Waraka - Udawalawe by Thema Collection

Location: 224/B Susil Mawatha, Udawalawe, lk

Star Rating: 9.1 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Amenities & Facilities

• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Swimming pool
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Terrace
• Family rooms
• BBQ facilities
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Ironing service
• Concierge service
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infinity pool
• Outdoor furniture
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Invoice provided
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Smoke alarms
• Key access
• 24-hour security
• Delivered food - securely covered
• Cooking class
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Free wired internet
• Access to nearby indoor pool
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Wine release events
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Garage
• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Swimming nearby
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Bulk dispenser for toiletries
• Paddle boating nearby

Rooms Available

• Deluxe Twin Room Includes evening tea with snacks and complimentary mocktail (one per person)

  Providing free toiletries and bathrobes, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a bidet and a hairdryer. The spacious air-conditioned twin room provides a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as garden views. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Satellite channels
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bidet
  • Cleaning products
  • Linen
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Socket near the bed
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Key access

• Deluxe Room Includes evening tea with snacks and complimentary mocktail (one per person)

  The spacious family room offers air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, a balcony with lake views as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Satellite channels
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bidet
  • Cleaning products
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Socket near the bed
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Key access

• Suite Includes Includes evening tea with snacks and complimentary mocktail (one per person)

  This spacious suite consists of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and free toiletries. The air-conditioned suite provides a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a wardrobe as well as garden views. The unit offers 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Satellite channels
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bidet
  • Cleaning products
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Socket near the bed
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Key access

• Suite with Lake View Includes evening tea with snacks and complimentary mocktail (one per person)

  This spacious suite consists of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and free toiletries. The air-conditioned suite provides a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a wardrobe as well as lake views. The unit offers 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Satellite channels
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bidet
  • Cleaning products
  • Linen
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Socket near the bed
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Key access

