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Polwaththa offers a tropical island holiday experience in the relaxed, natural setting of a Kandyan jungle while giving you the personal attention you deserve, served in a traditional style.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, French, Dutch, German and 1 more
Location
69/1 Wepathana, Kandy via Digana, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
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Very different to the normal hotels! Living in the forest was a great experience! So peacefull! The wooden lodges were basic but very clean and had everything you needed. No mosquitoes either! We did a lovely trek with Namal the guide who was great! We visited a pre~school where the children sang for us then we continued our trek to a lovely lagoon and waterfall where we swam and ate our picnic lunch. We were the only ones there! It was magical! We stayed for 2 nights before moving on to kandy. So pleased we stayed here xx
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Date of stay: February 2020
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Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I highly recommend this place if you want to experience what it means to live in line with nature. The cabins are pretty remote, which allows you to live a more conscious lifestyle. The owners have a clear understanding of the cycle of life, thus teaching us the way they live alongside nature, animals, and the community members living close by. They are doing wonderful work enriching the soil and enriching social ties. And who doesn't like doing yoga and walking around a food forest?
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
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Service
Room Tip:Â Lovely views of the lake and the forest!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was a surprise. Though a little out of the way, I did not fully appreciate this place since this was at the beginning of our tour of Sri Lanka. The amenities were simple and enough. Due to the location it never got painfully hot as in the city of Kandy and being away from the bustle and heat made a difference in our moods. It is the jungle so if squeamish about animals and critters sharing your space, do not visit. Unlike other visitors, we did not partake in other activities within the hotel, however it would be on our list the next time we are out this way.
The staff (kudos to Presad and Presane(??)) were excellent and knowledgeable and it is a place not to be missed if staying in the area for more than two nights.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An absolutely magical place. Gorgeous location and tasteful lodges privately spaced around the area. However the true beauty of the place was in the family that run the ecolodge and their staff. Every individual truly went out of their way to ensure that you were loving everything about the place and were genuinely interested in you as a person and of your needs while there. The food was all amazing- local and foreign tastes perfectly catered for and some tasty optional extras on offer to order including beer for those on need! A wonderful mixture of cultures and mixes amongst the owners and staff- all sharing a passion for their sustainable project, cultures, traditions, environment and more. Fabulous village trek to a waterfall including tuk Tuk ride, lovely refreshing swim and excellent yoga class on an amazing platform with lake view in the jungle afterwards. Lovely chats with the guide, yoga teacher, owners and staff before a well deserved buffet dinner. Food was plentiful and replenished and the staff were sensitive to individual needs and preferences within the buffet set up. Loved the wild pigs behind the kitchens and other wildlife that occasionally made appearances!
Would love to return and wish them every success in their impressive and ambitious venture, and in their personal lives. Thanks to everyone from the Bolton family. 💗
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolute gem in the midst of the Kandyan forest, far away from the chaos and noise of the city. The truck will pick you up from the road from where it will take you 2.5km uphill on a dirtroad to the camp. Beautiful setting in the forest with enough space between the lodges so that you will truly feel surrounded by nothing but nature and the monkeys. So peaceful, we slept like babies. The lodges are very spacious, comfortable and clean and have their own bathroom. The whole staff and owners were beyond friendly and welcoming, always smiling, joking around and very helpful. They were genuinely interested in the guests and used every opportunity to chat with us. The food we were served throughout our stay (for breakfast and dinner) was among the best we ate since we arrived with plenty of different varieties to taste from and colourful, beautifully presented on the table. You can see the love everyone puts into this beautiful concept. The trek we did with Namal was very nice and super rich in information, we learned a lot during this half day. Namal is very knowleadgable and eager to share, and he even invited us into his home along the trek to meet his family and serve us a cup of tea with snacks. We truly enjoyed to spend the day with him. We recommend this place without hesitation and were sad to leave. BUT it was surely not the last time we visited 😀
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Plan enough time to stay and go there hungry :)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is heartwarming to see, that places like this exist. I visited the place for a short yoga retreat and was overwhelmed by so much social engagement and hospitality. Nihal and his wife have created a little hideaway, where you can focus on the simple things and enjoy nature and community. You can feel, that it is a family run business. A lot of local people from the village have a job here, get trained and supported. The family is additionally running a rainforest foundation, has planted a organic vegetable garden and has recently founded a small spices manufacture, which I absolutely loved.
We had a cooking class in the traditional kitchen with two local ladies. I loved it and the the food was amazing. A highlight is for sure the coffee, that is grown on the property and roasted over a wood fire.
We planted a tree with Nel, which was a great experience to learn more about the forest and local fauna.
