Clio Ella Resort

Location: Karadagolla, Ella, 90090, Ella, LK

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Lodges

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 12:00 PM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Instructions: This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. Please note : This property offers vegetarian breakfast only

Amenities & Facilities

• Free bicycles on site
• Free WiFi
• 24-hour front desk
• Garden
• Designated smoking area
• Wheelchair accessible
• Kayaking nearby
• Breakfast available (surcharge)
• Free newspapers in lobby
• Porter/bellhop
• Mountain biking nearby
• Ecotours nearby
• Tours/ticket assistance
• Snack bar/deli
• Free bicycles on site
• Volleyball on site
• Safari nearby
• Rock climbing nearby
• Ziplining on site
• Mosquito nets
• Ropes course on site
• Well-lit path to entrance

Rooms Available

• Deluxe Room with River View

  1 Double Bed

  904-sq-foot individually furnished room, balcony with river views

  
  

  Layout - Separate sitting area

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and a bidet

  Practical - Yard, desk, and desk chair; rollaway beds (surcharge) available on request

  Accessibility - Hardwood flooring in room

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping

  Smoking And Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Bidet
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Yard
  • Separate sitting area
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Smoking and Non-Smoking
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Desk chair

• Chalet with River View

  1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

  904-sq-foot individually furnished room, balcony with river views

  
  

  Layout - 2 bedrooms and sitting area

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and a bidet

  Practical - Yard, desk, and desk chair; rollaway beds (surcharge) available on request

  Accessibility - Hardwood flooring in room

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping

  Smoking And Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Bidet
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Yard
  • Separate sitting area
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Smoking and Non-Smoking
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Desk chair

• Luxury Tent, 1 Bedroom, Mountain View

  1 Double Bed

  215-sq-foot individually furnished room, balcony with mountain views

  
  

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and a bidet

  Practical - Yard, desk, and desk chair

  Accessibility - Hardwood flooring in room

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping, no rollaway/extra beds available

  Smoking And Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Bidet
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Yard
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Smoking and Non-Smoking
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Desk chair

