Reviews of Ella Breeze Homestay

A wonderful hidden gem we discovered during our road trip in Sri Lanka. From the moment we arrived, we felt completely at home, wrapped in the warm hospitality of Mr. Devaka and his lovely family. They welcomed us with genuine care, preparing delicious breakfasts and dinners using fresh products from their own garden, and even taking time to sit with us on the terrace, sharing stories about their beautiful country and the magical places to explore around Ella Breeze Homestay. The homestay is simple, but it has everything you need. From washing machine service (super appreciated), to hot water and hairdryer. No AC was available in our room, but was also not necessary. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to escape the rush of a destination (Ella) that has, sadly, become a little too touristy, preferring a place of peace and serenity, that we’ll never forget and that makes this travel truly unforgettable.

Beautiful view, the best host and delicious food!

For our group of six occupying three rooms, this was a wonderful place we truly enjoyed. It’s located outside Ella, but the 6 km walk along the railway is easy and filled with great views; the train ride is also a memorable experience and highly recommended. The accommodation feels authentic, with beautiful vistas and the gentle sounds of nature and local life. The host and his family are extremely friendly and helpful; we always felt safe and welcome. The owner even took us to a nearby tea factory for a fantastic private tour. Breakfast was a typical local meal; we apologise again to the host for not fully appreciating it. We highly recommend booking this place – every morning here is magical! 😊

For three rooms we had one electric kettle and no crockery at all (cup, small plate, cutlery). Each time we needed something, we had to ask for it, which was neither practical nor pleasant; without this, you can’t even make a coffee or tea. The Wi‑Fi connection is very weak – more a limitation of the location than the owner, but it’s useful to know in advance.

We really enjoyed our time in Ella Breeze Homestay! Devaka and his family made such an impact on our trip, we even decided to stay another night here. The dinner was amazing, nothing was ever a problem and we found Devaka so helpful. The room was clean and tidy, the homestay is about 15 mins from Ella town which made our stay more peaceful. It was great value and we throughly enjoyed our conversations and laughs with Devaka!

We loved our stay at Ella Breeze. Beautiful views, birdsong and chattering insects, delicious and varied Sri Lankan breakfasts and dinner, comfy beds and warm showers. But what makes this place special is the host Devaka who goes above and beyond for his guests. He’s a good conversationalist and great communicator with too tips for your time in Ella and beyond.

Very welcoming host that saved us with organizing a TukTuk to get picked up in the rain. The location is awesome. You can see wildlife and watch the occasional train passing by, which is somehow romantic. The host has a very nice tracking route to Ella Rock which we highly recommend. He also helped organizing transports for us. The food (breakfast and especially dinner) was amazing. Highly recommend it, it was very authentic. If you like a relaxed place, this is for you.

A lovely stay near to Ella. The view was fabulous and great to see the train passing by. We ate here twice and had a lovely meal cooked by the hosts and his family who went out of their way to help us. They gave us a map to follow to hike up Ella rock and we bought some tea from them from the nearby tea factory. The birds in the garden and surrounding area are great. It was tricky getting to and from and Ella but when we arrived the host arranged a tuk tuk for us which saved us finding one. Rooms were clean and a fridge was provided outside which was useful. Not many shops nearby so stock up in town if you want a beer in the evening.

Beautiful and peaceful location 25 mins outside of Ella. Helpful and friendly hosts who always made sure I was able to get where I was planning to go. Amazing meals. It is close to a train station that's 2 stops from Ella.

Best home stay we went in 2 months Sri Lanka. Very beautiful location, middle of nature. We woke up with tea every morning watching the forest wake up and see all the animals Very delicious breakfast and diner. We had diner every night here Owner was so nice and helped us with everything. 10/10 would recommend.

It’s not in Ella if you are looking for more busy place. Tuk tuk takes 15 min.

Devaka was a superb host and took us on an exclusive tea tour of one of the local plantations/factories. The breakfasts and dinners cooked by the family are absolutely fantastic and you have to try them during your stay! Location outside of Ella was fantastic for us! You get a real authentic insight into village life, without being in the tourist hell of Ella centre. It's two stops away on the train (which is really close to the hostel) and Devaka can arrange a tuk tuk for a very reasonable price if needed too! The room was very comfortable and the bathroom was lovely too! Thanks so much for hosting us and for a marvellous stay! We were very sad to leave

The owner and his family were so very welcoming and made us feel completely at home. Ella Breeze is in a fabulous location with incredible views over the surrounding countryside and railway, and it was fun watching the trains go by and the fields being tended. It is close enough to Heel Oya station to walk along the line to get a train, or towards Ella Rock in the other direction. Devaka could not have been more helpful. He looked after us really well giving us pointers and maps on where to go. His English was fluent and he, and his lovely family, made our stay very enjoyable. They fed us well on superb Sri Lankan cuisine and arranged good transportation to our next destination. We cannot fault this great Homestay!

