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Chena Huts by Uga Escapes

Our rating

9/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Close to Yala National Park
- Great wildlife, possible leopard sightings
- Quiet property with spacious guest cabins
- Lots of exciting day trips

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Overview

Chena Huts is a luxury boutique resort located right in the very south of Sri Lanka. Not only is it a stone’s throw from the shores of the Indian Ocean, it’s also conveniently close to Yala National Park, the country’s second largest and most popular wildlife-viewing destination. Developed by Uga Escapes, a portfolio known for its luxurious and eco-friendly properties, Chena Huts resembles on first glance the rustic safari lodges commonly seen throughout Africa. However, it doesn’t take long to realise that the lodges are in fact upmarket in their design and offering. The property derives its understated name from the traditional farmers' practice of clearing small plots of land, or ‘chena’, and sleeping beside the growing crops in basic huts to prevent hungry elephants from eating them.

The 14 ‘huts’, or guest cabins, are spacious and complete with modern amenities. Spread out over seven acres, they’re designed to blend in with their natural surroundings. While the cabins are immediately emcompassed by an abundance of forest vegetation, the property as a whole is partly surrounded by a peaceful beach and a pristine lagoon. Each cabin has a living area, bedroom and en-suite bathroom with freestanding bathtub and twin vanity units, as well as a shaded outdoor deck with a private plunge pool. Tea and coffee making facilities are provided, as are a 42” LED TV and a minibar. Wooden decor and log furniture give the accommodation a natural feel.

Meals are served at the Basses Restaurant and Bar, or there are numerous options for private dining, such as eating out under the stars or beside the bonfire. The restaurant itself has a pleasant nautical theme and offers a range of delicious international dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other on-site facilities include a spa offering a broad range of indulgent treatments and an outdoor pool with a pool bar concealed by a pretty waterfall.

Day trips to the Yala National Park, with its abundance of natural wildlife and many diverse landscapes, can be arranged. The park is known for having the highest leopard population density anywhere in the world and for being an important conservation hub. Other popular activities include whale-watching expeditions from the coastal town of Mirissa and visits to Kataragama, an ancient shrine of great local importance that attracts many Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims.

Chena Huts welcomes children, and while there may not be much in the way of child-oriented facilities or activities, the communal pool will certainly keep children happy and there’s plenty to see in the surrounding area. Parents should note that the pool is unfenced and children must remain under adult supervision at all times.

Suggested Itineraries for Chena Huts by Uga Escapes

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 536 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • 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.

    Missingfiona 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!

    MissingHardeep 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

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

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