Aarunya Nature Resort & Spa is simply incredible. We had an amazing time during our stay. Everything was perfect—from the stunning nature and the peaceful sounds of birds, to the impeccable service from the incredibly friendly staff. Villa Cinnamon was just perfect, offering everything we needed, from a private pool to breathtaking views and complete privacy. Aarunya is, without a doubt, the most beautiful place we have ever stayed at. Highly recommended!
Aarunya is an incredible resort and one of the most surreal places I’ve ever stayed. The view from our villa was breathtaking and I loved how peaceful everything was allowing you to enjoy the gentle jungle ambiance. The food and drinks were sensational! As this is a small intimate resort, everything is freshly made to order. It was some of the best food we had in Sri Lanka. The service was exceptional and everything was made easy with the use of a tablet in the room which connected you to the team. I can’t recommend this resort enough if you’re looking for a complete escape and time to unwind.
We just came back from a 4 night stay at Aarunya. To be honest I was hesitant due to COVID and being restricted on what we could do, I was also hesitant to travel and risk exposing ourselves. As soon as we arrived all of my worries were put at ease. These guys are taking the precautions so seriously that we felt safer here than at home. At the same time they made us feel like we had escaped from the virus. A perfect balance.
The manager Alec was extremely attentive and accommodating from the moment of booking. We booked directly through the website as they had better deals than booking.com etc. Alec then organizes all of our PCR, insurance and transfers as per the regulations, so when we got the the airport there were no extra processes to go through. Upon arrival he greeted us and organized our excursion to Lion Rock which was amazing. He even organized us to check in early as we arrived at 5am, which we were super appreciative of after a long journey.
The service was second to none, all of the waiters and cleaners were so friendly and always willing to help, some names to mention were Chandana, Indu, Chanaka, Lakmal (sorry if I forgot anyone). It was so nice to have service that matches the stars of the hotel. Not something you see very often these days!
On a last note, the food at this hotel was the best we’ve ever had at a hotel. We were honestly concerned about this as we were limited to eating in the hotel and we were not even slightly disappointed by this. The breakfast is out of this world and all of the other meals to follow are incredible. Special thanks to Vicy, Sri and Thushara for the amazing food. They even treated us with a breakfast for the road on the way back to the airport. We can’t thank you guys enough for the break we needed.
I’ve been traveling to many countries since my childhood, but never knew that my own country could give me this much of a lovely experience. Thank you for the greatest experience ever, enjoyed to the max, also the greatest hospitality service, and the food was also delicious, I’m amazed with the room view and also the cleanliness. Hoping to come back again ❤️ Thanks a lot again…..
Aarunya Nature Resort was the last station on our Sri Lanka visit, and it really was a great final.
Our Sky Tented Villa was just amazing, it’s really a tent but of course luxurious and large, with its own infinity pool with a wonderful view of the valley and mountains. All of that located in a lush green garden with a real multitude of trees, plants, spices and the like.
We had booked the all inclusive package and this is highly recommended. Mahesh and his colleagues took so good care of us with all the delicious food, great wines and drinks, no wish left open at any time.
We cannot recommend Aarunya highly enough, and will surely come back again.
An absolutely incredible hotel – the rooms are so luxurious and comfortable with the most breathtaking views. They offer everything you could possibly need and the hotel really has thought of everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly, and the food on offer is really excellent.
The onsite spa is great, I had one of the best massages of my life listening to the wonderful noises of the birds and frogs outside the room.
We flew to Sri Lanka on the day of the attacks (21st April) and despite our initial trepidation of continuing with our trip (our honeymoon!) we are SO pleased we did. Aarunya was the HIGHLIGHT location of our entire two weeks in Sri Lanka. It is in a locked, security guarded 7-acres of land and could not have been more a tranquil, safe space with the BEST hospitality we experienced throughout our holiday. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay extra special and the facilities did not disappoint either. The infinity pool is kept immaculately clean, as well as the rest of the resort. We would definitely recommend the traditional Sri Lankan curry evening meal (we won’t ruin the surprise by telling you anymore – just ask the hotel!) and the manager was absolutely fantastic as a guide on our way to Sigiriya which just made the whole experience so much more special. There are not enough words to describe just how fantastic our time at Aarunya was – credit to the staff there! We would 100% recommend staying here and just wish we could’ve stayed for longer.
We stayed for 5 all-inclusive nights and everything from this place was amazing from the reservation process to check out. The staff here truly made us feel welcome and cared for during our stay. Be sure to book the Sky Tented Villa for stunning views and your own infinity pool. You will never want to leave your room! The food and drinks were phenomenal and is definitely worth it if you’re a big eater and drinker as each set of meals are multi-course. We were served with fresh fruit juices and our fridge was always restocked. The spa was also wonderful and we truly felt relaxed during our stay here. Even during our checkout to catch the early train, the staff came to pick us up from our rooms, arranged transportation and even bagged breakfast for us with extra drinks for the road. Note that this place is up a hill 40 minutes north of Kandy, and large vehicles are not able to traverse the narrow roads. However, small cars can fit and the resort staff will pick you up and take you to the resort. Also – There are bugs. That should be expected if you have an outdoor bathroom and shower in the middle of the mountains. It did not bother us so much as it was fairly minimal, but if you don’t like that, I would suggest a different place to stay. You can always reach out to the housekeeping and they’re fairly prompt with issues. Overall, we loved Aarunya. Thank you!
