A group of 14 of us stayed at Mapakada village from Mar 19-21st. Awesome location, friendly and attentive staff. Recommend a triple room if staying. Double room is not very... read more spacious but comfortable with a small balcony. Not a big vareity of food, yet tasty. Location is absolutely, absolutely gorgeous. Recommend the sunrise breakfast and boat ride. Options include from having breakfast by the lake, on the deck, at the hotel or served to the room. The hotel undertakes excursions on request. Rathna ella trek which is roughly about a 3.5 hours journey ( depending on how long you wanna stay in the water) is an absolute must do. Tennakoon, the guide who was arranged by the hotel is very caring and attentive, he was able to carefully guide a five month pregnant lady to do the trek all the way upto the falls which is not a smooth trek. The highlight of the entire excursion is the yummy Sri Lankan lunch served in Kenda leaves, in straw plates with accompanying clay jugs of water. The food was so tasty. We visited the village, where pottery and straw weaving is done. Please buy something from them if you can. We also visited the Veddah village at night. This although was a good experience, we found a bit lacking on our expectations. In the night excursion they take you inside the jungle and create a bonfire using traditional tools. They sing... A group of 14 of us stayed at Mapakada village from Mar 19-21st. Awesome location, friendly and attentive staff. Recommend a triple room if staying. Double room is not very spacious but comfortable with a small balcony.
Not a big vareity of food, yet tasty. Location is absolutely, absolutely gorgeous. Recommend the sunrise breakfast and boat ride. Options include from having breakfast by the lake, on the deck, at the hotel or served to the room.
The hotel undertakes excursions on request. Rathna ella trek which is roughly about a 3.5 hours journey ( depending on how long you wanna stay in the water) is an absolute must do. Tennakoon, the guide who was arranged by the hotel is very caring and attentive, he was able to carefully guide a five month pregnant lady to do the trek all the way upto the falls which is not a smooth trek. The highlight of the entire excursion is the yummy Sri Lankan lunch served in Kenda leaves, in straw plates with accompanying clay jugs of water. The food was so tasty. We visited the village, where pottery and straw weaving is done. Please buy something from them if you can.
We also visited the Veddah village at night. This although was a good experience, we found a bit lacking on our expectations. In the night excursion they take you inside the jungle and create a bonfire using traditional tools. They sing a lullaby and do customers dance and a prayer to the forest god. We finished it off with a tour in the museum.
We visited a monastery. Take sometime and do it leisurely. Such a quiet and peaceful place. Sorabora wewa and the boat ride there is an absolute must do.
Overall, the experience was one of a kind. The hotel has a cockatoo that can speak. Two hammocks and plenty of other wildlife and trees. They have one long swing too.
Swimming pool is nice, overlooking the gorgeous Mapakada lake. On request they would open the pool earlier or it is open after 8 am till 8pm at night. Recommend an early morning swim around 7.30 followed by a boat ride.
Recommend to always speak with the staff so they help you have the best experience. Would love to re visit. More
