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Home » Lodging » 7 Best Sri Lanka Hotels for a Luxurious Tour

7 Best Sri Lanka Hotels for a Luxurious Tour

April 27, 2017 Carol Guttery 15 Comments

Staying at these seven best hotels in Sri Lanka will send you on a luxurious circuit of the country’s finest wildlife and cultural treasures. The luxury hotels in Sri Lanka all offer good proximity to the key sites, unique architecture, inclusive breakfast and lots of amenities. But each the following hotels offer their own unique experiences.

(This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.)

Jetwing Beach Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Luxury hotel at Jetwing Beach

How to Book Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka

Or outsource the work by booking with Audley Travel. My group used them to arrange our last minute itinerary and they were able to pull it off with excellent service.

If you would like to splurge in some areas but save in others, you could also consider a mix of AirBnb and the luxury hotels. Find the listing map here. If you do that, use my link to receive a $40 credit on your first stay and also check out this advice for how to plan an AirBnB in Sri Lanka.

Booking hotels are just part of the travel planning process, check out the Sri Lanka travel guide for other pro planning tips.

7 Best Hotels in Sri Lanka

Best hotels in Sri Lanka: Jetwing Lagoon Hotel
Jetwing Lagoon

Negombo: Jetwing Lagoon

Start (or end) your itinerary in Negombo. This beach town is near the airport and is a good place to get your footing.

  • Jetwing Beach Hotel- best hotels in Sri LankaJetwing Beach Hotel- best hotels in Sri Lanka
  • Jetwing Lagoon Fruit Plate
  • Jetwing Lagoon Spa Sri Lanka

The Jetwing Lagoon is a Sri Lankan luxury hotel with affordable rates. It’s modestly priced by American standards but the rooms are very large, featuring a separate outdoor bathroom. The property is unique for its gigantic pool. I managed just two laps before I collapsed panting in a lounge chair, wondering where my next beer was coming from. Well fortunately, it came from the cute pool guy who later served it to me while I watched the sunset. Good start to the trip. The Jetwing Lagoon also offers a vast breakfast buffet with a mix of western and Sri Lankan dishes…and donuts! And if you have the time, I recommend the peaceful Ayravedic spa.

As the name implies, this hotel is on the lagoon and not on a swimmable beach. So if you want beach action or more of a bustling town vibe, you should also check out their sister hotel, Jetwing Beach.

Check out reviews or book Jetwing Lagoon on Booking.com.
Check out reviews or book Jetwing Beach on Booking.com.

Best Sri Lanka hotels: Vil Uyana
Vil Uyana

Golden Triangle: Vil Uyana

The Vil Uyana is located in the center of Sri Lanka’s Golden Triangle. From there, you can fan out to Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla caves, and Kadulla or Minneriyra national parks.

  • Vil Uyana Hotel Sri Lanka Pathway
  • Vil Uyana hotel pathway
  • Vil Uyana hotel Sri Lanka exterior

This hotel is the absolute ten-star best hotel in Sri Lanka. It has a sprinkling of villas on centered around a lagoon in the jungle. We had a large room with a platform bed, soaking tub, seating area and a private deck. Some rooms have pools and others are elevated for a birds eye view of the water. The resident crocodile will greet you for breakfast and the hotel has a open air library and infinity pool.

The hotel also has a resident endangered fishing cat and some loris, which you may be able to see by taking their night hike. However, there is no guarantee that you will be able to see these nocturnal animals. Even at luxury hotels, the wildlife doesn’t always cooperate.

Regardless, the hotel is a beautiful property. And given the price tag, I would recommend staying there only if you really have the time to enjoy it. Our itinerary was fairly packed for the two day stay and I regret that I didn’t have more time to enjoy the grounds.

Check out reviews or book on Booking.com.

Plan your itinerary for the Golden Triangle and other cultural sites

Villa Rosa Botique Hotel Sri Lanka
Villa Rosa

Kandy: Villa Rosa

Visit Kandy to see the temple housing the Buddha tooth relic, stroll through the Udawattakele Royal forest park and to catch the scenic train to Ella.

  • Villa Rosa Sri Lanka hotel exterior
  • Villa Rosa Botique Hotel Sri Lanka
  • Flower Fountain Villa Rosa hotel

The Villa Rosa is a small boutique hotel perched atop a hill overlooking a wooded valley. Each room has a porch and lounge chairs from which you can listen to Buddhist temple gongs and watch the fog roll in. The setting is very peaceful. They have two resident dogs whose jobs are to guard the place but they are also available for ear scratches.

If you need some decompression, they will arrange to bring in a practitioner to give you an energetic Ayruavedic massage.

Check reviews or book through Trip Advisor.

Get inspired for your Sri Lanka trip by reading some books that are set there.

Ceylon Tea Bungalow room View
Ceylon Tea Bungalows

Ella: Ceylon Tea Bungalows

Visit Ella Falls, a tea factory and hike to the beautiful nine arches train bridge.

  • Ceylon Tea Bungalow Exterior
  • Ceylon Tea Bungalow room View
  • Ceylon Tea Bungalows Sri Lanka lawn

Ceylon Tea Bungalows only has five rooms so you will have lots of peace and quiet as you lounge on the lawn overlooking the verdant tea fields. They are located up a hill off the main road but are only a 15 minute drive to Ella. Since it’s a small place, you can order up a custom breakfast (or dinner). The staff is unobtrusive but always there if you need them.

