Evolve Back Kabini

All the staff were wonderful. They were super helpful and went out of their way to make us comfortable. special mention to Vivekananda, Amitav, Pradeep, Sahana, Sudesh, Deep, Arup and Madhusmita.

A magical and unforgettable stay! We stayed for three nights at Evolve Back Kabini and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Our beautiful boat-style hut with private pool was amazing, but what made our stay truly special was the incredible staff and their personal attention. The chef went out of his way to prepare non-spicy food for our children, and they loved joining local schoolchildren to help collect plastic from nature. We also celebrated our wedding anniversary, and the staff, together with our children, surprised us with a beautiful dinner, cake and even decorated our room. Such a special memory! We did two safaris and, despite the rainy season, saw lots of wildlife. Our ranger was extremely experienced and knowledgeable. The location is magical, the hospitality incredibly warm, and three nights gave us enough time to enjoy both the safaris and the beautiful resort. A very special place that we would highly recommend!

The location is great the property is beautiful very well maintained and in perfect sync with nature. The cottages are really spacious and comfortable and very clean. The food is mainly local, very fresh and prepared every day in front of the guests. There is a buffet and a à la cart menus. But keep in mind that there are not many non spicy options.

The road to get to the property is in extremely bad condition, for the last stretch of 30 km it took us 2 hours. Also there isn’t designated area for adults without kids, who would like to enjoy some quiet mornings or evenings. The spa is amazing, but it’s very difficult to get a slot, in a place that is isolated in the nature and the activities are safari and spa it would be good if they have more spa staff.

Absolutely everything

The staff The place The food The property The pool The rooms The Nature Walk The flora and fauna Pond with the fish and some water snakes The Coracle Ride on the Kabini River The Boat Ride on the Kabini River

We were a big group of 13 people. We couldn't do the Safari together, even though there is a 22 seater and bigger vehicles available. We were later told that this was temporary due to an unfortunate incident.

Scenic beauty

Good service by all staff members

Food was excellent. Service also upto the mark. Location wise its good property, only hurdle is nearby road. Well maintained property.

- The rooms and setting were absolutely beautiful, absolutely everything was well thought out. Very aesthetic with brilliant amenities - staff are incredibly friendly and work really hard, nothing was too much trouble - safaris are a reasonable price and the guides are very knowledgable - good selection of food at breakfast and dinner

- felt like we were being pushed into spending more money at certain points. The spa rang us multiple times to get us to book and we repeatedly said no. On the last day a member of staff said they’d booked us into the restaurant (at an additional charge) despite us saying on the first day we weren’t interested in anything on the menu. Felt disappointed and the did take away from the relaxing, authentic experience - very little atmosphere at night however to be expected given the experience

The ambience and the service provided by staffs and everything was just too good

The travel road to Kabini is very pathetic for atleast 20km while travelling from Mysore

Everything. It's just a pleasure to stay at this wonderful hotel group. The personal and warm service. The food. The whole experience.

Out of all the EB group I've stayed at in Karnataka I found this one to be the only one where timings were not adhered to. Tea and breakfast were always late.

Staff and overall hospitality was good

The food options / spread can be better - bfast was a little underwhelming for the rate charged Hi tea also was quite ordinary

The staff were excellent, so helpful and attentive. The room was beautiful and very comfortable. The food was delicious.

Every activity was chargeable and we had to even pay extra to use a camera on the safari. The property was difficult to access.

Everything was wonderful. Staff was great, room and property were beautiful. Chef was very accommodating to our dietary needs and food was delicious. Safari and other activities were very easy. Spa was relaxing - though book ahead, we struggled a bit to find an open slot.

Nothing I would change!