Nothing, it was all lovely. We were so pleased we had found Ella Breeze especially when we visited Ella and saw how busy it is

We loved our stay at Ella Breeze Homestay and highly recommend it - it is about 20-25 minutes away from Ella center (by TukTuk), surrounded by beautiful nature, all quiet, peaceful and relaxing (we traveled with our own Tuk Tuk, which we could park at the homestay). The whole family was really nice and caring - we enjoyed different, nice breakfasts and also the optional homecooked dinner was absolutely great. We got so many tips from our host, including a self-drawn map to Ella Rock, so you can start your walk to Ella Rock directly from the homestay. We also loved the tea factory tour, which was really authentical and gave us deep insights into the world of tea and the manual work of tea production. You can watch the train go by a few times a day, which is also nice. Thanks for the good conversations, the helpful tips around the area and the great food :)

Had a wonderful stay in the tranquillity of Ella Breeze! Its 20min tuk tuk, of 15 minutes on the train to the chaos of downtown Ella! Devaka was a fantastic host and made us feel very welcome from our arrival. As well as taking us to the tea factory - which was really interesting - we had some lovely home cooked Sri Lankan meals! Besides the amazing views of the countryside, the rooms were spacious and clean, and the beds were comfortable for a great night's sleep. Thanks for a great stay and the 1st class hospitality!

Everything was great! One thing that would be useful is just a few pieces of signage to indicate you're heading to / arriving at Ella Breeze.

Clean, spacious room; welcoming host; great breakfast. 25/30 minute drive to Ella centre.

Well off the beaten track so without transport, it’s very difficult to reach and a 25 min drive to reach restaurants etc. WiFi didn’t work in the room downstairs, but does work on the upstairs terrace which is a bit inconvenient.

The Location. Although about 10km from Ella, we loved the rural setting with views over fields giving a flavour of local life. For a train enthusiast, being next to the the railway line and nearby station was a bonus. You can walk from the homestay to Ella Rock on gently ascending paths through the forest following a simple map supplied by the host. Delightful. On the way is a simple forest monastery where we were offered a short introduction to meditation by the monk. A highlight was chatting to the host and his daughter. He had a great sense of humour and was very informative. Both had excellent English. Breakfast and dinner on our balcony. Highly recommended.

Where to start, Devaka is the absolute best host, we enjoyed three evening meals (all home cooked) during our stay and nothing was too much trouble (including picking beer up for us). He and his family were incredibly welcoming and friendly. The room we had, deluxe double, was large, clean, extremely comfortable with a beautiful bathroom (hot water and powerful shower) and large verander to sit and watch the trains and the local wildlife. Location was 9km by tuk tuk from Ella centre or 2.5km walking the train tracks, this was ideal for us as we were looking for relaxation and comfort over bars and party people. Devaka very kindly arranged a trip to a tea plantation and a car to take us to our next location. We will definitely be looking to return to this haven.

Nice stuff. Sri Lankan Experience. Amazing Views. Quiet.

Really far away from Ella

Everything was just perfect!! We have been there for 4 nights. Devaka and his family have been so nice and the food (breakfast & dinner) was really good. Devaka took us to a tea factory which was very interesting and also gave us a lot of helpful tips for the hikes and other stuff to do around. Room was small but had everything, also very confortable beds. The shower was also hot, what is very nice when it‘s a bit colder. The place was perfect, far away from the chaotic Ella but close enough to the train station. Thanks again to Devaka and his family. Highly recommended to stay there!!

nothing

Was close enough to Ella to do the activities, but far away enough to not be in the tourist hell hole that has become Ella. And our host was brilliant - kind, helpful, full of tips (and maps, and snacks from his garden!). Would definitely recommend.

That it didn't stop raining for 2 days solid, but that can't be blamed on the accommodation! If that happens, take up the offer of a tour of the tea factory (I heard it was great), and get a massage.

That was the BEST EXPERIENCE we have ever had during the stay. The host and his family was kind, helpful in unbelievable way. They cared about us so much, they've been serving tea and other meals throughout the stay. Food was delicious, place was a bit far from the city centre which was an advantage taking into consideration the traffic in Ella. The host guided us in Tea Factory and took us for the sunrise trekking to ELLA Rock. If u ever have a change to come to Ella, you need to choose this one.

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Lovely area on the train line . You can walk a few mins & get the train to Ella . Tuk tuk can be pricey Gorgeous family , couldn’t do enough for you . Brought us up Ella rock for sunrise , offered other lifts & shopping if needed. Perfect English. Food excellent. We had a fabulous stay .. for a budget accommodation/ homestay it couldn’t be better .

For the money it’s perfect. Can’t fault .

Very nice family! Clean room, good food, nice view from terase!

We had a fantastic stay here, largely thanks to Devaka, one of the most welcoming and helpful hosts we’ve met in Sri Lanka. He gave us great tips and directions for exploring the area. He even took us to a local tea factory and gave us an excellent tour himself, with thorough explanations. There’s more than enough to do in the area for at least three days - we stayed four nights and loved it. The location is perfect for hiking to Ella Rock. From the guesthouse, it’s a scenic 1-1.5 hour trek through train tracks, a village and beautiful forests. It’s a much easier route than the steep trek from Ella town. The guesthouse is in a peaceful spot, away from the chaos of Ella, and right by Heel Oya train station. It’s surrounded by nature and we enjoyed watching the trains and spotting tropical birds from the balcony. If you’re into nature and quiet, this is the place. Ella is close enough for a day trip to Little Adam’s Peak and the Nine Arches Bridge, but staying here is much more relaxing. The room was one of the best we’ve had in 10 months of traveling Asia - super clean, airy (thanks to windows at the back and large balcony door at the front), comfortable, with soft sheets, a hot shower and plenty of storage.