Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe

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!

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.

My husband and I stayed here for one night on our recent tour of Sri Lanka. A very nice hotel with an interesting cricket theme. Room was immaculate, a good size and had a pleasant balcony. However i have to echo what some other reviewers have said that although we were greeted with a refreshing cold flannel, no one came from reception to explain anything about the hotel or room to us and we certainly weren't offered a welcome massage although we did see a couple receiving one. This was odd as staff were very friendly. Food and menu were rather limited but breakfast was very good. One night was sufficient for us and on the whole it was good overall.