Santani Wellness Kandy

From January 28th to 30th, my friend and I stayed at Satani, a luxurious wilderness retreat and wellness hotel highly rated on TripAdvisor. It was our first time in Sri Lanka, and we were drawn to the promise of refined elegance amidst raw nature. The experience, for the most part, lived up to its reputation. The hotel’s design was ethereal, with twenty buildings discreetly nestled in the forest, a stunning hilltop restaurant, and a secluded spa area. Every detail seemed meticulously crafted to immerse guests in the untamed beauty of the surroundings while cocooning them in comfort. The service at Santani Wellness was exceptional, with every staff member radiating warmth and hospitality. The chef, in particular, was a maestro—each meal over the two days was nothing short of spectacular. However, there was one glaring exception that left a sour taste, even after we checked out. The spa manager, an Indian woman with black-framed glasses who exuded an air of elegance and intellect, left us with an unsettling impression. We first encountered her in the restaurant, where she made a point of engaging with every table, enthusiastically recommending the spa and treatments—except ours. We brushed it off at the time. Later, when we visited the spa after booking treatments, she handed us a form to fill out, barely making eye contact, her attention seemingly absorbed by her nails. We couldn’t help but notice that in the restaurant, she continued to greet and chat with every guest—except us. It was as if we were invisible, even in the open, airy dining space. The contrast became starkly apparent when I returned to the spa and witnessed her interacting with a white male guest, patiently explaining each detail of the form with a warmth and attentiveness we had not been afforded. The disparity left us wondering: Did she dislike Chinese guests? Was it our skin color or some other bias that made her reluctant to serve us? I feel compelled to remind her that her behavior is a disservice to the hotel she represents. Moreover, as her own government actively encourages Chinese tourism to Sri Lanka, her actions are not only unprofessional but also profoundly ignorant.

My husband and I stayed in the Mountain View Chalet at Santani for one night during our journey from Ella to Colombo. In hindsight, I would strongly recommend at least two nights—three if you have the time—to fully experience what Santani has to offer. Kandy was our penultimate stop during our 10-night Sri Lanka itinerary, and Santani promised the perfect respite we needed at this stage. While the setting and aesthetic were truly breathtaking, our experience was marred by a series of frustrating inconsistencies and service failures. Unfortunately, our 06:37 am train from Ella was cancelled, forcing us onto a later train, which delayed our schedule and caused us to miss the lunch service at Santani. Although we provided a heads-up about our ETA, we were informed that only sandwiches and fruit could be offered for lunch upon arrival. I pleaded for a hot meal after a 6-hour journey but was met with a firm no. While I understand the need for structure around meal times, the lack of flexibility felt unnecessarily rigid, especially given that lunch was included in our package. It was a bitter start to an otherwise promising stay. For each meal, we were offered two menu options: Western or Sri Lankan. A chef consultation was arranged to tailor the menu to our dietary requirements—my husband is gluten-free and does not eat red meat. The concept of personalisation sounded wonderful in theory, but the delivery fell far short. At dinner, the meals differed from what we discussed earlier, and when we questioned this, we were told certain items contained gluten. My husband’s dessert, for example, was swapped from Sri Lankan pancakes to a makeshift fruit salad—hardly the bespoke experience promised. At breakfast, they served granola containing gluten and suggested my husband “just eat a little,” as if his dietary restriction were a mere preference. This was not only disappointing but also felt deeply unprofessional. Additionally, previously requested items like a Sri Lankan omelette and mixed fruit smoothie were either forgotten or met with bizarre responses like “eat this first, and we’ll bring another.” The grounds and chalet were stunning, and the views from our Mountain View Chalet, for which we paid an additional $40 upgrade, were well worth it. The serenity and natural beauty are Santani’s greatest strengths. We also had 90-minute Ayurvedic treatments, which were very relaxing. However, there was inconsistency here too—my husband received the promised consultation with the doctor before his treatment, while mine skipped the consultation entirely. The lack of uniformity was frustrating and detracted from the wellness experience. Finally, as we were checking out at 12 noon and couldn’t stay for lunch (which begins at 12), we requested a packed meal. I specifically asked for a salad alongside my sandwich, but we were instead given fruit—again, an instance of Santani failing to meet basic expectations. Individually, these lapses in service might not see

What an soulful stay From the moment we arrived at Santani, we were welcomed by the calming sounds of birdsong and nature—an immediate sense of peace. The setting is breathtaking, with views of the Knuckles mountain range and the soothing sound of waterfalls creating a truly serene escape. The culinary experience was outstanding. Chefs Indika Liyanage, Indika Bandara, and Indunil—an incredibly passionate and talented team—curated a unique blend of European, Sri Lankan, and wellness-inspired cuisine. Every dish was made with organic, foraged ingredients, delivering exceptional freshness and flavor. Service throughout our stay was flawless. The small but dedicated team provided warm, thoughtful hospitality, with a focus on detail and quality that elevated the experience. The well-curated wine list added a perfect complement to each meal. We immersed ourselves in wellness activities like guided nature walks, morning yoga, and spa treatments that truly redefined relaxation. Santani is more than just a wellness resort—it’s a place to reconnect with yourself and nature. The tranquility, clean mountain air, nourishing food, and mindful experiences combine to offer a true celebration of life.

Santani is truly a beautiful property that one should experience a stay in, if only once - top marks to the professional staff in the reception, kitchen, dining rooms and in the suites, they were always on hand to assist with always a smile, top marks to the facilities in this wellness resort, the wellness team were professional and the treatments my daughter and I had were so satisfying. It was a place that we were so sorry to leave and we so look forward to returning.

The hotel's atmosphere was amazing and very simple and the relaxation was unbelievable. The mountains view from the room was unreal. The spa and wellness treatments were really good especially the Ayurvedic ones you really feel relaxed different then any massage I did before. The best part though is really the people. Everyone I spoke to was just so lovely and welcoming all the staff from the spa, restaurant guards, gardeners, naturist The yoga was amazing and I really enjoyed it with the instructor Saman he guided me through every session. I would definitely go back and enjoy the excellent massages and yoga with SAMAN.

Santani is truly a magical place. From the views to the service and the food. I did the detox program while I was staying at Santani which was a life changing experience. The food was phenomenal. So clean and fresh. However, it didn’t feel like detox food or personalized to my needs. The doctor wasn’t very informative or helpful. She is very kind but that is about it. I felt like just another number and not given the attention as an individual. A lot of my requests were ignored and I honestly did not receive the results I was looking for. Even she was shocked that we didn’t get the results that was expected. However, I’m still going to say that the views and the energy of this place is unreal… truly magical. The most magical part and highlight of my stay at Santani was meeting the yoga instructor, Saman. The best yoga I have ever experienced and most challenging. I never felt stronger like I did after Samans yoga classes. He gives such good insight and truly wants to help each individual. He helped me alot with my physical and mental state and I believe I have met a life long friend and healer that I will be forever grateful for. The treatments are also incredible however again did not feel tailored to my physical and mental state. I had to ask for more personalized treatments. My last two days, I had one of the male sports therapist and he changed my body and stretched me out like no other. He was incredible!