Guest Reviews

• Maike (7/5): Wunderschöne Lage in der Natur mit viel Potenzial, aber teilweise etwas verlassen wirkend. - Die Lage ist außergewöhnlich schön. Das Resort liegt auf einer Lichtung direkt am Fluss, umgeben von Natur und bewirtschafteten Flächen, auf denen verschiedene Pflanzen angebaut werden. Die Zimmer sind sehr schön gestaltet und haben rundum Glas, wodurch man sich mitten in der Natur fühlt. Die Anreise ist besonders und erfolgt zunächst bis zu einem Café und von dort weiter mit dem Jeep in die Natur. Das Personal war sehr bemüht und wollte den Aufenthalt so angenehm wie möglich machen. Die Seilbahn funktionierte während meines Aufenthalts nicht, sodass der Weg zum Resort zu Fuß bergab und am nächsten Morgen wieder bergauf zurückgelegt werden musste. Außerdem wirkte ein Teil der Anlage nicht mehr aktiv genutzt und teilweise etwas verlassen. Da ich der einzige Gast war, war das Personal sehr präsent, was den Aufenthalt etwas ungewöhnlich gemacht hat.
• Valeria (8/5): חוויה בלתי מנשכחת ממקום המאוחד הזה עם ירידה ללב הג׳ונגל בג׳יפ ובהמשך ברכבל. טבע משגע, אפשריות בילוי הרפתקני וטרקים - אהבנו את הדרך , את הטבע ואפשרויות בילוי בטבע. הצוות היה שירותי מאוד ונעים חדרים צריכים שידרוג
• Hagar (8/5): Very good - View of the revier was breath taking Bathroom, cleaness and dirty shower water.
• Belinda (10/5): Best oasis hotel in Sri Lanka - The only hotel in the world to cable car me in. And maybe my favourite hotel in Sri Lanka. Very relaxing as no internet in rooms and I read and listened to waterfall. Heaps of room to do yoga.
• Maria (9/5): A true Escape! - If you truly want an escape into a jungle then that's the place! Not many will agree with the 15 minute safari drive down the mountain and then a 5 minute cable cart to get there with your luggage and all, but thats all part of the experience. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. The villa is a dream tree house in the middle of nature and a flowing river to compliment the view. I know its nature and all, but they could do something about the ants in the bathroom.
• Stewart (8/5): Very good - Amazing location, wonderful staff and the cable car
• Chirana (1/5): ELLA JUNGLE RESORT RUINED OUR HOLIDAY!!!! - N/A Ella Jungle Resort ruined our holiday!!! May 2025 We selected this property mainly to ride their cable car and enjoy the river flowing by the property and a trek. However, when we were about just one hour to the property. The receptionist notified us that the cable car is broken and that we have to take the treacherous walk to the property from the car park. And that we were not advised to walk back after drinks at night after the visit to Ella town. They offered no other alternative. Finally after an expensive journey in a Kangaroo chauffer driven car, we were stranded without a place to stay. Thankfully we found accommodation in the best property in Ella. The Millon dollar question is.. 1). If the cable car broke down aearly morning. Why didn't the property inform us about the breakdown before we left Colombo at 11 am? 2). I have been trying to call the property for three days before the booking. No one answered the phone. 3). The receptionist Mr Lalith Dissanayake mentioned that the property belongs to the Ravana Valley Group and that the Reservations Manager Mr. Chaminda Prasad requested us (the client) to call him to discuss cancellation. I insisted that he call me. That call never came. And Lalith promised that the booking will be cancelled without debittimg my credit card on Chaminda's orders. However this was not confirmed. Action is pending.
• Pzabihi (7/5): FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. YOUNG CHILDREN HOWEVER MAY NEED TO BE OCCUPIED. - REMOTE JUNGLE LOCATION DEEP IN THE HEART OF THE VALLEY DINING COULD POSSIBLY BE BETTER AND INFORMATION ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO ALCOHOL AVAILABLE.
• Marlaina (10/5): Ella Jungle Resort was one of the highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka. It is part accommodation, wellness retreat, adven - We loved Ella Jungle Resort, the room was huge looking over jungle and river. Hiking to the waterfall was really special, Ami looked after us so well. We also enjoyed the wellness retreat. The food was delicious, around a campfire. Lalith’s customer service was excellent, a huge thank you to him and all the staff. Nothing, we enjoyed everything. It may not be for everyone though, you need a bit of an adventurous spirit and mobility.
• Caroline (9/5): An adventure in the jungle - If you want an experience in terms of location and scenery then this is the place to choose. The experience starts with the 4WD descent and then the cable car. The location is breathtaking. The staff are so kind, helpful and accommodating. We loved everything but you need to be able bodied.
• Julia (9/5): Super nice staff, they make youre stay just perfect - Amazing location!! Great activities, like visiting waterfall
• Tanusree (4/5): Disappointed with Ella Jungle Resort - wouldn’t recommend to anyone - Water stream in property Poor room quality - not maintained Poor service quality Rooms were dirty
• Surenthini (8/5): It was a memorable experience. - Your service and quality would be even better if a short information sheet with a schedule were provided. A brief introduction or some information regarding meals and activities was missing. The staff was very friendly and helpful.
• Daniel (8/5): Overall great - Location and staff Logistical challenge to get there
• Spruceyd (10/5): Australians on tour in Sri Lanka! - This place was awesome! I have never experienced an entry to my accommodation via 4wd and cable car, it was so much fun! The hiking to the waterfall was really good followed by some zip lining afterwards, we had a great stay here and all the staff were excellent!
• Natalie (10/5): my best in sri lanka - the entry is unbelievable and great fun. it's truly away from everything and the staff could not be lovelier or more helpful. nothing to dislike as it's a magical, unique experience
• Kelly (5/5): Dirty, not as expected.. badly managed.. facilities falling apart… but such beautiful location - Being in the middle of the jungle was magical.. but the whole resort was not as photos showed… the whole resort was totally dated.. whole sections of it were literally falling apart.. it seemed to be staffed by a bunch of young men.. even thought they were very friendly it was completely disorganised The resort was falling apart, and our room looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years? I had to return our towels as they had marks all over them.. plus I had to wash out our wash hand basin with my own wet wipes.. the netting over the bed was just some nets thrown over the bed.. in the jungle you need proper protection… all the Curtins etc where do dirty, falling apart… plus no alcohol was provided in the resort.. this should have been Made clear on booking., plus you had to pre book your meals on an app? Really this was bizarre and wasn’t what we expected… the whole place needs a complete make over, deep clean and a coherent staff management… all the staff wandered around miss matched jeans and T shirts? Just like a gang of young men or a random football team called in to run a hotel? Very low level of service..
