Kalundewa Retreat

Kalundewa Retreat was honestly one of the best places we’ve ever stayed. We spent 3 days there, and the whole experience was amazing from start to finish. The property is huge — surrounded by paddy fields, mountains, lakes, and so much wildlife. Everywhere you look, there’s something beautiful to see. The villas are incredible, and most of them come with their own private plunge pool. There’s also a common pool if you want a bigger space to swim. The food was really good too — fresh, flavorful, and served in such a peaceful setting. One of the coolest things is that you can cycle around the property, and it’s honestly the best way to explore because the land is massive. They also offer golf carts to take you from your villa to meals, which makes everything super convenient. We traveled from Kandy, and it was a few hours’ drive, but totally worth it. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful the entire time. If you’re looking for a quiet, luxury getaway surrounded by nature, This is definitely the place. We loved every moment of it.

We stayed at Kalundewa Retreat in the Kumbuk Chalet, and the experience was incredibly private, peaceful, and beautiful. The surroundings gave strong Where the Crawdads Sing vibes — lush, atmospheric, and perfect for disconnecting from everything.|The plunge pool with the view was absolutely amazing and easily one of the highlights of our stay. It felt secluded and serene, making it a lovely place to relax and unwind.|The food was exceptional — truly one of the best parts of our visit. Compliments to the chef, as every meal was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavour.|That said, while the property is stunning, it does require some maintenance in certain areas to fully match the beauty of its setting. With a bit more upkeep, this place would be truly outstanding.|Overall, a unique and memorable stay, especially for those who love nature, privacy, and great food.

Kalundewa Retreat is set in an absolutely stunning location, and that remains its strongest asset. The natural surroundings are beautiful, peaceful, and full of potential. The real highlight of our stay was the staff. They genuinely went out of their way to assist us and tried their best to compensate for the shortcomings of the property. Their effort and attitude deserve appreciation. Specifically the chef and his assistant. (Isuru and Eranda). They even organized a cookery class for us. However, the condition of the hotel itself is disappointing, especially considering the premium rates being charged. The rooms are poorly maintained, with very old linen and fittings, and the overall property feels run down and in urgent need of a complete refurbishment. What makes this more concerning is the pricing. Kalundewa Retreat charges rates higher than comparable properties such as Vil Uyana, Water Garden, and Ulagalla, yet the experience and facilities offered are not even close. Charging over LKR 100,000 per night for accommodation that falls below basic expectations does not feel fair to guests. This was once an iconic property, and with such an incredible location, it truly deserves better. I sincerely hope the management takes this feedback seriously invests in refurbishment, improves maintenance standards, and rethinks pricing to align with the actual guest experience. With the right attention and investment, this place could return to the exceptional destination it once was.

This luxury nature resorts is a excellent place for the nature lovers who interest to been with nature, calm, quiet environment with peaceful mind. Also since this has around 150 acres you can do lot of activities like walking, cycling, bird / nature watching, Kai /pedal boats while enjoying the surrounding ( village, mountain, water, heavy trees, paddy fields, vegetable and fruit gardens, marshy, etc), Even,for kids they can run and play walk ways as they wish freedomly. Also Natural water common pool surrounded with trees and also Plunge Pool attach to chalet with cool/chill water gave a very nice experience ||Had great hospitality, support & service during our short stay there. We enjoyed it a lot and kind and gentle service was a lot more mean to us to had a wonderful and comfortable stay there. ||Also, want to mention about delicious foods and various food menus / recipes with nice serving (both English and Sri Lankan) which made us so enjoyable.Finally, cleaning the place regularly and keeping it clean, providing comfortable transport with in premises make us more comfortable. ||This stay made us a very pleasent experience.||Kudos to Kalundewa Retreat Team.

Time seems to slow down the moment you arrive at Kalundewa Retreat. We stayed at the Nil Manel Floating Boat Villa and it was one of the most unique and immersive nature experiences my husband and I have had. Being surrounded by water greenery and complete stillness felt deeply grounding and it instantly disconnected us from noise and routine. This retreat is ideal for anyone who genuinely loves nature and values quiet luxury over excess. The floating villa itself is beautifully designed and thoughtfully executed. Waking up to uninterrupted views of the lake birds flying across the water and soft natural sounds was unforgettable. The space felt private calm and intimate making it perfect for couples. The entire atmosphere encourages rest reflection and presence. We spent hours simply sitting and observing nature which felt like a luxury in itself. One of the most impressive parts of our stay was the service. For all three meals the staff arrived by boat to serve us and they were incredibly quick attentive and kind. If we needed anything they responded immediately and always with warmth. Their efficiency never felt rushed and everything was done with care. The food deserves special mention as most ingredients are sourced from their own farm and every meal tasted fresh clean and nourishing. Kalundewa Retreat has mastered the art of a peaceful escape. The planning execution and attention to detail are exceptional. We stayed for two days and left feeling rested inspired and grateful for the experience. This is the kind of place you want to return to without hesitation and we absolutely plan to. It is a rare retreat that stays with you long after you leave.

