Nine Skies

From the moment we entered the hotel every member of the team (led by the charming and attentive manager Kasun) was so welcoming and alert to anticipating our needs. The location is absolutely stunning, high on a hillside amidst the tea plantation, with breathtaking views over the hills. The gardens are beautifully laid out with secluded shady seating areas dotted around. The gorgeous pool area is small with only 4 sunbeds but the hotel only has 5 rooms so we never had to compete for our choice of seating. Our room was large and cool with windows opening onto the garden and a patio overlooking the railway. Expect to be awoken by the 06:20 to Kandy, but don't let that put you off. It is part of the charm of the location, not a drawback. It helps you to get up to have an early morning cup of tea on the patio contemplating the misty valley. The food is fine dining with a good choice of Sri Lankan and European cuisine. It is plentiful and beautifully presented. We had a 2 hour birdwatching walk with Dinesh (the resident naturalist). This was an unexpected highlight, with over 20 species spotted (including a rare visitor - European Bee Eater, if you really want to know! - Dinesh was even more excited than us!). All in all, this hotel has been the highlight of our trip. We are already working out how we can get back here!

From the moment we arrived Kasun and the team made us so welcome, Kasun has such a bubbly and friendly personality you can’t help but feel immediately at home. We were here for 2 nights and loved it all. We were in the Ella Rock Suite which was, quite frankly, too big for us but we loved the indulgence. There are only 5 rooms, you have dinner altogether but separate tables on the terrace and can choose the time you want to eat and the lounge area is a lovely place to relax with a drink before and / or after dinner. We decided to do a walk from the hotel to Ella along part of the Pekoe trail, taking in the tea plantation and the Nine Arches bridge as well as many other attractions. Kasun provided us with a phone and walking app to show us the way, leech socks, antiseptic (should we be attacked by leeches - we weren’t) and water. You can choose to do this by yourselves (we did) or the hotel will arrange for a guide for you. The hotel itself is warm and inviting and every single member of staff was excellent. We didn’t catch everyone’s names but want to thank Kasun (obviously), Suraj, Udaru & Chula. When we come back to Sri Lanka we will be coming back to Nine Skies.

This is probably the best boutique hotel we have stayed in. Accommodation, location, food, team and facilities were first class. Totally recommend. Faultless. Thank you to all the staff for such a wonderful three nights. We hope to return. Andrew and Caroline.

We came to Nine Skies as a family of 7 and found it the perfect base to explore Ella. Staff here are exceptional - so friendly and make you feel like the hotel is your own. We arrived on the train which had been organised by the Teardrop team (the train gets very booked up over Christmas so we were very grateful to get on and have seats). We visited Little Adam’s Peak where you can walk, zip wire and party. We also hiked Ella Rock which was fun even though some of us did get lost. The team organised cocktails and canapés under the stars for us one night. Food was all delicious and the black pork curry was exceptional. We also did a tea plantation tour that was another highlight. Nine skies have such a friendly team who arranged tuk tuks so you can explore the madness of Ella but can return to the peace of the hills should you want to.

Beautiful old style hotel. A warm welcome with lunch waiting for us. Very clean. The garden has a beautiful view and a sensational pool. Lounge chairs and umbrellas invite for a tan and relax. The evening meal was very good and copious. The shrimp pad Thai excellent. The bedroom was big with coffee and tea provided. The bathroom both shower and bathtub.

What an amazing place to stay. The manager and staff welcomed us with open arms. The location is stunning. The hotel is beautifully presented, the food fantastic. We can’t praise it enough. We did a Pekoe walk with a guide which finished at the hotel and there is a station within walking distance. A must stay.