By Pascal Languillon, CEO Luxe Wellness Club.
Nestled in the green hills of central Sri Lanka, an hour and a half from Kandy, Santani Wellness Resort seems to float between heaven and earth. Isolated from the world, this sanctuary of silence and minimalism must be earned: after leaving the busy roads behind, one descends into a landscape of tropical forests, tea plantations, and rice fields before suddenly coming upon an architectural ensemble as pure as the philosophy it embodies. For a few days, I lived by the rhythm of the sun—daily yoga, excellent Ayurvedic treatments, refined meals, and contemplation. I rediscovered, far from the bustle, the art of slowing down.
A refuge in the middle of nowhere
Santani, which means “in harmony” in Sanskrit, was conceived as a space for total disconnection. No television, no frills: only the whisper of wind, the songs of birds, and the morning mist clinging to the hills.Perched at 800 meters of altitude, the resort previously comprised around twenty stilted pavilions in an uncompromisingly minimalist design: raw concrete, dark wood, large glass walls opening into exuberant nature.
New luxurious villas are now under construction, and I was fortunate to be among the first guests to enjoy a newly completed two-bedroom villa with a private pool.
The architecture, by Thisara Thanapathy, celebrates emptiness. Lines are pure, spaces uncluttered, decoration reduced to essentials. This deliberately uncluttered architecture acts as a silent meditation. One is immediately drawn back to the essential, almost purified by the sobriety of the surroundings. Nothing distracts the eye, nothing interferes with the senses. You contemplate the valley, watch the light change with the hours, and gradually find yourself breathing more slowly.
Santani’s founder, Vickum Nawagamuwage, imagined this place with the idea that true modern luxury was no longer that of possession. Santani is not a hotel in the classical sense of the word: it’sa space for transformation, a place for those seeking to find themselves. His project is also an ecological manifesto: here, everything has been built with respect for the landscape. The buildings blend into the natural slope of the land, and waste and water management are exemplary. This environmental awareness reinforces the coherence of the site.
The Rise of the New Villas
My Mountain View villa had just been inaugurated, and you could still smell the new premises. Situated high up, it offered spectacular views of the valley and mountains opposite, and was as if suspended above the jungle. The architecture, true to the spirit of Santani, combines sobriety and elegance: clean lines, natural wood, large picture windows opening onto the landscape.
Outside, a beautiful private infinity pool invites silent contemplation. I spent many happy moments here, watching the light decline over the hills, between two treatments or after dinner, in absolute calm.
Inside, the minimalist furnishings emphasize the space without ever dominating it. The bed, perfectly oriented towards the mountains, lets you admire the sunrise without leaving your bedclothes. The bathroom, also bathed in light, houses a large bathtub facing a bay window: a place for relaxation that I also enjoyed.
These new villas mark an important evolution for Santani: they inaugurate a phase of expansion that will see the birth, by 2027, of some forty additional units, as well as a new spa and restaurant. The spirit of the place, however, remains intact – that of silent, pure, contemplative luxury, where every detail is designed to foster inner peace.
Ayurveda as an art of living
Santani offers several wellness programs – detox, weight loss, stress management, sleep – but it’s Ayurveda that remains the beating heart of the place. Under the direction of doctors trained in the purest Sri Lankan tradition, cures are both rigorous and deeply human.
My program included a complete Ayurvedic diagnosis, followed by daily massages with medicinal oils. Unlike some overly “clinical” centers, here the approach remains intuitive and caring: you feel that each treatment is given with attention. I really enjoyed my interactions with the doctors.
The spa itself is an architectural gem: set into the hillside, overlooking the jungle, it combines rough concrete and dark wood in a monastic atmosphere. The wet areas, the Ayurvedic hammam, the heated thermal pool for soaking before a treatment – everything is designed to extend the feeling of calm. There are only 4 treatment rooms, all fully open to nature.