Guest Reviews

• Nickala (10/5): - The property was absolutely immaculate. The pool and facilities were beautiful. Highlight was definitely the private safari, our naturalist was incredibly knowledgeable and the park was uncrowded when we went in June.
• Adele (10/5): Amazing stay with the very best staff - I had a wonderful time at Waraka. I spent two nights, and arrived about 1.5 hours later than planned (a little after 9pm) due to my driver getting switched at the last minute (I did not organize my car from Colombo through Waraka, so that’s on me). The staff stayed up for me, and were in contact about my arrival (sorry, again!). They offered me dinner but I was still getting over jet lag so went right to bed. They packed breakfast for me the next morning for my safari, and had it ready for me. My lunch back at the hotel was great, as was dinner. During lunch, across the river, I saw a heard of buffalo which just made it fun. I had breakfast my second morning when I returned from my safari, and it was delicious and huge with a nice plate of fresh fruit. Again, they were very accommodating to serve me a little outside of their regular breakfast hours. As far as I could tell, I was the only guest, but the staff were all friendly, kind, and flexible. My room was very spacious, the bed comfortable, and a great view. The entire property is very serene and peaceful. I did not end up getting in the pool, though I had every intention, but a short rain sent me back to my room. I would absolutely stay here again, and highly recommend it to those of you looking. My only note is that the prices they shared for safari were more than double what I found with other companies, so I did some research and booked outside of the hotel. I felt badly about this, but I really couldn’t justify it and having had some less than desirable safari experiences, I wanted to make sure I was with a company that met my needs. But again, would absolutely stay here again!
• Fiona (10/5): - I had an amazing experience at Waraka! The staff went above and beyond to be helpful and welcoming, making me feel right at home. They organized an incredible safari for me– ask for guide Dinuka, he was superb. The rooms were spotless, spacious, and beautifully decorated. Nothing really
• Sarah (10/5): Perfect two night stay - relaxing and peaceful. - Fabulous hotel and incredibly friendly staff. Perfect room for our family of 4. The pool was great and we enjoyed our kayak trip along the river. So much wildlife to spot. Highlight was the safari trip with the hotel’s naturalist. He was super - very knowledgeable and friendly. Nothing.
• Stanley (9/5): Lovely hotel to spend a few days close to the National Park with a relaxing feel and helpful staff. - I loved its location and the whole ambiance of the hotel. Being able to lounge close to the river/canal added a differnt experience to other hotel stays. The organisation of the safari trips and the care the guides took was exceptional, we loved the trips we took with them. Food was good in the resturant and it was overall a fantastic place to spend a few days. I cannot think of anything to fault.
• Karen (9/5): Very enjoyable hotel for an afternoon safari and overnight stay - Their approach to recycling and relaxing in beautiful surroundings was commendable. It was a lovely place to spend a night.
• Christina (10/5): A Unique Hotel near the Udawalawe National Park - Very unique and pretty hotel felt part of the national park. All the staff were amazing and the Naturalist Guide that took us on safari was very knowledgable and the picnic in the middle of the park was an unexpected pleasure. Didn’t find anything to dislike
• David (10/5): Everything was fantastic. The location, the staff, the service, the rooms. Nothing was to much for anyone and the proxim - An amazing location with fantastic service and wonderful rooms. Close to the Udawalawe National Park, it provides a perfect base to relax and unwind after adventurous days N/A
• James (7/5): - Nice grounds, friendly staff Our bathroom had no window so the sounds of the kitchen and the loud neighbour came in throughout the evening. Disappointing when this was the most expensive room at the property. The room also had very few sockets and would have benefitted from a sofa set or similar since there was a huge amount of space in the bedroom that was essentially wasted
• Craig (8/5): -
• Mirella Austria (10/5): -
• ARMELLE (9/5): - Beautiful place and
• Mathias (8/5): -
• Tracey (8/5): Ideal location for relaxing after Uda Walawa safari - The setting is idyllic next to a canal/river with roadway on other side, saw passing water buffalo, tuk tuk and bikes. resident Asian Water Monitor made a star appearance one morning. Hotel organised the safari and trip to the elephant transition station. Both were excellent and informatively guided. Pre-ordering the evening meal choice didn't seem to ensure the food was brought out swiftly on our first night. Staff were friendly and helpful though.
• Ale (9/5): Perfetto - Ottimo, molto suggestiva Niente, tutto ok
• Nicola (9/5): Tranquil eco friendly hideaway, luxury safari experience - Eco friendly property focussing on sustainability, which given that you are visiting to see the wonderful local wildlife suddenly seems very important. Small, inventive design, tranquil and thoughtful. Lovely open restaurant facing pool and lagoon Perhaps poorly sound insulated, could hear the neighbours who were up very early, phones ringing, toilets and showers