This is a truly amazing place with wonderful and caring staff, unforgettable views, unbeatable tranquility, and delightful food and service. Yes, we had a great time! From the moment you enter the resort from a back road, you are amid tea plants and nature, and you know it is special. Then came the welcome and first view of our sky-tented villa with a very private infinity plunge pool and outdoor bathtub looking off towards the Knuckles Mountains. We so enjoyed the staff (including Mahesh, Nestor, Alec and others) and had much opportunity for conversation about life in Sri Lanka. Due to political and economic instability in Sri Lanka at the time, we were at first hesitant to make this trip – but we are so glad we went anyway. We felt very safe and cared for our entire trip, and everyone we met was so kind and glad we were there. The food was delicious and helped us explore so many unique Sri Lankan dishes. They even prepared a special anniversary dinner and cake for us (which we shared with many of the staff). The spa treatments were wonderful too and housekeeping was excellent. Really nothing but good to say about Aarunya Nature Resort – it is the kind of place that is easy to love, hard to leave, and we will never forget our experience there. Thank you to the entire staff for making our stay so very special!
My husband and I recently enjoyed three refreshing days at Aarunya and cannot speak highly enough of the facilities, location, food, and staff.
We felt completely safe and extremely well taken care of from the moment we arrived in the country (we traveled to Sri Lanka from the US shortly after the Easter bombings, and I was/am in my third trimester of pregnancy). GM Alec and his team were top-notch, arranging transportation for us to/from the airport, preparing Sri Lankan meals for us daily, and taking us excursions at the last minute based on our requests. In the short time that we were there, we visited tea plantations, the botanical gardens in Kandy, as well as an elephant orphanage.
After visiting, we’ve decided that Sri Lankan food is among our favorite cuisines! It is spicy, very well balanced, and extremely difficult to find in the US outside of a few coastal cities. Aarunya’s chef is incredibly talented and this is a must-visit place if you enjoy or are wanting to try good, top-notch Sri Lankan food. Manesh, who runs the property’s fabulous food program, was constantly sending out interesting dishes for us to sample, ensuring that we got a great overview of what Sri Lankan food is all about. If you go, absolutely do one (or more) of the special multi-course dinners they offer. The quality of the produce, particularly the fruit, was superb, and far surpassed anything we’ve had at Ritz/St. Regis/Park Hyatt breakfast spreads at various properties around the world.
This is a boutique resort, very small and intimate, but the facilities are excellent The resort itself is nestled in the mountains and surrounded by spice, fruit, and tea plants. Though not far from Kandy, it feels truly remote. We enjoyed watching birds and monkeys outside our villa each morning while taking in the lush plants and flowers all around. When you wake in the morning and look out over the mountains, you feel like you are in the jungle. Pictures simply don’t do justice to the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, though you’ll certainly get plenty of ridiculously Instagrammable photos. You can tell that a lot of thought was put into the design and decoration of the villas, and in no way does it feel like a generic hotel.
We would not hesitate to return and hope to do so in the future. In fact, we have already convinced some of our relatives to visit this resort for several days next month. This place is truly a hidden gem, so book your stay before others find out about it and prices shoot through the ceiling.
Thank you again, Aarunya team, for an amazing stay!
What an amazing piece of paradise. We were totally pampered at Aarunya Nature Resort. The location is up in the hills about 30 mins from Kandy and has just spectacular views over the countryside. Our villa was beautiful, spotless and the décor was very minimalist but with everything you could need, The shower was so powerful, beautiful spacious bathroom, the bed was very comfortable, and we loved the jacuzzi outside on our balcony. The infinity pool down by the Verandah Restaurant was just beautiful, with views to die for from it. The food was excellent, breakfasts were delicious with a varied menu to choose from, lovely fresh fruit and breads and also eggs cooked to order and bacon, plenty of choice. We had the Sri Lankan tasting menu for dinner at the Aahaara restaurant, it was just amazing, from our Arrack Cocktail to start served at The Verandah with its magnificent views, then being led down to Aahaara by lighting torches, the musicians playing to welcome us and performing while we ate dinner, Indu and the chef producing a spectacular show with delicious food, it was just all fabulous.
Indu and the chef were terrific hosts and made the evening so interesting, we loved seeing the chef cooking and Indu grinding the spices and explaining all about the menu. A huge thank you to all the staff who were so welcoming and could not do enough for us especially Kumar, Manesh and Indu. We left reluctantly and could easily have stayed at Aarunya for another few nights! It was so peaceful and such a beautiful place. I would recommend at least 3 nights. Hopefully we will get to return one day. If we get to return to Sri Lanka, Aarunya will definitely be on the itinerary, could not recommend it highly enough. Best of success with the resort and thank you to Alec the resort manager for a wonderful stay, memories of which we will treasure forever.
