The Serai Kabini

We stayed at this property for a night while traveling to Wayanad and absolutely loved it. The rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were equally well-sized and comfortable. The back lawn with a hammock was a very charming and cozy setup—perfect for relaxing. The food was excellent. Being from North India, we were initially skeptical about options beyond South Indian cuisine, but we were pleasantly surprised. We tried Chinese, Italian, and a few North Indian dishes, and everything was flavorful and well-prepared. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a place we would happily recommend.

We had a great experience at Serai Kabini. We were treated very warmly there and we felt that we were cared at each step. Our two and a half year old daughter also enjoyed thoroughly. The food was excellent with a wide spread daily. The room was excellent and so was the entire staff there. Unfortunately, this time safari was not available due to Government rules. However, there were so many other activities that our entire day was occupied and we were completely detoxed and felt destressed and relaxed.We would like to extend our greatest gratitude towards Mr. Saleem, Mr.Mahesh, Mr.Chamaraj and Mr. Pravin for their exceptional service and courteous approach which made our stay so memorable. They have deep knowledge about the forest, it's tribes, animals, birds and even insects. We would recommend this place to all for a great get away from corporate and family stress. |And Team Serai Kabini, we are coming again.....See you then!!!@

We recently stayed at The Serai, Kabini, having earlier experienced The Serai, Bandipur, which set a fairly high benchmark for us. Kabini, to its credit, is serene and beautifully located. The stillness of the backwaters and the overall calm of the property are genuinely soothing. That said, the experience didn’t quite live up to our expectations, especially when compared to Bandipur. The rooms, while comfortable, felt fairly average for a property of this positioning. We were also unable to go on the jungle safari due to an official pause during our stay, which was an unfortunate miss, though clearly beyond the property’s control. Where the experience dipped more noticeably was the food. It didn’t quite hit the mark, and we did face some challenges around allergy related requirements, which could have been handled better overall. What truly stood out, however, was the people. Executive Chef Ramakant was warm, approachable, and genuinely invested in doing his best. Assistant F&B Manager Rakesh was courteous and responsive. Sidhrayu from the F&B service team was attentive, and Chef Rakesh handled our specific dietary needs with care and diligence. A very special mention to Raghunath from the F&B service team. Energetic, enthusiastic, and constantly on his feet, he ensured every guest felt seen and cared for. His positive energy and guest first attitude were a highlight of our stay and left a lasting impression. The Serai, Kabini is peaceful and has potential, but there is room to elevate the experience, particularly in rooms and dining, to truly match the brand promise. The sincerity and warmth of a few outstanding team members, though, made our stay far better than it might otherwise have been.

We had a very pleasant stay at the lake view resort. The location was beautiful, the views were calming, and the overall ambience made the experience enjoyable. The property is well maintained, and most aspects of the stay met our expectations. That said, there is some room for improvement in time management and guest attention. At times, responses were delayed and certain requests felt a bit taken for granted. While this didn’t spoil the stay, better coordination and proactive communication would definitely enhance the overall guest experience. Overall, it was a good stay, and with a little more focus on service attentiveness, it could be an excellent one.

Our stay at Serai Kabini was a mixed experience, with several disappointments outweighing the positives. Cons: Although safari is generally available at Kabini, it had been stopped for about a month due to operational issues, which was extremely disappointing as the wildlife experience was our main reason for choosing this destination. Despite booking three weeks in advance, we were informed about the safari unavailability just 1 day before our arrival, leaving us with no real option to reschedule or cancel. Apart from visiting the lake, there is nothing much to do on the property, which makes it quite boring if you are staying for more than one day. The rooms were very average and not worth the expensive price we paid. For a resort at this tariff, we expected much better quality and comfort. To make matters worse, the air conditioner in our room was faulty and made loud noise throughout the night, which disturbed both my husband’s and my sleep and significantly affected our comfort. Pros: The lake near the room was the most beautiful part of the stay and made for peaceful mornings and evenings. The property is surrounded by lush greenery, giving it a calm and scenic feel. The food was good.