• Matthew (7/5): -
• Donna (10/5): A peace of heaven♥️ - Location, serenity, quirky, unique, wonderful staff
• Sonja (6/5): Aktuell nicht zu empfehlen - Die Safari, die wir über das Resort gebucht hatten und die vom Naturalist des Hotels begleitet wurde, war super. Das Essen war gut - wenig vegetarische Optionen, allgemein wenig Auswahl und keine Alternativen in näherer Umgebung. Neben der Hotelanlage ist ein Grundstück, auf dem regelmässig Party gemacht wird - am Wochenende extensiv und in unserem Fall mit Karaoke bis 4h morgens. Die Polizei wurde informiert, jedoch scheint es keine einfache Lösung der Situation zu geben. Das Servicepersonal wirkte unmotiviert und, ganz anders als in den übrigen Hotels auf unserer Reise, fühlten wir uns hier nicht willkommen. Die sehr kleine Anlage (12 Zimmer - sehr kleiner Garten am kurzen Flusslauf) war teilweise etwas lieblos gestaltet und wenig gepflegt, was angesichts der Menge an Personal sehr erstaunt. Generell ist das Hotel viel zu teuer für das was es bietet - gemäss aktueller Bewertung ist Waraka Udawalawe ein Dreisternehotel und verfügt nicht über eine Lizenz für den Alkoholausschank.
• Patrick (10/5): - Un accueil parfait un moment de détente Rien
• Bénédicte (10/5): Un séjour sophistiqué et confidentiel dans ce boutique hôtel au coeur de Uda Walawe - Très calme, très beau design de l hôtel, peu de chambres ce qui rend le séjour à la fois confidentiel et en même temps très accueillant pour les familles. La piscine est divine et dispose d un espace pour les plus petits ce qui est très appréciable. La proximité de la rivière rend l’ambiance très apaisée. Le staff ensuite est très attentionné: de l accueil, à la préparations un petit déjeuner à emporter pour le safari très matinal, le petit temps de massage offert, et une chambre impeccable et très confortable. On ressent une sophistication discrète dans ce très bien géré boutique hôtel. Les cabines du spa sont aussi très agréables après une journée de safari! Des kayaks sont à disposition de la clientèle et leur utilisation se révèle payante à la fin du séjour, une meilleure communication à ce sujet aurait été appréciée. Cela ne ternit toutefois pas l expérience générale dans l hôtel.
• Guest (5/5): Good location but the hotel needs better management - The location and well-kept grounds of the hotel are lovely, neighboring a fast-moving river or canal (and there are kayaks for the guests!). There are several ecolodge structures that are made in part of recycled materials (the tables in the restaurant are made of old sewing machines, for instance). The location is perhaps 15 minutes by automobile from the entrance to Udawalawe park, so it's quite convenient. I should preface these remarks by saying that we were guests at the hotel only a week after the catastrophic cyclone that did so much damage to Sri Lanka (though not to Udawalawe itself); many local people were still feeling psychologically the aftereffects of the storm. We had prepaid for a suite package that included both afternoon tea and a glass of wine with dinner in the restaurant. Neither one of these was ever offered to us by staff during our stay (two nights), and given the circumstances in Sri Lanka at that moment I didn't feel comfortable in pressing the manager about it. Although this was the most expensive hotel room that we had in Sri Lanka (including Galle Fort Hotel and Kandalama Heritance Hotel), no one came to make up our room during our stay. On the second evening, a staff person came to ask if we wanted fresh towels, but that was all. The suite was a very large space, but lacked any real furniture (like chairs or a desk) other than the comfortable bed and some beanbag seating. No one explained how to run the dehumidifiers, which are essential equipment there, but eventually we figured out how to use them. The restaurant: in a nation with one of the world's finest cuisines, why force the chef and staff to cook only Western-style dishes? These generally ranged from not very good to almost inedible. When the chef was allowed by management on the second morning of our stay to make a true Sri Lankan breakfast for us, it was instead wonderful! Although the hotel has been open for 18 months or so, and belongs to a small chain of boutique hotels, my impression was that management was still trying to figure out how to train staff and to run the hotel to the high standards suggested by its high prices.
• Primrose (10/5): - Beautiful location and excellent staff. We couldn't get our hot tub to work in our room. But perhaps was user error.
• oliver (8/5): -
• Jordan (10/5): - Wonderful peaceful property. Beautiful room, safari was excellent.
• orly (10/5): - הנוף, הטבע , העיצוב הצוות היה מאוד נחמד ונתן שירות טוב במקלחת לא היה זרם מים והאור במקלחת היה חלש
• Mathew (3/5): Too expensive for the quality of service and comforts at the facility - Close to the national park and hence the best location. Poor breakfast spread. Poor lighting in the toilet and dirty shower cubicle.
• Alexis (10/5): Safari via l’hôtel incroyable - Le lieu est incroyable, la vue est incroyable également. Nous avons fait le safari via l’hôtel. Je recommande de passer par l’hôtel. Notre guide était un passionné tout comme le chauffeur. Nous avons même eu droit à une petite collation dans le parc. Merci à Dinuka notre guide. La qualité de la nourriture pourrait être meilleure mais c’est acceptable
