Reviews from guests who stayed at this hotel, shared by our hotel supplier. Score based on the latest 31 reviews.
Silvan
Netherlands · Solo · September 2026
“Truly a gem”
+Incredible stay. Location is inside the national park and requires the staff to pick you up with a jeep from the pickup point. The grounds and facilities themselves are amazing. Everything runs off of solar power and the place and staff emanate a great care for the environment. The staff were all amazing. All of them were helpful and kind and did their absolute best to make our stay both memorable and comfortable. They took care of managing outings for us for birding, both day and night, to Minneriya to see the elephant gathering as well as to Lion's Rock and Ritigala. Food was delicious and varied for all 5 nights of our stay, the chef even gave us a demonstration on how to cook Aubergine Mojeju Sri Lankan Curry! Of particular note was the onsite naturalist who accompanied us on many trips. He was very knowledgeable and pointed out so many birds and other animals to us that our Merlin life list grew by about 20 species. Thank you Yohan! All in all this was one of the best stays we have ever had and you should definitely give it a try.
Siam
Singapore · Couple · August 2026
“Happy accident, not just a hotel but a wildlife and nature experience all in one.”
+What we loved most about Vananthara was how secluded it felt. You are right on the edge of the reserve, surrounded by forest rather than other hotels, and wildlife is part of the stay rather than something you have to go looking for. Having naturalists, lead by Chanul and Russell, on staff made a huge difference. We joined evening walks around the property and spent mornings bird watching and looking for wildlife, with someone there who could actually explain what we were hearing and seeing. It made the whole stay feel much more connected to the landscape. They also helped organise some of the best experiences of our trip. Our safari driver was excellent and, unlike a lot of the other jeeps we saw, genuinely respected the animals. He kept a proper distance and never crowded them just to get closer for a photo. It felt more like whale watching, where there are rules around how you approach wildlife, even when those rules do not always seem to be followed by everyone else. They also arranged an early morning hike up Pidurangala Rock, including a quieter viewing spot for sunrise looking across to Sigiriya Rock. That ended up being a real highlight. We visited in the dry season, so we
−If you have hired a private driver, the hotel does not offer driver accommodations, so just be aware so that they are aware.
Kathrin
Germany · Couple · June 2026
+⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What an incredible experience! This hotel is truly located in the middle of the jungle, making it a unique and unforgettable place to stay. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Everyone was exceptionally kind, attentive, and genuinely cared about ensuring we had a wonderful stay. A special mention goes to the naturalist, who was incredibly passionate, friendly, and knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything about the local wildlife and nature, making our experience even more meaningful. His enthusiasm and dedication were truly impressive. As this was the first stop on our Sri Lanka journey, it could not have been a better introduction to this beautiful country. The combination of nature, hospitality, and authentic experiences made our stay unforgettable. We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for something special and close to nature. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
Peta V
United Kingdom · Solo · March 2026
“An Oasis of Tranquillity set deep in the jungly forest!”
+The serenity and tranquillity surrounded by nature. Turtles swimming in the water beneath our cabin. Monkeys and giant squirrels playing in the trees overlooking our verandah. Many many birds singing their hearts out all around us! Johan, the resident naturalist, was incredibly willing to walk around with us and share his knowledge - such a lovely chap. He is a great advert for this Eco-lodge.
Andrea
Australia · Group of friends · February 2026
“Great location, unique jungle and wildlife experience, wonderful staff”
+A unique and memorable experience staying in a secluded beautiful part of the Minneriya National Park. The villas are set amongst the forest and we loved sitting on our verandahs bird watching & monkey watching. The styling with locally handcrafted beds and furniture added to the charm and beauty of the villas. The wonderful team took such great care of us - kind, helpful, always smiling and providing great local knowledge on where to hike and how to get to Sigiriya & other local places of interest. The Sri Lankan curries cooked by Claude were delicious & loved being entertained by monkey visits at breakfast time! Johan, the naturalist provided so much information on the wildlife and we lived our morning bird watching walk with him - his passion for wildlife, sustainability & knowledge was fantastic. We could have stayed here easily for a week as so much to enjoy and so relaxing.
−Nothing - we would come back again
Hayley
Australia · Couple · August 2025
“Seclusion in the jungle, surrounded by wildlife and lovely staff. Will be going back!”
+Incredible location, total seclusion. A very special place off grid and surrounded by wildlife. We were lucky enough to see a herd of elephants at the property!! The service by the team was amazing, in particular Yohan the Naturalist, Claude the chef and the assistants around the property. All very friendly and willing to help with whatever we needed (safari, transfers, food and drinks, walks around the property). We slept on the balcony each night which was an added bonus. As nature lovers - we think this place is heaven! Will definitely revisit!
−The room was lovely and big, but there was a musky smell because you can’t leave the windows open (because of the cheeky macaques around the property). Would love to have been able to leave the windows open and feel the breeze a bit more. Also be mindful that theres no options re transport other than to have the hotel arrange it for you, which is not always the best price, so having your own car is ideal.
Maria
Germany · Solo · August 2025
+This is a very special place for people seeking a hide away from the crowds and hectic streets of Sri Lanka. The staff is helpful and caring and the chef‘s food is delicious. It’s very remote but they offer transportation to the closest cities.
O Loughlin
Ireland · Couple · July 2025
“Everything was fabulous!! - staff were amazing and kind , jungle location , food , relaxation retreat vibes. Stunning,”
+Where to start… this was an amazing and incredible experience . The staff were so accommodating and kind to us . Claud the chef cooked us the most fabulous breakfast and dinners every day ( best Sri Lankan food we have had , massive portions and delicious) and spoke to us about the local nature and jungle life. The manager couldn’t help us enough, organising a fantastic safari in Minneriya where we saw over 50 elephants and local birds and animals. He organised us transfers and recommended future activities for our trip. The location is so unique - completely off grid in the jungle - no WiFi - no signal ( which means no card machine so bring cash!) but it was so fabulous not having technology. I would recommend bringing cards / board games or a book , relax and take in the beautiful surrounding nature . The cabins are beautiful eco friendly lodging. The staff are all about safety and comfort to guests in the jungle. We felt so relaxed , refreshed and happy. It’s the perfect place to spend quality time with friends and family. We need more places like this in the world . The furniture is handcrafted locally. They are building new lodges with plunge pools which look beautiful. It is
−Only thing to note - electricity cut because of solar panels but didn’t bother us at all as we knew about this in advance and were happy to go asleep early. Bring a book and board games to entertain yourself in the evenings and arrange day activities (Safari) if you don’t want to just relax . It is eco friendly - some bugs in bathroom but can be expected , very clean and comfortable . This didn’t bother us or take away from the experience. We loved it so much that these things didn’t matter , but just said I’d mention them.
Smart
United Kingdom · Family · June 2025
“Fantastic and unique hideaway”
+Very helpful, attentive and friendly staff enabled us to enjoy a safari and visits to local attractions. A great place for naturalists with complimentary birdwatching walks. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff to help us enjoy our stay. They even took us free of charge to piduralanga rock for the sunset. Beautiful remote feeling location , but not far from the main area of sigiriya. The food was delicious, Vananthara is a unique hidden gem, DON'T miss this place. Five Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
−Absolutely nothing
Avash
United Kingdom · Couple · March 2025
“Very good”
+Tranquility and listening to the sounds of the jungle. The staff were attentive and provided a good service.
−Unfortunately we didn't see any wildlife and weren't able to go on a walk as the host deemed it to be unsafe.