Sri Lanka’s newest swoon-worthy retreat is bringing style and sustainability to the mangrove-fringed shores of Koggala Lake, a short drive east of the southern city of Galle. Opening December 12, Tri Lanka features eight sleek suites with “living” walls and gardened roofs that spiral down a hill crowned by a cinnamon-stick-clad water tower, which will house three more rooms of its own. Recycled woods and solar-heated water add to the resort’s eco-credentials, while a glass-walled library and spa, both nestled in a bamboo grove, are designed to bring guests as close to nature as possible. The lakeside setting is divine, but guests in need of a change of pace can head to Tri Lanka’s private beach club on the sandy shores of nearby Kabalana (doubles from US$250). —Gabrielle Lipton
This article originally appeared in the December/January print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Natural Selection”)