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98 Acres Resort

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Contemporary property, rustic feel
- Field archery, tea plantation and waterfall visits
- Pool, spa, gym, yoga
- Well equipped games room

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Overview

Nestled high in the misty mountains of Sri Lanka’s tea country in the remote hamlet of Ella lies 98 Acres Resort, a series of delightful chalets tucked away on stilts within a remote tea plantation. Opened in 2012, the property has a more rustic, contemporary feel than many of the more historic ‘ex-colonial’ hotels in the area. There’s a lovely pool, gym and spa and yoga sessions are also available, along with a games room complete with dart board, pool table and board games. After taking time to unwind, excursions through the nearby tea plantations are highly recommended.

Comprised of natural materials such as eucalyptus, bamboo and Illuk straw, the chalets have a spacious, fresh and modern feel. Every chalet is set out across two floors, with one bedroom on each level, and modern amenities such as a TV, Wi-Fi, mini-fridge, and an en-suite bathroom. All have private balconies with wonderful views through the Ella Gap in the mountains, all the way to the coastline. There’s a range of room types from standard, through to deluxe and executive suites. At the higher end of the spectrum, the Grand Executive Suite boasts a private plunge pool set in wooden decking with fabulous views of the Ella Gap. The Greenland Suite houses a kitchen, pantry, and cooking facilities. A choice of Sri Lankan or Western cuisine is served in the restaurant, or on private balconies if preferred.

There’s plenty to do in and around the resort. Visitors can choose to hike, hire bicycles, motorbikes, or even travel in golf buggies from the resort to the nearby tea plantations. Informative tours reveal how tea is produced from start to finish, and there’s usually a tea tasting session at the end. Of course, specialty tea from the factory is served at the resort throughout the day, so everyone gets to sample a taste. Other activities include private cooking lessons with the chefs, guided ‘field archery’ adventures along jungle paths, or perhaps even a helicopter ride. Birdwatching enthusiasts are in for a treat since the 98 Acres Resort provides sanctuary for 63 of Sri Lanka’s resident bird species including woodpeckers, babblers, barbets, flycatchers, minivit and bee-eaters. Visits to the Ravana Ella Falls, one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, are also very popular. While December to April is arguably the best time to visit 98 Acres Resort, do note that this is a popular season for most travellers and things can get a little busy.

Children are welcome at the resort, and while there are no designated children’s activities, the pool and nearby activities are bound to keep them entertained. Parents are reminded to supervise children at all times since the pool is unfenced and unguarded.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 513 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Thank you, Lisa! Our trip was wonderful even with the weather disruption. We loved seeing so many different parts of the country, meeting people and experiencing the culture. The desert was surely a highlight for our boys and the creativity and artisanship of everything from food to crafts were a highlight for me. A special shout out to our guide and driver, they became a special part of our trip and we will forever be grateful for meeting them and learning from them. I cannot believe we had to wait three years for this adventure but it was certainly worth the wait! Thanks for all your help building the itinerary, modifying it and troubleshooting during our stay. Leslie B

    MissingLeslie B reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 01 March 2023

  • Hi Lisa and everyone at Tourdust,
    We've had a wonderful time on our holiday and wanted to pass our appreciation to you. Everything has been expertly planned and executed, allowing us to enjoy the holiday to its fullest. Special appreciation to Muhammed, Ibrahim, and Omar, our Atlas guide, cook, and muleteer, who couldn't have done more for us and were just generally wonderful and hardworking. Riad Hanane is a perfect base in Marrakech to complement the trekking as it's ina less touristy area of the medina, which we appreciated. The staff and accomodation was superb.Thank you again for a trip to remember!
    Bob, May, Grace, and Lucas

    MissingRobert B reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 20 February 2023

  • Hello Lisa. We came back from our trip two weeks ago now so I am sending this email much later than I wanted to. Nevertheless, what I wanted to say was thank you very much for helping us organise an amazing trip. Our days in Mafia Island to celebrate my 50th birthday were exactly what I wanted them to be: a fantastic time with the family doing activities that we all love and enjoy in a relaxing, unusual, beautiful place full of sun, surrounded by water, wildlife and friendly people. We swam with whale sharks, did a lot of snorkeling, had two picnics on a beautiful sand bank, watched the sunset over the sea, did a bird watching excursion and tried scuba diving.
    All merit to you because Pole Pole in Mafia Island was your recommendation. I never heard of Mafia Island before and didn't consider Tanzania to start with. It was an amazing place to stay: friendly, relaxed, beautiful, comfortable, with great food and fantastic service. Thanks not only for finding the place but also for your patience as we prepared the trip and I explored options and decided what I wanted. All went incredibly well (places, transfers, flights) and we had a very memorable time together that we will all remember forever - as we still do the safari trip to South Africa you organised for us 5 years ago.
    I cannot wait to plan another trip! I am already thinking about where and when. Hopefully no pandemic will get in the way this time. And I will come to you as my favourite travel agent.
    I copy in this message the Tourdust office because I want them to know how good you are and how much I appreciated the different trips you organised for us (including the trip to India for my parents that was cancelled due to Covid). I cannot thank you enough :o)
    Kind regards, Carol

    MissingCarolina O reviewing Relaxed Bush & Beach Family Holiday in Tanzania on 25 November 2022

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