The stay in this place exceeded our expectations! We did not expect such wonderful hosts, such good food and such beautiful natural surroundings. We spent 3 nights there and were very sad that we had to leave so quickly. More than 2 months have passed since our stay and we are still thinking about that place. The room and bathroom were very clean and nothing was missing. We have visited most of the country, but nowhere we have eaten such good food (and such large portions). The owners' son helped us a lot in organizing our free time and took us to amazing places. We will definitely return there someday!

Stayed in March 2024

Nice location in the rural area. About 10 tuktuk minutes from the centre, you would not like to stay in the centre with noisy traffic around you. Spacious room, same for bathroom. A balcony with the view like this picture. Excellent breakfast. Friendly hosts. You are the only guest since this is the only room.

Stayed in April 2024

If you are looking for true Sri Lankan hospitality, look no further! Inusha and her family are very warm, kind people and the cooking was out of this world. Breakfast was a huge feast, and they kindly boxed up our leftovers so we could eat them for lunch. We also saw monkeys, squirrels and many birds from the balcony. The room itself was very clean and comfortable. An amazing stay overall!

Stayed in April 2024

The accomodation is a comfortable room with bathroom and large balcony. The balcony has a table and chairs where we had dinner and breakfast. The views down to Ella and of the mountains was amazing. The food they cooked for us was beautiful and there was plenty.

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing

Fantastic host family. Lovely clean room with kettle and fridge. Food was amazing and LOTS of it! Son Inushan has a tuktuk which we used for several local trips at a good price. Location is lovely; an easy walk along train track to Ella and a tuktuk ride back with Inushan.

Stayed in March 2024

All was really good. Tuk tuk from the guesthouse is very expensive.

Wonderful location with lovely view point from the balcony. The breakfast was amazing with unforgetable local dishes and tropical fruits. Combination of both makes it unforgetable. Nice recommandation to get dinner in the city.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing

We loved everything about our stay at Serene Homestay. The rooms were clean, the view from the terrace amazing. The breakfast as well as the dinner (highly recommended) were so delicious!! It was like from the best restaurant. And the portions were huge, we never managed to eat everything up, so the host packed our leftovers in a lunchbox for us to eat during the day! The family are such lovely and caring people, we have really took them into to our heart. Whenever we talked to them, we just felt pure kindness. They always offered us fresh juice when we came back from our hikes, it felt just like being part of the family. You just have to know that the homestay is quite far (20-30min walk or 10min tuktuk) from the main Ella City Strip, but for us it was just the right choice, we loved the peacefulness and being so close to the nature. If we ever come back to Ella, we will definitely choose Serene Homestay again! Thank you once again for your kindness, we will miss you!

Stayed in March 2024

The most hospitable family ever, they really make you feel welcome in their beautiful home. The breakfast is so nice and huge! We had dinner a couple of times and would definitely recommend - all of the food was really good and the views from the balcony are amazing. The Homestay is a fair walk from the town via the train tracks but their son has a Tuktuk and will take you/pick you up from the city if needed.

Stayed in March 2024

The hosts are very kind, caring, always willing to help with everything. A great advantage is that their son drives a tuk-tuk and took us on trips wherever we needed to go, at any time of day or night. The hosts prepared fantastic breakfasts and dinners for us, and in case we were leaving early in the morning, they prepared a takeaway box for us. The wifi worked very well. The greatest experience was the beautiful view from the terrace of the house. We wholeheartedly recommend it.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing

Our favorite place in Sri Lanka! Absolutely stunning location, what a view to wake up to! So many monkeys, and squirrels to be entertained by. The family is so accommodating and sweet. Huge, delicious breakfast. Always offering us tea. Made me a special potion for when I was sick. And please, don’t miss out on their dinner!! I still dream about the food! Fast and nice communication through Whatsapp. Son can drive Tuktuk for cheap price. You can walk over the railway to the city in about 30 minute, or a 10 min tuktuk drive. Room is very comfortable, including fridge and kettle.

Stayed in February 2024

Nothing

Serene is a perfect description. Located a 20 minute walk outside of the centre of Ella, this homestay is beautifully peaceful, set in glorious surroundings with views of the valley. My only neighbours were the host family and some local peacocks and monkeys. Breakfast was delicious, as was the dinner which was prepared for me one evening. The hosts son picked me up from town in his tuktuk every night for a very reasonable price and also took me out for a day trip to Liptons Seat, stopping to show me elephants on the way. The room was very comfortable, spotlessly clean and warm water in the shower was a welcome addition. The best part of all was the lovely, kind host family. They prepared a delicious and extensive breakfast every morning, made me ginger tea when I felt unwell and helped rescue me from some bugs who entered my room when the door was left open. It felt like a home away from home and I would highly recommend this place to anyone wanting a peaceful and relaxing few days in the mountains.

Stayed in March 2024

Everything was perfect!!

