Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe

We stayed for one night. The pool was a welcome respite after a ho, dusty day out. Room very comfortable, nice bathroom and service friendly and efficient.

My husband and I spent two nights in the suite room and loved our stay. Highlights include: - The lovely welcome ceremony & head massage - The epic view from the balcony - The equally epic view from the bathroom! - Borrowing the bikes to explore the local area - Strolling round the gardens, including vegetable & butterfly focused areas, before stopping in the chairs by the river - Swimming in the gorgeous pool - The buffet dinners - fresh and delicious - Looking through the lovely display of Kalu’s memorabilia Particularly as we stayed in several bigger, busier hotels as part of our Sri Lanka tour, a stop at Kalu’s provided the perfect peaceful tonic.

Our stay at this hotel was truly memorable. Surrounded by lush greenery and overlooking the tranquil Walawe River, the setting was peaceful and ideal for a relaxing getaway. We were warmly welcomed with a free upgrade to a spacious chalet, which made our experience even more special. The pools were fantastic, and our kids absolutely loved them. One of the highlights was that our kids got to try fishing by the river for the first time—a unique and fun experience they’ll always remember. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, even preparing custom meals tailored to kids preferences, which made us feel right at home. To top it off, we were lucky to meet Romesh Kaluwitharana, the legendary cricketer and hotel owner, which was such a special surprise!

Hotel is lovely its very remote with nothing in walking distance ie food / drinks guessing the name retreat is a giveaway. Room was clean and comfy. Pool area was nice and quiet when we stayed - bonus. Only thing i wasnt great with was the food, we had a la carte breakfast the 1st morning then buffet the 2nd the buffet was a lot better more choice and better quality of food. The a la carte at night was a let down hence not 5* review, the choice was limited the quality not that great i was really disappointed with it. Would i stay again no due to being limited options of food and nothing within walking distance.

A secluded small eco hotel, reached by a long track.Huge wooden gates at entrance to hotel grounds. Greeted by friendly staff and check in was quick. Our room was up two flights of stairs, no lift. The room was, as usual in Sri Lanka, large and clean. Food was excellent, an la carte menu if there are not many guests and buffet when there were more of us.They grow a lot of their own fruit and veg. Dishes were tasty and there was a cooking station, the egg hoppers were very good. The head chef was always around, greeting diners and explaining the dishes. The desserts and fruit were in a separate cold glass room. We found the prices reasonable. Eating out was not a choice for us, as there was nothing nearby anyway. The hotel is owned by a Sri Lankan cricket legend, he was at the hotel when we stayed and our driver was very excited to get a photo with him. The Udawalawe nat.park was a 20min drive and the Orphan elephant show the same.

Lovely, spacious room in an impressive building. Our balcony here was large enough for a table, two chairs and a double daybed. We made good use of the inviting pool and enjoyed walking round the gardens down to the river. The food was excellent. There was a choice of set menus -European or Sri Lankan- the first evening and buffets on the other two evenings. The Executive Chef Peter Ralph Pieters would came to chat about the food