Elepath Lodge Pinnawala-Stay Where Elephants Walk to Bathe

This was in a prime location for elephant viewing. They start the parade during breakfast whilst you’re seated downstairs - they just march straight past a few metres away, and the herds are brought up and down past the hotel all day till 4pm (check the orphanage web page for the times, it’s like clockwork). You can stand on the balcony, sit in the cafe part or just stand out front. The hotel was simple but clean, AC worked, showers decent (so many water outlets!), breakfast was good. Staff lovely of course. If you arrive earlier than 4 - call the hotel and they will tell you the back road in (to avoid the elephants on the Main Street). You may be told you cannot access the area till after 4pm. Also avoid anyone here who tries to get you to go to a herb garden. It’s a scam. Beware of being asked for a tip to have your photo taken with an elephant. A keeper may line you up for it then ask for a tip. This is not allowed and should not be encouraged. Tell them you have no cash on you and they should walk away. They do have a bunch of elephants to get back to the orphanage after all.

Beds a bit hard.

Comfortable , clean and good staff

TV didnt work Not enough plug points in the room

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Elepath Lodge and cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone visiting the area. Hospitality & Staff The standout feature of this property is the staff. They are highly professional, genuinely warm, and kind-hearted people. Shehan and his team are doing a fantastic job. They are always happy to go the extra mile to ensure you have a great stay. Upon our arrival, Shehan even kindly upgraded our booking from a Deluxe BB room to a Superior Room with a balcony! Unmatched Location & Experience The property itself is incredibly unique. From the window of our Superior Room, we could watch elephants walking down to the river and back—literally just inches away from our private balcony! Additionally, a short walk down the path leads you to a spot where you can watch the elephants bathing during the day. It was a magical experience. Cleanliness, Comfort & Value The lodge is exceptionally clean and comfortable. Compared to other properties in the area, you get incredible value for what you pay. Family-Friendly Amenities As a family traveling with a 19-month-old who happens to be a huge elephant fan, this place was perfect. The staff went above and beyond by happily preparing custom baby food for our little one during our stay. It is an ideal destination for families. Delicious Dining Our breakfast was included, and we ordered dinner a la carte. For dinner, we had the mixed chicken rice, which was delicious and the portion size was more than enough for two. For breakfast, we chose the Sri Lankan option; the string hoppers and curries were excellent, and the coconut sambol was absolutely heavenly. We will definitely be back the next time we are driving through the area. We recommend Elepath Lodge without any hesitation!

Nothing makes us unhappy. The rooms come equipped with an electric kettle, but it would be a wonderful touch if they provided two cups as well. Since there are grocery shops just a few hundred meters away where you can buy tea and coffee packets, having cups in the room would make it so easy for guests to brew a warm drink and enjoy it on the balcony while watching the elephants walk by

Good value for money but avoid the elephants. They are not well looked after or as suggested on photos. Room was comfy and air conditioning was great.