• Sugath (10/5): Thay need improve scuttle service on time - Specially location
• Harsh (10/5): Exceptional -
• Taha (8/5): Very good - The place is amazing, u are literally in thr middle of the jungle. Its 20 om from Ella so when ur here, u are here, u cant go out We had lake view cabin,its big, looks nice. The only issue was the bathroom, if u shower it will be all water as there is no separation betwen bide and the shower. Overall 8/10 exp
• Perera (10/5): Exceptional - Great
• Jayasinghe (4/5): Disappointing -
• Imogen (9/5): Unique, beautiful, relaxing, adventurous, delicious - a once in a lifetime experience! - It is such a beautiful property! Getting down there is an adventure - in the jeep & cable car - and once you get there you can feel what a special place it is. The land is beautifully kept, the staff are so kind and helpful, the food is amazing and the river is lovely to swim in. The rooms by the river are beautiful; the amenities are fairly basic, but you have everything you need. The mountain tents (which my mum stayed in) were also very nice and the view was stunning. We did the waterfall hike one morning (which was a little challenging on the way up - there is a small stretch of abseiling involved!) but so amazing once we got there. There is also an Ayurvedic doctor and masseuse on site which was not advertised but is a lovely bonus. We stayed here over Christmas and asked the staff if we could have lunch down by the river which they happily obliged and set out the long table for us. Thank you for the extra effort you made to make our Christmas Day special, Ella jungle staff! Something that isn’t mentioned in the description but should be noted….There is a suspension bridge over the river to get from the reception to the luxury tents. My mum was staying in one of these and she needed assistance getting over the bridge, particularly when it was dark. So for anyone with accessibility issues or travelling alone I think this is important! I’d recommend installing lights on the bridge and up the hill leading to the huts too. Plus more lights down to the river rooms as I found I had to use my iPhone torch.
• Winterburn (3/5): Poor - The area is amazing. The way into this resort is unbelievable. No hot water no water even coming to our room! The bedding was damp and smelly not great
• Bhaskar (10/5): wish we had stayed longer😍 - location is something to die for!!! cable car ride across the river takes the cake and just is a WoW!!!! river flowing along and no other sound nothing
• Deepak (2/5): Mismanaged safety processes and delayed response spoilt a great location stay - Location is very pretty We had a short circuit due to the AC in the middle of the night and that caught fire (room 7B). Heavy smoke was coming out. The Managers did not pick up the phone and there was no intercom. It was raining and we all had to get out of the room with the luggage in the middle of the night. Same was the case with a family from Sweden that stayed above our room.
• Alok (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing Resort in the mid of the Jungle one of the best experience in Srilanka, Super cool staff and very cooperative No area for complaints
• Nadia (10/5): Exceptional -
• Antonio (6/5): It’s an adventure hotel, not a resort - The location of the cabin is amazing, the possibility to hike in the middle of the jungle is very unique, staff is helpful and friendly. It was cool to experience it for one night. If you’re looking for a place to use as a base to explore the Ella region, this isn’t it, and this could be emphasized much more. Getting in and out is very difficult, you travel on the back of an off-road truck together with bags up/down the mountain bumping and shaking. The room was clean but very dark. Food was ok. It’s a great place to be if you want to be somewhere unique, connected with nature. We were frustrated because we wanted to experience other things in the region like doing Ella Rock and eating local food in Ella but the logistics of this place make it very impractical.
• Lawrence (9/5): Superb - This is a really beautiful place with Flora and Fauna . If you enjoy nature ,this is a good place to hang around And enjoy the sound of water flowing... Remember, when you are there, you can't expect not to have little insects hanging around in the corner This belongs to them, more than to you Enjoy the stay and grab the moments
• Philipp (8/5): Very good - It was quite an experience to stay here for 4 nights. Everyone was really caring and kind even though we had a rough time at the start with language barrier, but that got better after some time. If the staff would understand and talk english better, I think the stay would even be more enjoyable. We had some options to choose like hiking to amazing waterfalls with a guide, zip lining or bathing in the river. The resort itself is really nice in midst of beautiful nature. I'd say the stay is for sure not for people who are not that adventorous (woody bridges, cable car or long hike as the only options to come to the resort). Also you must be able to deal with some ants and other animals in the hotelroom, cause like the name promises - it's really in the jungle. Food was quite good, they always tried to make us different kinds of sri lankan food. Also some kinds of vegetables and fruits come from their own garden. Our concierge Isuru was really caring, trying to make the best stay for us and always tried to find good options for us. Thank you for the stay, we may come again someday 😊
• Varma (10/5): must visit when in ella - I don't why there are negative reviews. it's a jungle resort and it lived to its expectations. you can't be staying in a luxury property in middle of jungle. arrival experience is amazing. adventure starts right from there. room is spacious and clean. view from balcony to stream is next to amazing. Best thing is the staff they treats you like king and makes you feel very special. very friendly and always ready to do whatever you ask. no is something I didn't hear. my 9 year old son enjoyed the activities also and last bath at river stream is most rejenuvating in our entire srilankan trip. the chef you received us on arrival and isuru at reception were great. no doubt everyone else is equally good. don't go by negative reviews. if you can walk and climb and need a different experience for your kids take then here. they will enjoy.
