A Resplendent Holiday
Experience the magic of Christmas and the wonder of the New Year at Resplendent resorts. Each destination, set against diverse and stunning backdrops, offers a unique festive perspective. Our teams have crafted a holiday calendar brimming with quintessential activities, delightful surprises, cherished traditions, and more. Imagine gourmet fine dining, bespoke stays, and seasonal treats. Arrive and immerse yourself in the spirit of the season with Resplendent.
This is your invitation to indulge, spread joy, and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Whether it’s savouring a glass of wine by the cosy fireplace at Ceylon Tea Trails, enjoying a festive dinner under the starry skies at Wild Coast Tented Lodge, or decorating the Christmas tree on the front lawn at Cape Weligama, experience the holidays like never before.
Ceylon Tea Trails
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Join us at our quintessential planters’ bungalows for festive celebrations that honour age-old traditions. Indulge in a six-course curated menu on Christmas Eve. Gather your little ones and enjoy carols beside a warming fire. On Christmas Day, a host of fun activities will keep them engaged and excited. Santa will make an early appearance, handing out gifts and spreading joy. Enjoy festive treats, a gourmet five-course lunch, and a six-course dinner curated by our passionate chefs.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with our team and experience the unique flavours of hyper-localised cocktails and another decadent six-course meal. Communal cheer and warm hugs will welcome 2025. Observe the island’s traditions for the dawn of the new year and partake in a traditional ceremony the next morning. Fireworks on New Year’s Eve will add to the excitement, and an intimate gathering on New Year’s Day will mark the beginning of 2025.
Every Day Festive
Tea Trails offers an intimate festive getaway with a host of activities to keep your little ones entertained. From December 20th to 31st, enjoy seasonal treats during turndown service and a light festive playlist. Delight in scrumptious canapés and special Christmas-inspired cocktails daily. Join us on December 21st to help decorate our Christmas tree. Our kitchens are also preparing delectable seasonal delights for our Afternoon Cream Teas from December 20th to 25th.
Special experiences include:
Bloom and Grow– Our seaside resort is home to 12 acres of land, some of which is now being used to garden and harvest fresh produce. This is an engaging and wholesome activity for the entire family. Learn about preparing the soil, planting, mulching, watering and weeding. Develop new skills and learn about the science behind growing your own produce.
Upcycle– Are you socially and environmentally conscious? At our bungalows, waste of all kinds is segregated so that they can be repurposed, recycled or discarded in a purposeful manner. Some of the materials including glass, metals, beads and wires can be upcycled into crafts, including jewellery. Additional materials including paints, glue, and paper can be supplied upon request.
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!
Colour in Nature – The great outdoors surrounding our bungalows sets the perfect backdrop for 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.
Tracks – Learn about the wilderness of the Central Highlands and the leopards that roam the land. Explore the surroundings in the company of an expert naturalist, who will point out visible animals as well as identify animal tracks and scat along the way. This experience is a great activity for the entire family.
Fishing on Castlereagh – As one of the most popular outdoor summer 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 for the entire family.
Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Set between the enchanting Indian Ocean and the wilderness of Yala National Park, embrace the festive spirit at our Lodge with your family and friends. Indulge in a curated six-course dinner on Christmas Eve, accompanied by live music and the soothing sound of nearby waves. Join us in singing carols, creating a magical evening for all. On Christmas Day, a range of fun activities will keep your little ones entertained and excited. Santa will make a special appearance, handing out gifts and spreading joy. Enjoy festive treats and a gourmet six-course dining menu curated by our chefs at The Dining Room.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Join us in welcoming the New Year with live music at our Lodge. Experience the unique flavours of hyper-localised cocktails and another decadent six-course meal. Communal cheer and warm hugs will ring in 2025. Observe and partake in traditional ceremonies and a cultural show on New Year’s Day morning, celebrating the dawn of a new year.
Please note 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 with a host of activities that will keep your little ones delighted and seasonal treats during the turndown service. Daily sundowners and live instrumental music set the perfect tone. On December 23rd, enjoy cocktails with the General Manager for an extra touch of holiday cheer. Special experiences include:
Tracks – Learn about the wilderness of Yala and the animals that roam the land. Get up close and personal with tracks you’ve identified along the beach or pathways of our lodge, with our rangers. Examine the size of the tracks, the number of toes, whether the tracks look light or firm, smooth or disturbed. The width and length can also tell you the difference between closely related animals. Our rangers will then guide a hosted workshop where your little ones can make a plaster cast of animal tracks. The cast can also be painted once dried.
