Rafters Retreat

The Highlights: Atmosphere: During my visit, the property was very quiet with few other guests, which allowed for a relaxing experience. Location: The accommodation is situated directly in nature and features a small, accessible beach area along the Kelani River. Service: The staff members were polite, attentive, and accommodating. Upon request, they kindly provided a sample of the local Kitulgala honey (made from local Kithul tree ). Dining: I had breakfast, dinner, and occasionally lunch at the property. The meals were consistently well-prepared, flavorful, and served in generous portions. Room Comfort: The room met my expectations. It was equipped with a mosquito net and a fan, which kept the temperature comfortable throughout my stay. Activities: For water sports, I booked a kayaking trip through "Canyon Seekers." However, The Rafters Retreat also arranges rafting directly. They can also organize mountain biking on request, though I did not have enough time to try these options myself. Overall, it was a very positive experience, and I can recommend this property to travelers seeking a quiet stay in nature.

Beverage Selection: On one occasion, I wanted to order a beer, but unfortunately, they did not have any available at the time.

Our room was right next to a fast-flowing river. We slept to the beautiful sound of the water. The staff were very attentive and we ate dinner there both nights overlooking the river.

Seems to be an issue in their booking system. I got a booking confirmation from booking.com, also said request was approved. But once I reached, there were no rooms available.

Excellent location, good food and friendly staff. I loved falling asleep to the sound of the river below the balcony. There’s a fantastic jungle walk if you cross the river on a little ferry (take money) just by the next property. Once across follow the paved track to the reserve entrance (it’s about LKR 1000 entry) and enjoy jungle immersion, all well signposted and about 5km of tracks.

1. It was 3 mins walk to the ferry boat to cross the river, and another 3 mins hike to the o entrance of the rainforest. 2. Sri Lankan hospitality, the staff were very nice especially the lady manager/supervisor 3. They gave us an inexperienced bird guide.

1. The property needs upkeeping. 2. for the price, the rooms were ok but they could improve more

The food was very tasty and the portions were big. We also liked that it was possible to book activities like rafting and canyoning directly on site. The small houses are located very close to nature, which creates a nice atmosphere.

Unfortunately the cleanliness was a problem. The bed linen and pillows smelled bad and were dirty, and there were even nail clippings on the bathroom floor. I also would not recommend the jungle trekking – it was a waste of time and money, more like running through the jungle without any explanations from the guide.

Peaceful location, friendly staff and a great acting experience. The food was lovely and they were very helpful organising our onward transport.

We stayed in a nice cottage very close to the river. Everything was ok, meeting our expectations. Rating was great!

Beautiful setting beside the river. Food was excellent and service could not have been better. Staff was very attentive and worked hard to ensure everything exceeded expectations. I hope to return someday and highly recommend Rafters Retreat.

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