This place is magical! The Room: We were both in the safari hut and the pool hut as we surprisingly got upgraded one day into our stay, both rooms were magical! Pay that extra buck to be in the Pool hut though, you think you won't do much with a pool in your room, but you will! The bathrooms are beyond belief! Do try the coffee selections they have in their rooms from their own Sidapur plantation, the French Press is magical! The location: The location made the place worth the money you pay for it! It is so serene! The cows and cattle come out and graze in the banks for the river every morning and that is a sight worth seeing. You could rent a cycle for no extra charge and ride it on the banks of the river, just dream-like. The days that we were there, the weather cooled down every evening and it rained a little bit every evening, loved that too! In any case, the property itself has so many trees that walking around in the day time too is easy and not too hot. The Food: Food in itself is absolutely delicious, every dish! South Indian well, they do not Indian well, they do Western well too. They have 2 restaurants within the property and both of them give lip smacking food. And then there are the people who are extremely well led by Mr. Arup. Vanashri, Amitabh, Pradeep, Vivek just to name a few are just absolute gems. They serve with a smile and have a genuine interest in if you are having a nice time! The cleaning staff and the people: Sahana was our one point of contact for anything we wanted in the property and she was delightful with her smile and prompt actions and responses over whatsapp or calls. The cleaning team was very well led by Antony and Synuddin. They, like everyone else went beyond what they could do to make us feel happy. Surprise foot scrub apparatus at times, cakes at times and setting up the bath tub at times, they made us happy so many times! The people at this place are really creating magic!

I did not like that I eventually had to leave for home after 3 nights and at the end of it all I felt emotional when they bid me good bye! It left me confused, was i leaving for home or from home! You guys are the gold standard!

We visited Evolve Back in February 2026. The property itself is stunning. The cottages are set amidst nature, which makes the entire stay feel peaceful and immersive. Waking up to the sounds of birds chirping and being surrounded by so much greenery made it incredibly relaxing and serene. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality blew us away. We were surprised with a complimentary room upgrade, a thoughtful gesture that set the tone for the entire stay. A huge thank you to Namratha Charanya for making that happen and for ensuring our celebrations started on such a wonderful note. The hospitality team — Manjunatha, Antony, Chandu, and Sanju — were absolutely fantastic throughout our stay. Their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care made us feel incredibly welcome every single day. They anticipated our needs before we even had to ask and always greeted us with the biggest smiles. We also loved the experiences organized by the resort. The morning bird-watching walk was incredibly informative and unique — we learned so much about the local birdlife and it was a peaceful way to start the day. The sunset boat cruise on the Kabini backwaters was unforgettable as well. We even witnessed a pair of jackals feeding on a deer from a distance — a rare and wild moment that made the experience feel straight out of a nature documentary. Dining was another highlight. Chef Tapan and his amazing team at the restaurant went completely above and beyond to make every meal memorable. He personally arranged several dishes specially prepared for us, and every single one was outstanding. One moment that perfectly captures their attention to detail: I casually mentioned that I loved the jaggery chikkis they provided in the room, and the team surprised us with a box to take home! As if that wasn’t enough, when we checked out for our drive back to Bangalore, they thoughtfully packed sandwiches for the journey. It’s these little gestures that made us feel cared. What made this trip truly sp

None

Was good. Plenty of options!

Road in between very poor on the way!

Excellent location and friendly staffs

Wildlife Safari Temporarily cancelled

The location is peaceful, serene, and truly picturesque, perfectly complementing the décor and overall ambiance of the property. The silence is beautifully maintained, making it an ideal place to unwind. The thoughtfully designed activities add great value to the stay. The staff’s behavior was warm and attentive throughout—special mention to Deep Sarkar for his exceptional hospitality. A big shoutout to Chef Tapan Patra for the wonderful food, and sincere thanks to Mr. Arup and Roopa, our single point of contact, for ensuring a smooth and memorable experience.

A temperature-controlled jacuzzi pool would be a great addition. Incorporating greater use of solar power could enhance sustainability. An outdoor shower in the open-sky area would further elevate the experience. Adding more hammocks would be appreciated, and ensuring a fully functioning coffee machine in the library would be a nice touch. Response time to calls and service at the restaurants could be improved. Additionally, being contacted by multiple people at different points asking the same questions was slightly repetitive; a more streamlined communication approach would make the experience smoother.

