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Waterfall Homestay, perched on top of a hill, directly in front of the Little Ravana waterfall and surrounded by jungle makes this one of the most stunning places in Ella to stay. Choose from three beautiful rooms, two with 180 degree views and one with french doors opening on to a large veranda. Waterfalls Homestay is not just another guest house in Ella with a view. It is a relaxing, friendly paradise where you will feel truely at home. And only 1.5km from the town of Ella makes it definitely worth venturing off the beaten track for.
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Our 5 night stay in February was the highlight of our 4 week trip to Sri Lanka. The location is great and the large communal terrace takes in the eye catching view of the waterfall and farming terraces through eucalyptus trees. It is really interesting to sit on the shaded terrace at any time of day and watch a wide variety of birds and the occasional visits from mongoose, monkeys, deer and giant tree squirrels in the jungle below. Ella town is a 20 minute walk away or a 10 minute tuktuk ride. We usually walked along the railway line. Walking the other way along the track takes you to the top of the waterfall and from there a longer hike accesses Ella Rock.
We stayed in the Verandah Room with huge comfortable 4 poster bed with excellent mosquito net. The folding doors open out onto a pleasant private terrace with comfortable seating and table and chairs. The spacious toilet and wet room has an excellent shower. A small fridge was handy to keep cold beers purchased in town. Everywhere was spotlessly clean at all times.
Breakfasts were excellent and with a western twist. Fresh fruit juice, mixed fruit and curd, a variety of egg dishes followed by sourdough bread freshly baked in the kitchen every day so hot toast with Amba Estate jams and marmalade made the meal really special. A nice change from more spicy breakfasts elsewhere.
The large table on the terrace is the social hub of the Homestay where guests mingle and compare notes on places and restaurants visited. All is expertly managed and encouraged by Australian owner Martin who was constantly available to answer question, give advice, order a tuktuk or discuss the major issues of the world. He leads a good team of enthusiastic local staff. The overall ambience is quiet, calm and friendly.
We have stayed in several places in and around Ella on other trips and this is the place we would unerringly come back to. You MUST book well in advance to avoid disappointment! We recommend Waterfall Homestay without hesitation. It is the best place to stay in Ella!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wonderful little family-run guesthouse with 4 nice rooms. Awesome views overlooking the valley and the Ella waterfall. The breakfast was the best we had in Sri Lanka - homemade bread with cooked to order eggs - all while enjoying the view and watching the monkeys play in the nearby trees. The rooms are clean and the hosts are there to help you with anything you need and they are happy to share their favorite restaurants and places. Felt like a home away from home!
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Date of stay: March 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Waterfalls for just short of a month during the nationwide travel restrictions which were imposed due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. Thankfully, we were able to keep a cool head and actually even 'enjoy' the situation due to the peaceful and beautiful accommodation. Shower pressure and temperature is excellent, as well as the comfortable bedding which allowed for a wonderful sleep every night. We stayed in the 'garden room' and we enjoyed a better sleep here than what we have had for months! The inclusion of Tin Tin and Yala (the family cats) is also lovely. They are friendly and funny and give the place a real homely feel. The kitchen is well equipped with all the latest gadgets - and I am now definitely inspired to buy a panini maker, having never owned one previously (and to put butter on before the bread!) I also learned how to make Gnocchi thanks to Louise who stays at the property and is on hand to welcome new travelers. The WIFI is also excellent and enabled me to work through the weekdays without any problem. The view of the gushing waterfall is wonderful to wake up to, and lovely to hear also at night. You can access the train tracks easily and walk to the waterfall in approximately 30 minutes - just one of many opportunities to get out and stretch your legs! Ravana cave and Ella rock can also be reached very easily on foot from this property. The next door neighbour, Chandy, offers very relaxing massages for a very reasonable price too. As a teacher currently working online, I was extremely grateful for her shoulder and neck massage! I would absolutely recommend this home stay to anyone as it really is a home away from home. Thank you for establishing such a lovely place!
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Date of stay: May 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We could have not have hoped for a better place to stay than Waterfall Homestay. Kiah, Lakshan and their toddler Jasper were very welcoming, answering our many questions, directing us to major and lesser known attractions and treating us more like friends rather than guests. The waterfall and treescape views were mesmerising, the room spacious and stylish. The bed was comfortable and we both slept really well in the quiet surrounds, waking each morning to birdsong and the sound of the waterfall gushing. The bathroom was large with plenty of shelving and a good sized towel rack and the water pressure and heat of the shower excellent. To top it all off, the generous and delicious home made breakfast was really something to look forward to each day. It was very hard to leave! Highly recommended
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited Waterfalls Homestay for four nights over 2021-2022 New Years. It’s a peaceful and serene location out of the hustle and bustle of Ella - though it is only a short 15-20min walk into town (if you cut along the train tracks). Travelling with our two children 8 & 10, we absolutely loved our stay. We stayed in the family room which had a wonderful view and balcony over looking the jungle to a stunning waterfall. The beds were comfortable and the bathroom was good. The kids had their own space up a little ladder which they loved. There was ample space for suitcases and a drying rack which was great for drying the children’s clothes. We had visits from resident monkeys which delighted the kids and they fell in love with Lucy the dog and her puppy Sylvie.