There are not enough words to describe the absolute kindness we experienced from this beautiful family. I’m overwhelmed by the care and love they showed us during our stay, it was more than I’ve ever experienced at a Homestay in my life!! I cried on my journey leaving Ella out of absolute gratitude for the wonderful stay we had with Lasanthi and Priyentha. They took care of us like we were their own family. Always with a smile and a giggle! The food was absolutely out of this world, breakfast is a buffet fit for queens! And dinner was even more spectacular, we had dinner at home every single night- it was the best food we tasted our whole trip in Sri Lanka!! Everyday something new and delicious. I have not been that full in a very long time!! It was incredible!! The Homestay is a beautiful scenic 30 min walk along the railway into town, we enjoyed this as part of our daily routine. Also if you’re feeling lazy you can always message their son and he comes and picks you up in his tuktuk for a very reasonable price!! It’s door to door service, again fit for a queen! The views from the balcony are amazing and we saw monkeys and peacocks high up in the trees whilst we ate our breakfast, it was magical. I’ll never forget it! They even packed me a lunch for my train journey to Colombo, with all my favourite things inside. The way they even walked me to my tuk tuk to say goodbye and wave me off shows the absolute care they give. They are such beautiful people! I cannot recommend Serene Homestay anymore!!! Book immediately!! Your heart will be cracked open too!! I would never dream of staying any where else when I return to Ella, it is truly a home away from home. We love you Lasanthi and Priyentha!! And cannot wait to meet again :) THANK YOU!! Your kindness has meant to more to us than you know! and we will remember our stay forever xxx

Stayed in February 2024

The view, the food, the location, the hosts. Everything

Stayed in January 2024

The hospitality has been simply amazing

Stayed in January 2024

Great B&B with lovely owners and very nice breakfast. Very good price/quality. Would come again.

Stayed in January 2024

Nothing. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Perfect place for a quiet time away from everything. I spent 2 nights there, enjoying the peaceful view and big private balcony, just hanging out on the balcony and reading, eating and watching the birds, chipmunks and fireflies. Breakfast is huge and with a great variety of Sri Lankan food. I also had dinner there, which I can highly recommend as well. The bed is very comfortable, there's hot water and the hosts organised a tuktuk to pick me up from the train station and drop me off again. All in all, highly recommended, especially for those looking for a quiet place away from the tourists and town.

Stayed in January 2024

Nothing, it’s a great value for money

There is nothing to not to like! It’s a place above busy Ella, so for travellers who enjoy peace and silence. The view is truly amazing and the host family will make sure you feel comfortable. Their generous breakfast will always be remembered.

Stayed in January 2024

It was all lovely but the road down and then driveway are very steep and I was worried about driving our tuktuk rental down and up again. Again, the family were super helpful and drove the tuktuk down and again up to the road for us. Parking is OK for a bike or tuktuk but probably if you have a hire car you should park on the main road and walk down. Don't let this put you off though, it's a short driveway and the place is amazing. We didn't want to leave

We had a fantastic time and can throughly recommend staying here. The family are super friendly and helpful, and are just beautiful people. The room is comfortable and clean and has warm water in the shower, the view is fantastic from the private covered balcony, and the breakfast was incredible. Too much food too eat but too nice to stop eating. Serene Homestay is out of town but a short walk to both Ella Town and to Ella Rock. It is a short but steep walk down to the train line and then a flat walk to town or to the start of the hike up to Ella Rock. We were dubious about walking along the train line at first, but it seems to be the local footpath and the friendly trains give plenty of toots and noise to warn you. It's a really peaceful place to stay but in easy walking distance to the main town of Ella. Sitting on the deck enjoying the view and being entertained by the local wild birds, chipmunks, cheeky crows, geckos and monkeys is fantastic in the late afternoon and early morning and if you have a rainy day. There are lights and a charging point on the balcony too. We walked into town on both evenings and enjoyed the restaurants and live music before getting a tuktuk taxi back to avoid walking at night. Well equipped with fridge, hairdryer, lockable cupboard and good lights and plugs. Didn't need Aircon and didn't use the fan - it is cool in the mountains. Nice cosy blankets provided. As well as a mosquito net, though we didn't see a single mosquito. We were genuinely sad to leave this lovely Homestay.

Stayed in January 2024

The bed is very comfortable, bathroom very clean, amazing view from the terrace. Breakfast with homemade Sri lankan food was amazing. Owners were very kind and hospitable.

Stayed in December 2023

We were unlucky that when we were there the monkeys broke the hot water pipe and we didn’t have hot water during our stay. But I know they were working to have it fixed and by now it should be working

Amazing place in the nature at Ella. The hosts are super friendly, beautiful view from the mountains and is close to Ella rock trail. Food is always available, they make an enormous breakfast and cook dinner if you ask for. Very delicious and big big size portions. In the end they even gave us a gift of two glasses made of coconut :)

Stayed in November 2023

the wondeful family and a fabulous breakfast

Stayed in May 2023

Good stay with Good food and good people

Stayed in April 2023

Nothing

The absolutely wonderful husband and wife who run the property were so helpful and kind that our stay was a wonderful experience. The wife is an excellent cook and cooked not only a varying spicy Sri Lankan breakfast but also evening meals which were delicious. The room was clean, comfortable and the view from our private balcony was absolutely fabulous.

Stayed in March 2023

Little bit out of center - but definitely worth the view!

The most wonderful view, very nice & helpful local family, huge and tasty breakfast and top clean & beautiful room. It is in a very calm area of Ella.

Stayed in March 2023