Food was fantastic.Both the chefs took personnal care in making the dishes we wanted.all the hotel staff were very polite and took utmost individual care despite a heavy booking.Only safari was missing this time as per regulations.

Last 20km road to the destination is very poor,but worth the travel once you enter the resort

The ambience was amazing, the staff very patient, understanding and hospitable. They tried everything to make your stay stand out. Very courteous and they keep checking in with you to see if everything is going on track.

Honestly, there was nothing. Everything was perfect.

The food quality and taste was not upto the mark. That definitely needs improvement. Also, please make better tea & coffee . Rest all was good.

The location is excellent, right on the river Kabini. The staff were very friendly and go out of their way to make our stay comfortable. The excursions offered are also excellent, and the facilities are pristine.

Beautiful location with very helpful staff and great food. On arrival we were disappointed that all safaris had been cancelled but the hotel provide other activities including an excellent early morning bird viewing boat trip. We would love to have stayed longer and would strongly recommend the hotel. We would particularly like to thank the naturalists Vishal and Laksmann along with chef Ganguly who was able to ensure my wife’s meals were gluten free and Rupali who was our waitress for several meals.

Location Safari

Children in adult pool

The location and the appointment of the villas

Spa needs to have more variety in the products offered but this is more a suggestion than a fault.

Location is gorgeous, surrounded by nature and comfortable rooms. The staff were beyond kind and helpful. They really go out of their way to make sure all your needs are met. Excellent service!

Everything! Staff makes you feel well cared for. Beautiful property feels comfortable and luxurious.

Only the journey there was a bit tricky to navigate. the last 30km is not well paved like other reviews have said, so it can take a little longer with bumpy roads to get in and out. The property itself is exceptional.

The property located in lush green midst adjacent to the ricer bank. The staffs and arrangements were nice.

The ambience , the staff is very friendly . Special shout out to Aishwarya for helping us and making the stay very smooth and swift. The food was great and so many options.

The roads to the stay

Superb buffet spread. The staff are very friendly starting from the luggage handling till the billing. The restaurant staff and the chef are to good.

SPA. Would expect more dynamic with wide range of services. Staff are not too well into it. Also the cancellation policy is not acceptable. Also, the Bar has to have more collection!

Everything including facilities, cleanliness, staff, food, stay, safari, experience, etc

Hope I get more days

An amazing experience amidst nature and wildlife. Great service. Awesome food and loved all the activities.

It’s too expensive.

Location, food selection and the resort staff

Grounds were stunning. Our bungalow was beautiful and the pool SO nice! Loved the bathroom and the bath products were lovely. Everyone on the property were extremely helpful and so kind.

Loved everything!

I loved the cottage that was provided it was beautiful. Everyone over there was so accommodating and very kind especially to my son, who is 22 months old. Loved the food, the personal pool, the fruits that were replaced everyday at 4. They didn't even charge us for the additional food that we ordered. They were so kind to even get us chocolates. What more could I ask for !

Hospitality exhibited by every staff at the resort, day in and day out. Going out of their way to make the guests comfortable.

Nothing!

Design theme and perfect blend with nature

Nothing specific

Good location and nice staff and food specially Indhu guided us about property and activity ..

Evolve Back Kabini is a very special place. We came for our honeymoon and for us, the staff and the service really made our experience, with a candlelit experiential dinner the highlight of our trip. There is clear passion for Kabini as a place and the wildlife, as well as commitment to excellent service. We loved everything on offer, especially the boat safari and nature walk which were peaceful experiences for us. Our room was exceptional and the housekeeping team put in lots of small touches to make our stay special. The massage centre is also exceptional.

Kabini is hard to reach and the roads are hard on your body, with lots of jolting when you are in the car. The prices of food and drink at the hotel are expensive given the price of the rooms.

Pretty grounds and good access to safaris

Lovely resort. Good wildlife viewings including tigers.

It takes time to access due to slow roads - but worth it! Just leave yourself plenty of travel time

The safari excursions arranged by the hotel were well organized and resulted in us seeing a LOT of wildlife, including tigers, elephants, deer, and birds. Reservations for the Kuruba Grill restaurant were easily available and resulted in a greatly elevated dining experience for no additional charge. We had dinner there on 3 of our 5 nights at the resort. Our lodging was very nice and comfortable.