I’ll always remember my first Abhyanga massage at Santani. The highly skilled therapist mastered the gestures with great precision, and the treatment was both fluid and enveloping. All that warm oil poured over the body – what a delight! The magic was amplified by the sounds of nature, and the thunderstorm not far away. The thunder, the sound of falling rain, and the cicadas in the middle… One of the best treatments of my life! I’ve spoken to other customers who have expressed the same feeling.
Among the treatments I received at Santani, the Shirodhara will undoubtedly remain the most memorable. This emblematic ayurvedic ritual consists of slowly dripping a stream of warm oil onto the forehead, at the level of the “third eye”. Lying on the polished wooden table in the half-open room, I first caught the subtle scent of the medicinal oils, a blend of sesame and infused herbs. Then the flow began, steady, continuous, almost hypnotically precise.
Gradually, thoughts faded and breathing slowed. The warm oil followed the rhythm of my breath, as if it was an extension of it. Time seemed to dissolve; there was no past, no future, just the suspended, soft moment.
A Stay Meant for Slowing Down
What sets Santani apart from many other wellness resorts is its philosophy of slowness. Here, one doesn’t rush from workshop to workshop or fill one’s schedule with activity. Instead, you learn to embrace boredom and rediscover its richness.
Days unfold to the rhythm of the sun: morning meditation, sunrise yoga facing the valley, treatments, readings, meals, walks in the surrounding plantations. Between two activities, the greatest luxury is to do nothing. It’s a return to oneself through nature, a form of spiritual retreat without religiosity.
Truly exceptional cuisine
If there’s one thing I didn’t expect here, it was the exceptional quality of the cuisine. In this remote setting, far from everything, Santani offers gastronomy of remarkable refinement and inventiveness. Don’t think I’m saying this about every hotel I visit. I truly place Santani in my top 5 of the world’s best wellness cuisines.
The resort’s executive chef at Santani is Indika Bandara. He has established Santani’s “wellness cuisine” as a benchmark, combining Sri Lankan tradition, Ayurvedic principles, and contemporary finesse. What impresses me most is his dual mastery: local flavors (spices, herbs) and refined techniques, where texture, balance, and presentation are as important as taste.
Every meal is prepared exclusively with local produce, often from the property’s own kitchen garden or from nearby farms.
The concept is also based on an entirely personalized approach: before the first dinner, a nutritionist talks with each guest to adapt the menus to his or her needs and objectives (detox, balance, energy, or simply pleasure).
The dishes combine Sri Lankan spices with contemporary Western techniques: vegetable curry with coconut milk revisited in a fine dining style, fresh steamed fish with garden herbs, light desserts based on tropical fruits and roasted seeds. The chef succeeds in transcending Ayurvedic cuisine, sometimes perceived as monotonous, to make it a true gustatory and sensory experience. A 7-course gourmet meal will remain engraved in my memory! And it’s this exceptional experience that we offer our Luxe Wellness Club guests.
Each meal is served in a magnificent perched restaurant, open on all sides to the forest. In the early morning, soft light floods the tables, and at dinner, candles replace the sun, creating an intimate atmosphere. Each dish is savored slowly while listening to the forest sounds in the background—truly spectacular.
Here, there’s no flashy breakfast buffet: everything is served à la carte, in a spirit of refined simplicity. The chef alternates between Western classics – tropical fruits, eggs of your choice, light pancakes with Kithul honey – and
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Our verdict
In a setting of natural beauty, Santani Wellness Resort offers a rare experience, halfway between a spiritual retreat and an Ayurvedic cure. The minimalist architecture soothes the mind, while the cuisine—both gastronomic and health-oriented—reaches new heights. Add to that superb treatments, and you have an ideal place to disconnect, realign, and regain inner clarity. A huge personal favorite.
Book Santani Wellness Resort
Rates: from around 400 USD per night, depending on dates.
Exclusive benefit for Luxe Wellness Club customers: Special rates and an exceptional 5-course dinner experience on the last night of your stay.
Contact us by phone to discuss your holiday plans:
- from France on + 33 1 85 73 22 14
- from Switzerland: +41 22 501 75 16
- from the Emirates: +971 54 583 1623
- from the USA: +1 (646) 980 6652
- from the UK: +44 20 4577 3258
