Our stay at Shangri-La Hambantota Golf & Spa Resort
Fifty hectares of lush jungle, once a coconut plantation today host the exclusive Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa. The biggest resort in Sri Lanka is the perfect place where to relax, wind down and experience the beauty and hospitality of the southern coast.
Its great location makes Shangri-La Hambantota the perfect place from where to explore the surrounding natural beauty of Sri Lanka, reaching the Yala, Udawalawe, Lunugamvehera and Bundala National Parks. The resort also offers organized activities which also include a boat ride safari down the river to discover the wildlife of the area.
During our stay, we enjoyed waking up to the view of the deep blue ocean just past the lush green palm tree forest. We felt as if completely immersed in nature, with the comforts of a luxury accommodation. We spent lazy hours swimming and sunbathing in the adults-only swimming pool overlooking the beach, escaping the heat of the Sri Lankan sun and enjoying refreshing cocktails.
We had the pleasure to explore the 18-hole golf course by buggy, which spread across a once coconut palm plantation, a sapphire quarry, lakes, and sand dunes. Designed by world-renowned golf architect, Rodney Wright. Even if we are not expert golfers which enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings and imagined how exciting must be to play on this course.
The cherry on top during our stay was the most incredible full body massage at Chi Ayurvedic Spa. It started with a tea in the idyllic outside courtyard, sitting on a swinging chair overlooking a lily pond. Afterward, we chose our preferred fragrance to be used as na oil during our massage, as part of the aromatherapy treatment. Two talented masseuses gave us an unforgettable full body massage using a pressure point technique, to relieve stress and tensions in specific areas of the body. We left the spa on cloud nine!
To finish off, our evening were made special by the culinary offer of the hotel, which spans across two restaurants. Sera, where a mix of Asian cuisine is presented as street food resembling the famous hawker stalls. Ulpatha, the resort's Golf Club House, where we tasted delicious Sri Lanka dishes and had fun playing pool to end the night.
Sustainability at Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa
Shangri-La Hambantota is a leader in terms of sustainability programmes in Sri Lanka. During our stay we were able to discuss some of them with resident naturalist, while on a walk on the beach front. One of the main missions of the resort is to support the local community and area by organizing beach clean ups involving the staff and the community residents. Moreover, the majority of the staff if employed from the surrounding villages, thus ensuring the the community grows and benefits from the tourism business. Shangri-La Hambantota organizes weekley charity golf competitions where money are raised for their elephant charity and gives the opportunity to guests to visit the elephant rehabilitation center. Here orphan elephants are taken care of until they are ready to be reintroduced in the wild.
Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa combines luxury to sustainability in a seamless way.