It is so, so difficult to assign any rating to this facility. It markets itself as a 5-star resort, but do any other resorts in the world make every guest endure a lengthy (minimum 2 hours from Mysore) trip over extremely bumpy and narrow roads with trash strewn everywhere to get there and to return to civilization? It's honestly a very depressing journey going through several extremely poor villages on the way to the resort. Also, we counsel prospective guests not to consider EB Kabini as a "central point" from which to make excursions to other sites in the area, e.g., Bandipur National Park. Travel to/from the resort is simply too time-consuming and exhausting, as we unfortunately found out. Going to EB Kabini means essentially depending on it and it alone for everything over the course of the stay: all meals, all excursions, everything. We found the English level of management to be good, but we had a lot of difficulty interacting with wait staff in the dining rooms or staff who helped with cleaning our room and pool. Given the high price for staying at EB Kabini we are not certain we could really recommend it to friends.

Incredible place. Very high standard accommodation - huge, clean and very comfortable hut with outside seating etc. The care of the team servicing the hut was exceptional. All staff so attentive and helpful. Special mention to Satyajit for great cocktails and good discussion. Food very tasty and plentiful. Beautiful pool. Finally on every safari land and water we saw a lot of birds and animals, including each time a tiger - the diligence of the team involved really appreciated. Thanks Bhargavi for being our main link person.

Maybe not the resorts issue but last 30 mins of drive a bit of a pain, v bumpy - any pressure you can apply to improve the road surface. We travelled a lot in india this time and generally fine so... the drivers we had were super careful but...

Very special, very large huts with all wood furniture. Breakfast was good

Too much staff, too fawning. The approach road 10km was in terrible condition which made the ride there very uncomfortable . There was almost nothing for a Westerner to at at the buffet dinner

Evolve back kabini is a peaceful place with extremely polite and helpful staff. The rooms are well stocked and comfortable.

The approach roads are terrible. Nothing to dislike about the property itself

Food was amazing. Staff was very friendly

Access road to the property

Everything else.

No clear policy on pool usage policy. Pools for adults seperate and located far away from pool for children (family). So the families are split when vacationing with the family.

Beautiful place; lovely staff; good activities. A special place.

A problem with their system meant that we were woken at 5.15 am for a morning safari that we had not booked. Mistakes happen and they were apologetic, so only a minor irritation.

Service was excellent. Ashish sarkar ( waiter) and Tapan das ( head chef) went above and beyond to take care of us

Staff is excellent and very warm and kind. Especially staff at restaurant are very nice and welcoming. Food is nice and caters to all taste buds.

Internal upkeep of room can be improved. Also pest control is necessary.

The food and staff were outstanding. There was nothing that couldn’t be provided by them. The pool room was great and we loved the twin showers.

Nothing but if I could be picky, it would be that I wish the pools were heated and if the internet had been better as it dropped off sometimes.

Customer excellence.

Sign boards can be kept near the entrance

The cleanliness, food . And excellent staff .

Just the roads are bad to reach the resort .

The peace and serenity of the location. The passion of the staff and everyone else there to maintain the sustainability initiative of the property. Very good for wildlife safaris

The approach roads can be a bit better, but that's on the government.

Asish, Abhishek, Rupali, Akash ( house keeping) , Anamika, Praveen, Rupa ( check in), and the naturalists, shanmugam and vishnu were the best! Hospitality, food quality, service were the Best we have experienced across globe. Shanmugam’s knowledge of the forest, animals, birds is another level. Vishnu was a wonderful safari host who showed a great deal of the foresf and the animals. Thank you to all the staff. We will be back. They deserve a 12 out of 10 rating

The entire ambiance was good.

The rate was bit on higher side.

Loved the location, staff was very helpful.

Approach road for the last hour was terrible. No staff at the swimming pool to attend. Taste of food was very average specially for vegetarians.