I recently stayed at The Serai Kabini, a property that, despite its positive reviews on Trip Advisor and Google, utterly failed to meet basic guests expectations. I chose it for my last-minute trip over other properties near the bank of Kabini, but it turned out to be a regrettable decision.||The room and housekeeping were well-maintained and good, and the restaurant was also fine. However, the front office functioning was abysmal and disgraceful. This issue is not due to individual staff members; the top management needs to urgently address this, or they risk severely damaging their brand.||When I booked my reservation, I was given a shared list of activities from the reservation desk, both paid and non-paid. There was a glaring discrepancy in what resort operated, highlighting a severe lack of communication and coordination, which is absolutely crucial for a property like The Serai.||- My name wasn’t on the front gate guest list, and security made me wait an unnecessarily long time before they checked my ID. This is yet another example of poor coordination. I mentioned that it was a special occasion and requested a cake before traveling and checking in. When and what? It was also mentioned on voice and WhatsApp message, but again, it failed to deliver. I shouldn’t have to keep chasing for this; as a guest of a premium property like this, where is my anniversary cake? Later, when I pointed it out during checkout, they casually mentioned it was there but missed.|- All the activities felt like a mere formality, with no real energy or enthusiasm in conducting them. The only thing that had any semblance of energy was the drum 🥁 that was rolling on arrival.|- Thanks to Serai Kabini for arranging a lackluster anniversary time.||There was a board in the reception (photo attached) with a list of activities and their timings. It clearly stated that there was a sunset boat ride at 5:30 p.m., but it happened at the wrong time and mentioned that the ride in the brochure wasn’t available. ||There was also a kite-flying activity listed, but when I inquired, they informed me that the water level was near the shore. Later, when I entered, I didn’t notice any flooding or felt comfortable engaging in my own activity since I had a kite in my car. If an activity is advertised, it should be delivered. The manager or receptionist should not choose to understaff or be under-equipped to run the establishment for personal reasons. It seemed like the property wanted to showcase its diverse activities, but in reality, they were only interested in running a few just for the sake of it.||One of the most disappointing bonfire experiences I’ve ever had. See how hotels like Hotel Trivik/Destiny Farms or Tamara bring life to it when you really want to run some activity. Instead of a lively bonfire with music and entertainment, it was just a few logs getting into ashes by themselves.||I understand that some people may have had positive experiences and received reviews from that era, but my experience was absolutely terrible. If I had booked for two nights, I would have wasted my days. It’s another faith and experience of loosing CCD loosing its charm. I never felt such a negativity anywhere of even lower class hotels.||What is good?|- Location and property|- Restaurant and staff at restaurant|- Rooms, housekeeping was good||But beware if it’s worth it when front desk mismanagement is what you are paying for. Especially when Safari is not available, property and management should pay attention to keep the guest experience better in this case, it’s the opposite or no one noticed with the Jungle Lodges hosted boat safari and activities taking its prime spot. Check out the better options, and there are many. I moved to a different hotel/resort instead of opting for an extension at The Serai Kabini for one more night (which was my actual plan).

We had an absolute delight of a couple of days, celebrating our wedding anniversary at Serai, Kabini! The staff's genuine hospitality started right at arrival with warm welcomes, fresh drinks, and names remembered throughout. Service was flawless: spotless rooms refreshed daily, a wide palate food customized to our tastes, and proactive touches like arranging a surprise room decor, a delicious anniversary cake and evening bonfires with live music and tribal dance shows. Every need was met with a smile, making our stay feel luxurious and carefree. Can't wait to return!|Special mentions - Mr. Mahesh Anagtty, Prabhakar, Salim, Mahesh, Putti for the care n hospitality exhibited.

Exceptional service (thanks to Shekhar to make us discover birds and plants, to Putti for exceptional service at restaurant, to Avinash and Manoj for very good room service AND all the others who made our stay unforgettable) Very good food. Did you know ... 20 rooms only ... this makes the resort calm Stunning and large park full of nice trees and birds with a permanent view on Kabini river. We will come back for sure