Sigiri Vananthara

Immersion dans la jungle : bruits d’animaux sauvage, explication du naturaliste a propos des animaux environnants Gentillesse du personnel : gérant, chef cuisinier, naturaliste, conducteur de jeep,… Personnel arrangeant et aux petits soins pour les hôtes Nos avons super bien mangé ici, nourriture excellente : dîner, petit déjeuner, sandwich. Recette locale très bien travaillée ! Un plaisir de manger ici :) Balcon super agréable pour regarder les étoiles la nuit et écouter les animaux ! Gel douche sur place, pratique Peignoirs et chaussons ainsi que tout le nécessaire d’hygiène On aurait bien prolonger notre séjour ici 😍 Pas envie de repartir … Merci pour tout 🙏

Malheureusement la climatisation était en panne mais nous avions un ventilateur

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.

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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 missed seeing the crocodiles that apparently swim around the villas at other times of year, but there was still wildlife everywhere. One evening we had elephants come down to the natural spring beside the restaurant, which is not something you forget quickly. The food was also excellent throughout. Our strongest recommendation is to ask for Sri Lankan food rather than defaulting to the international options. The curries, vegetables and local dishes were some of the most enjoyable food we had on the trip. Vanathara is one of those places where you could easily stay on the property and still feel like you had experienced something special. Quiet, wild and genuinely immersed in nature, rather than simply being a hotel near Sigiriya.

If you have hired a private driver, the hotel does not offer driver accommodations, so just be aware so that they are aware.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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!

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.

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

Die Lage und die Aussicht sind unbeschreiblich schön 🤩. Das Frühstück und Abendessen war super lecker! Das Personal und der Chef sind extrem nett und super gastfreundlich! Die Safari mit Joan war traumhaft 🐘, Joan ist der beste Reiseführer 🫶. Vielen lieben Dank

Leider gab es kein wlan auf den Zimmern !!! Die Armaturen und Fliesen im Badezimmer sind extrem schmutzig und verkalkt und die gesamte Anlage müsste mal wieder saniert werden! Der Speisesaal ist leider sehr dunkel und lieblos gestaltet!

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.

Resort immerso nella natura, personale gentile e accogliente, buon cibo

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.

Struttura immersa nella giungla, camera ampia e confortevole con terrazza stupenda. Servizio di camminata notturna e bird watching mattutino incluso nel prezzo e possibilità di organizzare escursioni direttamente dalla reception. C'è anche la possibilità di pranzare e cenare presso la struttura ma non c'è molta varietà.

Nulla

Tout ! 🙂 Le personnel est au petit soin ! Ils nous ont transporté en jeep matin et soir, le petit déjeuner et le diner étaient très bien, la visite de la jungle avec le naturaliste au petit matin, la literie, la vue sur la jungle et les singes… tout est exceptionnel ! Cela mérite un départ un peu tardif le matin pour pouvoir profiter du lieu qui est magique.

Rien !

Wir hatten einen tollen Aufenthalt im Dschungel. Der etwas höhere Preis hat sich gelohnt, da man mitten im Busch wohnt und eine einzigartige Unterkunft in der Natur hat. Man kann dort viele Tiere sehen und das Essen ist auch sehr lecker. Claude ist ein toller Mensch, mit dem man sich sehr gut unterhalten kann und wir haben uns sehr gefreut, ihn kennen zu lernen. Das gesamte Team ist wahnsinnig lieb und aufmerksam. Der Service ist einzigartig, einem wird hier jeder Wunsch von den Lippen abgelesen. Man muss sich darüber bewusst sein, dass man durch die abgelegene Lage immer einen Transport braucht, aber das war kein Problem. Die Safari im Minneriya National Park war toll. Besonders schön ist auch die Terrasse, auf der man gemütlich liegen und lesen kann und sich fühlt, als wäre man mitten in der Natur. Alles in allem eine einzigartige Erfahrung, und definitiv eine Empfehlung.

Nichts, alles super :) Manchmal sind ein paar kleine Tiere wie Geckos, Frösche und Insekten im Zimmer - uns hat es nicht gestört.

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 solar panelled and electricity can cut out at around 10/11 pm sometimes , but after a busy day on a safari tour we were happy to rest after dinner. The chef provided us with a packed lunch for our safari. I can’t describe the custom and welcome we felt. It’s one of our favourite memories and holiday moments. The staff can be proud of the work they do in this beautiful location. AC and USB chargers available in rooms also. 10/10 - Written by A couple who stayed from Ireland who LOVED this place 🇮🇪

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.

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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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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.

The most beautiful relaxing location .

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The location is great. The employees did everything to make us feel welcome and comfortable . Both the dinner and breakfast were tasty.

