Ella Road, Kolathenna, Bandarawela, 90090 Ella, Sri Lanka
#19 of 189 hotels in Ella
Guests' ChoiceBased on 77 hotel reviews
9.2Cleanliness
9.1
Comfort
9.1
Location
9.0
Facilities
8.9
Staff
9.7
Value for money
9.6
Free WiFi
10.0
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End of dialog contentReviewed: 18 August 2025
Jai
IndiaTheir is nothing u cannot like about this place
Best view Very helpful owner Best staff Spacious rooms and comfortable checkin with clean rooms
Stayed in August 2025
Reviewed: 5 August 2025
Adrian
PolandWonderful view, good stuff. Tasty food. I can recommend ! :)
Stayed in July 2025
Reviewed: 23 July 2025
Ben
QatarWish the rooms had AC, although the gentle breeze in Ella (and the fans in all rooms) means that it really isn’t a big problem.
A truly wonderful place. A rustic sanctuary in the Ella hills. Highly recommended.
Stayed in July 2025
Reviewed: 23 July 2025
Jaroslav
Czech RepublicBathrooms need a bit care namely tiling. One room (out of our 3 rented) didn't have warm water for 3 days.
Nice and spatious rooms and place, moscits on all beds, excellent wiev to the green hills, even from the bed, nice and helpfull owner and people around. Good breakfast. Hotel is 20 min driving to Ella.
Stayed in July 2025
Reviewed: 16 July 2025
Mtjamil
BangladeshThe canopy bed curtains could definitely use some cleaning, as there were cobwebs on top, and we didn't get hot water in the morning — perhaps the geyser takes longer to heat up. The door bolts also need some repair. While these were minor inconveniences for me personally, they may bother others, and a bit more attention to maintenance would greatly improve the overall experience at this otherwise magical place.
Nestled in a sleepy hill village between Ella and Bandarawela, Maridian Hotel is a quiet retreat far away from the usual tourist trail- quite literally in the middle of nowhere. The two towns lie at a fair distance, requiring a tuk-tuk ride, which only adds to the sense of seclusion and charm. The property itself is basic, yet what it lacks in luxury it more than makes up for in natural beauty and serenity. Our room was surprisingly spacious and opened to an L-shaped balcony that offered an uninterrupted view of the mountains. The moment we slid open the balcony doors, we were met with a view that was nothing short of breathtaking- vast, wild mountains stretching endlessly into the horizon, with strong winds and the soothing sounds of nature all around. We spent hours on the beanbags in silence, simply listening to the wind, the occasional bird call, and from a distance- the quiet, almost ghostlike movement of a train on an old bridge. At night, the silence deepened. With no other guests in sight, it felt like we had stepped into a forgotten chapter of a novel. There is a small, open restaurant on-site, dimly lit and surrounded by darkness, except for the soft glow of distant hilltop homes. Dining there, accompanied only by an elderly night guard, felt like something from a dream, the perfect setting to finish an old mystery manuscript or simply reflect in peace. The room had a full glass front wall, letting in soft golden sunlight each morning. Breakfast was simple and hearty, served warmly by the host. I took a walk along the quiet road, passing small shops and smiling locals, genuine and welcoming, unlike many tourist spots. We stayed only two nights, but the peaceful village, the silence, the wind, and the kindness of its people stayed with me. If you’re looking to escape the noise of Ella and slow down for a while, Maridian Hotel is a perfect hidden retreat.
Stayed in July 2025
Reviewed: 26 June 2025
Samuel
SeychellesI am not a big fan of open showers.
I stayed three nights at the Maridian Hotel. The thing I liked the most about the place was the view. Our host, Mr Chaminda,is a great guy, very friendly and helpful and made our stay really great.
Stayed in June 2025
Reviewed: 16 May 2025
Avarjana
Sri LankaThe place is superb with a nice location
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 29 April 2025
Happyhippy
New ZealandI found the mattress hard, but guess that is personal preference.
The room was large with amazing views. There is a restaurant that orders in for you, either traditional Sri Lankan food or pizza hut. The breakfast was large and filling. The host was fantastic and always around if you needed him.
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 22 April 2025
Thanushka
Sri LankaI had an amazing stay in Bandarawela! The place was clean, cozy, and perfect for a relaxing getaway. What truly stood out was the warm hospitality – the manager was incredibly friendly, always making sure everything was just right. One of the highlights of my stay was the local breakfast – absolutely delicious and full of authentic Sri Lankan flavors. A truly memorable experience, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the area!
