By Charmaine Hibbert

Coming through the gates of the Aliya Resort by Thema I knew I was in for something special. We pull up to the steps that rise up to the reception area and I had to smile as it was like keeping you in suspense a little longer. As I make the top of the stairs and into the vast spacious reception area I am confronted by the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress defiantly rising from the plains that surround it, just oozing magnificence and with a “come climb me if you dare” air about it.

But after taking in the view my eyes pull back to the infinity pool below, and in this heat, it exudes its own presence of calming, cooling waters with your body wanting to just run down the stairs and dive in. I am sure many a guest have done just that, it’s so inviting.

A cold towel and some coconut milk straight from the coconut, while the staff take my passport and check me in and I am off to my room, which turns out to be number one and not far at all.



Room

The cool air conditioning is the first thing I notice! I’m being shown around by guest services; the room is white and clean with dark wooden and wicker furniture. The bathroom is designed beautifully with a deep soaker tub, dark walk-in shower, with rain head feature and modern designed oblong-shaped sink. There is also a mini bar, coffee making facilities and wardrobe with lots of options which also contains your safe.

The bed faces the large patio doors that open up to a patio bench and there is enough space to take your wicker chairs and table out there.

The bed is a floating bed design with dark wood slats and headboard and as usual the dive into the crisp linens reveals a nice firm mattress.



Eco village

After settling in I am now being shown around another part of the hotel that is all about sustainability and eco-friendly hospitality. And the small paddy fields are being harvested as we make our way round. Everything that is grown here is used for cooking in the restaurant where all dishes are produced using those vegetables and rice etc.

On arriving in this part of the hotel you are assessed by the doctor who gives you an eating plan and also massage plan, with the eco-friendly spa sitting at the heart of this section along with the restaurant. The treatment rooms are open to the elements but private at the same time, so you can’t be seen from the outside. As we wander round we are shown the rooms, which again use natural products and while they are basic they have been beautifully designed and are very well appointed.

There is also a recycling plant, water treatment centre and local potter on site, and the potter works with you so you can create your own crockery while you are here, if you want to. I love the ideas that they have put in place and although you are not sleeping with all the bugs and snakes etc, you certainly do feel you are getting back to nature. I would certainly recommend this section if you are looking to relax and rejuvenate.



Ayurveda & Wellness

There are two spas here – the one in the eco-friendly hotel section and the Ayurveda and Wellness in this section of the hotel. Today I am having the foot massage and I am led to one of the treatment rooms. My masseur asks me if I just want below the knee or the whole leg and there was me thinking it was just going to be my feet!

I opt for the whole leg option and yes I am falling asleep within minutes of planting my face into the hole in the massage table! But it’s those magic hands that have me relaxing in seconds and drifting off.

Yes, the foot massage does include him massaging your feet, but it is the whole experience and the working of my thighs, calfs and feet both back and front that has me once again feeling revitalised. As I gaze out to the fields from the relaxation area my whole being smiling back at the sun and slowly drifting back off to sleep, with the sound of nature surrounding me, I think I’ve found my new happy place.



Restaurants

The Alaka Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and, depending on your meal plan here, the menu has lots of options, giving you fish, meat or pasta options each day with a variety of starters and desserts. Tonight we are dining with the food and beverages manager, Gajanayaka Kumara, who has created some wonderful cocktails and has promised us that we will get to sample some tonight after dinner.

As each dish arrives my taste buds just dance in delight, and having had lunch here earlier in the day, I can vouch that the food is wonderful and carefully crafted and presented. Add in those wonderful views and an Arrack cocktail that’s made with natural honey and it is the perfect end to what has been a wonderful day.



I am now all prepared to climb the Lion Rock Fortress early tomorrow morning – well as ready as I will ever be! It’s our last night here and Gajanayaka has arranged for us to have a traditional Sri Lanken night at the Nagula Restaurant and to savour local delicacies that are inspired by the ancient culinary heritage of Sri Lanka. We meet the chef who is a local lady and she has already started cooking our dishes and the beautiful aromas float past and tease our senses on the warm breeze. She informs us that everything will be cooked by firewood, the traditional way.

At the end of the meal we are both looking at each other with big smiles on our faces. It has been a wonderful night with traditional Sri Lankan music playing in the background. The colours, flavours and culinary skills of our chef made for an experience that I am sure we will both never forget.



We have only been here two days, but the memories not just of the experiences that we had climbing the Lion Rock Fortress and the elephant safari, but also the staff and food at the Aliya Resort and Spa have been truly amazing. I hope you get to experience being here one day, I know you will enjoy every minute of your stay.


Aliya Resort & Spa
Audangawa, Sigiriya
Sri Lanka

T: +94 662 040 400
W: themacollection.com/aliya-resort