Reviews from guests who stayed at this hotel, shared by our hotel supplier. Score based on the latest 58 reviews.
ma
Taiwan · Solo · October 2026
+I had a great stay at Rafters Retreat! The location is perfect for nature lovers,it's located just across the river from the Makandawa Forest Reserve, making it extremely convenient to cross over by boat. The host was very helpful and arranged a local guide to take me into the forest for wildlife exploration. Although we didn't spot my specific target species this time, the guide was highly responsible and took me on a fascinating route. The ecological environment around the retreat is simply amazing; I even fell asleep watching fireflies flying around just outside my mosquito net! Anyone who loves nature and ecology will absolutely love this place. Both breakfast and dinner were generous and delicious. I highly recommend ordering their fresh fruit juice at dinner,it's made fresh and very reasonably priced. A great spot for an immersive nature experience!
Risika
Sri Lanka · Solo · September 2026
+Yesterday we stayed at that amazing place. Very beautiful nature and surrounding. Tasty meals and very friendly staff. 🥰 Very nice location and climate. Worth place for the rest and relaxation.
Ori Finkelman
Israel · Solo · August 2026
+This place is as close to nature as possible, and if that is what you are looking for it's magical. It is situated inside the jungle, on the river bank where there is a rapid. Rapid sounds are very prominent. The cabins windows are directly facing the river. The stuff are kind and helpful and food is good, and the location is perfect for water activities.
−Jungle cabins are really in the jungle. Insects are unavoidable and cleanliness is not great. Still if sleeping in nature is what you are looking for, this is acceptable.
David
Austria · Solo · June 2026
“A peaceful stay in nature with excellent hospitality”
+The Highlights: Atmosphere: During my visit, the property was very quiet with few other guests, which allowed for a relaxing experience. Location: The accommodation is situated directly in nature and features a small, accessible beach area along the Kelani River. Service: The staff members were polite, attentive, and accommodating. Upon request, they kindly provided a sample of the local Kitulgala honey (made from local Kithul tree ). Dining: I had breakfast, dinner, and occasionally lunch at the property. The meals were consistently well-prepared, flavorful, and served in generous portions. Room Comfort: The room met my expectations. It was equipped with a mosquito net and a fan, which kept the temperature comfortable throughout my stay. Activities: For water sports, I booked a kayaking trip through "Canyon Seekers." However, The Rafters Retreat also arranges rafting directly. They can also organize mountain biking on request, though I did not have enough time to try these options myself. Overall, it was a very positive experience, and I can recommend this property to travelers seeking a quiet stay in nature.
−Beverage Selection: On one occasion, I wanted to order a beer, but unfortunately, they did not have any available at the time.
Kandy
Australia · Couple · May 2026
“Great location.”
+Our room was right next to a fast-flowing river. We slept to the beautiful sound of the water. The staff were very attentive and we ate dinner there both nights overlooking the river.
Shane
Singapore · Family · May 2026
“Booked online but no rooms available when I visited.”
−Seems to be an issue in their booking system. I got a booking confirmation from booking.com, also said request was approved. But once I reached, there were no rooms available.
James
United Kingdom · Couple · April 2026
“River therapy”
+Excellent location, good food and friendly staff. I loved falling asleep to the sound of the river below the balcony. There’s a fantastic jungle walk if you cross the river on a little ferry (take money) just by the next property. Once across follow the paved track to the reserve entrance (it’s about LKR 1000 entry) and enjoy jungle immersion, all well signposted and about 5km of tracks.
Marietta
Philippines · Couple · April 2026
“Stay here is you have no other options”
+1. It was 3 mins walk to the ferry boat to cross the river, and another 3 mins hike to the o entrance of the rainforest. 2. Sri Lankan hospitality, the staff were very nice especially the lady manager/supervisor 3. They gave us an inexperienced bird guide.
−1. The property needs upkeeping. 2. for the price, the rooms were ok but they could improve more
Oskar
Poland · Group of friends · March 2026
“Close to nature, but not worth the price”
+The food was very tasty and the portions were big. We also liked that it was possible to book activities like rafting and canyoning directly on site. The small houses are located very close to nature, which creates a nice atmosphere.
−Unfortunately the cleanliness was a problem. The bed linen and pillows smelled bad and were dirty, and there were even nail clippings on the bathroom floor. I also would not recommend the jungle trekking - it was a waste of time and money, more like running through the jungle without any explanations from the guide.
Lauren
United Kingdom · Couple · February 2026
“Lovely rainforest stay with rafting”
+Peaceful location, friendly staff and a great acting experience. The food was lovely and they were very helpful organising our onward transport.