Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Anantara’s tagline is “Life is a Journey,” which is abundantly true at their Peace Haven resort. Here, the journey is a matter of living large. Among the many leisure pursuits on offer? Patrolling nearby Rekawa Beach to assist nesting hawksbill and leatherback turtle eggs; wandering behind the scenes at 200-acre Handunugoda Tea Plantation, where everything from cinnamon to coconut plantations thrive; or plying the mangrove-steeped lagoons of Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary by boat looking for any of 150 species of resident fowl. But if you’d rather simply hole up in your exquisite room or villa and chillax, we won’t judge: each is stocked with all the trappings of bliss, including a wine humidor and private terrace for soaking in the sultry air.

An ultra-modernist 152-room hideaway on the Indian Ocean with an ayurvedic spa.

Cold. Anantara’s designers have created a streamlined world that’s equally plush, using Sri Lankan patterns you’ll only find here.

Gratis services include tuk-tuk rides throughout the property, a chauffeur on-call, and Les Clefs d’or—trained concierges awaiting to answer any persnickety question you can think of.

Something about this spa is more transcendent than any other. Is it the gurgling fountains? The service—ultra pampering, thanks to the brand’s Thai origins? You were set to denounce their Chakra Crystal Balancing treatment and massage as too woo-woo for you…until it changed your life. You’ve never felt more in harmony with the world, or yourself.

II Mare - Moonlit beachside Italian cuisine and wine. Verala - Tradition cuisine. Poolside Bar - Cocktails. Lobby Lounge - Fine bites, tea and cocktails in Ceylon style.