Tri Lanka: where luxury meets sustainability

If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway from the busy hustle bustle of Sri Lanka, Tri Lanka is the perfect escape.

I ended my two week trip to Sri Lanka at Tri, located on Koggala Lake.

Koggala Lake is the largest lake in Sri Lanka and is located just a short drive away from Unawatuna beach, and Galle. Tri is tucked out of the city enough that you feel you have a quiet and peaceful getaway, but close enough that if you’re interested in doing any day trips or heading into town for lunch, you can arrange for a quick tuk-tuk drive there.

The property itself is beautiful. It’s a balanced mix of modern architecture, with the simplicity of nature. There are ten villas on the property, made out of entirely natural materials. Each one has a “living roof” of cascading vines and bamboo shutters on the windows.

The walking paths on the hotel grounds are surrounded by lemongrass, tea, and bamboo plants. The property even has it’s own small lime trees and grows some produce they use on site.

Tri is what I would describe as “luxury undressed,” a luxury hotel experience, that maintains a sense of simplicity without being over the top.

One thing that I noticed immediately upon my arrival was that I did not see any plastic used on the property anywhere.

Tri bottles their own water, which they provide in glass bottles, uses bamboo straws and does not provide extra toiletries in the room with plastic wrapping. (like toothbrushes and cotton balls) It was extremely refreshing to see an entirely plastic-free hotel!

After watching A Plastic Ocean, I was especially happy to see Tri’s commitment to sustainability. The hotel is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint.

Plastic consumption has become one of the biggest issues in modern society. Literally TONS of plastic is tossed away, isn’t biodegradable, and well…long story short most of it ends up in the ocean.

It’s an issue that has been overlooked for a long time, but one that is crucial for the well-being of the ocean and all the creatures that live there.

Many hotels I’ve stayed at use an excessive amount of plastic water bottles, plastic straws, and other plastics that are used one time before being tossed away. Now more than ever it’s important for properties to take a stand against plastic and create a sustainable environment for their guests.

Tri is one of the first hotels I’ve stayed at that truly shows a commitment to their carbon footprint. It was really refreshing to see, especially for a luxury hotel!

I believe in the hotel business it is equally as important to cater to the earth, as it is to cater to the guests. Many hotels seem to forget this and just focus on offering unnecessary things to their guests.

My stay at Tri was the perfect harmony between care for the earth and the guests. I felt perfectly taken care of by the friendly staff and felt I had everything I needed. Nothing more, nothing less. (Do you really need extra snacks wrapped in plastic and extra plastic toiletries anyways?)

I was also happy to see Tri’s commitment to health & wellness. While it does not have a fitness center, it does have a fully equipped yoga studio and classes several times a week. You can also take bikes out on a bike tour as well for some exercise, or swim some laps in the main pool.

The food at Tri was wonderful as well. They source organic and fresh ingredients and change the menu daily. Their Sri Lankan dinner was one of the best I had on the trip!

Each meal was beautifully presented. I especially loved the breakfast which you could enjoy poolside. My favorite was the fruit & granola and a fresh coconut!

The staff was also very accommodating to vegetarian options and any diet restrictions which was really appreciated. (If you follow a vegan, vegetarian, or other diets, just let them know beforehand and they’ll take good care of you!)