“An authentic farmstead in a village hosted by Asanga ....away from the madding crowds!”

Sahana retreat is a farm house that is real in many aspects... the rustic ambience... farm... sound ... colour .... river ...and people ....everything we felt authentic ... nothing was touristy or artificial and that is exactly what we were looking for! Though yala was remarkably a great wild life park bordering Sahana... our motivation to stay at Sahana was not elephants and tigers as we were from south India, Munnar , Kerala. We really wanted to get a feel of the real village life, food and vibe with a touch of the wild and Sahana had all that. Asanga our host , chef, and guide gave us a great welcome with refreshing lime juice after a long drive from Ella. Thereafter we just entrusted everything to him and he took us around for short tour to the nearby village and ,fishing riverside bordering the park... It was great talking to him about the gemming in the river, farming and politics etc. Since it was rained in May we could not do any river activities.... and we found the place full of bird life. We spotted several species of birds including Hornbills, little green bee eaters , the giant squirrel along the riverside trees. Asanga also scared us with fun about wild elephants and wild cats peeping from nearby park into the farms around. The food was simple, tasty and very authentic....I think Asanga made the best hoppers that we tasted all over Sri Lanka! I will not do justice unless I congratulate him for the home made yoghurt! it had a unique taste! A must try! The little kitten, the calf, the dogs all added their charm and vibe there! It was a Great Experiential stay... he gave us some farm fresh organic rice as a take away gift however on our way to Kathirgama and Mirissa around Yala we lost it to the bribe elephants! It was an adventure that we keep remembering too! Thank you Asanga and we wished we could have stayed more at Sahana! May be next time!

This private accommodation is incredible, one of the most unique and memorable places we have ever stayed. There was excellent communication with Sujith, the property owner, in the lead up to our stay, with a safari of Yala National Park organised for a fair price. The local host Asanga prepared some of the best food we had in all of Sri Lanka for dinner, breakfast, and lunch. While bathing in the river behind the property, we saw incredible local wildlife including black-faced grey langur monkeys. Due to time constraints we could only stay one night, I wish we could have stayed two or more nights to truly relax in this beautiful environment.

“Amzing location with very caring and attentive staff. The food we were cooked for dinner and breakfast was delicious!! S”

Such a beautiful location- this has really made our trip

“We really enjoyed our short stay, would recommend.”

Loved the experience of staying in this simple retreat, off the beaten track. It was very clean comfortable and perfectly connected to nature, Asanga was a delightful host, he showed us around the property and provided authentic and delicious dinner as well as a packed breakfast to take on our dawn safari at Yala. We had a lovely swim in the river to cool off afterwards.

“Would recommend Sahana Reach to everyone”

Stunning remote location , very well maintained, lovely wet room and comfortable bed, nice walks around property watching wildlife including monkeys and giant squirrels, Host was amazing nothing was too much trouble and he gave us some memorable trips out to Yala National Park and to some fantastic temples, despite a couple of the temples being a hard climb the experience and views was well worth the effort, Sri Lanka food was home cooked and extremely tasty. Overall a fabulous place to visit with the host being an absolute gentleman

Wow, what a special and tranquil place. Would 100% recommend. Everything was magical to the welcoming fresh lime juice, to the delicious and generous dinner and breakfast, bonfire, amazing Asanga who looked after us beautifully, and the quick and easy communication with Sujith the owner. Totally recommend!

“A very special stay in the heart of the countryside where you will be truly looked after!”

Wow, what a unique place to stay! We loved the natural surroundings, which we had entirely to ourselves. We were surrounded by fruit trees, a rice paddy, peacocks, deer and monkeys. At the bottom of the garden we found the river Menik where were could paddle and collect gem stones! The bungalow itself was spacious for a family and very well maintained and ventilated with mosquito nets and great fans. What really made our stay extra special was the care and attention the caretaker, Asanga, put into making our stay a unique experience. He took us on a walk around the extensive land, let our daughter ‘drive’ the tuk tuk, showed us how to make string hoppers, took us to find gems and fish, and explained everything we wanted to know. The food he made for us was absolutely divine, made from many organic ingredients grown on the land itself! Asanga really made our stay a truly memorable one and is wonderful with children. He also arranged. Fantastic half day safari in the quieter Yala area of block 4. We would highly recommend this if you love nature, and want a true Sri Lankan experience.

