River Cottage

Excellent hébergement! L'un des meilleurs de notre séjour au Sri-Lanka. Le personnel et le propriétaire hyper adorables. Le propriétaire reste à votre disposition et vous accompagne partout si nécessaire. Le rapport qualité prix est juste parfait. Je recommande vraiment. Lieu calme en plein milieu de la nature et d'un petit village.

Tout était parfait!

Wir haben hier spontan einen Zwischenstopp eingelegt & die ruhige Lage am Bach sehr genossen. Sehr zu empfehlen für eine kurze Auszeit mit tollem Essen & sehr komfortablem Zimmer mit Klimaanlage.

Tolle ruhige Unterkunft mit schönem Zimmer und leckerem Essen. Sehr empfehlenswert!

Wir haben 3 wundervolle Tage bei River Cottage verbracht, es gab leckeres vielfältiges Essen und wir haben sogar eine Village Tour durch den Wald bekommen, dabei wurden uns 6 verschiedene Früchte von lokalen Bauern zum probieren gegeben. Zusätzlich wurden uns Säfte aus den mitgenommenen Früchten gemacht. Der Besitzer organisierte uns traditionelle Ayurveda Behandlungen von Locals & die Tour zu den großartigen Wasserfällen Diyaluma. Wir schmusten mit zuckersüßen Hunden und genossen die Zeit sehr.

Der Fluss nebenan war wunderschön wie generell die ganze Natur rund ums Haus! Alles war top sauber und in guter Zustand Viele schöne Holz Möbel die der Besitzer selber gebaut hat Das ganze Personal sowie deine Familie ist super lieb Wir haben einen richtig schönen Ausflug mit deinen zwei Söhnen gemacht Sehr zu empfehlen danke für das ganze leckere Essen!!

首先要点赞的是这里的人情味和自然环境。房东老爷爷对我们聋人团队特别热情、友善，沟通起来毫无障碍，让我们感觉非常温暖。住宿环境很干净，推开门就是一片热带雨林，满眼绿色，这种融入大自然的感觉非常棒！

不过，也有一点点小建议希望能反馈给房东，让以后的住客体验更完美： 热水问题：洗澡水的温度不太够好像20度，洗到后面有点冷。希望可以改善一下热水供应。 晚餐分量：晚餐的量稍微有点少，我们没太吃饱。如果能增加一点分量就更好啦。

Das Hotel ist wunderschön gelegen. Die Betreiber und die Angestellten geben sich mühe auf alle Bedürfnisse einzugehen. Der Betreiber geht sehr gut mit seinen mitarbeitenden um.

Very peaceful and beautiful place to enjoy nature and good food, The very friendly owner and staff made it a worthwhile stopover on our way to Ella.

Feels like a quiet oasis, good rooms, beautiful setting next to a river. Host arranged dinner for us in our arrival, that was nice of him.

Dinner and breakfast a bit pricey Wi fi was poor

A nice place to relax and see the sights that Wellawaya offers which are well organised by the hotel. The staff are friendly and attentive and the food very good.

Nothing comes to mind

Very clean and very friendly staff

Emplacement à l’écart de la route et du bruit des tuktuk, endroit calme avec la rivière au pied du jardin. Le personnel est adorable et la chambre parfaite pour le rapport qualité-prix.

Les aboiements du chien qui dort sur place m’ont empêché de dormir correctement, mais le propriétaire (qui est très très gentil) a dit qu’il s’occuperait de le faire dormir ailleurs alors ce n’est pas très grave.

Ich habe angenehme 2 Tage vor Ort verbracht. Schöne und ruhig gelegene Unterkunft, mitten in der Natur Sri Lankas! Das Personal ist super freundlich und zuvorkommend! Das Essen hat super lecker geschmeckt und auf persönliche Wünsche wurde sofort eingegangen. Ich würde definitiv wiederkommen! Dankeschön

Food was good - grounds were nice.

Locals talking loudly until midnight

Ein wunderschöner Ort am Fluss, ein verstecktes Juwel zu einem ausgeszeichneten Preis-Leistungsverhältnis. Tolles Frühstück und ein ganz lieber Besitzer, der sehr hilfsbereit und freundlich ist.

