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0333 7000 747

Open 9 until 9 daily

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Price Guide
7 Nights - £1,120pp

Flight inclusive price from UK

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Illuketiya

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool

Lunch

Lunch

Hibiscus Suite

Hibiscus Suite

Terrace View

Terrace View

Gardens

Gardens

 

Illuketia

Charming and luxurious 6 room boutique hotel set in tranquil 10 acre setting 5km from Galle Fort.

About 5km inland from Galle Fort, Illuketia is a charming and luxurious boutique hotel occupying a re-built 19th century plantation house.

The house sits on a hillside location within 10 acres of mature gardens and rice fields, surrounded by tea estates and lovely rural surroundings.

The gardens are truly magnificent with tall trees, bamboo, ferns, giant heliconias, sweet smelling frangipanis and a plethora of local bird and animal life (which is one of the real highlights of Sri Lanka).

The swimming pool is 25m long, surrounded by comfortable deck chairs.

The library is very well stocked with travelogues, art and history books, magazines and novels meaning that guests will never run short of reading material.

Rooms at Illuketiya radiate from a central oriental pool area and are very spacious and finely furnished.

What’s so Special?

It’s the verdant lush setting of Illuketia which is the really striking feature. Birdlife and butterflies are abundant and monkeys make their home in the surrounding trees (they’re not a nuisance).

The Drawing Room is one of our favourite spots – nice and cool with giant bamboo furniture, lacquered Chinese cabinets, antique porcelains, chandeliers and paintings from Indonesia – each one the owners personal touch.

Illuketiya is over 100 years old and has a prestigious history locally.

In 1992, Hans Hoefer, founder of Insight Guides began the restoration of Illuketiya to its current status.

Hans has also put together a handful of self-guided trails through the tea plantations and villages.

Bear in mind

Illuketiya isn’t on the beach – it’s about 6km inland from the beach.

This is a place with a real sense of history, but the villa wasn’t designed as a hotel. Rooms are not particularly well sound-proofed.

Rooms don’t have TV’s – it’s not the place to go watch CNN – listen to the birds instead.

There are four suites in the main house and two suites in the separate Pond House overlooking a Lotus Pond.

The Suites are nicely furnished and the tiled floors, white-washed walls and colourful local art and artefacts bedecking the walls create a fresh, clean tropical ambience.

Beds are draped with mosquito nets and the carved windows and lintels add more local feel to the rooms.

Hibiscus Suite

The Master bedroom is located in a corner with a private balcony looking out onto the rice fields and village path.

Traditional window frames and doors are recycled from old houses. The spacious bathroom is decorated with Turkish tiles and a wall-size mirror.

Lotus Suite

The Lotus Suite is the largest room, with a view to the tea hills beyond.

Original paintings of Southeast Asian scenes reveal the owners’ tramping grounds whilst the stylish colour scheme matches the hand-painted lotus bedspread.

Citronella

Though smaller, Citronella has a private garden terrace to the side of the house. The en-suite bathroom has a large closet and shower and twin vanity basins. Air-conditioning is available.

Waterlily

The most intimate room has a charming four-poster bed, a Dutch-style cabinet and antique mirror stand.

The view gazes down the heliconia walk. Waterlily has an en-suite bathroom with shower and is ideal as a single room.

Ginger

Ginger is one of two rooms in the Pond House – a little removed from the main house and by a lily pond.

Ginger has a King size bed on a raised platform. The bathroom is semi-outdoor with tête-à-tête bathtubs. This is the sister room to Jasmine, with an air-conditioned bedroom.

Ginger shares a central area with Jasmine – a courtyard which can be a dining venue.

Jasmine

Jasmine is one of two air-conditioned Suites (along with Ginger) in the Pond House – a separate building a little removed from the main house and set by a small lily pond.

Two Queen-size beds are found under one cozy mosquito tent on a raised platform.

The entrance to the bedroom is from the living room, another door opens to the veranda and pantry. The outdoor bathroom has a walled-in garden with a large double bathtub.

Jasmine shares a central area with Ginger – a courtyard which can be a dining venue.

The veranda is a wonderful spot for breakfast and dinner, overlooking the lush gardens – a tranquil spot to curl up with a good book and enjoy the sights and sounds of the gardens.

Breakfast is always prepared when you are ready and consists of seasonal cut fruits and chilled juices, Ceylon tea or locally grown coffee, eggs any style with fried bacon or sausages, buffalo milk curd or yoghurt topped with palm sugar treacle.

Typical Sri Lankan breakfast is also available. All pancakes, breads and jams are home made.

 

Illuketia’s cuisine works on availability of fresh produce combining the clever use of local herbs and spices, best described as Eastern dishes under Western direction.

Fish, shrimp, squid and lobster are caught hours ago, meats are delivered from reputable suppliers, vegetables and greens are plucked from the organic nursery plots, and the kitchen is noted for its desserts, cakes and cookies.

Lunch is usually snacks, toasted sandwiches or salads. Order dinner, a three- to four-course menu, in advance.

The main house has a library, a drawing room, a pond and a pool table.

Facilities:

  • Swimming Pool
  • Library
  • Pool table
  • Bicycles
  • Self-guided walking trails

2019 - 20 Price Guide:

  • 7 nights from £1,120 pp

Includes:

  • International flights from the UK
  • All taxes
  • 7 nights accommodation with breakfast
  • Private car airport transfers

This is a guide price only, based on travel in low season.

Prices will vary according to availability of airfares on the dates of travel and seasonal hotel and airfare surcharges.

Please ask us for any current special offers.

Jasmine Bonus:

  • Includes Daily American Breakfast

Contact Us:

All of our Sri Lanka Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of Sri Lanka tour to suit your interests and budget.

Call us now to speak to a Sri Lanka holiday expert about your Sri Lanka holiday or honeymoon to Sri Lanka.

Call us now on 0333 7000 747

Click to enquire by email

We're open from 9 until 9 daily and our 0333 number is a local rate number included in most call packages.