Celebrate the magic of Christmas and the wonder of the New Year at our Resplendent resorts. Set against diverse backdrops, each destination offers a unique perspective to the festive season. The teams at our resorts have curated a festive calendar with a host of quintessential activities, surprises, holiday traditions and more. Envision gourmet fine dining, curated stays and seasonal treats. Arrive and experience the spirit of the season with Resplendent. 

This is your invitation to indulge, spread joy and spend quality time with your loved ones, whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine by the warming fireplace at Ceylon Tea Trails, a sitdown festive dinner beneath the starry skies at Wild Coast Tented Lodge or decking the Christmas tree at the front lawn at Cape Weligama. 

Cape Weligama 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Take respite and sanctuary from seasonal stress and indulge in a six-course curated dinner on Christmas Eve. A live band will provide the ideal backdrop to your evening. Gather your little ones and join in to the tune of carols. A host of fun activities will keep them engaged and on the edge of excitement on Christmas Day. Santa will make an early appearance, handing out gifts. Our resort chefs have designed yet another bespoke six-course dining affair which will be served at Ocean Terrace.  

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Join our team in welcoming the New Year on its eve, dancing perhaps to the beat of the live band and enjoying a traditional cultural show at our resort. Experience the unique flavours of hyper-localised cocktails and a six-course menu. A display of fireworks, communal cheer and warm hugs will ring in the arrival of 2024. Observe the ways in which our island celebrates the dawn of a new year and partake in our traditional ceremonies the next morning.

Please bear in mind that some of our regular dining experiences – at Tableau, Lookout Dining, Cove Pool Dining, heritage breakfast at Kumbuk – will not be available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. 

Every Day Festive 

Cape Weligama offers a festive escape, providing a host of activities that will keep your little ones spoilt for fun and seasonal treats during the turndown service. Special experiences include: 

• Art – Show off your artistic skills and take part in your choice of a watercolour or acrylic paint workshop as our resident artist guides you through our island’s history of art. Additional materials including paints and paper will be supplied. 
• Mask Making – Experience a block of wood being hammered and chipped into the shape of a face. Your host will explain mask making and its many uses in our culture and the final step is to paint. There are other masks to use as a guide, although the fun and thrill is to veer off the original design and allow your imagination to take over. 
• Kids Surfing – Build strength, balance and confidence as you engage both your mind and body atop a surfboard. This activity is not just for the little ones; the adults can join in too! While concentration and body awareness are key, this is an interactive and fun experience that is guided. 

Wild Coast Tented Lodge 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Set between the beguiling Indian Ocean and wilderness of the Yala National Park, embrace the festive spirit at our Lodge with your family and friends. Indulge in a six-course curated dinner on Christmas Eve. A live band and the sound of the gushing waves nearby will provide the ideal backdrop to your evening. Gather your little ones and join in to the tune of carols. A host of fun activities will keep them engaged and on the edge of excitement on Christmas Day. Santa will make an early appearance, handing out gifts and spreading joy. Festive treats and gourmet six-course dining menu curated by our chefs will be served at The Dining Room.  

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Join our team in welcoming the New Year on its eve, dancing perhaps to the beat of the live music at our Lodge. Experience the unique flavours of hyper-localised cocktails and yet another decadent six-course meal. Communal cheer and warm hugs will ring in the arrival of 2024. Observe the ways in which our island celebrates the dawn of a new year and partake in a traditional ceremony and cultural show the next morning.

Please bear in mind that some of our regular dining experiences – Beach, Bush and Dune Dining – will not be available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. 

Every Day Festive 

Wild Coast offers an intimate festive escape, inclusive of a host of activities that will keep your little ones spoilt for fun and seasonal treats during the turndown service. Daily sundowners and live instrumental music set the tone. Special experiences include: 

• Nature’s Wonders – Explore the wilderness in and around our Lodge in the company of an expert ranger, who will point out visible animals as well as identify tracks of animals that have traversed our property recently. The combination of our rangers’ knowledge and the ability to walk through the forestry makes for a quintessential wilderness experience. This is a great activity for the entire family. 

• Ranger Takeover – Our team of passionate and dedicated rangers contribute to all activities related to the wilderness, wildlife and conservation. Join them for a little story-telling and presentation time as they showcase learnings and current projects from how to identify a leopard to camera trap sightings from the night before. 
• Bush Painting – The great outdoors surrounding our Lodge sets the perfect backdrop for bush painting. Show off your artistic skills and take part in your choice of a watercolour or acrylic paint. Easels, paints and canvases will be provided. The adults can join in on this one for some additional fun!

Ceylon Tea Trails 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

The festive celebrations at our quintessential planters’ bungalows honours age-old traditions. Indulge in a six-course curated menu on Christmas Eve. Gather your little ones and join in to the tune of carols beside a warming fire. A host of fun activities will keep them engaged and on the edge of excitement on Christmas Day. Santa will make an early appearance, handing out gifts and spreading joy. Festive treats and gourmet five-course dining menu at lunch, and a six-course dining menu at dinner curated by our passionate chefs will provide nourishment and delight.  

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Join our team in welcoming the New Year on its eve. Experience the unique flavours of hyper-localised cocktails and yet another decadent six-course meal. Communal cheer and warm hugs will ring in the arrival of 2024. Observe the ways in which our island celebrates the dawn of a new year and partake in a traditional ceremony the next morning.

Every Day Festive 

Tea Trails offers an intimate festive getaway, inclusive of a host of activities that will keep your little ones spoilt for fun and seasonal treats during the turndown service. A light, festive playlist will continue throughout the month. Dig into mouth watering canapes and special Christmas-inspired cocktails on the daily. Pair up with your loved ones and lend a hand on 21 December as our Christmas tree decks up. Our kitchens are also revving up delectable seasonal delights for our Afternoon Cream Teas from 20-25 December. Special experiences include: 

• Bloom and Grow – Our bungalow gardens harvest fresh produce. Learn about preparing the soil, planting, mulching, watering and weeding during this experience. Develop new skills and learn about the science behind growing your own produce. This is an engaging and wholesome activity for the entire family. 
• Bird Watching – A broad spectrum of biodiversity exists in the Central Highlands – especially ours – as the plantations are interspersed with forest patches that are home to a variety of endemic birds. Our naturalist will offer an in-depth narrative to the surrounding fauna, share insights on bird behaviour and calls, and sit and sketch any sightings of the day. Join in on this leisurely experience. You will be provided with binoculars, a sketch pad and colour pencils. Take a few breaks to enjoy some refreshments – picnic style too! 
• Sail and Fish – As one of the most popular outdoor activities, experience fishing on the Castlereagh Lake with your own handmade fishing rods. Our expert naturalists will guide you through the process of making these rods out of bamboo and nylon thread. This fun and interactive experience is yet another great one for the entire family. 

If you would like more information on the complementary activities and offerings, details on our Island Escapes offer valid from 1 Nov, 2023 to 30 April, 2024 or reserve a table for a celebratory meal at one of our resorts, please contact us on reservations@resplendentceylon.com. Each of our resorts are ideal for an intimate family getaway, and will be even more special celebrated with your loved ones. 

We look forward to celebrating this season with you.