Nichts

Very competent, extremely welcoming and helpful people, beautiful premise, spacious and comfortable rooms.

What a fabulous place! The room was spacious and very clean. We had a shared dinner of rice and curry with another couple. The food was delicious, and after dinner, the owner's children taught us how to play carrom. It was so much fun!

Nice breakfest prepaired as request.

Bathroom facility needs more improvement.

Absolutely magnificent. Wonderful people, food, location. We had a swim in the running creek… dinner and breakfast exceptional

Nothing

Beautiful rooms (all furniture and carpentry done by the owner), peaceful location by the river with plenty of birdlife, monkeys, squirrels, and flying foxes around, and the food is top notch.

Being right beside the river we were able to relax on lilos all afternoon. Mark and Henry went above and beyond to look after us and make sure we were comfortable. The dinner was incredible- huge quantity and delicious. Relaxing and quiet amongst the palm trees.

De eigenaar heeft ALLE meubels zelf gemaakt. Dit maakt het echt waanzinnig mooi. Midden tussen de bomen en de natuur. Supervriendelijk ontvangen, heerlijk gegeten!!

Sehr ruhiger Ort 🫶 Alles war sauber und auf europäischen Standard. Gastgeber und Angestellten war super freundlich wir konnten ist Fluss super abkühlen. Das Essen war das beste auf unserer Reise 🥰

War nicht so einfach zu finden am Anfang paar Schilder mehr von der Straße aus wären gut . Ich würde einen Naturpool am Fluss bauen nur als Tipp.

La verdad que no te esperas un sitio tan agradable, estuvimos solo una noche pero la verdad que lo disfrutamos. Ademas tienen servicio de tuk tuk bastante bien de precio para ir al templo o cascadas. Cenamos muy bien y con mucha cantidad por 2500 rupias pp. Y el desayuno muy rico y también abundante 1800 rupias pp. El dueño se paso a conocernos y a hablar con nosotros, eso siempre se agradece. Las camas son muy cómodas y grandes

Después de 15 días recorriendo el país fue el único sitio donde nos cobraron el agua de cortesía ademas estaba caliente no hay nevera en la habitación.

De ontzettend vriendelijke eigenaar en zijn personeel. Prachtige natuur in de omgeving. Leuke uitstapjes naar diyaluma fall en Buduruwagala Raja Maha Viharaya tempel. De eigenaar doet er alles aan om het je naar de zin te maken. Hij staat de hele tijd voor je klaar. Hij was helemaal blij dat we 2 nachten bleven. Dat is ook wel het minimale. Er is genoeg te zien en doen in de omgeving.

Beautiful setting by the river surrounded by trees. The best Sri Lankan rice and curry we had in 16 days. Also delicious fresh cold smoothies and an excellent breakfast. Super friendly, helpful people. 100% recommend.

WiFi was intermittent.

Super herzliche Gastgeber!! Ruhige und sehr schöne Gegend.

The food was amazing! The place was clean and quiet. And the river was nice, cool and fun.

Very nice place with extremly friendly staff serving an excellent dinner & breakfast .. We immediatly felt like home.

The place is tucked away in a pretty secluded area, which made it feel peaceful and close to nature. The owner, manager, and staff were all super friendly and welcoming. We ended up having most of our meals there, and they were happy to cook whatever we asked for. The food was delicious, and the portions were big enough to leave everyone full and satisfied. The rooms were spacious and felt very clean and quite new, which we really appreciated. One of the best parts of our stay was the river next to the property. It was a big hit with our group — we spent hours in the mornings swimming, relaxing, and soaking up the beautiful surroundings.

The only downside was the stray dogs hanging around the property. Sometimes they’d even lie on tables or other spots meant for guests, which wasn’t very pleasant. Hopefully, the management can sort this out in the future.

Very nice and immerse into wild nature. Everything was clean and food was very good.

Great place to stay away from the main roads, so quiet and relaxing. Room was clean, air con, fan and mosquito net. Great curry, would have liked Sri Lankan breakfast but got an omelette, should have checked.