• Suzannah (5/5): Disappointing stay - I would like to say that the massage I had (they only have male masseuses and I nearly didn’t have one because of that) was excellent. The garden setting is really lovely. We saw a family of monkeys playing. And there’s 2 free kayaks if you want to go for a paddle along the river which was lovely. The hot tub was not hot, even after the staff pointed it out to us and said we have a hot tub!! They have a cold tub is what they have…Also the staff on the whole were very friendly as they always are in Sri Lanka. But all in all I’m afraid the positives were outweighed by the negatives. Very disappointed with this hotel. It has potential to be much better but as it is, it’s a letdown to the Thema collection. We stayed at one of their sister hotels in Ella which was fantastic. To start with, the room. We booked a family room for 4 people and there was no curtain/blind on the mezzanine level which had our kids waking up at sunrise. Downstairs there was zero storage for clothes other than one small hanging rail. No drawers/cupboards, so we were living out of our suitcases. The coffee provided in the room is not even coffee, it’s 70% chicory, and for us, undrinkable. The mini fridge was totally empty - no minibar. There was no fresh milk provided to make a cup of tea. The room was very dark and at night it’s barely light enough to find anything even with all the lights on. The lighting in the bathroom is really weird too. A blue LED above the shower and the sink area had really poor lighting. There was zero soundproofing of the room. You can hear everything from outside. The TV is Chinese and the language cannot be changed - they do have a dongle plugged into the tv but the only app on it is YouTube. Then there was the food… it was (for Sri Lanka) quite expensive and honestly not very nice. Think cold spaghetti and warm ice cream. The first morning we were given an à la carte breakfast the next menu (standard at Thema hotels) and the second we were told it would be a buffet, which was frankly not nice at all. Cheap white bread, freezing cold baked beans (even when freshly brought out - they’d not been heated) and a bad selection of food. There was a huge language barrier when ordering which lead to a lot of mistakes e.g. “what juices do you have?” “papaya” “ah, we don’t like papaya” … 4 papaya juices turn up. I sent my ice cream back because it was just a puddle of cream. The coffee at breakfast is laughable. It’s so weak it looks like tea when you pour it, and it’s instant coffee.
• Breadman (9/5): -
• Matthew (9/5): -
• Bilale (9/5): Wonderful stay - The location, the staff, and the environment, everything was fantastic.
• Ylone (10/5): -
• Chris (10/5): - Amazing river front nature location near Udawalawe national park. Fantastic unique eco accommodation and repurposed materials, love the sowing machines, when you visit you'll get it. Staff were amazing and a huge thanks to Dinuka, his communication was exceptional when we had difficulty getting from Kandy. Organised a late check in, helped our driver to book his accommodation locally too. Next best part Dinuka is a very informative and passionate guide doing the morning Safari. Himself and his driver were a well oiled machine. Don't try and save money without a guide, book Dinuka and his driver well worth it. The breakfast was great and even organised complimentary snacks before our drive further south. Nothing they were so helpful and well worth a visit. We
• Alexandra (9/5): -
• Annabelle (10/5): Perfekte Safari - Die Unterkunft ist einfach atemberaubend schön gelegen - direkt am Fluss mit wahnsinnig toller Aussicht. Die Zimmer sind liebevoll gestaltet. Der Service lässt keine Wünsche offen. Wir haben zwei Safaris mit dem Naturalist gemacht und es war das Highlight unserer zweiwöchigen Reise. Wir haben so viel gelernt und er hat sich die größte Mühe gegeben. Wir waren in Udawalawe und Yala und haben alle Tiere gesehen, die wir sehen wollten! 10/10 experience!
• Naomi (10/5): Charming, luxury retreat. - We loved the commitment to recycling and reusing without ever compromising on comfort. It was absolutely charming, great location, delicious food, excellent staff. The monkeys in the trees were a bonus! Nothing, it was great.
• Dilani (8/5): - The place was lovely and the staff absolutely marvellous
• Giuseppe (10/5): Outstanding eco-lodge immersed in the National Park - This eco-lodge is an immersive experience into the Udawalawe national park. Accommodation and overall place were truly well-thought and carefully designed with sustainability at heart. The restaurant is amazing, with delicious food and exceptional staff. We also booked the safari tour with them and were extremely impressed with the organisation and the knowledge of Dinuka, the lead naturalist who guided us through the National park. Dinuka is a rare combination of knowledge, kindness and passion for the wildlife. We would love to go back and explore some of the other Thema collection Hotels they have around Sri Lanka.
• Greg (10/5): -
• Bradley (8/5): Good for a safari stay - Very clean and a unique stay. The walls and floor are made of metal and are very thin so you can unfortunately hear guests above walking around.