Some small points of improvement , WiFi does not work in the rooms ( you can still use it in the common area ) . The shower was rusty - maybe this is because of the location.

Nice secluded resort with just a few rooms in cottages at a small lake (which dries out in summer-but they have a watering hole for the elephants 🐘 who come over from Minneriya National Park). Very friendly and helpful staff. Very knowledgeable Naturalist onsite who takes guests on free jungle walks at night and early morning. Stylishly decorated spacious rooms with own terraces. Nice bathrooms with a wall for the shower such that the water doesn’t flood the floor. 100% own solar power for electricity and warm water. Bonus: dragon flies eat the mosquitoes- there are NONE! You can even sleep outside and enjoy the sounds of the jungle. It’s quite an experience! Last but not least: delicious dinner with a big variety of dishes.

After the great dinner, the breakfast was a little disappointing (less variety of Sri Lankan dishes than at other places), but the wonderful staff made up for it and gave us some buffalo curd with honey. Yum!

Guys created lovely atmosphere and great natural entertainment. If you know what i mean

100% recommended, great experience and perfect place to disconnect among nature, beautiful The staff is amazing

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Excellent location and fantastic staff. And many elephants!

I recently stayed at this slice of paradise nestled in the Sri Lankan jungle, and it was an unforgettable experience. The hotel is wonderfully secluded, far from the roads hustle and bustle, and completely immersed in nature. Surrounded by lush greenery, you instantly feel the peace and tranquility that’s hard to find anywhere else. The staff is exceptional. With a level of warmth and hospitality I’ve rarely encountered, they made us feel at home right away. Every team member was attentive, helpful, and always ready to fulfill any request with a genuine smile. The service is truly flawless, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the stay. The food is another highlight: absolutely delicious! Each meal was unique and full of love. Really thank you to the chef. Every day open to have a talk and a social exchange. The rooms, overlooking the surrounding jungle, are comfortable and tastefully decorated, blending perfectly with the natural environment. Waking up each morning to the sounds of nature added a magical and enchanting touch to our stay. I special mansion to the young manager and biologist. He guided us in a early morning bird watching of the surroundings of the hotel. He also join us during the safari. I recommend this hotel to anyone looking to experience an authentic jungle retreat.

This place is a wonderful experience to get some insights to the nature and national park and stay in a sustainable oriented beautiful place. The two young managers / biologists as well offered a morning and night tour at there place to watch birds and get interesting insights about the animals in the park. When we arrived we were lucky to see a wild elephant, drinking some water behind the house. Everything is very clean, save and nicely done. No plastic , solar panels …. The food was excellent! We will come back and recommend this place

So peaceful and the staff were amazing treated us like family, really liked the food especially some of the best sri lanker food i have had.

Most things were good only issue was the place runs on solar so the power usually cuts out at 10-2am, however you have a bed outside which i slept on and it was sooo comfortable

Excellent location right in the jungle, really helpful staff who want to help. Excellent experience! Amaizing room...

Slow wifi

Lovely and unique concept staying right on the border of Minnesota National Park. Perfect location to switch off and relax for a couple of days or take a safari, climb Sigiriya Lion Rock etc. So much to do nearby The staff are super helpful, and the team does everything they can to ensure you have a pleasant stay and all your crazy ideas are brought to fruition, including climbing Sigiriya or Pidurangula for dawn or sunset. The food is amazing, you can feast on local flavours prepared fresh by their incredible chef. I also want to mention Chanul and Sangeeth, their two young naturalists who guide you everywhere and find the most amazing assortment of reptiles, insects and creatures of the night. Incredible to see people so passionate about their work.

The property is aiming to have as small a footprint on their pristine environment as possible - which is fantastic - but also means some things have limits, like the amount of power they can generate by solar alone. The cabins are super comfortable and very spacious but could have better airflow, they can be quite warm inside on hot evenings until they get their AC units installed. Fortunately you can sleep on the balcony and stay cool while listening to the sounds of the jungle.

The location, the rooms were,and the Food was amazing , really friendly staff . Solid worth the money I paid.

If each room had a personal night vision cameras. Animals came right up to the balcony but when torches were used they have ran away.

I had an unforgettable stay at Sigiri Vananthara. Nestled in lush greenery near Sigiriya, the location offers tranquility and natural beauty. The spacious, clean accommodations blend modern amenities with rustic charm. The exceptional staff provided warm, attentive service, making me feel right at home. The on-site restaurant served delicious local and international dishes. Activities like guided tours to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and nature walks were well-organized and enriching. Sigiri Vananthara is a perfect retreat for anyone seeking peace and a deep connection with nature. Highly recommended!

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