For the money nothing, great value would go again

A lovely family homestay with the kindest hosts. On the day we were there, bathing in the river was not possible due to the high rain upstream. We went to a local temple of Buddha statues in the rock. The owner drove us to Ella for the next part of our trip. The food was very good, and reasonably priced. They also made a cake as it was my husband’s birthday which was so nice.

Very nice place, but the food was way too expensive.

Perfect, chill location midway between Ella and the South Coast. Really nice staff, tasty breakfast and comfortable room. Amazing stay in the forest.

Beautiful location, great food and very friendly staff

Very good and clean room! The son of the owner (25) is amazing and played games with us in the evening. We went to the waterfall the day after and he joined us there which was great fun! Helpful people, good breakfast and dinner. Amazing green area.

IT was really lovely place to stay in. Located close to the National parks, surrounded by nature. The room was very spacious and clean and was well equiped. The Staff was really nice and helpful. Highly recommend!

Very supportive staff. Yummy food. Excellent location with the option to have river bath

The rooms are airy and spacious. Very clean and super comfortable. The location is also nice with lush greenery, river and quiet surroundings. Mark the manager makes lovely breakfast and even dinner upon request. Good value for money.

A kettle in the room would be useful so you can make your own tea/coffee rather than asking staff to make one for you.

We stayed at River Cottage as a stopover between 2 destinations and it was one of the best nights of our stay. Chathura and his family made us feel at home, the food was lovely, it was a great and authentic experience

River Cottage in Wellawaya is a perfect rest stop, no matter your direction. Nestled beside a tranquil river, it offers a serene environment and a strong connection to nature. We stayed in three reasonably priced deluxe rooms, which were spacious, air-conditioned, and immaculately clean. The beds had mosquito netting, and the bathrooms were above standard—spacious, clean, and with good water flow, The food was delicious. Had rotti for breakfast and string hoppers for dinner. They were very reasonably priced. The host family was incredibly warm and attentive, ensuring every need was met. The river, about 3–4 feet deep, looked perfect for a swim, but we couldn’t indulge due to time constraints—something we’ll definitely try next time!

None

Friendly owner

Terrible rooms. Photos not in line with their website. Everything is very expensive. Food, drinks etc are all overpriced. The rooms we booked were dirty, especially the bathroom. Your bathroom is open and next to a restaurant. All photos are photoshopped. Price quality are not ok here. Water in river is photoshopped to blue! Third bed has no mosquito net, so children will have mosquite bites.

The room is specious and environment around is natural. The hosts speak communicative English.

For the price much more should be offered in here. Furthermore, cleanliness is not the strongest point. Additionally, you will not feel lonely during night because you will be visited by cockroaches. They have their little home somewhere behind toilet so please be careful not to squash them… Cockroaches are very social and like visiting bedroom as well. In total we met plenty of members of the Cockroach family. See pictures attached. If you are lonely and are cockroach enthusiasts this is the best place to be.

Nice and quiet location between the hills and the south coast. Beautifully located in nature with monkeys swinging in the trees. Good Sri Lankan food.

The bathroom is semi outdoor, making a bathroom break in the evening/night a little uncomfortable. The base prize was very cheap, but all extras (breakfast, dinner, drinks) were quite expensive.

Great place by the river, clean and big rooms, and very friendly stuff.

The property and grounds are well designed. The garden and eating pavilions were really pretty and well maintained. It’s a very peaceful location and lovely on the river and watching people going about their everyday life. It is near to the most stunning waterfalls which are a must to visit as well as the Buddhist site only 3km away. The deluxe triple rooms were very spacious. It is worth mentioning all the furniture which is beautiful and handmade by the owner. The food was very tasty Sri Lankan style. The owner and his family were really lovely and friendly we really enjoyed our chats with them in the evening.

It is worth being aware that there is a significant difference between the basic and deluxe rooms. We upgraded when we arrived as the basic is very small with no furniture other than beds. The second single bed did not have a mosquito net and unfortunately our son got lots of bites on his face and neck on the second night. The meals were huge and quite extensive. We were 2 adults and a child and paid for 3 meals on the first night which was way too much for us. On the second night we just ordered for 2 people and it was plenty.