• Pula (3/5): Disappointing - Liked the nature, and it’s a unique resort Our recent stay at this hotel was extremely disappointing, despite its fantastic location. The initial impression was positive, especially with the cable car experience, but everything went downhill once we entered our room. Upon arrival, we found two used towels on the bed, which was quite unsettling. We requested fresh towels, but even then, there was no hot water available, making it impossible to enjoy a warm shower in the freezing cold. To add to our frustration, the room lacked basic amenities such as tissues—there was only an empty tissue box. The cleanliness of the room was another major issue. The bed was covered in dirt and dead ants, forcing us to do our own housekeeping. This is simply unacceptable. To top it all off, dinner was terrible, making the entire experience even more regrettable. It’s clear that the staff responsible for maintaining the property are not taking their duties seriously. This lack of responsibility and attention to detail left us with a negative impression of what could have been a great stay.
• Udaeni (10/5): Highly recommended hotel in Sri Lanka - Ella Jungle Resort is one of the most amazing stay in Sri Lanka.Starting from the entrance in cable car this is one and only hotel in the Sri Lanka it was amazing.Love the concept! Organic Vegetarian food was good and they are growing organic vegetables in the farm area. Eco jungle chalet was also well cleaned and beautiful, it was the river view. Visit the place if you want to zipline, waterfall tracking, natural bath experience in the hotel. Hotel staff very friendly and helpfully. No unlike things
• Isuru (10/5): Highly recommended hotel in the Ella - Amazing place in the Ella. Cable car experience, Sri Lankan only one hotel in the cable car entrance. Another zip line and natural waterfall tracking, natural bath,River view chalet rooms are amazing. Friendly and helpfully staff in hotel. Highly recommended hotel in the Ella.
• Antonio (10/5): Perfect Resort - It's a resort in the jungle, it takes few minutes with the jeep in order to arrive there. It's just perfect, perfect receiving, perfect and silent room right on the river, a lot of nature and animals to see, an adventurous trail in the jungle to the waterfalls, friendly a professional personnel and manager, food amazing. No other words to describe it, just thank you.
• Isle (10/5): Fabulous place - Friendly staff and beautiful location
• Tania (10/5): Exceptional and exciting stay with wonderful staff! - My husband and I loved our stay here. We had the most beautiful room imaginable right by the river. The room is huge. The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous and enormous. You are in the middle of the jungle and will regularly see peacocks, monkeys and beautiful butterflies in the garden. The grounds also have a beautiful waterfall you can hike to and then swim in. The staff are exceptionally lovely and friendly and will go out of their way for you. Ajith even gave us exercise classes as he found out we were into sports and he used to be an army instructor! In addition, the food is delicious! We enjoyed every single dish we ate here. Everything was superb and bursting with flavour. The chef is truly talented! I highly recommend you stay here if you want to do something different, have an adventure, be in nature and be spoiled in the process!
• Limited (10/5): Excellent - Hidden gem from Ella .lovely hotel and the staff. Breakfast was enjoyable .room was clean with the essentials. Nothing
• Alika (10/5): Excellent location,Superb Service,Helpful Staff - We had a wonderful stay at Ella Jungle Reesort.The room was beautiful and the location was great .The breakfast was really good .we would certainly stay there again next time we are in Ella Jungle . Location
• Shanalee (10/5): Short stay with many activities at the property - It was a really good stay at the resort. The property captures all that is beautiful in Ella in one resort. And we had complimentary water activities too! Amazing and I’ll be back
• Isuru (10/5): Exceptional - Good staff good Lokaeshaing jungle resort Wery happened to me 👍❤️
• Javed (10/5): A resort with many activities - An unbelievable experience! So many activities to do and really captured the essence of Ella. You will surely not be bored here as there so many things to try out but I didn’t really have much time. So I will be back!
• Vishwa (10/5): Exceptional -
• Allais (6/5): Sejour fantastique gâché - Experience tres speciale (no spoil)! malheureueent gachee par le gerant qui a voulu nous faire payer deux fois en disant qu'il navait pas de compte expedia/hotel.com, nous réclamant 250USD... Niveau anglais tres difficile, on a le sentiment qu'ils ont peu l'habitude avec les occidentaux Apres nous avoir laissé filer, plusieurs témoignages nous attestent que les conditions de travail des salaries ne sont pas optimales.quel dommage, tout etait bien sinon, mais ca gache vraiment tout
• Daisy (7/5): the location and team on-site are lovely but just blame management for the mess. The most expensive place we stayed yet - Once on site the farm and rooms are beautiful, the guides and groundsmen are super kind and we had the most amazing swim in the waterfalls and tour of the farmland. only rating a 7 because these guys are great! Serious lack of communication. emailed multiple times before being told the day before check in that they couldn’t find our booking. No one told us where we had to go to be collected by the hotel 4x4 and after agreeing a time we then had to wait 45 minutes to be collected. After arriving at the location you are very much left to yourself with no info of when food is served or what activities are actually available. No one from customer service is on site. Also we had an hour and half delay checking out even after repeatedly reminding them what time we had to leave. unnecessary stress as had a driver to meet and train to catch.
• Ebenezer (8/5): Very good - nice and clean
• Susan (1/5): Bad - still unable to get any response from this property. very disappointing.
• Sylvana (7/5): Good -
• Jørgen (4/5): - Ligger veldig øde til, følte oss litt "innestegnt".
• Verified traveler (6/5): - De kamer is in orde en heel mooi uitzicht vanuit de kamer. De service was teleurstellend, net zoals de faciliteiten buiten de kamer. Zwak ontbijt. Tip voor mensen die komen: ‘s avonds moet je voor 21h binnen het hotel zijn, er is geen alcohol en enkel wifi aan de receptie.
• Verified traveler (2/5): - Avoid like plague. Worst hotel ever. Rats in the rooms, exceptionally rude manager and rickety cable car to get to the property.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Amazing gem - Amazing hotel if you want to get away from it all, first car then jeep then cable car to the valley, amazing views, rice grown on site, amazingly friendly staff lovely accommodation just a bit to open for a wersterner I would have liked some glass and some walls but I throughly enjoyed my two days there and would recommend if you want to be disconnected from the world and back in touch with nature
