Sri Lanka’s Wild Coast Tented Lodge takes glamping to a new level

What is it? In PR-speak, a luxe, beach­front resort that melds an Old World expedi­tion style with a futuristic sensibility. The third Sri Lanka property of Resplendent Ceylon, the hospitality arm of the Dilmah Tea Company, offers premium glamping beside a leopard- and elephant-spotting hot bed. But it’s the spaceship-like public spaces and accommodation pods that are really turning heads.

Why did they put futuristic domes in the middle of this environ­ment? Although the dome-shaped open-air public structures – the bar, dining pavilion and reception area – look extraterrestrial, they are supposed to resemble the giant bould­ers that litter this coastal area, fronting the Indian Ocean. The guest accommodation – 28 white pods, referred to as “cocoons” – ties into this organic idea but also references a blimp that, when anchored to the ground, leaves a minimal footprint.

That sounds great, but convince us that it’s not just green­wash­ing. The domed public spaces are con­struct­ed of a net of bamboo that’s clad with recycled teak shingles. They were erected by local fishermen who were already great with knots and were taught how to work with bamboo. This upskilling allows these men to earn an income when they’re not fishing. In addition, the prop­erty’s water is all drawn from the ocean and desalinated.

OK. So what’s it like inside a cocoon? Contemporary decor melds with a motif that references a plush colonial-era expedition. Beside a four-poster king-size bed are tables resembling leather brief­cases. More leather accents can be found on the tables and chairs that furnish, alongside a wooden desk on stilts reminiscent of a camp accoutre­ment, the sunny interior. The bath area is embellished with plenty of copper, including a free-standing tub.

What if guests are not into roughing it? “Roughing it” is not how anyone would characterise a stay here. Guests are highly pampered, especially at the Sanctuary Spa, where the menu includes the Island Spice Scrub, a 40-minute treatment relying on fragrant sandalwood, turmeric and a blend of other spices; four-hour treatments for couples; Indian head massages for men; and sea­weed wraps for women. Aside from the resort’s infinity pool, four of the cocoons come with a private plunge pool on a teak deck.

Speaking of relaxing, what about something stronger than a cup of tea? In each cocoon is a mini bar stocked with booze for all tastes, including those partial to arrack (a traditional Sri Lankan liquor), and creative cocktails – for example, a white rum drink that blends lime juice with king coconut water and passion fruit – are to be had at the Ten Tuskers Bar, which is set beside the pool.