A very nice place surrounded by nature. The room was very spacious and I was happy with the airconditioning and the mosquito net. I slept very well. They made me a very nice dinner and the next morning a good breakfast aswell, next to the river. They helped me park my tuktuk in a safe place and when I had to refill the oil, they came to my aid again. Very friendly.

Friendly staff with perfect location for a family trip.

Really liked the large rooms and of course the very friendly staff! We just stayed one night but they were dedicated to make our stay very pleasant! The dip in the river was a memory of a lifetime:)

Amazing property in a great location. Very green and lush, lots of trees around making a great home for monkeys, birds and other wildlife. Right on the rivers edge where you can go for a swim and rinse off at the end of the day. We had a lovely drizzle of rain in the afternoon and the property came alive with colour and smells. It was absolutely beautiful. The staff are so beautiful and friendly and very quick to help out if needed. We felt apart of the family. And the food, oh the food was full of flavour. Traditional Sri Lankan curry for dinners and omelettes and fresh fruit for breakfast. Couldn’t have asked for a better stay.

An amazing place by the river. The staff is very very kind and helpful. Our room was large and clean. We had an unforgettable dinner and a sumptuous delicious breakfast. Absolutely h ighly recommend

Very nice location with waterfront nice rever for bath

Nothing

The location is so amazing. The river is simply beautiful and we loved swimming in it with the locals. We got a free room upgrade, which was very kind. The staff was very friendly and they have a cute dog. We enjoyed our stay here mainly because of the amazing location at this beautiful river. The room and bed were clean and comfy. The AC is great as well.

The dinner was really bad, especially if you are vegetarian. On of the worst dinners we had in Sri Lanka. Also the food was soo expensive. Because the bathrooms have no roof (which is fine), you can hear the other guest when they are also in the bathroom.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and spoke good English. The food was good.

We didn't know that an evening meal would be available before we got there. There was an additional charge for the AC.

Amazing place, owner really take care of his property and guests. Amazing food dinner and breakfast, close to warm river with beautiful view

Everything was wonderful! Comfortable, clean, modern rooms, a wonderful river to dip into, the most delicious dinner and a truly beautiful setting. The staff were also exceptional! Can not fault a thing.

Gorgeous little spot on the river. Super quiet and relaxing. Very welcoming, friendly and helpful staff. Delicious food. Really comfy beds. Had a wonderful stay! Really close to some beautiful sites and natural wonders.

We enjoyed our stay and wished we had more time to spend in Wellawaya and at River Cottage. I recommend a refreshing bath in the river in the morning.

The location is divine! The rooms are very spacious and the people running the cottage are kind and very friendly! Definitely recommend booking with them and having this experience!

This is located adjacent to a nice river. Can have a refreshing bath there.

Food it not at all worth the price paid.

Very professionnal staff. It seems there was a problem ,ith our booking so we got upgraded to a family room (instead of the budget triple room we booked). The room was so perfect : huge and high ceiling, nice beds, beautiful wooden furnitures. Big window so you can enjoy the garden with a lot of light (early morning also !! Cause the curtain are nice but not lifht proof!). The bathroom is perfectly clean, big, hot water. The food is good but expensive, if you are used to the normal srilanka price, ask before dinner to check if it's ok for you.

The food is very expensive compare to local restaurants for the same quality! I guess you pay the garden view and the sound of the river. There is no mosquito net above the kid's bed and ther are a lot of mosquitoes (we are 50m from the river).

Amazing staff, great location and delicious food!