• Verified traveler (10/5): - We were on our honeymoon and had been staying in very luxury places but we fancied something different for a couple of days which would be an experience that we would remember. To get to the resort you have to get a 4x4 ride which is very bumpy (but you are going into the jungle so what do you expect!). After about 20 mins you make it to near the bottom of the valley. We were then put into a small cable car with our luggage for the final part of the trip which took 5 minutes. This was a really nice experience. At the bottom we were greeted by the manager Tharindu who was extremely friendly and accommodating. We were shown to our accommodation which was an Eco Jungle Chalet. We were very impressed with the room as to be honest we were expecting something a bit more basic. The chalet was lovely; it had a four poster bed in the middle, a tiled bathroom and a balcony looking out onto a river. The gable end of the roof is open air so you do hear all the sounds of the jungle and there are bugs (but you are in the jungle!). Bring plenty of Deet as we were still bitten by mosquitos. All the noises of the river and the crickets you could hear from outside were quite calming and I have to say we slept amazingly well. Dinner is buffet style, vegetarian and delicious! We did not miss meat whatsoever. The rice amongst other ingredients are grown in the resort. Breakfast is simple but perfectly nice. In the morning of our first day we met at 9:30am to trek to the near
• Wendy (2/5): Forferdelig sted - Hyttene er møkkete, uten vegger og med felles utedo for de som bor der. De serverer kun vegansk mat. De er uten roomservice, brus, alkohol samt. ting å finne på. Du blir transportert på lasteplan ned en ganske ubehagelig vei og må ta taubane for å nå hotellet. Mangel på sikkerhet. Det var rotter på stedet og personalet var ikke veldig hyggelig.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - A stunning setting in the jungle,reached by dirt track and cable car.Rooms are clean,views and ambience are fabulous. The food is vegetarian only.
• Henrik (8/5): Gemt perle ved Ella - Smuk perle godt gemt væk ved Ella. Medbring selv drikkevare da der ikke serveres øl/vin eller sodavand. Stedet serverer kun vegetar mad. Hyggelige værelser midt i den smukke natur
• Lucy (8/5): - Our stay at Ella Jungle was really something else, it is an unforgettable experience in a setting that feels really wild! I was a bit disappointed that they were not running the yoga or meditation so be aware these activities are not a given, however the morning trek to the waterfall for a morning swim could be the most outstanding memory from the entire holiday. It was truly stunning.
• Sahitya (10/5): - Great resort! Loved the activities offered! The trek, the natural pool were all exciting! We also zip lined across a river. The staff at the resort are very friendly. We were quite surprised by the rooms. No fans or air conditioners because they're open rooms. We were out most of the day and it got cold at night so we did not need either of them. There are nice cafes close to Jungle Resort incase you plan to step out for a bit to enjoy other parts of Ella. I would definitely stay in Jungle Resort again.
• Kesavan (8/5): - Excellent experience. Great outdoor activities. Rooms need a fan!!!!
• Brian (6/5): Great concept - The idea for this hotel is great but unfortunately a lot of work still needs to be done. I am not sure how it got such a high rating but most things are not that great here. We stayed for 2 nights in supposedly the best and most expensive rooms on the ground floor but on our first night we hardly got any sleep as the floor boards above us were like a drum. We could hear everything they said upstairs and also see light through the floor boards. The next day we told them that we were leaving and they changed us to another section with no one above us. The power kept going out on us and I asked for a torch at least a dozen times but never got one. They kept saying ok ok I will get you a torch but we never got one. Some areas in this hotel including the steps to the rooms are very dangerous and definitely not a place for elderly or physically impaired guests. The staff are nice but struggled with English. The vegetarian food was easily the worst we have had in Sri Lanka. Overall not too many positives which is a shame because it could be so great and has great potential but really needs a good manager to understand what you need to make a good hotel, really lacking any class and reminds me more of a school camp.It is called a jungle resort but I think they should change it to a jungle camp.
• dave (8/5): Wild place for adventurous tourists - Had a great time though it was not very comfortable. Room right on the river was exciting but very hot. Fans would be useful. Food was great, including veg Sri Lankan food we didn’t find elsewhere and jungle trek was fantastic. Lack of alcohol should be more prominently advertised on the website
• Alexander (10/5): A wonderful nature experience - so relaxing - We had the most amazing time highlighted by the best service I have experienced in a long time, from the initial exciting experience arriving by 4WD and the trolley car down to the resort to the most enjoyable and tasty Vegetarian food. This was my first experience with a full vegetarian menu and I loved it. Make sure you have the Hoppers with egg Yum:) We were taken on a most spectacular walk to the waterfall nearby and swam there as a relief from the heat. Our Guide was great and the rope climb up the rock face was so much fun. From the Zip line to the general surrounds and trails by the river it makes for a great experience. Evenings sitting around the huge bon fire was a treat, again a most relaxed environment. You must have the Juggary ( lol not sure of the spelling and the buffalo curd with local honey. Loved it Loved it Loved it - if you want to drink take your own alcohol. A real experience but don't whinge if you are looking for a five start resort, this is a different experience back to nature.
• Carly (10/5): What an Amazing place to stay - My friend and I stayed here for two nights and it was my favourite place in Sri Lanka. It was also possibly one of the coolest places we have ever stayed at. The hotel is down in the valley of the mountain and is a get away from the hustle and bustle. The scenary is amazing and the river running past the rooms made for a very peaceful sleep. The private waterfall on the property is a hidden gem that you can swim in. The staff were also very friendly and went out of their way to help us. Also the food is grown on the property and you can tell because it tasted delicious. I would recommend this to everyone as we loved it.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Getting to the hotel itself was an experience through the jungle. Our favourite was going with Abi on a walk to a waterfall hidden away. This resort is a magical place!
• Verified traveler (10/5): A night in Ella - Was one of the best stays ever, you get the jungle feel, you're isolated from the modern world, relaxing and was an amazing one!