Where to start…. Do not be taken in by this hotel’s supposedly five star rating- it should be two at best. The ‘Retreat’ has so little going for it and it is very tired. We got the impression that it may have been a nice place to visit twenty years ago with a true bespoke guest experience. That has all gone. The dirty reception/restaurant area was like a drive through in the middle of nowhere. Both our breakfast and evening meals (mediocre at best) had to be ordered via WhatsApp from a very limited menu along with a specified time to eat. We chose to eat our evening meal in our damp room (on a desk) as the ‘drive through’ was uninvitingly empty and it just seemed wrong to walk to it along a muddy path in the pouring rain in the pitch black of night (with no lights). Incredibly, there is nowhere (as advertised) to get a lovely cocktail or, indeed, any drink. The naturalist explained the Retreat doesn’t have an alcohol licence and kindly went out to the wine store to buy a stash for us on the first night. As for our room, the only positive was the view of the pond. The damp in the bathroom was dreadful as there was no means of extracting the moisture out apart from opening a window. This is not an option given the fact the that the room was on water in a jungle swamp full of mosquitoes. For this reason, the walls were mouldy, the floor was always wet and the towels were just grim. To add to the problem, it also rained in. Other issues included the main door that was difficult to open as the wooden floor had swelled from the dampness and the air conditioning unit sounded like it was going to take off. I could go on… There seemed little to do activities wise. We walked around the paddy fields after breakfast and then independently explored the Dambulla Cave Temple - turning down the offer of a pedalo on the so called lake. We paid $1500 for two nights which is dreadfully expensive for something so dire. We paid less for true five star, all inclusive luxury hotels during our month long motorbike trip which makes this hotel so horrifically bad in comparison Finally, I would conclude that the positive reviews about this place are completely fabricated. Interestingly on the bottom of their website it says the Retreat is affiliated to Mr & Mrs Smith. For want of trying, I can’t see Kalundewa Retreat as one of their recommendations. Book at your peril…..

Beautiful natural setting with a peaceful, private feel. Our water chalet was spacious and scenic, and waking up to birds, lakes, and greenery was genuinely lovely. The grounds are tranquil and it’s a pleasant place to switch off after busy travel days. Prior to arrival, I contacted the hotel due to the concerns raised by previous guests. I was reassured that the website accurately reflected the experience. Unfortunately, this proved not to be true, immediately creating a sense of mismatched expectations. Despite what’s presented online and in the welcome information provided on arrival, there is no scope to consume anything other than bottled water — at odds with the eco‑luxury positioning and further highlighting the gap between expectation and reality. The staff were incredibly kind and abundantly helpful throughout our stay — warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, which made a significant difference. The food was exceptional — Michelin‑star quality. Executive Chef Eranda, along with Chefs Isuru, Ishan, Nadun, and Kavindu, created meals comparable to experiences we’ve had at Michelin‑rated restaurants. A genuine highlight. Significant, however, is the retreat’s confused identity — marketed as eco‑luxury, but in reality far closer to an eco‑lodge, with a few luxury touches and many rough edges. The property is over 20 years old, and this shows in both maintenance and overall finish. These issues have clearly been raised by previous guests, yet meaningful corrections do not appear to have been made, instead leaving frontline staff to manage potentially difficult conversations (especially about different beverage options). This feels less like oversight and more like a conscious failure to address known problems and to potentially deceive guests. On a human level, this is unfair to staff, who work tirelessly to make stays special. Management appeared chaotic, with little evidence of clear systems or processes. As guests, we were confused on what options were available to us during our stay. Overall: a serene setting with wonderful staff and exceptional dining, but ultimately overpriced for the level of polish, organisation, and transparency. Without significant correction to the business model and management approach, the current trajectory feels ill‑fated — which would be a real tragedy, at the very least for the staff who work so hard and genuinely care about guests.

I would like to share my wonderful experience at Kalundewa Retreat. From the moment I arrived, the security personnel were very friendly and guided me correctly, such a true gentleman at the entrance. The welcome to the hotel was also unique, something that only Kalundewa offers. I won’t describe it in detail, because it’s something everyone should experience for themselves. The team even helped me find a good place for my driver to stay, which was thoughtful and well arranged.|Speaking about the retreat itself, it truly offers a different experience that brings you closer to nature. The property feels like a charming village surrounded by a beautiful agricultural environment. With over 100 acres filled with various plantations, every corner of Kalundewa is refreshing and scenic. To fully explore and appreciate the property, I believe at least a two-night stay is ideal.|The rooms are spotless, and the private pool provides a calm and serene setting, perfect whether you’re staying with family or a partner. The staff are exceptionally friendly and their hospitality is remarkable. The food was both delicious and hygienic, and we even had the option to customize our menu by discussing it with the team. I would especially like to appreciate the chefs for preparing such delightful meals.|Keep up the excellent work, team, and continue offering your outstanding hospitality. I highly recommend Kalundewa Retreat to anyone who loves nature or not loves.