• FLORENCE (9/5): -
• FLORENCE (9/5): - Prestations et personnel agréables Très bon rapport qualité prix
• frederique (10/5): Boutique hôtel extraordinaire dans un cadre exceptionnel - Cet hôtel est absolument magnifique et le personnel est très prévenant et charmant. Nous avons absolument tout aimé, la piscine, les chambres qui sont à la fois très confortables et très bien décorées, le jardin, le restaurant… Il y a peu de chambres ce qui donne le sentiment d’être dans un endroit un peu exclusif. Par ailleurs, le cadre est exceptionnel. L’hotel nous a organisé un safari exceptionnel à la dernière minute en s’adaptant à nos demandes. Un seul regret, ne pas être resté plus longtemps au Waraka !!! Bref, je recommande à 1000% !!!! Rien, tout est incroyable et parfait !
• Viviana (10/5): Piccolo hotel immerso in un’oasi di pace e tranquillità. Staff attento e gentile, camere molto carine, buon cibo. Davver - La struttura è splendida, immersa in un oasi di pace e tranquillità Niente, tutto perfetto
• Beth (10/5): - Waraka will always be special to us — it’s where we got engaged last week, surrounded by the gentle stillness of the river - it felt like a dream. The property is a secret retreat, with elegant design in harmony with nature. Our room was immaculate with the most intricate details. The staff were exceptional, and our safaris with Melan were magical — his knowledge and keen eye is exceptional. Waraka is now part of our story, and we cannot wait to return.
• Tiphaine (10/5): Magnifique hôtel - Tout ! Accueil, propreté, format intimiste, piscine Personnel adorable et arrangeant Masseuse très bien Bons repas Petit déjeuner à améliorer
• Steve (7/5): Good - Modern and in a nice setting.
• Janakan (7/5): It was peaceful and satisfactory. - The location of the hotel was brilliant, with lovely views and easy access to the national parks. Further the surrounding village that we explored by bike was fantastic. The hotel is lovely, however there was some dissatisfaction with the service of the staff. The staff are very nice and polite all the time however there seems to be a lack of training in the staffs service skills, such as at meal times, when tables where not set correctly, water was not offered and menus not given . On occasion dirty cutlery and place mats were used and we had to request a change. I believe that this hotel has the right atmosphere and attitude to be brilliant if the staff had more training and management. In addition the hotel was meant to be themed by jackfruits however there was no fresh jackfruit to eat; only a curry one of the nights we stayed and a polos cutlet , too the hotel buffet was average at best, the set menu on the other hand was well put together by the chef. All in all, the people, location and atmosphere are very nice however the service and lack of management lets it down for us, with these being fixed I am sure the experience would improve.
• Ilias (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing place in the park. Lots of nature around. The safari with naturalist is really worth it.
• Krishnar.muthukumarasamy (10/5): Very pleasant calm place to relax and spend your holidays with choice of traditional food . - Totally a unique experience. Wonderful set up. Great food selections. We had traditional SriLankan dinner. Which included 4 different dishes made out of Jack fruit. Which was very tasty. Even the pudding. Staff very pleasant, polite and friendly. Looking forward to come back again
• Alexandre (10/5): Exceptional - Exceptional experience from the service to the architecture to the safari!
• Patrik (10/5): The hotel’s design, service, and food were all high class—an excellent and stylish stay in every way! - We stayed for one night to visit the Udawalawe safari, and even though it was a short stay, it was truly memorable. The hotel’s design is beautiful and elegant, giving it a high-class feel from the moment you arrive. The service was excellent. We were treated to a relaxing 20-minute massage, which was a lovely touch after a long day of travel. The food was outstanding as well—delicious and beautifully presented.
• Donna (10/5): Great service and location - Beautiful and great staff
• Chiara (10/5): Exceptional - the family room was HUUUUGE!
• Michael (4/5): Disappointing - A good peaceful location. You are isolated and can only eat and drink at the hotel. The food and drink offered is terrible. Very limited vegetarian or local dishes and only low quality western imitations. We checked out early. Wouldn’t stay again.
• Ross (10/5): Exceptional - What a fantastic and peaceful place. The stuff was very friendly and the views were amazing. We booked a safari trip to Udawalawe National Parc and Elephant Transit Home with them. We left early in the morning, and they packed a lovely picnic to take with us and had it in one of the beautiful place in there.
• Vinod (10/5): Excellent. Definitely a repeat to Thema collection - Wonderful property with amazing tranquility. The chef made us one of the most amazing dinner while the staff make it an unforgettable experience