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 16 April 2025
Kubenková
IndiaThere is a room for improvement in terms of hot water. We had hot water everyday but we had to wait quite long for it to heat up. But it was a very very minor inconvenience and I would definitely recommend staying here!
The accommodation is situated outside of Ella which was a great choice for us (or those who prefer quiet stays outside touristic places). The rooms are overlooking the valley and the views are just stunning. Breakfasts were Sri lankan and very tasty! The owner was very helpful.
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 8 April 2025
Muhammad
EgyptEverything was amazing 🤩 clean and quiet place 👌 special thanks to Chaminda for his warm hospitality and kindness 🙏
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 29 March 2025
Tracey
AustraliaChaminda and his staff were very welcoming. Chaminda was very informative on local sites and services. Maridian Hotel is out of town but we had our own transportation, so this wasn’t a problem. There was also a bus that stopped directly out the front of the property which takes you into Bandarawela and the train station. Breakfast was plentiful, and changed daily. The view is amazing! The train line between Ella and Bandarawela can be seen at a distance.
Stayed in March 2025
Reviewed: 13 March 2025
Martina
ItalyThe views and the tranquillity
Stayed in March 2025
Reviewed: 28 February 2025
Djromirez
MoldovaA bit remote from Ella town,but manageable.
Nice spacious room with a great view! The owner is a great guy always willing to help!
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: 22 February 2025
Zuzana
Czech RepublicAmazing place with a fantastic view, very quite, large rooms, comfortable beds and a host who will help with absolutely everything, and finally an incredibly good breakfast and dinners. We spent unforgettable days here with friends.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: 20 February 2025
Xavier
United KingdomWhat a wonderful location. The view from the room is breathtaking. The staff are really friendly and kind. The room is very large and well decorated. The bed is really comfortable too. Breakfast was very nice and generous. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: 9 February 2025
Razvan
United KingdomN/A
Amazing hotel with great views of the valley and a bridge where you see the train passing, very big and spacious room, good facilities, clean and nice host. Breakfast is also really big and good.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: 9 February 2025
Mike
United KingdomLovely large bright room with floor to ceiling windows looking out across a valley. Great shower and comfortable bed. The hosts very kind and helpful. Location was good for stages 13 and 14 combined of the pekoe trail. It’s a 15min walk to Heel Oya rail station and from there you can get the early train to the start of stage 13 at Haputale. Stage 14 ends at Makulella and from there it’s a short tuk tuk ride back to the hotel.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: 30 January 2025
Jeramie-lee
CanadaNothing
The photos do not do this justice. The place is stunning and the views are incredible. The host was so attentive! The breakfast was incredible and I cannot describe the views from the beautiful room. The place is clean, beautiful and safe. We promptly booked two more nights. Highly recommend!
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: 22 January 2025
Mariola
PolandA very helpful host - he was very informative before our arrival, he arranged a transportation to Udawalawe for a very reasonable price for us and he prepared a delicious breakfast. The room itself was clean and nicely arranged - the hotel is quite new. The view from the room and the common area where you eat breakfast is stunning! You can feel like in a paradise. There is an Ella Organic Garden nearby where you can have a tour and see how different types of tea are made. The area is very quiet and lovely, a nice alternative to very touristic Ella centre. To get there from a train, the best option is to get out at Heel Oya station.
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: 21 January 2025
Camilla
SwedenStunning view, very good breakfast and the staff is the best! Got helped with everything even laundry and booking acitivites he fixed everything and had so funny nights here!!
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: 10 January 2025
Anton
AustriaNice and comfortable rooms with a great view, quiet and exclusive (only 5 rooms) location approximately 25 minutes from Ella, very good breakfast, super friendly host that introduced us to his friends and gave us a lot of feedback on what to do, had two wonderful evenings, if you are looking for a deep dive into Sri Lankan culture you are at the right place here
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: 9 January 2025
Adam
AustraliaVery friendly owner. Helpful and caring. Excellent location
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: 3 January 2025
Lauren
United StatesNothing, absolutely perfect stay.
This has been one of our absolute favorite stays in Sri Lanka. The view was beautiful of the mountains and you can see the train go by. The owner was fantastic, made us the most delicious breakfast and on checkout day we had to leave early and he even sent us a yummy to go breakfast. He was so kind and helpful and even helped us order food delivery the one night we felt too lazy to go back out. Highly recommend!
Stayed in January 2025
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