearby Ambalangoda - the town is known for its traditional wooden masks, which are great as vivid centrepieces or as a souvenir.

Travelling further south, you’ll hit the Dutch colonial harbour town of Galle, for amble doses of culture, architecture and historical charm.  You’ll stay at the Dutch House, an intimate and colonial-style hotel on the outskirts of Galle, where the infinity pool overlooks the jungle, the 18^th-century merchant house has just four exquisite suites and the cuisine is renowned as being some of the best in Sri Lanka.

You’ll have plenty of leisure time, which you can fill up by taking it easy in the lush gardens, lounging by the pool under the coconut trees, soaking up the warmth. For those who want to do more than just sunbathe, Galle’s bustling centre is just a short walk away, where you can discover the UNESCO-listed old town and fort, which was built by the Portuguese in the 17^th century.

Further afield, there are idyllic beaches that are amazing for surfing, diving and whale watching, and local fishing villages and street markets where can catch a glimpse of the area’s famous fishermen on stilts.

From Galle, you'll be taken the short journey to Koggala, where you'll stay for three nights at the lakeside wellness resort Tri Lanka, which was founded by a British photographer and the region's most well-regarded yoga instructor - meaning your next hotel will have plenty of picture-worthy viewpoints and corners just perfect for a spot of stretching. Spend your mornings saluting the sun with a cleansing yoga class, and once the session has finished, continue your path of wellbeing with a spa treatment.

Feast on re-interpreted Sri Lankan classics made with ingredients from the garden at the restaurant - the hotel is set near a cinnamon plantation so you can expect a lot of spice in the cooking, as well as in the rooms (ever heard of cinnamon shutters?).

If you overindulged a little too much at breakfast, you can explore the parkour circuit around the lake, borrow a kayak and spot the magnitude of birdlife around the islands, or visit a tea estate nearby, to hear about the harvesting and production process. At the end of your stay, you'll board a seaplane for stunning views all the way back to Colombo.