Arawe Retreat

The chalet exceeded our expectations, looking even more beautiful than the photos suggested. The pool area was stunning, overlooking tranquil rice fields, and the entire property was thoughtfully designed to provide complete privacy. We spent many happy hours in the hammock on the upper floor, which became our favorite reading spot throughout our stay. The staff were genuinely attentive and sweet, consistently going above and beyond to make our experience special. We particularly appreciated the complimentary TukTuk service into town, which was a thoughtful touch given the steep hill between the property and town center. Breakfast was a highlight every morning, with four different freshly prepared options to choose from. The smoothie bowl was exceptional and we’d highly recommend it. The cooking lesson was another standout experience where we prepared six delicious veggie curries, popadoms, and roti, then enjoyed a proper feast together. Receiving the recipe cards afterward to recreate the dishes at home was a lovely touch. The spa treatments were both wonderful and reasonably priced. The full body massage left us feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated.

The chalet backs onto a fairly steep and moderately busy road, which meant regular noise from TukTuks and HGVs straining up the hill. This wasn’t quite the peaceful retreat experience we’d anticipated given the hotel’s name, though we did adjust to it over time. The noise was noticeably less intrusive on weekends compared to weekdays. The room cleanliness could have been better. We noticed stained sheets (though they appeared freshly washed), a few hairs in the shower upon check-in, and the mosquito net had a slightly unpleasant odor. The 2.5% surcharge for card payments came as an unexpected surprise at this price point. Withdrawing over £900 in cash from a local ATM didn’t feel like a comfortable option. While we understand banks charge fees for card transactions, we’d suggest building this cost into the room rate rather than adding it separately.​​​

Beautiful location, the whole resort was stunning

The bed smelt slightly damp following some wet days which can’t really helped in that climate

Property was beautiful - photos don’t do it justice.

Wonderful stay at an exceptionally beautiful grounds. We were mesmerized by the historical house and decor. A big shout out to the team for amazing hospitality and a wonderful breakfast- try the string hoppers and omlette. We love their tuk tuk driver who shared a lot of knowledge about Sri Lanka and took us to the beautiful Buddhist temple- a must see. Thank you for everything

Absolutamente increíble todo: el lugar es impresionante junto a los arrozales, el personal super amable, siempre a disposición y dispuestos a ayudarnos. El desayuno nos lo prepararon en nuestra casa, todo riquísimo. Sin duda, volveríamos.

Amazing place with great hospitality

Nothing

Location, facilities, attentiveness, team attitude. Everything was on point! So may great details. The kids did a macrame class which they loved! Mum got an amazing ajurvedic treatment. Dad got peace to do his thing. The perfect family getaway. Also we loved the friendly dogs and cats :) And the food!!! The best breakfast!!!

Did not have enough time…

It was so natural but luxury and such a calming and gorgeous place to be. We also did the cooking class which was delicious! Would definitely recommend!