As part of our 2-week trip to Sri Lanka, we spent 3 days exploring Kandy. After we took the iconic train ride from Ella, we hired a tuk-tuk that drove us straight to Aarunya Nature Resort and Spa, which only took us 40 minutes from the station. After an incredible but tiring 2 weeks travelling around Sri Lanka, we really wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of city noises and immerse ourselves in a luxurious, intimate nature resort where we can unwind and recharge our batteries. Situated on a mountain top overlooking UNESCO Natural World heritage listed Knuckles Mountain Range, this definitely ticked our boxes as we felt like we were a million miles away.

As we approached the resort gates, a friendly staff member picked us up in an electric buggy to take us to the foyer where we were greeted with freshly squeezed juice and cold face towels to refresh after the journey. Sitting in the foyer, facing the main infinity pool and the Sri Lankan jungle was a jaw dropping moment for both of us.

Our Room

The resort is a collection of eleven modern luxury villas surrounded by tea, fruit and spice plantations revealing Sri Lanka’s natural beauty. After checking in, we were escorted to our villa (Sky Villa) which was absolutely breath-taking.

We had our own plunge pool and jacuzzi overlooking the jungle. The room was so spacious and most importantly, the four-poster bed was probably the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on.

We loved the design of the room which was contemporary yet still withholding Sri Lankan handcraft and tradition. The room had everything you need including LED TV, fast Wi-Fi, Bluetooth speakers, electronic safe and of course air conditioning. The beverages are topped up regularly which includes mineral water, Pure Ceylon Tea and an espresso machine with capsules. There is also an on-call butler service which you can call using the in-room tablet.

My favourite memory will always be looking through our panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows after waking up and being greeted by the most magical sunrise. This along with the sounds of chirping birds and nature waking up was just incredible. I later learned that the name of the hotel, “Aarunya” actually means “first rays of the sun” in the ancient language of Sanskrit, which is very fitting and perfectly catches the hotel’s connectedness to nature. I mean… just look at that view!

Shortly after the fog floating on top of the mountains started to clear up, we were greeted with a floating breakfast in our private infinity pool. We chose the breakfast the night before as you get to choose between having a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast which consisted of dahl, vegetable and fish curry, roti, string hoppers and rice or you can opt for a western breakfast which included some eggs (any style), sausages, yoghurt and fruit platter. As we never quite warmed to the idea of having curry for breakfast, we opted for the Western breakfast. It was delicious!

We spent the rest of the morning settling in and drinking coffee on the terrace in our bath robes. What i loved most about this resort is the intimacy as the villas were all scattered across the 7 acres – you really feel like you’re the only guests staying there!

As Aarunya is a wellness retreat, we made sure not to miss the chance of having a private yoga session, just to further indulge in relaxation and rejuvenation! Our yoga instructor made sure to tailor the session to us, which was helpful as we don’t practise as much yoga as we should.  

Dinner

After a long day of travelling, we were so excited to try the food at Aarunya and it was by far the most delectable Sri Lankan food we tried in our entire trip. Dining takes place either at The Verandah, located in the main building overlooking the infinity pool, just in front of the infinity pool where they set up a candle-lit setting (which we did) or at your private villa for an even more intimate experience. We indulged in a three-course meal where each dish uses local fresh seasonal ingredients and spices.

After dinner, we played a game of pool in the main dining area before heading back to the room.

Massage

After doing a number of different hikes around Sri Lanka, we wanted to indulge in a massage. Khaled opted for the local Ayurveda massage. Practised widely in Sri Lanka, this is the ancient lifestyle practice which focuses in balancing the life focuses within your body.

Khaled had warm oil infused with spices and exotic plants poured slowly onto the centre of his forehead. It was such a unique experience which he found really relaxing and therapeutic. This was then followed by an amazing body, neck and head massage.  

Nature-Inspired Walk

We love hotels and resorts who are conscious about the environment and Aarunya definitely are with their own sustainability program. Aarunya eliminated plastic bottles by using sterilised glass bottles to provide their guests with natural mineral water.

Another part of their sustainability program is growing their planation gardens. Just as the sun was setting, we decided to join Aarunya’s nature-inspired walk as they are situated on a living plantation. We followed them through their gardens where they showed us the different tropical fruits, vegetables, and medicinal spices that they grow. They told us that they are hoping to source the majority of the ingredients used in the restaurant!

Final Comments

Our 1-night stay at Aarunya was incredible and we are so grateful for the amazing time we had. We would personally recommend 2- or 3-nights to fully enjoy all of the activities and to take it all in. Our villa with the private jacuzzi and plunge pool along with the unforgettable view made us not want to leave!  

Staying at a boutique resort like Aarunya has its perks – one of which is that you receive a personalised service – they are attentive to details and accommodate special requests. Exclusivity was evident at all times which truly immersed us in an exquisite atmosphere.  On our way out, we were given a cute little notepad and pen. Once we arrived at our next destination, they messaged us to check if our journey was okay, which I thought truly summed up the incredibly hospitality of the staff.  They genuinely wanted their guests to have the best time at Aarunya – and we definitely did!

A stay at Aarunya Nature Resort and Spa is an unforgettable experience and was one of our highlights of the entire trip. It was the perfect place to feel one with nature and to unwind and rejuvenate. It’s also a great place for couples to have quality time together or to celebrate their honeymoon.

If you want to book your stay in this incredible resort, visit their official website on https://www.aarunyaresort.com/ or make a reservation by emailing reservations@aarunyaresort.com.