Set on Sri Lanka’s ancient Spice Route along the lush, unspoiled Southern coastline, Shangri-La’s five star Hambantota Resort & Spa will offer unrivalled amenities and experiential activities when it opens to guests on June 1st, 2016.

The 300-room resort – the first of its kind in Sri Lanka – presides over 145 acres of tropical gardens and Indian Ocean vistas, an artisan village showcasing local Sri Lankan creativity, and a host of innovative dining, entertainment and spa options.

The resort aims to provide an authentic sense of place, an eco-friendly 18-hole golf course and country club and unrivalled experiential activities providing access to the country’s finest nature and wildlife reserves.

A destination within a destination, the resort caters to families and experiential travellers like no other.

Close to Yala and Bundala National Parks, home to the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, wild elephants and thousands of rare and exotic birds, the resort caters as effortlessly for intrepid voyagers venturing farther into the reserves as it does for those seeking luxurious comfort, offering a fantastic sense of place within the resort itself.

From the contemporary Sri Lankan décor; wood-carved, cool turquoise-hued and spacious rooms, including 26 suites which offer private butler service, expansive views of spectacular gardens and a secluded balcony or terrace; to “The Village” – a unique feature dedicated to preserving Sri Lanka’s traditional artisan communities, where craftsmen skilfully create, exhibit and sell their wares during the day.

By night, The Village transforms into an exciting performing arts showcase for the very best of Sri Lankan music, dance and traditional martial arts.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa, takes a truly home-grown approach to wellness, through its all-natural products, the option of tranquil outdoor treatment rooms and an extensive Chinese-meets-Ayurvedic menu. 

Shangri-La’s Golf & Country club, set amid a vast coconut palm plantation, is the very first of its kind in the Sri Lankan hospitality sector; the eco-friendly, par 70, 18-hole golf course is designed by Rodney Wright to enhance the glittering panorama of the Indian Ocean, challenging players at every turn through complex water features.

The Club House and Health Centre both offer a myriad of exciting resort activities, from an extensive selection of exhilarating water sports, including a dedicated dive centre, to yoga, archery, darts and barefoot bowling.