Amba Kola

We had a wonderful three days at Amba Cola. From the minute we arrived until the moment we left our family was looked after with care and attention. The food was always delicious and shared with a smile. The beds are very comfortable and the outside bathrooms a delight. We did a number of experiences with Amba Cola - the lake safari, the elephant safari, a local tour and the Ayurvedic experience. They were all fab and the lake safari was particularly special. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a stay at this wonderful home from home.

If you're looking for great food made from local ingredients, many from the garden served up in, cooked to perfection then this is the place for you. Even better, you can stay in a wonderful air conditioned room, in a wonderfully comfortable bed shrouded in mosquito netting and shower semi-alfresco in your well equipped unsuited shower room / toilet. Janik and his mum will look after you so thoughtfully and kindly you won't want to leave, and you'll vow to return. Go there if you can.

We stayed at Amba Kola for 2 nights and both my wife and myself agreed it was the best time spent on our holiday. Janik and his mom were the 2 warmest, kindest, friendliest and welcoming people we met on our trip. They couldn't do enough for us to make our time amy more special. They arranged our transfer from Ella for us and it was cheaper than anyone else we had priced, they surprised us with food when we arrived,. Janik mom is a fantastic chef and all our meals were the nicest we enjoyed on our holidays in Sri Lanka. The breakfasts were out of this world from pancakes, to freshly made juice, homemade granola etc and the evening meals were equally beautiful. Our room was beautiful and so comfy. We also did our safari with Janik which was an amazing experience . There are beautiful walks through sugar cane plantations surrounding Amba kola and we were accompanied by one of there dogs for our walk. Janik organised for us free of charge to go to the nearby town to pick up some supplies we needed for our travels and even bought us ice cream on the way back. The atmosphere at the house is so relaxing and chilled that you just never want to leave. The love that Janik and his mom show for animals has no boundaries also , so because we feel the same it made the stay feel more perfect. All in all my wife and myself couldn't recommend staying here enough. Its beautiful, perfect, definitely 5 star, beautiful food. Fantastic safari, fantastic people and atmosphere and super affordable. Thank you both for making 2 days so special in our lives and thank you for giving us memories to hold in our hearts forever.

We were staying round the corner and went for food - it was incredible! Even though we showed up with no notice (apparently it's mostly pre-booked) we were cooked 8 different curries that were all incredible! Definitely try and eat here if you get a chance - some of the best curry I'd had in Sri Lanka

Wow where to start with this review. I have visited many places in the world and this has to be the experience that will stick with me forever. The hospitality I received from Janik and his mother from the moment I arrived, to the moment I left, was simply outstanding. As a solo female traveller, it is important to feel secure and the reviews for this hotel were what initially stuck out to me; I can confirm they are not wrong. In the short two days I was there, I felt like I was home. Starting with the room, it was super clean & spacious and the bed was very comfortable. The outdoor bathroom was very private and it was a real treat to shower under the stars; the accommodation is even better than the pictures! Next onto the food: I ate all my meals at the property for two days and Janik’s mother is an outstanding cook of Sri Lankan food. I also took her cooking class offering and we had so much fun cooking up the biggest feast you can imagine - I would totally recommend doing this. The garden is packed full of all different sorts of organic fruits and vegetables and we picked some of these in the morning, ready to use when making dinner. Janik was also kind enough to show me the area and the sugar cane fields, which was a great insight into local life. The property is tucked off the main road which makes it very quiet and peaceful, but still it is only minutes from the national park entrance. Lastly onto the main event of the safari, which was the most wonderful experience; Janik organised everything with an experienced driver and even accompanied me which I really appreciated. We saw many elephants (absolutely beautiful), crocodiles, birds, buffalo, deer and wild boar. I also loved the dogs and cats at the house too who were super adorable, but also very chilled and non imposing (in case you don’t like animals!). All I can say is be quick and do not hesitate to just book this place if there is availability - you will not regret it! A completely magical experience in the heart of Udawalawa.

Wow. What a stay here at Amba Kola! Yanik and his mother did everything they could (and beyond) to make my two nights' stay the most enjoyable and comfortable. With its impeccable cleanliness, attention to detail, top-notch hospitality, insane gastronomy, stunning landscapes, a smooth and informative safari, Amba Kola definitely beats all the other guesthouses and restaurants I've seen in two months of travelling around Sri Lanka 😍 The family really goes the extra mile to keep everything run smoothly and improve themselves every day. Could not recommend more.