• Verified traveler (4/5): Pictures are deceiving, however beautiful setting! - We arrived at Ella Jungle Resort and were greeted by very friendly staff who were extremely accommodating and polite. We shortly after embarked on our exciting journey 2km down a dirt track to then get our cable car. We were amazed by the beautiful scenery and views, however this was as far as our enjoyment and excitement went. We arrived down into the “resort” to find the facilities to be very limiting. We asked for a couple of cold drinks, water or a bottle of coke to get some sugar into us and were told they have non. We were then able to get some fresh water melon juice which was a nice alternative. We asked where the restaurant was to buy lunch, we were informed that no lunch would be served we had to wait until dinner. We asked to have a look at the menu for dinner, we were then told no menu it’s vegetable curry and rice. That was it. No other alternatives, starter or desserts. it appeared to me that due to being low season it was running on low staff and they were doing the bare minimum they could get away with. Moving on to the rooms, at first glance it’s very beautiful by the river, however upon further inspection you can see there is large gaps between the walls and the roof big enough for birds/bats to fly into the room along with the hundreds of other insects living in the jungle. My girlfriend was immediately terrified watching dozens of insects and lizards crawling around the walls,roof and floor. Sheets dirty.We didn’t stay and checked out into another hotel.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Set in a magnificent natural environment. Experience a great adventure from begining to end
• Verified traveler (10/5): Beautiful Nature Retreat! - What a cool place!! Amazing location in the middle of the Ella Jungle. Disclaimer: NOT for the typical tourist. If you just want a normal, boring hotel - this is not it! This place was a great retreat into the beautiful nature of Sri Lanka's mountains. The property is breathtaking, the rooms are great, the food is delicious, and the staff is super friendly. Highly recommend the waterfall hike :)
• Pam (4/5): We wanted to love it - I backpack with a friend every year through India etc. We typically stay at hostels and moderately priced hotels, with one splurge per trip. This was our splurge at $275 CAD for the night. It was 1.5 miles down a very bumpy road by truck, then a cable car ride further down. This is fair enough, but we were unawre that it was $1500rupees for a ride back to the road to go for a bite to eat since dinner isn't available till 7:30pm. No alcohol if that matters to you. Food....not good at all. There was a large rodent in our room. They offered us a room, 1/2 the size, no fans and an outside toilet. We opted to put traps in our room. It ate 2 holes in my ftiends luggage. Once the rodent was caught, we let the staff know. Over an hour later we removed the trap ourselves because no one showed up. There were no concessions made what so ever for having this disgusting experience. There are no phones in the room, so anytime you need to communicate with staff, you have to go and find them. Once we were ready to leave, the brought the truck for pick up. We traveled to the top with 5 staff members and 2 large containers of diesel. The smell was brutal, again...unacceptable in my opinion for an expensive hotel. Far from princesses....but certainly not the experience we had in mind for that price. Staff are nice, but very young and lacking in experience perhaps. Take your money elsewhere!
• Thierry (8/5): Amazing rustic luxury experience. - Amazing place with lots of untapped potential, mostly around the service and the food (breakfast is the main thing that needs improvement and it should be fixed shortly). The people are amazing and the new managers (3 days in !) a pleasure to talk to. They will take this place to 5 stars so be sure to ask them questions to know the improvements when you book. The deluxe chalet was uber cool with beautiful wood floors, high ceilings, large bathroom with hot water with solar panels (was not there before) and sounds of the river to put you to sleep. Free activities include a great jungle walk to the water hole and a fantastic zip line above the river. Abe will take you to these places, he's a very kind and experienced guide from our experience. You got to be an adventurer and love rustic luxury, but if that's the case, dont't miss it !
• Claire (10/5): Cable Car on arrival - After thinking I was spending time in the jungle and being awake all night at the previous hotel, this jungle resort required a 3km journey then a cable car to an oasis of zen. The staff were so helpful and friendly. I had meals specially prepared that were some of the best Sri Lankan food I have had to date. I only stayed one night but could have easily stayed longer. They were very helpful with transport so even though it’s a bit out of the way -whilst there you want for nothing and they can take you back to station quickly when needed. Recommend +++
• Barry (8/5): Beautiful location, amazing walks. - Dry hotel, no alcohol which we didn't expect. Went in to town to buy some wine. Food was really good, local Sri Lankan. If you have kids might be a problem. Stayed for 2 nights, that was enough.
• sukumia (2/5): Poorly Managed, Over-priced - The place is not a resort - a dirty run-down farmhouse. The cable car was not working and we had to hike to get to the resort. At the dining, there were mice scampering about. They charged us for the transport to get into the 'resort' from the main entrance at LKR3650. The billing was also incorrect as they charged us LKR2900 for a dinner menu that was quoted at LKR1850 (??) What a rip-off....
• Verified traveler (8/5): Good and pesfull place - I was recommended this place to stay for holiday and good price
• Antonia (10/5): Incredible jungle experience - This hotel has mixed reviews so it was a bit of a punt. Most of the good and not so good reviews are true but it is a unique experience that made my mum's and my trip to Sri Lanka. You take a 4wheel drive vehicle from the road down a steep track until you can get no further and from here you get the cable car over to the main hotel. The hotel is not posh and the layout quite strange. The noise of the stream, especially after a rainy day, is loud. The steps up to the bathroom from the room are steep and there is no safe in the room to lock up valuables (but you can give them to the manager). My mum is a very active 79 year old. The guided walking tours taken from the hotel are stunning and quite hard going even for the 25 year olds we were with, but so worth it. The guides were truly lovely and supportive of my mum. In the morning we climbed up a jungle path, across streams and at one point climbing up rock using a rope. Viewing monkeys chillaxing on a tree stump and butterflies. The path is about 2.5km of climbing before you reach an amazing natural swimming pool with a waterfall and deep enough to jump from about 2.5m. There are fishs that nibble at your dry skin so you get a spa treatment thrown in but I found it quite ticklish so kept moving. Views wow! The afternoons hike was to three waterfalls quite precarious but not as hard a hike as the morning but beautiful. To finish off we zip wired across the river about 300m. The food was excellent Sri Lankan set menu.