“True Sri Lankan rural setting and outstanding hospitality”

Firstly and foremost the hospitality from Asanga was amazing. We wanted some chill time one day and he respected that, but always there if needed - and the local knowledge and trips he took us on were fantastic. We loved the river, lizards, peacocks and wildlife on the property. Nice touch with handmade soap, and filter water was always available. For a true representation of Sri Lankan outback living and hospitality, this is perfect.

Lovely food, great hosts and beautiful location.

“What a peaceful stay!”

You have a whole building all for yourself: spacious bathroom, a lot of storage room, terrace with a dining table, 2 hammocks, extra chairs to sit in the sun in the morning… the food (dinner and breakfast) we had was delicious and nutritious!! It feels like you get time to restore your body, which is nice when you are travelling fast. If you have time and want to relax a bit, I would recommend to stay at least 2 nights or more. Thanks again!!

“Perfect 10/10”

We had such a wonderful stay here! The location is perfect, right next to the National Parks, which made it ideal for us as we were just passing through and stumbled upon this place by chance. We truly enjoyed every moment. The host was incredibly kind and welcoming, and prepared a delicious breakfast for us, not only tasty but also very generous in portion. Behind the property there’s a river, and the whole setting is surrounded by beautiful nature, giving it such an idyllic and peaceful feeling. We really couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommended!

We had a wonderful time - relaxing in the hammock, swimming in the river, enjoying nature and having the healthiest food. The caretaker and his family is super friendly and attentive. We felt really confortable and can recommend this place to all travelers. There is a fridge and filtered water in the room.

“Amazing!!”

I don’t even know where to start with this review. We had the kindest welcome when arriving on the amazing place called Sahana Retreat. Asanga is really a great host and made us feel right at home, we liked the activities like gem searching and also a safari was arranged. All meals where tastefull and plenty and really tasted the Sri Lankan flavours! Sunrise and sunset are something special from this place! The rooms are clean and comfortable, as are the hammocks. Bathroom is also good, and the river close even better! Definitly recommend this place to anyone! We will definitely come back! :) Eric & Hansje

Peaceful nature escape near Yala – highly recommended! If you're looking for peace and quiet, this is absolutely your place. Sahana Retreat is beautifully set in nature, right by a river — perfect for reading a book, fishing, or just unwinding in total calm. What makes it even better is that it's less than a 20-minute drive from the Yala National Park entrance, making it the ideal spot to combine with a safari. The food was truly excellent — every dish was full of flavour and clearly made with care. You’re completely on your own, but there was always a care taker around to help us, and communication with the staff was smooth and friendly throughout our stay. Tip: bring a few extra snacks or drinks if you like to enjoy a little evening aperitif, as shops aren’t nearby. We stayed two nights and could’ve easily stayed longer. A real gem!

“Great little place in the middle of nature. Loved it!”

Wonderful place to stay if you are looking for something remote. You will be looked after - it’s clean, the food is great, the attention is first class. Nature is all around you and you can leave your troubles behind.

“Hidden gem”

Beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere (which is perfect as far as I am concerned). Very quiet save the rush of the river and chirp of circada. Host extremely helpful and answered all my questions, arranged a safari for us which was amazing and even packed up breakfast and lunch for us! Dinner was absolutely delicious and wonderful to cool off in the river.

“Tranquil”

If you really want to experience nature then this is the place

Everything was perfect! Suj, the owner, was really communicative before we arrived, and he was so helpful when my partner was arranging a special surprise dinner for me. He also helped us plan a great safari with a brilliant guide - we even saw a leopard! Suj, the caretaker made the most amazing food and really looked after us. Super friendly and accomodating. The river is absolutely lovely, a really special place. Can also see monkeys in the trees and lots of peacocks. Very cool! All in all, it was the perfect balance of being hospitable and making us feel like the place was our own. Thank you so much for the perfect stay, our absolute favourite weekend in Sri Lanka.

“Comfortable ,peaceful and surrounded by nature”

What a gem of a find ,a truly lovely escape on the edge of a beautiful river in the countryside near to Yala National Park . Sahana Retreat is exactly that a retreat but with lots of little touches that make your stay comfortable, The hammocks,cool relaxing outdoor chairs, garden lighting ,tea ,coffee, water, kettle lots of power sockets the list goes on ,its your own little cabin in the countryside with the beautiful sounds of peacocks in the distance. You will not be disappointed especially with the price and fabulous evening meal and breakfast in the morning. The communication from the owner is fast and informative and the caretaker that lives on site is a gentle person that genuinely wants your stay to be pleasant.Thank you so much for making us feel so welcome 🙏

“Great!!”

Location is 100% pure nature. Personal attention and touch and great food!!