Rosyth Estate House

Enveloped by towering palms, the lamplit dining pavilion has wall-to-wall glass to ensure you never really feel 'inside', and a live cooking station where the chef whips up his sizzling menus. Next door is the pool, a tranquil spot to recline with a book from the library and listen to the chatter of birdlife. Sitting beside a lotus pond, the spa offers a peaceful, rustic setting for a selection of Sri Lankan, Ayurvedic and Asian treatments like the luxuriating sandalwood, turmeric and honey wrap.

Each named after a spice or fruit from the gardens, most rooms sit in the main house and boast bright interiors with high ceilings, King-sized beds, and expressive art works. The Classic Suites are larger and have two bedrooms, a private terrace and spacious bathrooms. A little way from the house, the Plantation Suites come complete with an outdoor stone bathtub, while the Rock Villa sits high above the others with stunning 360° views and an infinity plunge pool from which to gaze at them.

Reset and relax with a walk round the estate, where langurs, red loris monkeys and birds catch your attention from the trees, and you could easily get lost for a few hours amongst the paddy fields. Visit a local tea factory and see the fascinating process of taking a harvest from bush to brew. And, half an hour away, there's an elephant orphanage on the Maha Oya River, where you can join them for a walk to the water. Expect to be splashed!