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 ranger’s knowledge and the ability to walk through the forestry makes for the 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.
Off the Coast – The coastal sand dunes at the outskirts of our lodge form where a beach is large and sufficient enough to allow the sand to dry out completely between high tides. Plenty of onshore winds also tally to the creation of sand dunes as it blows the dry sand landward. The sand is held in by what is known as dune grass through the accumulating layers of hard sand. Want to know more about coastal geology? Our Off the Coast experience is interactive and fun.
Bonfires and S’mores – Create summer memories by the bonfire! Set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean and sandy dunes, sit around the fire, settle into the evening and enjoy traditional smores and fixings complete with cool drinks with your entire family.
Conservation Moments – As dusk begins to set, gather around the sand dunes overlooking the sea and settle into an evening of story-telling. Our skilled rangers have many tales to share and this is your chance to get to know the ins and outs of what they do from tracking animals to their conservation efforts.
Survival Gastronomia – Partake in an in-depth fun and interactive experience cooking with traditional Sri Lankan ingredients with our chefs as host. Learn how to mix spices, season ingredients and cook your own meal. The experience is not a typical ‘demo’ but more an interactive learning experience on cooking the most common Sri Lankan fare.
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, complete with live music to set the perfect ambiance. Gather your little ones to join in the festive cheer with carols and a range of fun activities on Christmas Day. Santa will make an early appearance, handing out gifts to delight the children. Our resort chefs have once again crafted a bespoke six-course dining experience, to be savoured at Ocean Terrace.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Join us in welcoming the New Year on its eve with dancing to the live band and enjoying a traditional cultural show at our resort. Relish the unique flavours of hyper-localised cocktails and a six-course menu. A spectacular display of fireworks, communal cheer, and warm hugs will ring in 2025. On New Year’s Day, experience the island’s traditional ceremonies, marking the dawn of a new year.
Please note that some of our regular dining experiences – at Tableau, Lookout Dining, Cove Pool Dining, and 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 with activities and treats that will keep your little ones entertained and delighted. Special experiences include cocktails with the General Manager, carols, and a tree lighting ceremony on December 23rd. From December 20th to January 10th, relax with sundowners every day.
Special experiences include:
Local Market – Welcoming local vendors from Weligama, this pop-up market brings a variety of artisans and craftspeople to our doorstep. Engage with the intricacies of Beeralu Lace Making, vibrant paintings created by the students of Sumangala Vidyalaya, or try your hand at pottery making and carving. Ignite your creativity with mask painting or explore the artistry of batik and immerse yourself in the rich local culture and treasures without leaving the comfort of Cape Weligama.
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 inspire change.
Cape Social – A vibrant event at Cape Weligama! Join us thrice a week from 6.00 P.M. to 7.00 P.M. to savour local cocktails paired with delectable canapés inspired by the region. Engage with fellow in-house guests or connect with our esteemed ambassadors and create unforgettable memories.
Kids Surfing – Cape Weligama offers thrilling and safe experiences for young surfers. With expert instructors and beautiful beaches, Weligama is perfect for kids of all skill levels. They’ll learn to ride waves, understand ocean safety, and develop a love for the sport in this unforgettable destination.
Ice Cream for the Soul – What’s summer without some flavourful ice cream? Dig into island flavours like cashew, mango, passion fruit, coconut and rambutan. It’s cold, refreshing and most importantly delicious!
The Heartbeat of Our Community – The first centre fully supported by Resplendent Ceylon, the MJF Centre at Cape Weligama supports the community living around our resort. The Centre operates as a pre-school throughout the week, where children have the opportunity to learn and play while developing their social skills. After school hours, older children are provided with additional support in lessons such as science and mathematics in preparation for the fifth-grade scholarship undertaken in Sri Lanka’s schooling system. A special programme for women and youth in terms of livelihoods and life skills support was also introduced in recent years. As a guest, you are able to visit the centre during its operating hours, any day of the week, and participate in some of the programmes, lending towards our efforts of sharing knowledge and uplifting the community.
If you would like more information 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.
