GEDARA Boutique Hotel and Retreats

I don't normally write reviews, but this place stole my heart. When I saw the pictures for Gedara I was smitten, this was going to be the special place to stay for the end of the trip. But when I arrived and saw this beautiful place in person, I fell in love. Sabrina and Heshan are so welcoming and generous with their time and knowledge, they want you to feel comfortable and enjoy the space. There are four rooms in the space, each with a theme and the are all divine. Everything has been thought out and you can feel that. We were also lucky enough get a yoga class on the rooftop shala as the sun was setting, it was a really special experience. It is located a little out of town which we really liked because it was quite and with a bike to get around it was easy. The food is fantastic and the staff are lovely, so if you don't feel like leaving you have everything you need there. I ended up with a bad flu during our stay and everyone there went above and beyond to look after me. I had herbal mixes and tea coming to me every day, which eased the stress of being sick in a foreign country. This was easily the best place we stayed in Sri Lanka and we will be booking again when we come back.

That I had to leave!

This lovely hotel was a hidden gem, tucked away from the noise. The owners and staff were hospitable, helpful, kind, and friendly. The rooms are well thought out, each is inspired by water, land, earth or fire, which even extends to the shampoos. The bed was very comfortable, the breakfast was delicious, and they even arranged a bicycle for me.

Absolutely nothing.

The owners Sabrina and Heshan have done a fantastic job with this beautiful property and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The rooms are beautiful, beds were comfortable, the cleanliness exceptional and the staff very sweet and welcoming. Anything they could do for us they would do even when we were severely delayed with numerous flight cancellations due to the Middle East airspace closure.

Overall: Let's try to put it into words. Gedara is a feeling, a moment of peace and reflection, a warm embrace, a place of trust and self-discovery... Gedara is a home for all those who embrace it. The place: Unlike many accommodations on our trip, Gedara delivers what it promises. Our expectations were far exceeded. Each room has its own energy, which has been planned down to the last detail and is conveyed through the spatial elements. However, the attention to detail does not end outside the rooms. The overall concept flows naturally into one another and extends to the outdoor area. Thanks to the holistic design, even the communal areas feel like your own living room. Here, you never feel like you are being watched or like a stranger. The Yoga Shala sits enthroned on the roof, from where you can see the property and the surrounding landscape in all its beauty. Mornings here are the perfect start to the day. Architecturally, a high international design standard is combined with locally inspired details and socio-cultural influences. As a result, despite its modern appearance, the Gedara blends seamlessly into the hinterland of the southern province. Service: The rooms are cleaned daily and each and everyone can be trusted here. We never doubted for a second that our valuables were safe. The beds were always freshly made. Everything is thought through so thoroughly that you can just relax and enjoy yourself. Breakfast and meals are prepared by the in-house chefs and were always perfect. Let them surprise you, it's worth it! And the cappuccini are little works of art, probably the best on the island! The tuk-tuk drivers Nimal and Anju are fairly priced and you can trust them with your life, which you inevitably do in Sri Lankan traffic ;) And the in-house security service, which is on site 24 hours a day and supported by Faith (the dog), ensures safety on the premises. Thank you, Srima, you always made sure we had everything we needed!