• Jamie (9/5): Beautiful spot - Stunning place. You won’t find many that are in more beautiful settings The rooms were fantastic, clean, well facilitated and very well sealed to prevent any gusts in the night from entering! Pool is stunning and set on a lovely river. Bar and restaurant are a beautiful setting and very well thought out. Staff were very welcoming and could not do more for you. My wife had a one of the massages and said it was one of her best she’s had. The only downside to this wonderful place was the food was a little underwhelming. The price isn’t bad but the food could have been better. We had the tomato and red wine soup - amazing I then had the lamb chops. They were nice enough, but not quite what I was expecting. My wife then had the crispy chicken. This was fried chicken strips (dry) and chips. It was more what you would give to the kids. Deserts were okay. We had the cheesecake and the brownie. They also do not have an alcohol license. Which means drinks are limited to beers and wine. They did provide us with a pack up in the morning for our safari though and that was superb. Would highly recommend. Just a shame regarding the food.
• Padmakumar (8/5): Very good - Nice and cosy Toilet had a bad smell
• Cagla (10/5): Exceptional - Great place to relax! Can hear all of the noises from the room below.
• Michael (5/5): Underwhelming - Excellent location surrounded by jackfruit trees by the water. Peaceful and isolated - although this becomes a problem due to the hotels serious shortcomings. As mentioned by other reviewers the food on offer at this 5 star hotel is shocking. The menu is a small, confused collection of international dishes which the kitchen cannot prepare. There is only one ‘Sri Lankan’ dish which was served as effectively plain rice with some condiments. Only two veggie options on the menu. You have to pre order all your meals at the previous meal and yet still the quality is shocking. Undercooked food, cold food, the list goes on. Due to the location you are then held hostage to this food and beverage. Paying 5 star prices for 2 star food. Although relatively new this hotel has been open since June 2024. We ended our stay early as we couldn’t stomach another day of the food. Serious improvements needed.
• Torsten (9/5): Superb - Waraka is a beautiful facility with very a friendly and welcoming staff. The food quality, preparation and service was excellent.
• Natalie (10/5): Amazing hotel with amazing food and staff!! - Absolutely spotless property with the most amazing staff and food! The Sri Lankan curry and Sri Lankan breakfast were incredible and the portion sizes were huge. The added extras were a bonus such as the complimentary 10 minute massage, the welcome drink, afternoon tea and mocktail with dinner. The location was perfect for safari. The staff were so accommodating and friendly!! The attention to detail at this hotel was fabulous, we could not understand how they manage to keep everything so clean and pristine but they do. We both agreed that this is one of the best hotel experiences we have ever had!! Everything was excellent!! The only slight issue was the air conditioning in the upstairs room was not strong enough for during the day, however, at night the temperature was perfect.
• Sarah (10/5): Amazing hotel, great safari - Can’t say enough good things about this Amazing, idyllic location Modern , spacious rooms with great bathroom. So relaxing !! Warm and friendly staff who appear to be rightly proud of their hotel .. Excellent dinner and breakfast We had a brilliant safari organised by the hotel .. our guide and driver were amazing . We saw elephants ( one of the few groups to do so that morning as they all seemed to be in hiding !) Crocs, water buffalo , land monitors , deer , monkeys and loads of amazing birds ( never really been into Birds .. until now ) How they spot a tiny kingfisher in a bush from 20 mts whilst on the move, I have no idea. Nice breakfast snack by the lake . Thoroughly recommend hotel and safari. Just brilliant Free massage at hotel also good. I’ve had plenty in the 2 months we have been travelling and this was definitely the best . Nothing
• Robert (9/5): Superb - Excellent food a relaxing location, organised safari and a car to Galle
• Khan (10/5): A brilliant, peaceful tropical oasis - Everything. My partner and I had the best time here. The spot is tranquil, incredible. We've been fortunate enough in our life to stay at some wonderful hotels around the world but honestly this might be my favourite if not top 5 experiences. The staff were incredibly attentive and kind. The food was excellent. I got the prawns with vegetables for my dinner and they were exceptional. I swam in the pool at 7 am on the day of checkout and I felt so at peace. The location is serene. The crickets and wild animals lull you to sleep - no need for a relaxation soundtrack. My masseuse/massage was also exceptional. We just honestly had a brilliant time here and wish we could stay longer. Thank you so much to all the staff who made our stay so peaceful and enjoyable. I hope one day to return and will also be recommending the hotel to any friends who visit Sri Lanka. Sublime. Exceptional. Thank you! We love the sustainability ethos and will definitely be buying the natural soap and lotion products provided in the hotel room when we checkout! Mosquitos but we're in a tropical country and that really can't be helped anywhere! Well worth the bites!