However the biggest highlight was breakfast! The breakfast is served on a terrace with the best view of the jungle and waterfall. The coffee was delicious (rare in Sri Lanka) and like their tea, mango and ginger jam & marmalade is sourced from nearby boutique Amba Tea Estate. The fruit salad and buffalo curd combination is an utter sensation, eggs, toast, juices, hot chocolates for the kids, muffins and cakes meant that we all had full bellies to sustain us whilst exploring Ella.
The staff are incredibly helpful and obliging. We highly recommend Waterfalls Homestay.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a fantastic couple of days in Ella. Waterfalls Homestay was just perfect. We had two rooms, one for us and one for our kids and enjoyed the tastiest breakfasts of our entire trip (and the others were pretty good). Nothing could beat sitting on the beautiful terrace, in among the trees eating freshly baked muffins and spotting the trains in the distance. It's also incredibly good value - I'd pay that just to sit and soak up the amazing views.
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Date of stay: August 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A special experience at Waterfalls Homestay - thank you :)
We stayed in the studio room for 2 nights and extended our stay by an extra night. The studio room was spotless, well equipped and had a really homely feel. It was private and up a set of stairs away from the main living area.
The breakfast here was another level, it was by far the best breakfast we’ve had in Sri Lanka after being here just over a week.
The hosts Kiah and Lakshan were so friendly and laid back, they gave great recommendations for things to do in Ella and provided a map for local walks and helped us with arranging a transfer for the next part of our trip.
The setting is so peaceful, a short tuk tuk from the bustle of Ella, also a 15 minute walk if you’d rather go by foot, a powerful torch was left in our room for walking back in the dark.
A must stop in Ella!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived after a hysterical 10 min tuk ride from the station in the pouring rain but even that could not dampen the complete wow factor upon entering Waterfall Homestay. In actual fact its only a 15 min walk back to the town but it seems longer when you don't know where you're going! Every comfort needed is offered by the ever smiling house manager Raja and the love and effort which has gone into making this a truly beautiful home is evident. The uninterrupted view of the waterfalls and jungle is unsurpassed by even the most expensive upscale resorts and you will be immersed in complete nature. Monkeys, peacocks and butterflies await you and the two cats Tintin and Yala will be your therapy companions. We were the first guests after covid and I needed to have internet for a meeting. Karen made sure it was reconnected for our stay and stayed in touch to give updates regarding the electricity should it effect the connection. Raja bakes his own bread which we had with the fantastic breakfast and was so kind to ensure our onward taxi service was up to snuff! Thankyou Raja, Karen and staff. You are all truly amazing.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From experience we have nothing else to compare with in the Ella area, but we do know that the outlook, ambience and warmth provided by our wonderful hosts would make Waterfall Homestay our only choice to stay if we are fortunate enough to return to Ella. Thankyou Martin, and especially Karen, for the generosity of your space and time, for your advice and recommendations, and especially for your delicious breakfasts, all home made or locally sourced, prepared, and served with love. We loved your home and being welcomed in to it.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin took exceptional care of us during our 4-night stay at Waterfalls Homestay. It is one of the handful of properties in all our travels that really stands out from the rest (and we've been to 99 countries together!). We are sad we didn't have the opportunity to meet his wife Karen, who was in Australia at the time, but Martin and the staff handled everything very well.
If you are looking for a beautiful place to relax with great hospitality and away from the backpacker crowds, Waterfalls Homestay is a no-brainer. We would have been happy to spend a week here.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I recently stayed at the Waterfall Homestay, it about five minutes in a Tuk Tuk out of Ella - not a great road but so worth the stay. During my stay the internet went down a few times - this is Sri Lanka after all! But it is well worth keep on trying, its a great place to stay, the people are truly lovely. Good Luck
Very sorry for the late reply, no we arent on any booking site and manage our own bookings via our website, having said that though, sorry we are fully booked for your chosen dates.
thanks for your interest and we wish you safe travels and a wonderful stay in Ella
kind regards Karen
There are more places to choose from in the Ella area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
waterfalls homestay hotel ella
LOCATION
Sri LankaUva ProvinceElla
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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