Check reviews or book on Booking.com.

Udawalawe: Grand Udawalawe

Grand Udawalawe hotel patio view
Grand Udawalawe

Udawalawe Park offers prime elephant safaris. While there, you can also visit the Transit Center which runs a rehab center for orphaned and injured elephants.

  • Grand Udawalawe Sri Lanka hotel restaurant
  • Grand Udawalawe hotel Sri Lanka Shower
  • Grand Udawalawe hotel room

This hotel welcomes you onto the property with a nice cold papaya juice. It’s prime location is within an easy 15 minute drive to either of the above locations. It’s very family-friendly and has a great pool area. We had a room in the newer part of the hotel. Each one is slightly different but ours offered a vast outdoor shower, private patio and living room area.

Check reviews or book on Booking.com.

Cinnamon Wild Sri Lanka hotel room
Cinammon Wild

Yala National Park: Cinnamon Wild

Yala is your best chance to see a leopard in Sri Lanka. But the park also has a healthy elephant population and views of the Indian Ocean.

  • Cinnamon Wild Sri Lanka hotel pool
  • Sri Lanka luxury hotel Cinnamon Wild exterior
  • Cinnamon Wild Sri Lanka hotel room

Cinnamon Wild feels like a luxury summer camp. Each room is its own elevated hut/suite. They are sprinkled throughout the property and designed to make you a part of a landscape that includes resident monkeys and the occasional elephant.

The pool and restaurant areas offer views of the nearby lagoon. And if you climb up to the top deck, you get beautiful views of the Indian Ocean. I also liked their more casual a la carte restaurant which is separate from the more formal buffet-dining options.

Check reviews or book on Booking.com.

Check out these other spots for seeing wildlife in Sri Lanka or learn about the Fishing Cats who live in Colombo.

Mosvold Villa Drinking a Coconut
Mosvold Villa

Marissa/Galle Area: Mosvold Villa

Go whale watching and beach combing in Marissa or learn about Sri Lanka’s Dutch colonial history in Galle.

  • Mosvold Villa Hotel Sri Lanka koi pond
  • Mosvold Villa hotel room

The Mosvold Villa is another boutique property located between Marissa and Galle. Here, you get the ultimate welcome with a candle lighting ceremony, flowers and fresh coconut. Another spacious bathroom awaits you, as do the double doors to your patio and loungers arranged throughout the property. When you finish your coconut, you can swim and go beachcombing on the long beach.

Check reviews or book on Booking.com.

Treat yourself to one (or all) of these luxury hotels in Sri Lanka and experience its wildlife and cultural treasures in style.

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Staying at these seven best hotels in Sri Lanka will send you on a luxurious circuit of the country's finest wildilfe and cultural treasures.
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Asia, Blog Lodging, Sri Lanka

About Carol Guttery

Carol Guttery is the founder of Wayfaring Views, and is a travel writer, photographer, and philanthropy consultant. She's been tackling the world for forty years and has been to 43+ countries and territories.

Comments

  1. Vijay Patel says

    March 25, 2018 at 11:49 pm

    If you want to find peace and serenity, Sri Lanka is the must place to visit. I visited Sri Lanka last year and loved the ambiance of Mosvold Villa. Wonderful hotel to relax and enjoy the greenery.

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      March 27, 2018 at 4:57 pm

      It was very beautiful there

      Reply
  2. Elena says

    May 1, 2017 at 3:23 am

    Even though I am at the age when I prefer hostels and low budget accommodation units, I can appreciate a great luxury hotel, and the hotels you picked look amazing!

    Reply
  3. Prerna_Malhan says

    April 30, 2017 at 12:00 pm

    WOW, Srilanka has been on our list since so long. And seeing your list of hotels makes it more appealing to me! I use Agoda all the time to book hotels!

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      April 30, 2017 at 3:59 pm

      Get thee to Sri Lanka

      Reply
  4. sherianne says

    April 29, 2017 at 6:17 am

    They each sound fabulous but I think VIL UYANA’s jungle lagoon is my pick!

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      April 29, 2017 at 8:22 am

      How can you resist a resident croc?

      Reply
  5. Ada says

    April 29, 2017 at 3:16 am

    What a great post!! I planning to visit Sri Lanka soon so that definitely will be very helpful 🙂 which one is your favorite? 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      April 29, 2017 at 8:21 am

      Cinnamon Wild- they are very close to the national park and in the midst of wilderness. The food is good and the pool is fun.

      Reply
  6. ourlittletravelbook says

    April 28, 2017 at 12:15 pm

    i have been to sri lanka, and totally agree with ur take ..brought back my memories back

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      April 28, 2017 at 2:46 pm

      Perhaps it’s time for you to go again “)

      Reply
  7. Nicole Helgason says

    April 28, 2017 at 9:52 am

    Sri Lanka is at the top of my list! Nice hotel recommendation thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      April 28, 2017 at 11:51 am

      It’s a hot destination right now

      Reply
  8. Chris says

    April 28, 2017 at 9:40 am

    Vil Uyana looks smooth. I guess I wouldn’t mind spending a week there 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Guttery says

      April 28, 2017 at 11:52 am

      I wish I had spent a week there…very peaceful

      Reply

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