Reviews of Arawe Retreat

Location & ethos behind the facility Staff very helpful and responsive to requests Breakfast was great and very fresh ingredients used

A little sparse in comforts ( towels tissues body lotion face cloths ) Bed was very solid & not enough pillows Lots of steps to negotiate

Staff is so nice. Suren, and Mr. Jayantha were our people. Food and the chef at this property are amazing. Food is made with so much love it really shows. Super green, smack in the middle of the nature. Very boutiquey and personalised service.

The villa we stayed in requires some work. We had an incident that was dealt with swiftly. But things like lock doesn't work or the shattaf in the bathroom doesn't work properly. Not big problems but can be worked on. More trash cans in the room can be helpful, too. We had power outtage both nights that we stayed. One night was longer. It's not an issue as Ella js quite cool, but the mosquitoes cause issues with lack of fan when power is out.

I had a wonderful stay at Arawe Retreat in Ella. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and I felt truly cared for during my time there. The room was very clean and comfortable, and the food was absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Ella!

The location was perfect. The view from the chalet was exceptional. The plunge pool was great. The staff were lovely. Would recommend the chef and the cooking class. The yoga class was fun too!

The spa let the retreat down unfortunately. Communication via WhatsApp sometimes became confused.

Awesome location just outside of Ella and near the train station. Stunning nature in and around Arawe. Amazing accommodation, delicious food and the friendliest staff. Probably our favourite place to stay in Sri Lanka.

Arawe retreat is a true gem in Ella. Relaxing location in the middle of the rice paddies, with a great hotel manger and staff, complimented by the hotel superstars Latta, Banda, and Mandika - respectively the hotel cat and dogs. Breakfast was great and service like no other in Sri Lanka.

Some of the facilities (like the spa and yoga shala) were not available yet as under construction.

Breakfast was very very good and location supurb

We were satisfied with everything

Such an amazing property like nothing we have stayed at before

many steps down to property (which was not an issue for us), just in people have accessibility issues….

What a peaceful escape! Arawe Retreat is the perfect place to unwind, surrounded by lush nature and total tranquility. The setting is calm and green – ideal if you’re looking to recharge away from the noise. The breakfast is absolutely delicious, made with care and served with a smile. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the free pickup and drop-off to Ella town is such a convenient bonus. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy the natural beauty of Ella in a quiet and welcoming atmosphere!

Beautiful view, close by town but still quiet. Good facilities

A lovely field setup which consists of 3 villas in a valley which has rice cultivation in the middle. It’s offering privacy and a rural living experience. The rooms are spacious, recently renovated with great taste. The staff are very friendly and the cooking class is carried out from Harshan, is a must do if you have the time to do it. We had such a good sleep and overall relaxation due to the mattress comfort in combination with the sound of birds singing. Last but not least, the staff are very generous and accommodating about breakfast options. The cook with his team make it special and memorable.

Everything was perfect. The only thing we could mention is that the ceiling fan as well as the toilet door were a bit noisy.

Our stay was absolutely fantastic! The view is stunning, the location good and the room was not only beautifully styled but also fully equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The breakfast was delicious, the Sri Lankan curry was very good and the cooking class was perfect! On top of that, the staff was exceptionally kind and attentive, which made the experience even more pleasant. A big thank you for such a wonderful stay – highly recommended!

Nothing

Incredible and relaxing stay! We loved the villa, which we enjoyed with our 2 children for 4 nights. The setting is stunning and so relaxing and the staff are so kind. The food is exceptional, we had breakfast and a couple of dinners at the property all cooked fresh, some of the best food we have eaten in Sri Lanka! We also did a cooking class which was fabulous! It was so enjoyable while our kids played around us, they accommodated us to have the lesson at the villa so it worked with our small children. We would love to stay again someday!

Our stay at Arawe Retreat was something truly special—an experience we will never forget. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with such warmth and kindness by the incredible hosts, especially Ishanka, Suren, and Jayantha. They each brought so much heart and generosity to our time there, and we’re so grateful to have met them. The home itself is full of soul and good energy—170 years old and rich with history. If you're a traveller who loves to dive deeper into the culture and stories behind the places you visit, this is the perfect spot. Take the time to speak with the team and ask them about how Arawe Retreat came to be—it’s a deeply moving story that added so much meaning to our stay. The breakfast deserves its own special mention—it was by far the best we had in Sri Lanka! Fresh, delicious, and made with so much care. One of the highlights of our time here was our tuk-tuk driver, Suren, who is part of the team. They offer a free tuk-tuk service up to a certain time, and Suren was our guide throughout. He’s not just a driver—he’s someone who genuinely cares about your experience. He showed us stunning waterfalls, beautiful temples, and always stopped at every beautiful viewpoint along the way. His kindness, smile, and interest in showing us around the area made him a huge part of our journey. He went above and beyond in every way, and we already miss him so much. Leaving Arawe Retreat was emotional. It felt like saying goodbye to friends and a place that felt like home. We’re already dreaming of our return and couldn’t recommend it more highly to anyone travelling through Kandy. See you all very soon beautiful people! From Marta & Sam

IT WAS PERFECT

We stayed in the villa which was private, spacious and clean. Staff were amazingly kind and helpful and the breakfasts and dinner were superb. We felt very well looked after. We were delighted to see a group of monkeys in the trees by our verandah one morning!

Nothing

We had the best stay at Arawe Retreat and really hope to return one day. Jayantha and team were so lovely and helpful, they went above and beyond. We enjoyed chatting at breakfast and they even gave us a tour of the grounds and other apartments that were empty (100% book the plunge pool!!). It is absolutely beautiful being amongst the rice fields, the photos don't do it justice! The free tuk tuk into town is great, it is also walkable as it's not too far. The breakfast was no doubt THE best spread we've had in Sri Lanka. Thank you 💛

The only nice thing of our stay was the breakfast, which was tasty and nicely presented. However, given the high price of the stay, the overall experience did not live up to expectations and felt like very poor value for money. I wouldn’t recommend this place unless major improvements are made.

Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Price!!! Unfortunately, our stay at Arawe Retreat in Ella was quite disappointing. While the location between the rice fields is undeniably beautiful and peaceful, the accommodation itself left a lot to be desired. The room was not clean — towels and bedsheets didn’t feel fresh, and basic amenities like hand soap were missing. Most frustratingly, there was no air conditioning or any proper ventilation system to deal with the humidity. As a result, the room stayed damp the entire time, and all our clothes in the suitcases became wet and musty. We asked the staff if anything could be done to improve the situation, but there was little effort made to help us feel more comfortable. The WiFi connection was also unreliable, only working around half the time, which made it difficult to stay connected.

The staff that run the place are lovely and can’t do enough for you, they provided free tuktuks into the town centre before 9pm. The breakfast was also great.

We stayed in the two bedroom cottage, unfortunately we found the room was damp and the bed sheets stank, I had to wrap a beach towel around the pillow as I didn’t want to put my head onto it. The duvet and pillows needed cleaning along with the bedsheets and pillowcases, it felt dirty. On the day we arrived it had been raining so i’m not sure if this was a contributing factor to everything feeling damp and the musty smell. The location was very good and the staff where lovely, however it was not worth £100 a night. Although the other rooms may have been better as the reviews seem to suggest this. I wouldn’t recommend booking the two bedroom cottage.