Dambulla Hotels with Balcony

Amba Yaalu — A Second Home for Soulful Rejuvenation My first stay at Amba Yaalu by Thema Collection was pure discovery. I came out of curiosity—wanting to experience, for the first time, the novelty and energy of a women-led resort. I left enchanted. But this second visit felt different—more intentional, more existential. I rebooked to continue my solo quest for soulful rejuvenation, tranquility, and serenity—the kind of restorative pause that leaves you resettled for the life you love, yet must return to: a job and day-to-day that asks a great deal. From the moment I arrived, I was beautifully cared for. The à la carte dining—with both Western and Sri Lankan options—did more than simply nourish my body. It re-ignited my appetite in the most genuine way. I ate with joy and intention, and somehow it even made me feel lighter and steadier within myself. I also took a private cookery lesson with the chef, and it was unforgettable. I didn’t just leave with a chef’s hat and a printed recipe book—I left with real skills, spice knowledge, and techniques I can bring home. I can already see myself sharing this with my colleagues, my friends, and of course my beloved family. And yes—I even had to tease the chef, because I loved her food so much that this post-menopausal woman ate so well that my cholesterol and blood pressure readings came down…and I genuinely started to develop a “food baby”. 😂😂😂 Finally, to the management and leadership: as an educator in ancient history, I know great women when I meet them—Helen of Troy, Cleopatra… and beyond. At Amba Yaalu, the leadership feels like that same kind of powerful grace. It isn’t only about running a beautiful resort—it’s about building something that matters. To Amba Yaalu and everyone who made this stay feel like a true haven: thank you for giving me a serenity I could feel in my bones—and a renewed strength for what comes next.

We got very nice experience when staying here 1 night. The room was perfect for our family of 3. We just had to pay for the 3rd person's breakfast. The Logde located nearby the Lion rock and village, easy to find and go to the rock or the Gambulla city within 10min. The host Isuru was very welcoming from the start and made sure that we had all that we needed. ( hot water, drinking water, towels, AC, fan). We also really appreciated Mr Alain, a french gentleman resident in the sameplace! The room also had all the necessary for us to not be bitten by insects (scents and more). There was also a room for the driver at a very resonnable price. However we found the wifi a little weak, but else everything was good. In the surroundings it is peaceful, and we woke up to nice little sound of the nature and a well prepared typical srilankan breakfast and fruits! Delicious!

We had a wonderful stay in Sigiriya Cashew Palace Resort, very good hotel, well located, super clean, peaceful atmosphere and the staff had been incredibly friendly. We would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Just a short walk from the bus stop, this gem of a guesthouse is hands down the best place to stay in Sri Lanka. The owner goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome, always offering help and thoughtful advice. He even arranged for a local tuk-tuk driver at a very reasonable price, ensuring I had the best experience exploring the area. Every afternoon, he would check in and offer a delightful cup of tea, making the stay feel extra special. His wife’s cooking is an absolute highlight—breakfast was not just delicious but prepared with so much care, adding a homely touch to every meal. The room itself was super clean, big, and incredibly comfortable. From start to finish, they both made me feel completely at home. I can say this was the best accommodation I experienced during my time in Sri Lanka, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a truly memorable and comfortable stay.

One of the best things about this hotel is the stunning view of Sigiriya Lion Rock, especially from the pool area. It’s definitely one of the best spots for that perfect Instagram photo! Breakfast offers a wide variety of choices. However, one downside was that once some of the food ran out, it wasn’t refilled, even though we arrived quite early at around 7:30 a.m. Overall, a great place to stay mainly for the incredible view and location.

The lake next to the property is beautiful and the owner is really accommodating - he escorted me to the lookout as it is dangerous to go out by yourself in the evening and early morning because of the elephants that may wander through the area. Both him and his wife were very accommodating and helpful. I would definitely stay here again if I come back to Sigiriya. The room has a tea and coffee station, a mini fridge, and air conditioning. You are in nature, so if you don’t mind a couple of little frog friends in the bathroom, and you are a bird enthusiast, then this is the place for you.

We stayed here two nights to enjoy the two main attractions of the area. The boys are very available and the manager is a nice young man who can do it! The location is very quiet even though not very far from the rooms. The hotel is very comfortable and it is very comfortable and it is very comfortable and it is very comfortable and it is very good.

This is a nice hotel in a great location in terms of seeing the key sights in the area we wanted to visit (walking distance to Sigiriya and Pidurangala rocks, and a short tuk tuk ride to a night loris walk). It is on a main road so there is a bit of noise from that if you have a room at the front of the hotel like we did - especially some loud music playing early in the morning. I recommend asking for a room as far away from the road as available. The room was more basic than I expected for the price but importantly it was big and clean. I think you are paying the price for a proper hotel in this location. The hotel pool is big and very clean, it is perfect for a dip to cool down - and very scenic, surrounded by lovely trees. We were a bit disappointed with the hotel restaurant menu which has nearly no vegetarian options on it, and similarly the breakfast buffet wasn’t worth it for us to purchase, but there are lots of other restaurants walking distance from the hotel to go to. The staff were helpful especially in putting us in touch with the loris night tour.

The hotel is a bit off the main road, nestled in the jungle. It has a large, beautiful property with a decent restaurant that served tasty food. In the room, there's a concrete bed and concrete countertops, and the outlets are inconveniently located under the nightstands. Maybe the design was cool initially, but now it looks a bit tired. What I didn't like was the lack of soap (though they brought some when I asked), and the shower gel and shampoo bottles were already half-used. Also, the toilet seat didn't fit properly. The hotel staff, in general, were willing to help with any issues within their power.

Thank you for a great stay. The staff were amazing and friendly. We enjoyed the breakfast and conversation learning about the area from the staff. The location is excellent as it's close to attractions and food. We definitely recommend it.