Dambulla Hotels with balcony

Amba Yaalu — A Second Home for Soulful Rejuvenation My first stay at Amba Yaalu by Thema Collection was pure discovery. I came out of curiosity—wanting to experience, for the first time, the novelty and energy of a women-led resort. I left enchanted. But this second visit felt different—more intentional, more existential. I rebooked to continue my solo quest for soulful rejuvenation, tranquility, and serenity—the kind of restorative pause that leaves you resettled for the life you love, yet must return to: a job and day-to-day that asks a great deal. From the moment I arrived, I was beautifully cared for. The à la carte dining—with both Western and Sri Lankan options—did more than simply nourish my body. It re-ignited my appetite in the most genuine way. I ate with joy and intention, and somehow it even made me feel lighter and steadier within myself. I also took a private cookery lesson with the chef, and it was unforgettable. I didn’t just leave with a chef’s hat and a printed recipe book—I left with real skills, spice knowledge, and techniques I can bring home. I can already see myself sharing this with my colleagues, my friends, and of course my beloved family. And yes—I even had to tease the chef, because I loved her food so much that this post-menopausal woman ate so well that my cholesterol and blood pressure readings came down…and I genuinely started to develop a “food baby”. 😂😂😂 Finally, to the management and leadership: as an educator in ancient history, I know great women when I meet them—Helen of Troy, Cleopatra… and beyond. At Amba Yaalu, the leadership feels like that same kind of powerful grace. It isn’t only about running a beautiful resort—it’s about building something that matters. To Amba Yaalu and everyone who made this stay feel like a true haven: thank you for giving me a serenity I could feel in my bones—and a renewed strength for what comes next.

We got very nice experience when staying here 1 night. The room was perfect for our family of 3. We just had to pay for the 3rd person's breakfast. The Logde located nearby the Lion rock and village, easy to find and go to the rock or the Gambulla city within 10min. The host Isuru was very welcoming from the start and made sure that we had all that we needed. ( hot water, drinking water, towels, AC, fan). We also really appreciated Mr Alain, a french gentleman resident in the sameplace! The room also had all the necessary for us to not be bitten by insects (scents and more). There was also a room for the driver at a very resonnable price. However we found the wifi a little weak, but else everything was good. In the surroundings it is peaceful, and we woke up to nice little sound of the nature and a well prepared typical srilankan breakfast and fruits! Delicious!

We had a wonderful stay in Sigiriya Cashew Palace Resort, very good hotel, well located, super clean, peaceful atmosphere and the staff had been incredibly friendly. We would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Just a short walk from the bus stop, this gem of a guesthouse is hands down the best place to stay in Sri Lanka. The owner goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome, always offering help and thoughtful advice. He even arranged for a local tuk-tuk driver at a very reasonable price, ensuring I had the best experience exploring the area. Every afternoon, he would check in and offer a delightful cup of tea, making the stay feel extra special. His wife’s cooking is an absolute highlight—breakfast was not just delicious but prepared with so much care, adding a homely touch to every meal. The room itself was super clean, big, and incredibly comfortable. From start to finish, they both made me feel completely at home. I can say this was the best accommodation I experienced during my time in Sri Lanka, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a truly memorable and comfortable stay.

One of the best things about this hotel is the stunning view of Sigiriya Lion Rock, especially from the pool area. It’s definitely one of the best spots for that perfect Instagram photo! Breakfast offers a wide variety of choices. However, one downside was that once some of the food ran out, it wasn’t refilled, even though we arrived quite early at around 7:30 a.m. Overall, a great place to stay mainly for the incredible view and location.

A magical place. Friendly staff. The manager kept asking if we were enjoying it and how we were doing. We really enjoyed it. The breakfasts are standard. The rooms come with robes and slippers, delicious toiletries, toothbrushes, and all the furniture is made of natural wood. The pool is open until 7:30 PM. The entrance to Mount Sigirya and the viewpoint of Mount Pidarungala are within walking distance. There are cafes and mini-shops nearby, open until 9-10 PM. Reviews mention electricity issues, and yes, there are, but not all day, and it's not the hotel's fault, but a general problem for the island and the country as a whole: a shortage of electricity. This is one of the Ekho hotels; we stayed nearby in Bentota, and we also liked it.

The hotel service location was great. Anyway, the owner was kind and picked me up to Sigiriya Rock, and on the way back after check-out, I picked me up to the bus station. I also answered my request for breakfast and was able to eat calmly while listening to the birds on the terrace. Thank you for your kindness until the end. Also, the shower comes out at 々 water, but it's not a big problem. It's just in nature, so there may be a lot of insects in the room, such as ants.

We stayed here two nights to enjoy the two main attractions of the area. The boys are very available and the manager is a nice young man who can do it! The location is very quiet even though not very far from the rooms. The hotel is very comfortable and it is very comfortable and it is very comfortable and it is very comfortable and it is very good.

This hotel is located in the forest within walking distance of Sigiriya. Since it’s in the forest, I expected there to be a lot of insects, but to my surprise, there were hardly any inside the room, and I was able to stay comfortably. I had booked for two nights, planning to climb Sigiriya Rock in the morning and then relax by the pool in the afternoon. However, it seems that the hotel has a policy of turning off the electricity in the rooms during the daytime. Although I asked a staff member to turn the main power back on and they did, it was soon turned off again. When the main power is off, the room becomes completely dark, and neither the Wi-Fi nor the air conditioner works. It was clear that even if I asked them to turn it back on again, the same thing would just keep happening. I felt it would only add to my stress, so I decided to move to another hotel.

The staff were superb! They couldn't do enough to make our stay a memorable one. The room was clean with plenty of space. Air conditioned and comfortable beds. Breakfast was really good: fruit, roti, coconut pancakes, eggs how you want them, fruit juice, other bits too. Our table was hardly big enough to hold it all. An excellent location to visit Lion Rock and several restaurants and bars within walking distance serving local and western options.