• Sinja (10/5): Exceptional - We felt at home right away! The atmosphere is very calm and relaxing, and the staff is incredibly helpful. The hotel organized our safari, and we had the absolute best guide—make sure to ask for Madhawa! He will make your safari experience truly special.
• Clarissa (10/5): 5 star stay in Udawallawe - The service was amazing, beautiful room and decor. The pool and grounds were tranquil. Food was superb.
• Mark (9/5): Superb -
• Philippa (8/5): Very good -
• Teshali (9/5): We had a super relaxing stay at Waraka. The place is newly built and is calm and quiet. - Very calm and Serene little place. The staff were lovely. The food is top notch. Nothing to complain. Just the Air conditioning needs to be more powerful and isn’t enough during day time
• Stuart (10/5): Perfect hotel for the jeep safari. - An incredible place, conveniently close to the nature reserve at Udawalawe. Peaceful and tranquil. Nothing to dislike.
• Ignas (10/5): Exceptional -
• Emma (8/5): Very good - Little oasis in nature. Great value for money. For dinner, there were very little of the drinks on the menu available
• Aimee (10/5): Brilliant - So peaceful! Super kind staff. Very clean rooms and so generous eg- complimentary drink(s) on arrival, afternoon tea. Their safari morning was absolutely brilliant. The guide was so informative about nature. We felt really lucky to have him with us. Definitely the best place to stay in Udawalawa.
• Michaela (8/5): The hotel was the highlight, not the safari, ha 😅🙏 -
• Andy (10/5): Exceptional - We had a fantastic stay at Waraka. The team are wonderful and the property is stunning. As an added bonus the location meant that it was very easy to get out to explore
• Philipp (7/5): Good -
• Alasdair (9/5): Handy spot near national park - Beautiful location on the river- handy for the national park. Family friendly. Stick to the Sri Lankan food which was nice- western food pretty bad.
• Petr (10/5): Exceptional -
• Narelle (7/5): Lovely property but we did have sleepless nights with the fruits falling onto our roof all night. - Rooms beautiful and very family friendly Dinner is only 7pm even we were the only guests there. The noisy nights
• Shivanthan (10/5): Incredible Sri lankan hospitality at its finest in Udawalawe - A true gem-seamlessly blending the very best of Sri Lankan hospitality, a homely vibe and beautiful surroundings. The staff are what makes this place truly special-nothing is too much trouble and they always go out of their way to ensure guests have a pleasant stay. The food is top notch and the head chef is so very passionate about his craft - always taking the time to gather direct feedback and even sharing his cooking skills via a live demonstration! The kids really enjoyed this! The resort is beautifully managed and the pool is great to unwind in. Ive travelled to a few places but non have the same warmth and friendly nature as this hotel. Waraka have a number of sustainability initiates as well but what caught my attention was the commercial partnership with the local community all the way from fresh produce, to the staff being picked from the community and trained, it's very special and it really is a very respectable model-this place has left an impression on our family. Would not hesitate to book again and recommend to friends. Wish we had stayed longer to enjoy the facilities/activities and different food menu and also to go to the national park in the evening. With the room the only feedback I'd have is the aircon could be a little cooler-it can get warm at times but still doesn't distract from our overall stay and happiness.
• Katie (10/5): Exceptional - We stayed at Waraka for one night as part of a longer holiday to Sri Lanka. We had a wonderful stay - the room was spacious for our family of four, the staff were wonderful (my daughters loved making flower crowns with them) and the food delicious! It's a great location for visiting Udawalawe. When we arrived at the airport to go home we realised we had left our youngest daughters favourite teddy bear at the hotel - disaster! Dilshan was so helpful - he found the bear and she has just arrived safely back to us in the UK. Thank you Dilshan and all at Waraka!
• Chirath (10/5): Perfect Nature Escape!! - The hotel was an amazing getaway! Loved the peaceful vibes and the lush surroundings. The staff were super friendly and they even arranged a safari where we saw the elephants up close. The room was comfy, and the local foods were really tasty. Great spot if anyone wants to chill and connect with nature. Definitely coming back.
• Hashani (10/5): Amazing stay at Waraka Udawalawe! - My stay at Waraka Udawalawa was truly wonderful. Located near Udawalawe National Park, it's perfect for safari lovers. The food was delicious, with a mix of local and international dishes that everyone enjoyed. Highlight for me was the "Waraka Infused" food and drinks, which offered a unique and exciting taste experience.The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, always going above and beyond to ensure a comfortable stay. The unique concept of blending modern amenities with a natural, rustic charm made the experience truly memorable. The safari excursions organized by the hotel were well-coordinated, providing an up-close encounter with the stunning wildlife. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I highly recommend! Everything was good.

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