Pachyderm palace
Elephant Villa, Kumbuk River, Buttala, Sri Lanka
Nestled on a lush riverside and located around 260 kilometres from Colombo, Kumbuk River’s 12-metre-high wood and straw elephant is a sight to behold. Horton’s lumber-made cousin is two-storeys high and is home to a spacious open lounge and bathroom on an upper deck, with two ultra-luxe bedrooms down below. Guests can commune with nature even from the bathroom, where they’ll share the shower with a tree. For those looking to further explore the tropical setting, the eco-resort offers nature walks, bird watching and rafting. A day trip to Yala National Park should be on the cards, too; mini explorers can don their safari hats and binoculars to spot leopards, crocodiles and, of course, the mighty elephants. kumbukriver.com