The view of the surrounding mountain ranges and the sounds of the bird life. We felt connected with nature and this was a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of kandy Town. The air is clean crisp and refreshing. The villa was beautifully furnished. Everything is brand new. Attention to detail was fantastic. From the tea bags and coffee to where the plug points are located.
The highlight of the stay was the food. The sri lankan breakfast was one of the best we have had at such a property and by far the best in our most recent stay in sri lanka.
Set in the most amazing setting with wonderful views. There are 9 private villas, with jacuzzis, all beautifully appointed. Staff were very helpful and sweet. Food was excellent, a great location to see most of the surrounding area, Kandy and Sigiriya, etc.
Our recent stay at this hotel was absolutely wonderful. The villa with its amazing pool was a highlight – spacious, beautifully decorated, and a true oasis. The cooking class was a blast, not too long, and incredibly enjoyable. The staff’s attention to detail and guest satisfaction was impressive. Highly recommend for a relaxing and fun vacation!
Words can’t describe how amazing our stay was, absolutely magical! ❤️ The resort itself is a piece of art: The esthetics of the architecture, the astonishing views, the diverse fauna & flora, … We have also attended the dining & high tea experience and had the spa treatment, which were all top class as well. Last but not least, we want to thank the entire staff for their friendly & exquisite service, attention to detail and their overall hospitality. They didn’t just make us feel at home, they made us feel like family! ❤️ we have stayed in 2 different Villas. First one was the Premiumvilla and the second was a Sky Tented Villa. Both of them were just WOW! This has genuinely been the best experience of our lives, I hope we’ll be able to come back one day ??Thank you for everything.
The Aarunya is an exceptional place. I visited with a friend of mine (yes, it’s not only ideal as a couples retreat!) in February and probably 30 minutes after arriving I was totally at ease. The hotel is set amidst beautiful Sri Lankan nature away from city noises and this is just the best part of it. You’re in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle and feel very close to nature. The villas are generous in space with luxurious equipment. I doesn’t get much better than observing sunset (or sunrise depending your rhythm) from your own pool! Also, as a foodie I absolutely loved their cuisine! Haven’t had better local cuisine during my whole travels through Sri Lanka – the fact that you’re dining with views of the mountain probably made it also taste better. Can’t wait to come back.
Jacuzzi, infinity pool, view, service, staff, breakfast, dinner, the design and architecture, little touches like binoculars and free mini bar, fruit on arrival, biscuits and welcome drink, privacy, eco friendly attitude and comfort of rooms. – Nothing, it was perfect.
Situated in a peaceful area of Kandy, Aarunya nature resort offers a relaxing getaway surrounded by spice and tea gardens. Featuring three types of luxury private villas, we decided to stay in the sky tented villas that was a perfect fit for our family. The kids loved the experienced that offers an outstanding comfort and view.
The facilitates and services are also great (gym, Spa, bicycles…). We had a great authentic ayurveda massage in the middle of the gardens made by real professionals.
The food was amazing mixing local and western styles and the staff was attentive to our specific requests.
I want to thank the staff for making our stay unforgettable!!
We stayed for 3 nights and each day was better than the last! Our room was beautiful, with expansive views of the rolling hills and jungle surrounding the resort. We stayed in one of the tented rooms and it was impeccably clean and well stocked with anything you could need. The outdoor bathroom was a highlight for sure. We were provided a phone and any department at the hotel was easily reachable day or night. We never waited more than 5 minutes for anything we needed. The restaurant serves amazing food, both Sri Lankan and Western, and they are happy to arrange in room dining if needed. We spent many hours at the spa and were both thrilled with the treatments we received. I recommend Shirodhara – I have never been so relaxed after a service. The hotel also booked us with a local driver to see the main sights in the city of Kandy which made for a great morning. Overall, the best part about the resort were the people – so nice and thoughtful and welcoming. Thank you to the team at Aarunya for an unforgettable stay!!
Aarunya Resort is a stunning property in a blissful location. An 8 Villa boutique hotel that truly understands hospitality, creates the perfect backdrop for a relaxing get away. Food, service and amenities are all excellent. The resort feels very exclusive and allows you to embark upon a experience that brings out stillness within you. Whether it’s the authentic Sri Lankan Thai meal or the Aarunya Signature Massage, they deliver on every front with sheer excellence. A highlight of my trip was a guided nature walk right before checkout which allows one to soak in the biodiversity the plantation has to offer. A truly memorable experience that I will also cherish! A must visit!
Aarunya is an amazing, secluded place in the heart of Sri Lanka. The place amazes with views from the window and wonderful baths in their infinity pools. The area where the hotel is located is quite large and very diverse. Here you will see the beautiful vegetation of Sri Lanka and have a cup of tea from their own crops! Wonderful place, wonderful rooms, the best manager! My warmest greetings to Mr. Alec!