• Dawn (6/5): Unfulfilled potential - I really wanted to adore this place. I didn't. As he reviewer stated. Excellent concept, lousy execution. You arrive and a truck comes to pick you up for the start of your adventure. The bed on bench seat starts a ~3 kilometer drive down a very narrow hillside road. Twice the switchbacks were too narrow for the truck driver to manage so we back up to the edge - once while texting. (3 of our 4 trips up and down the driver will phone or text). At the bottom of the trail is a small gondola. The gondola are not impressive looking but the cables are in tip top shape the views are beautiful! The adventure continues. At the hotel site and the staff are lovely and gracious. But there are a lot of them for no apparent reason and it is a bit awkward to have them all stare expectantly. Check in involves having a cup of tea and chatting with the manager who appears to not have done this before. 4 porters for 3 bags appear. The food is good but on their schedule which means you can sleep in or eat, not both. Dinner is buffet at 8pm. The place is lovely but no trails to hike. You can do the waterfall hike but only with a guid. 20 min there, 30 back, 30 to swim. Our room was large & clean. The front door has a lock, sliders do not. I don't know who the target is. For the adventure sort nothing much to explore. For relaxation I would choose someplace with facilities (btw the wifi didn't work the 2.5 days we were there). It is difficult and time consuming to get in/out 30+ min each was.
• nee (6/5): Very nice sorroundings - An adventure to stay there, reaching by Safari jeep and cable cars. Super delux room also has open area so lots of bugs in the room. Food could be improved and dinner should be served earlier
• Howard (2/5): Would not honor Orbitz reservation - After driving 4 hours we were told they had no reservations for us and they would not give us an available room because reservations had to go through Colombo. We had a confirmed paid reservation. They said they do not deal with Orbitz. The only bad experience we had in Sri Lanka.
• Sonia (8/5): Great, if you know what to expect! - The setting is incredible and the activities great (the guide was amazing), but be aware that that really is all you get. There's no bar to get any drinks, no customer service at all in terms of staff asking if you want anything. If you do, you have to go find them, which isn't always easy. The staff are lovely and will try and help you, but 'resort' is misleading, you're on your own in terms of being proactively looked after! Also note there's no alcohol so bring your own, and no hot water in any of the rooms, despite what it says on booking websites. Stunning place to relax and take in the scenery.
• Francesco (10/5): Once in a lifetime experience - Best hotel ever. Mr Sugarth is a great host!!!!
• Anura (10/5): Nice hotel in jungle. - One of very few places left in Sri Lanka with undisturbed un crowded forest atmosphere.
• Marielle (8/5): Amazing place to stay lost in the rainforest ! - Very nice staff especially rhe hotzl manager who do all he can to please the guest, even entertain dinner singing and playing folks songs with flute !
• Verified traveler (8/5): Great hotel for adventurous travelers - After a late adventurous arrival we were excited by our cool multi level accommodation that overhung a stream on a hill. We had a great dinner with a cultural show by a talented manager! We all thought dinner was very good traditional Sri Lanken food. However, we were suprised with how far out of Ella we were, (which is my error when booking) so we had no choice but to eat on site. Luckily we were accommodated by the property, so if you choose this property make sure dinner is booked. Our breakfast was included in our cost. Food is strictly vegetarian, traditional & no alcohol is on the property. There is no tea or coffee making facilities or mini bar in the room which is a shame as our hut had a great balcony and it would have been nice to have enjoyed a cuppa or even better a G&T! Overall I believe my teenagers will remember the experience which is a little different from normal accommodations & that's fun.
• Alistair (6/5): The primitive side of Sri Lanka - We enjoyed our stay very much ,it was an interesting and different experience. It is quite isolated which we enjoyed the tranquillity and the back to nature feel of the resort. Back to nature.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Incredible jungle experience - If you are looking for a nature experience this is for you. It is remote and beautiful. Certainly there are restrictions that come with this hotel. We were fortunate to have our own bathroom but there was no hot water. Overall the room was comfortable in a an amazing location by the river. The food was very delicious however it was vegetarian. Overall we enjoyed this retreat.
• Sam (10/5): Absolutely LOVED this special and unique resort!! - This resort is a serious must see! We were just gobsmacked by how special and unique this place was! You enter the resort via a private driveway and cable car (!) down the mountain and welcomed by the most lovely and gracious host. The whole place is so special and I would say it was my favourite part of our trip. We loved: 1) the walks to private waterfalls only the resort can access, private swims 2) the helpful and informative host, great english 3) the lovely rooms with views from all 4 walls of the river 4) The food and songs around the great circular outdoor dining area with a bonfire (I loved the jack fruit curry, with vegies grown on site). 5) the monkeys and peacocks roaming nearby. 6) the large grounds, winding paths, rice fields, green mountains surrounding you, outdoor games if you’re keen eg. Flying fox. It’s a little out of the main area of Ella but not hard to get a tok tok and it’s worth it. You won’t regret selecting this place!
• John C (10/5): Unique isolated jungle experience - This place was very special, you are met at the main gate, then transfered to a 4x4 for a 15 minute ride down the mountain and then you take a gondola for about 200 meters to finally reach the valley. Beautiful isolated resort, surrounded by birds and peacocks, a river runs through the property. Our cabin was great, 3 walls of glass, balcony facing the river, large bed. The bathroom was large with good shower. In the busy season you would share the bathroom with one other room, but because the resort was not sold out we had our own bathroom. They sell only beer, therefore if you want different liquor to drink I recommend that you bring your own. Dinner was inexpensive, it was vegetarian and it was good. We were seated under the stars facing a huge bonfire. We were greeted with Sri Lankan live music and signing. In the morning we were offered a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast as well as an omelet. We had a nice hike in the mountain with a guide, I wish we could had stayed one more night to experience the full nature experience. The staff was very welcoming and helpful.