Nothing not to like

Beautiful setting. Staff and owner the absolute best people around. Couldn't do enough for you and willing to go out of their way to help in anyway possible. The food is good hearty home cooked the rice and curry is exceptional. Many thanks to the owner and family

Out stay at River cottage have been a pleasure. The room was really clean and the bed was comfortable. The staff and the owner of River cottage is very helpful, friendly and nice persons. We arrived a little bit earlier than time for check in and it was no problem. The dinner and breakfast was delicious! The owner did drive us to the buss for kindness the day we continued our journey and he always answered our questions and was helpful. If you looking for a stay that’s are comfortable, out of town, good food,quiet and like to have beautiful nature around you, we really recommend River cottage!

wonderful place by the river, very helpful staff, excellent dinner and breakfast

This was my 3rd visit to the location. Friendly staff, tasty food, good facilities. Overall, a good experience

The staff and owner were very nice and welcoming people. We even watched a cricket final together and they did explain us the rules, as this type of sport is not popular in our country 😅 The house is located by the river and has a nice outside terrace, so it is very relaxing. Very good price for what you are getting.

Saw 1 cockroach, so was bit in a monitoring mode, but haven't seen another one. The toilet is located in an interesting place - there are doors from your room, it has walls and roof, but there is an open space all around the roof, so you feel a bit like outside (but it is totally private) and you can imagine that is hard to keep 100% clean due bugs, etc. The pillows are not comfy.

1000% recommend this place if you’re looking for a relaxing place to stay. The garden is beautiful and the river is perfect to cool down. Breakfast en diner were both very tasty.

Excellent facilities. Friendly staff. Highly recommended

The sweetest welcome, the host is very nice and attentive. The location is great, bathing in the river nearby is a true pleasure. We had our best rice and curry of Sri Lanka ! They made it not spicy and kids friendly ! We’ll come back for sure!

Everything was perfect

Extremely friendly host, lovely quiet spot in nature, ginormous meals. The bus dropped me on the main road a few kilometres past the accomodation turn off and the owner kindly picked me up (it was getting dark so I was especially grateful for this!) Dinner was a banquet of curries, dahl, rice, poppadoms, a fried egg and watermelon all for only 2000 (was enough to feed probably 4 people) and breakfast was an omelette with 6! Pieces of toast, butter and jam, string hoppers, curry and watermelon + a big pot of coffee. Beautiful food and the restaurant sits next to a river so its very peaceful. The owners son took me to see the Buduruwagala carvings and then his other son dropped me at the bus station. Lovely spot, wish I could've stayed longer!

N/a

Beautiful location; kind, helpful staff; large, open and spotlessly clean rooms with lovely big bathroom; some of the best food in Sri Lanka! The garden was peaceful and we enjoyed a swim in the river too. Spotted monkeys, chipmunks and kingfishers from our balcony too!

Nothing we didn’t like. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Great place for relaxing. It is very calm and a place to take a break. Rooms are large and spacious. We got them to prepare lunch for us, and the food was great. Would recommend all guest to try their local dishes.

Nothing

Cannot recommend this property enough! It’s beautifully situated right by a serene river, the rooms are spacious and modern with good AC and a large bathroom. The food are the restaurant is outstanding! And the team who run the place are the friendliest most welcome people we’ve come across in our Sri Lanka, they provided the best service!

Nothing

The staff were very welcoming, the property was beautiful and the food incredible.

We had a room with no aircon so it was very hot

Mark has entertained us excellently whether it was breakfast or dinner. He was always accommodating of special requests for food. A spontaneous exchange of the room on arrival was also not a problem. And the owner was always available with advice and action and made recommendations for attractions.

it’s next to the river, quite, beautiful place, amazing food and great great staff and owners.

nothing so far!

beautiful river location. fantastic food, friendly staff.

Our stay at River Lodge was very pleasant. The room was clean, spacious, comfy bed & shower. You can hear the river from the rooms and restaurant. The local Sri Lankan food was really tasty. The owner and his colleagues are very friendly and made us feel like home. In the morning we took bath in the river and lay in the grass under the trees to read a book. The room is very cheap for the quality of the stay. We really recommend staying at River Lodge!

Nothing

Very clean place, the owner and family take a lot of pride in this home stay. Go for a swim in the river in the morning. Definitely would come back. They helped us with local transport reasonable prices. Thankyou, great place to stay!

Very welcoming host and large, well equipped, spotlessly clean room. Dinner and breakfast were generous and extremely tasty. There is a beautiful garden with a scenic river that's perfect for a cooling swim. It's well located for cyclists heading to Ella as it's right at the start of the climb into the Hill Country.

There's no internet.