Peel+Williams appointed to handle the communications for luxury travel company

Sri Lanka Bespoke 

Shared Passion - Shared Experiences

London, March 2021/… Since its launch in 2016, Althea Bunce, Founder of Sri Lanka Bespoke and her team have been passionate about creating authentic, handcrafted insider experiences for those looking to visit the country. With Sri Lankan heritage and two decades of experience in travel in and around the island, the team have visited and handpicked accommodation and transportation partners, along with a range of exclusive experiences, many of which would be hard to arrange through anyone else. Sri Lanka's unique appeal is its sheer diversity, and its remarkable feature is that it offers something for everyone. It is one of the few places on earth with beaches, cool tea plantations, diverse wildlife and ancient cities and temples all within a few hours of each other. 

“Lockdown has been tough and looking at the same four walls has given people a new appetite to get out into the world and explore” comments Althea Bunce, Founder of Sri Lanka Bespoke. “We want to share our passion for the destination and show everything that Sri Lanka has to offer – from idyllic palm fringed beaches, to some of the most exciting wildlife in the world, delicious cuisine and lush scenery, not to mention colourful festivals and a rich cultural history” she continued. “We are a team with first-hand expertise and unrivalled knowledge. All of Sri Lankan heritage, we have Sri Lanka in our hearts and souls, and we want our clients to leave Sri Lanka loving it as much as we do” she concluded. 

What really sets Sri Lanka Bespoke apart is their utterly unique access and insights and on the ground contacts Althea and her team have grown and nurtured over many years. As well as being home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and numerous well-trodden paths that are unmissable and essential to any Sri Lankan experiences, those seeking a more authentic and personalised experience need look no further than Sri Lanka Bespoke.

Experiences: Sri Lanka Bespoke go beyond to enrich their holidays with curated insider experiences that create soul stirring journeys. Althea wants to share her passion and experiences to create unforgettable memories for her guests – think culinary journeys to traditional Good Health rituals, visits to paddy fields, schools and native tribes.

Families, thrill-seekers, explorers and romantics alike will love the waterfall walks, safaris and white-water rafting, private jet flights over mountains and jungles, train trips across the country through the most beautiful scenery, the golden beaches, unique spas and the world's best snorkelling experiences. Sri Lanka is also renowned for its precious minerals and gems – Sapphires in particular are a speciality so why not allow Sri Lanka Bespoke to arrange for some of the most reputable jewellers to visit you at your hotel so you can treat yourself (or a loved one) to a bespoke piece of jewellery!

Here's a taster to what else you can expect…

Take part in a Good Health Ritual and prepare to be uplifted. This long-standing tradition in Sri Lanka is where blessings are sought at poignant milestones. Guests can choose to either observe, participate and or receive the blessings for themselves and their loved ones.

Visit a traditional village community and cook a meal with a villager in their home – a humbling experience. Pick ingredients from the villager's garden, separating rice from the paddy using the traditional pounding methods to then cooking and enjoying delicious food in a village mud house. Guests can also visit The Veddha's – Sri Lanka's oldest inhabitants and indigenous tribe dating back over 2600 years.

Children can venture into a Sri Lankan school – expect open air buildings with treasured provisions and eager students. Take part in a music lesson or a school inter-match cricket game – it would be as much as a treat for the visitor as the receiving school children who are thrilled to welcome visitors! And if your child has never eaten rice and curry before, this is the perfect time for a traditional introduction as rice and curry is a deeply respected staple and a child's first time is considered an auspicious occasion!

Accommodation: Guests of Sri Lanka Bespoke travel in style and will stay in deeply gorgeous boutiques to super-luxe hideaways, all of which boast incredible locations and fuse luxury with service. Althea has personally hand-picked and visited every property featured and recommended by Sri Lanka Bespoke with many suiting clientele who are after something very private and remote.

Just some of the properties Sri Lanka Bespoke champion…

One of the most recent openings is W15 Kandy, located in the central highlands/Kandy. Winner of the Conde Nast Johansens 2021 awards, this beautifully restored bungalow rewards its visitors with unparalleled views of the Hanthana mountain range. Beautifully appointed rooms with several options for private dining and sunbathing, this is a luxurious home away from home with a wide range of luxury experiences and where your every need is attended to.  

Kalundewa Retreat is a stunning eco retreat tucked away on a 100-acre reserve. Drawing its beauty from the mystic Kalundewa Mountain range this is easily one of the most unique boutique hotels in Sri Lanka with the isolated farming community contributing to the hotel resulting in a handful of dwellings cradled in the arms of lush vegetation. 

Few resorts in the world can match Santani Resort & Spa's serene view and location on an undulating hillside to the north east of Kandy. The pure natural surroundings energise the soul, and the purposefully minimalist eco-conscious architecture lets body and mind be at peace – the 120 acre resort was designed according to the highest sustainability and eco principles. Leopard Trails is a bespoke luxury tented safari experience that operates within the buffer zones of both Wilpattu and Yala national parks. Guests will head out on tailored game drives with deeply knowledgeable rangers and for younger guests there is a junior programme available both within the camp and on safari. Ulagallafeatures a 150-year-old mansion at its centre with 20 private, ecologically built villas spread across 58 acres of lush greenery. A lush environment, stunning landscape makes for an unforgettable luxurious experience amidst a green oasis. A perfect blend of indulgence and luxury in amongst two sparkling reservoirs, paddy fields, lily ponds and an ancestral estate that was once of Anuradhapura nobility.

Karpaha Sands is arguably one of the island's most luxurious beach stays. Decompress in luxury tented suites carefully tucked between palm trees. Unwind on private loungers on pristine shores and enjoy the divine culinary journey that makes this hidden gem extra special. With a spa, library and fully equipped games room, you will find it impossible not to recharge and deeply relax at this exclusive and intimate beach stay. Chena Huts, inspired by the small clearings in the jungle for chena for farmers to guard their crops, these huts are far from their modest ancestors. Super-luxe safari residences nestle among dunes and luscious jungle at the ocean's edge. Overlooking a beach, expect sea turtles laying eggs by moonlight and elephants playing in the surf. You will be appointed your own personal ranger who will accompany you on your tailored game drives into Yala National Park. Between safaris, relax on your private pavilion boasting views of the surrounding wilderness. Each Chena Hut is hugely spacious and comes complete with private decks and plunge pools. 

Rates: Tailor made holidays to Sri Lanka with Sri Lanka Bespoke (www.srilanka-bespoke.com) start from £6,995pp for 14 nights. Price based on 2 adults sharing and includes accommodation on mix of half and full board basis, experiences and personal chauffeur. Excludes flights.

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For further press information, please contact Peel+Williams: Kathryn Peel kathryn@peelwilliams.com or Jonathan Williams jonathan@peelwilliams.com