For years, Sri Lanka’s tourism identity revolved around ancient ruins, leopard safaris, and surf spots.
But in recent years, that’s started to change. Enter: Sri Lanka as a wellness destination.
Wellness travel has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism – with more people choosing holidays that prioritise their physical and mental health.
Sri Lanka’s climate, cuisine, and spiritual heritage already lend themselves to this shift. Now, new resorts and updated retreats are adding to this ambience!
Let’s take a look at how it’s happening.
A country leaning into stillness
In Sri Lanka, the most luxurious wellness resorts are often the quietest. Instead of high-rise hotels or beachfront clubs, here you’ll find bungalows among rice paddies, outdoor massage tables by a river, or herbal steam rooms buried in the jungle.
After the pandemic and Sri Lanka’s financial crisis (which ended last year), the country’s tourism board began pushing slower, more sustainable travel.
They’ve been encouraging visitors staying in one or two places, having local interactions, and eating locally-grown, fresh food. Wellness travel complements this perfectly.
Even the areas once known for lively nightlife – like beach towns on the south coast – now have stricter development rules. Think less loud beach parties and more yoga retreats.
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Where to stay: wellness resorts worth knowing
Some of the country’s most established hotel groups are now rebranding properties around wellbeing, and new businesses are opening all the time.
Jetwing Lagoon, Negombo
Just 20 minutes from Colombo Airport, Jetwing Lagoon is one of the easiest places to begin or end a wellness stay. Designed by Geoffrey Bawa, the property centres around calm, open-air spaces and Ayurvedic therapies.
Treatments use local oils and ingredients, with doctors available to tailor full programmes.
It sits on the side of Negombo Lagoon and is home to the longest swimming pool in Sri Lanka, at 100 metres.
Locally-owned Jetwing runs resorts all over the country, which are run sustainably, with solar power, home-grown vegetables, and low plastic pollution.
Santani Wellness, Kandy
Located in the misty hills near Kandy, Santani has become one of Sri Lanka’s flagship wellness experiences. Here, you get yoga platforms with mountain views, detox menus, and personalised wellness schedules shaped by in-house specialists.
Uga Ulagalla, Anuradhapura region
Sitting on the edge of the rainforest, Uga Ulagalla is a wonderfully secluded resort (perfect for a honeymoon!). Here, villas come with their own pools and views over paddy fields. On-site, guests can take part in meditation sessions, gentle yoga, and Ayurvedic consultations. It’s especially popular with couples splitting time between heritage sites and downtime.
Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala
This option’s a little more rustic, but is popular with travellers of all styles! Tented suites sit beside the edge of Yala National Park. Days begin with sunrise yoga or beach walks. There’s a spa for recovery and gourmet dining that leans towards fresh, seasonal produce.
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Sri Lanka’s unique take on wellness
Unlike newer wellness destinations, Sri Lanka’s approach is rooted in centuries of local practice. It’s well known for its local Ayurveda treatments, and Buddhist meditation is practised by monks and civilians daily.
Ayurveda is a local medical treatment that’s guided by licensed practitioners, with treatment plans that incorporate diet, herbal remedies, massage, steam therapy, and rest. Guests are usually advised to stay at least three nights to feel the benefits, though a week or more is common.
The country’s geography also supports this style of travel. The beaches are rarely crowded. The hill country is cool and quiet. Most properties make use of open-air spaces, from yoga platforms to jungle-facing massage rooms. Meals often focus on local produce, with plant-based menus (Sri Lanka is one of the best countries for vegetarians and vegans) that change daily.
You’ll also find smaller places offering simpler versions of these experiences – family-run guesthouses with yoga gardens or beachfront cabins with Ayurvedic menus. You don’t need five-star budgets to feel the benefits – which should be the case everywhere!
There’s less nightlife
You certainly can find clubs in Sri Lanka. But the drinking culture is different from that in the West, and Sri Lanka is keen to avoid the nightlife trappings that places like Thailand and Bali have fallen into.
Sri Lanka is keen to promote itself as more of a relaxation destination than a party place. That means that there isn’t a huge amount of nightlife and number of new casinos is limited. But this just adds to the relaxing atmosphere!
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a destination where it’s natural to unplug and disconnect, looking after your body and mind in the process, Sri Lanka might be the place to do so.
Recently, the country’s turned a corner with its economy, and it’s eager to welcome tourists from all over – hopefully healing a part of themselves in the process.