Prasanna picked me up at the petrol station and was available all the time during our stay to make all our wishes happen. His service was really professional and still personal. We had a very fun and interesting tour with him to the waterfalls. He was showing us a lot of herbs and local plants on the way and bought some nice little snacks here and there to give us an authentic experience.
Freya, the daughter in law, is an excellent yoga teacher and was taking so good care for us! She created a very good atmosphere in the group and we really enjoyed her company. The yoga shala with view in the jungle and on a lake is a dream. I learned a lot during my stay and good really enjoy the yoga classes.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: Leave enough space in your luggage to buy some herbs and spices. 😊
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a great couple of nights here. The rooms are basic but comfortable and have everything you need to keep warm during the nights when it can get a bit chilly. We loved hanging out in the comfy chill area with great views. The guide and botany lesson / Village walk was fun and all the staff were really friendly and helpful. Prepare for a bumpy jeep ride on the way up and down!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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I had one of the most extraordinary and most amazing stays ever at this accommodation. The location is incompareable: in the middle of a jungle with monkeys and other animals to spot in the trees. It is like a little paradise! The housing facilities were aboslutely sufficient and still quite comfortable for wooden houses. The food was so delicious and always very fresh and healthy. Also the staff was super friendly and welcoming and nice to have conversations with. Finally, I really enjoyed the Yoga classes and the guided hike to a nearby waterfall. I hope I can come back very soon!
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A wonderful eco retreat where we were immersed in these beautiful jungle mountains in our lovely lodge surounded by natural sounds. Not only the complete immersive experience but also very informative and educational on the ecological work they do here, and the spice growing of the local village and community. Our initial host and guide, Charles warmly welcomed us, and nothing was too much trouble. His vibrant personality was delightful. Charles took us on a spice walk throught the jungle and local village where we were able to see, touch smell and learn about nutmeg, cinnamon, cacao, coffee( their own coffee is delicious!), peppers and of course the fish tail palm syrup, which we bought from locals. The trek was topped off with a stunning trek to the river and waterfall where we swam. The food was delicious and all the staff were helpful, attentive and great company. The organic gardens and forest are managed by Nell (a Dutch lady) and her Sri Lankan husband. They are dedicated to re-afforestation of their land, and helping the local people. All proceeds from the hand made clothes we bought go towards this project. We would love to return in the future and have an active role there with a longer stay.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Remon Ellegala, Marketing at Polwaththa Eco Lodges
Responded 11 Jan 2022
Hi Ian, thank you for such a wonderful review. We are glad that we got to show you around and explain all the things we try to do. You are definitely welcome back for a longer stay and possibly get involved in the future:) Much love from everyone at Polwaththa.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was a most surprising location. We wanted to do some trekking and be amongst the ‘real Sri Lanka’ and we couldn’t have had a better experience.What a beautiful place. We loved everything about this place. The treks we took to the Victoria Lake and waterfall with Namal is highly recommended, a beautiful morning out. If you are a birding lover this is the place. Namal the guide who took us for tours is very knowledgeable and a nature loving. I learned so much about wildlife. No mosquitoes though, which is fab! Well worth making the time for a stay here. The guides and the chef were simply the ones making this stay unforgettable. Thank you to all other staff - hope to see you again. If I have to complain about something I have to say the pillows -it was hard as a rock. Thank you again to Ramon checking us every day how we were doing.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
It was been pouring down in most parts of the island but news is that the rains will stop in the coming days with sunshine predicted in the Kandy region. Bare in mind that forecasts can be wrong but its looking from January onwards.
There are leeches around at this time but once the rain stops they will disappear. During rainy days we provide all our guests with leech socks and plenty of salt to keep them away. If it is raining then it is best to stay indoors and away from thick jungle.
Hope that answers all your quesitons.
Regards,
Remon
Hello,
If coming by car from Sigiriya, it is Matale - Wattegama - Madawala - Menikkhinna - Digana - up to the 16th Km post on the A26 from where you will be brought in our jeep or tuk-tuk for free. Please ask the driver to call 0724 287 150 when reaching Madawala.
If by bus, take an express bus to Kandy and get off the bus at Katugasthota from where we will bring you to our Lodge for Rs.1.500,-. Call 0777 809 500 when reaching Mathale.
Nihal
There are more places to choose from in the Kandy area.
PRICE RANGE
£59 - £71 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Sri LankaCentral ProvinceKandy DistrictKandy
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Polwaththa Eco Lodges
Which popular attractions are close to Polwaththa Eco Lodges?
Nearby attractions include Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (3.3 miles), Kandy Swing By Onchillah (2.3 miles), and Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Kundasale (4.2 miles).