• Verified traveler (4/5): Wish I could have read this before booking - The staff were all lovely and clearly doing their best, so I feel sorry to leave a negative review, but there were too many major shortcomings for me not to: no hot water in the resort in any room, bugs everywhere in the room (spiders, mosquitos, ants, caterpillars, cockroaches, etc.) as it's open from one side and near the river, the restaurant only serves vegetarian food, takes 45+ minutes to get to/from the main road from/to the actual hotel as its situated deep into a beautiful valley/jungle, only one manager spoke English, towels and sheets had an awful smell and were dirty, no WiFi in rooms. Only stay here if you are prepared to overlook all this.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Nature, great view and excellent service! - We had a wonderful time spending a quiet New Years Eve tucked away in midst of nature and the jungle! The service is impeccable and the view from the room was breath-taking. On New Years Day morning the lovely staff also invited us to join them for a special celebration! It was such a warm and amazing experience of Sri Lankan hospitality!
• Verified traveler (8/5): Very Nice Jungle Experience - ideal for an escape from city life. resort staff are very helpful and friendly. 2 of them took us for a hiking tour in the nearby area. authentic Sri Lankan meals are being served at the resort, with live music being played in the dining area!
• Pavanjit (10/5): Extraordinary Chill Out Jungle experience - extraordinary living and sleeping surrounded by the jungle complete with sight (all walls of the rooms are clear glass with terraces overlooking the stream), sound (you can hear the running stream, crickets and other jungle sounds all thru the day and while sleeping at night), smell (rich jungle air), feel (we spent a lot of time bathing and then just sitting on the stones with feet in the stream), and taste (we got fresh tulsi leaves for tea growing near the paddy fields of the resort). The experience was further enhanced by the service and the host who sang for us at dinner (Jagjeet Singh ghazals are his favourite and he renders them wonderfully) and the team that us for a trek thru the jungle to a natural pond up the mountain, across strams and rapelling up large rock faces! it was a truly unforgettable experience of chill out to cast away the tensions of everyday electronic and work existence. Keep aside at least 3 nights and be prepared to switch off mobiles and other not so cool devices.
• rosie (8/5): Beautiful resort in the heart of the jungle - We stayed here after Arugan bay wanting a change of scenery. The resort is at the bottom of a valley and very cut off, you get to the bottom via a beautiful gondola through the forest. The cottages are stunning and on the river and have everything you need. I would mention that whilst it is bed and breakfast you have no choice but to eat lunch and dinner there at quite a cost $20 for vegetarian curry, so be prepared to absorb the cost. The staff were kind of really helpful and the trek to the waterfall to swim was amazing. Overall we loved it but if you aren't comfortable with creepy crawlies or being so cut off (they do have wifi albeit weak) then this may not be for you.
• Gerard Marque (6/5): Lovely place once you got to accept the jungle set - Would have appreciated being warned at time of booking that there would be a jeep ride for 15-20 minutes and a trek for another 5-10 minutes to get to the hotel. Also would have liked to have known that the menu was Sri Lankan Vegetarian. We liked all of this, but it was a bit of a surprise! I note it is on the hotels website, but not on the booking info through your website. To the actual room: fantastic location and set out, but needs to have some wire mesh around the roof to prevent small animals getting into the room at night. Also need to have a better system of emergency lights/torches and information if during a rainstorm the fuse trips and turns off the lights. Finally, the friendliness of the staff was great, but the timeliness of dinner was not good.
• Lauren (10/5): Magical Stay at Ella Jungle Resort - Highlight!!! - Ella Jungle resort was a truly magical place. This was the highlight of our two week trip through Sri Lanka. We only booked one night from previous reviews as we thought this would be enough. Boy were we wrong. Wished we booked at least a two night stay. Three would have been nice and relaxing. Rooms - Deluxe room. Beautiful!!! Floor to ceiling glass surrounding the bed. Feels like you are deluxe camping in the jungle with the luxury of a double bed and fly net. Great deck to sit by the creek and read a book by. Nothing like I have ever experienced before. True beauty. Staff - Service was amazing, they weren't above and beyond in service. Customer service was great. Tour to waterfall - great afternoon outing. Walk through the jungle with a guide and took us to see the waterfall. At the top was a great little swimming hole with a rock jump if your game enough. The views looking back down the valley were beautiful Food - Dinner was amazing. Great curry. We couldn't finish the meal off and felt bad. So much food. It was an amazing night. Dinner was set under the star by the camp fire. I have never seen so many stars before. We spent ages just star gazing after dinner. it was a beautiful site. They surprised us with a musician you played and sung us songs as we ate. Very romantic all in all. We bought a bottle of wine with us from the airport duty free and the resort were kind enough to chill it and serve it with dinner for us.
• AAA (2/5): Difficult access - Access to the hotel was via a 5km jeep ride followed by a 0.5km walk along slippy rocks in the dark. The room had canvas walls. The bathroom facilities were shared with no roof and no locks on doors. Evening meal was cold and over-priced. Only 5amp sockets so unable to charge electrical gear. No fridge or coffee making facilities.
• warren (6/5): Falling short at the moment - Interesting, but falling a bit short for me. On the down side - Very limited food options, no wifi. Plus side.. Beautiful location.
• Verified traveler (4/5): - Friendly staff but everything went wrong with our stay. No water at all when we arrived, the problem was fixed a few hours later but even the next day we could not flush the toilet. There was almost nothing to eat and we had mice in the room at night. No wifi. Bad experience for us.

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