Venture beyond the tourist trail and into the heart of Sri Lanka’s culture and untamed wilderness with Beyond Dream Travels.
An Australian family-owned and -run tour agency with roots in Sri Lanka, Beyond Dreams‘ team of expert planners and star-class tour directors are passionate about showing you the heart and soul of this colourful, exciting country.
Poolside at Jetwing Yala.
Get to know
The Sri Lankan heritage of the Beyond Dream team, with its profound knowledge of the country and all the wonders it holds, is what makes every Beyond Dream Travels itinerary that little bit different. Each Sri Lankan adventure promises authentic local insights and exclusive access to the people and places that make the island so special – wherever your interests lie. Whether that’s a wish to experience life on safari, a trek into verdant rainforests, a foodie adventure, an Ayurvedic detox, or a journey into the country’s colonial history, the Beyond Dream Travels team will design an itinerary to suit you.
Go on a food safari.
The same ethos applies when it comes to selecting your holiday accommodation. Family-owned and local hotels and resorts, such as Jetwing, are preferred, where each overnight experience is like being welcomed into the home of a local family. Jetwing Kaduruketha in Wellawaya and Jetwing Yala in Yala National Park both regularly feature on many standard itineraries.
With the central highlands to the north, national reserves to the south, and lush paddy fields and rolling hills your outlook, Jetwing Kaduruketha is conveniently connected, yet comfortably isolated. Meanwhile, Jetwing Yala is an icon of wild luxury and natural wonders. Positioned between the lapping shores of the Indian Ocean and the wild animal calls of Yala National Park, an overnight here will be one to remember.
Jetwing Kaduruketha in Wellawaya is conveniently connected, yet comfortably isolated.
Beyond dream memories
Love Discover Family: This 16-day private tour takes in all of Sri Lanka’s must-see sites including Sigiriya, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Kandy Temple, mini Adam’s Peak and Galle UNESCO World Heritage sites. The kids will love the visit to Pinnawala elephant orphanage!
The lobby at Jetwing Yala.
Magical Northern Sri Lanka: Dive into Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity, colourful traditions and culinary wonders on this 20-day itinerary. Sample Yalpanam delicacies in Jaffna, visit a working tea plantation, take in a cultural show, tour Anuradhapura Ancient Kingdom and much more.
Visit a working tea plantation on the Magical Northern Sri Lanka tour.
Best of Lanka with Kandy Perahera: Experience centuries of history, legend and enchantment over 15 epic days. This special itinerary includes VIP seating to witness The Kandy Esala Perahera – Sri Lanka’s oldest and grandest traditional Buddhist festival.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
