Highlights
- Luxurious, eco-friendly resort
- Access to Cultural Triangle
- Wide range of hotel-based activities
Start planning your tailor-made trip by calling one of our specialists on 855 686 7694
EnquireAn expansive resort set around a tastefully preserved chieftain’s mansion over 150 years old, Ulagalla Resort has an excellent reputation as one of Sri Lanka's top boutique hotels. Located in Anuradhapura, the centre of the Cultural Triangle, it offers quick and easy access to a delightful range of beautifully preserved ancient monuments. It’s set within 58 acres of mostly undisturbed wilderness, offering spectacular views of verdant paddy fields, wild scrubland and of course, the local wildlife. There are over 100 butterfly species and 100 bird species in the area - and guests may also be lucky enough to see peacocks and monkeys. Scattered across the resort’s grounds are 20 eco-friendly villas designed to offer visitors the highest level of comfort.
Ulagalla Resort certainly has some excellent eco-friendly credentials. The walls of its villas are made from recycled rice paddy. There’s an organic garden with over 40 edible fruits and vegetables. The resort itself has Sri Lanka’s largest solar farm, which provides half of the resort’s energy requirements.
Days can easily be filled visiting the Cultural Triangle's ancient cities, temples and holy places, but there's plenty to do on site as well. The resort offers activities such as guided nature walks, a guided village bicycle excursion, jungle kayaking, horseback tours, archery sessions and tours of the organic garden complete with cooking session. All of these activities are available for an extra charge, though any one of them is sure to be a worthwhile addition to a stay at the resort.
When it comes to dining, guests are spoiled for choice. Private dining can be arranged on guest verandas or out on the paddy fields. These exclusive dining experiences are most popular with couples seeking a cosy and intimate meal together, complete with delicious, authentic food and excellent service. There’s also the Liyawela restaurant, which serves a range of Sri Lankan cuisine that can be enjoyed in the open air complete with views of the surrounding scenery.
The villas are tastefully decorated with a chic and minimalistic feel. Each one is a hidden and secluded sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling glass panelled windows offering panoramic views. Visitors can relax in gorgeous surroundings and enjoy some restful peace and quiet. Of the villas, 19 of them have just one bedroom with a kingsize four-poster bed - these ones are perhaps best suited to couples, though you can request a cot or an extra bed for a child. The final one, Nikawewa Villa, has two bedrooms and is suitable for families of up to four, with two interconnected bedrooms. The resort is set in open wilderness with local wildlife free to roam, and while it's highly unlikely that animals will approach humans, parents are advised to keep an eye on their children at all times, plus there’s the main swimming pool and a plunge pool at all but two of the villas to bear in mind.
I would like to say a massive thank you for organising our Vietnam trip. The itinerary and execution were superb, as was the attention to detail. I would also like to thank the agent who was on the end of my whats app chat (I have no idea who they were!) – always available, always quick to respond, and kept me updated regarding times etc. Also, the guides Dan (north) and Tien (mid) were just excellent, and we really enjoyed their company. The lady (whose name I have forgotten) who was our additional guide for the DMZ day was exceedingly good and made that day very special.
fiona g reviewing Complete Vietnam For Families on 15 April 2024
Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!
Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.
Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!
All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.
Thanks you once again!
Hardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024
I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.
Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.
El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.
Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.
So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last
Juhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024