Kurulu Bay

I spent a few nights at Kurulu Bay and honestly didn’t want to leave. The setting by the lake is absolutely beautiful! The food was fresh and delicious. And the staff were lovely, warm, helpful, and clearly passionate about the place. I can only recommend it to anyone looking for peaceful and restorative holiday!

Stylish, trendy hotel in a beautiful setting in a forest by Koggala Lake, about 15mins from Ahangama. |When you walk in, you’re struck by the beautiful landscaped gardens that surround this hotel. Full of old palm trees and frangipani trees that are full of birds and monkeys, right in front of the lake. ||The architecture is cool - lots of concrete, wood, glass with big windows and sliding doors everywhere to give the impression you’re outside and in nature. However, the garden room I was staying in looked a bit tired. Creaky floor boards, uncomfortable sofa, beds could have been more comfortable with better bedding/pillows or four poster style for the mosquito nets. Bathrooms| was fairly basic and with no tiles meant the normal walls looked a bit discoloured from the water. ||The star of the show for me was the spot they hold yoga classes (which is on the balcony of the owners villa). Really stunning views up there over the lake, surrounded by trees full of monkeys that come and watch you doing yoga at sunset. Maia’s yoga classes were brilliant, defo recommend! ||The restaurant was very nice. The half board options were very generous - recommend the tacos if they have them on special. However everything is very open so if it has rained there are a lot of mosquitos everywhere. ||The pool was stunning but I thought it was a bit weird the sun loungers were lower down/ in front of it and just facing trees with no umbrellas for shade (the lake view was restricted because of the mangroves - which are very beautiful but felt a bit enclosed). |Staff were very nice and friendly and helpful. |Spa was ok but had better massages (for less money) in other places in Sri Lanka.

Kurulu Bay is a true hidden gem — a dreamy oasis tucked away in the lush jungle. The atmosphere is chic yet peaceful, surrounded by incredible vegetation and with a stunning view over the lake. Every detail is thoughtfully curated, creating a sense of harmony and comfort. The food was absolutely exceptional — possibly the best we’ve ever had. Each meal was a delightful experience, full of flavor and freshness. What truly made our stay unforgettable was the team. Every single staff member was kind, professional, and genuinely warm. A special thank you to Sadar, the manager, who went above and beyond to make us feel at home. We can’t wait to return.

Our stay at Kurulu Bay was absolutely amazing! The design of the hotel seamlessly integrates with the jungle, creating a serene and unique atmosphere. The service was outstanding, and the team made sure to organize plenty of activities for us. The food was exceptional—fresh, flavorful, and of the highest quality. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and highly recommend this beautiful place!

Yesterday, I had a truly relaxing day at Kurulu Bay, enjoying a spa day package that included access to the pool and park, a rejuvenating massage, a delicious lunch, and a beautiful sunset yoga session. It was an unforgettable experience, made even more special by the professionalism and kindness of the entire staff—from the entrance security to the restaurant team, the managers, and the boutique and spa staff. Everyone showed genuine attention to the guests, making me feel welcomed and well taken care of at all times. What impressed me the most was the respect for nature that can be felt in every detail of the resort. The architecture blends seamlessly with the environment, reflecting an extraordinary sense of aesthetics and harmony. The carefully selected materials, the stunning artwork scattered throughout the garden, and the thoughtfully designed yoga shala all contribute to an atmosphere of beauty and balance. Having worked in the hospitality industry for twenty years, I know that a project like this requires meticulous attention to every detail, and it’s evident that nothing here is left to chance. But what struck me the most was speaking with happy and satisfied employees, which, unfortunately, is not something you encounter often. This is a true testament to a thoughtful and respectful leadership. I will definitely be back—thank you for an incredible experience!

We stayed at Kurulu Bay in the Hora cottage, which was aesthetically pleasing and beautifully designed, blending seamlessly with the jungle environment. However, we did encounter some issues with mice over two nights of our stay. While this was initially disappointing, the manager’s response was exemplary. They moved us to the Heli cottage, where we had no further issues, and went above and beyond to make amends by refunding a night’s rate, offering complimentary meals for the remainder of our stay, and expressing heartfelt apologies. Their genuine effort to remedy the situation made a huge difference and left a positive impression.||The jungle setting at Kurulu Bay is a perfect retreat—peaceful, serene, and incredibly relaxing. During our stay, a retreat was being held, and I was initially worried it might impact our experience. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. If I hadn’t been informed, I wouldn’t have even noticed it was happening. The ambience remained tranquil throughout, and it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves.||One highlight that simply cannot be missed is the kitchen at Kurulu Bay. The food was absolutely amazing—each meal was a culinary masterpiece. Even when dishes featured the same protein, the flavours were distinct and perfectly balanced. Every bite was an experience in itself. If you’re ever in the area, I would strongly recommend visiting the restaurant, even if you’re not staying at Kurulu Bay.||Despite the initial hiccup, the overall experience was phenomenal. The combination of stunning surroundings, attentive staff, and incredible food makes Kurulu Bay a destination I would wholeheartedly recommend. The care and hospitality we received turned what could have been a negative experience into a truly memorable one. Don’t hesitate to visit—you won’t regret it!

Beautiful grounds, very welcoming and friendly staff, the management is warm and helpful. They could do with adding some more veggie options but the chef made us some wonderful curry and pasta dishes that were off menu. You’re very immersed in nature here, we saw mongoose, monkeys, mouse deers and lots of different birds. Something to consider is that the treehouse rooms will become noisy from around 6am when the macaques wake up and start their monkey activities, we were early risers anyways and we are in their habitat after all so it wasn’t a negative to us but others might want to consider booking the cottage or garden suites instead (the monkeys do also get urine on the balcony / along the railings) we stayed in the ‘mee’ treehouse and there is a sweet goat living over the wall but that also comes with some minor farmyard smells & smoke from the fires burnt - the room was equipped enough but I wouldn’t say it was of 5 star standard in terms of finish or furnishings and they only provide a top sheet no duvet on the bed. They could also do with perhaps repositioning the mosquito net back a bit so it hangs more efficiently. They also could do with placing some pool towels on the sun loungers when they are set up for the day. The local tuktuk driver the hotel recommends was so knowledgeable and wonderful, we tried to book all our trips with him as he was an excellent and careful driver who showed us all the local fauna and flora and even came with us around the temple to explain the history. The ground staff work really hard to keep the outside areas very maintained & our room was kept clean the entire time. The fire flies at night are also so magical & the view of the lake is pretty at sunset. We had a lovely time :)

We were here for a Spa day as all rooms were fully booked and we loved it!!! The area is a green oasis, the people are super friendly and relaxed and the treatment which was included in the package was amazing <3 We had lunch and the food was so so delicious. We can highly recommend! 10/10