Excellent location overlooking the lake, large and clean rooms, and amazing food. Nimal and the staff were super friendly and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable and memorable.

Stayed in August 2025

Views from property. Staff v friendly. Accommodation as expected and clean and comfortable.

Stayed in September 2025

Nice room with an amazing view of the lake. Big terrace, perfect to enjoy breakfast and sunsets in front of the lake. The bathroom was very big and there was as much hot water as we wanted (very rare in Sri Lanka). From the hotel it's a very short tuk tuk ride to the point where you can take a boat tour on the lake. Absolutely do it if you have the time, it's so worth it you will see hundreds of beautiful birds and bats.

Stayed in August 2025

Overall it was very good. The only little thing I always like is a set to make tea or coffee with. But we can really recommend this location.

We used this location for one night because of a visit to yala. The view was beautiful. The host was very friendly and arranged a driver for the Yala safari, a breakfast package and balloons on the room for our sons birthday. The room was nice and clean. Enough restaurants around the corner.

Stayed in August 2025

We had to pay by cash as the card machine wasn't working, no restaurant facilities for evening meal.

View was amazing, room very clean and large, good air con.

Stayed in August 2025

The rooms are huge, with and incredible lake view, and the place is very clean. The shower pressure is good and there is hot water. The WiFi is the best we have encountered so far. The pool is right above the lake. You can sit at the pool while enjoying the many animals that pass by such as monkeys, buffalos, eagles and other birds Even though it is a bit dated, everything was perfect. The location is very good, right at the lake and even though there are plenty of options of restaurants nearby, you have to eat here at least once! The food is really amazing!! The staff, specifically the chef/manager, is super nice and kind. He offered to arrange us breakfast to go to take to the safari at 5am! You can also book the safari with them. Although they don't accept card payments, they accept Euros (and I think also Dollars and Pounds). You can be sure you will enjoy your time at Olu Villa and definitly recommend staying for dinner!

Stayed in August 2025

All was lovely

This was a fantastic place to stay with stunning views across the lake and constant flow of beautiful birds to watch. Nimal the manager and chef was great and adapted to our every need in a friendly and helpful way. His food was outstanding too!

Stayed in July 2025

The facilities available in the room.It would have been nice if a kettle and tea & coffee were available in the room.

The ambience. A peaceful and serene location . Ideal to rest and recharge.

Stayed in July 2025

This is a very good 3 star property, clean, great outlook over the lake. It was very convenient for us and our Safari driver. Great value for money for a night or two. If you are going for dinner I'd recommend Chef Lady - 700m walk. Very very good. Breakfast was good too.

Stayed in July 2025

Communication could have been better in regards to the safari we booked through them as we didn't know the zone or any information really - including upon check in with them questioning when we wanted to do it however I thought I had booked the date 4 months prior upon pre booking the hotel, so slightly alarmed to find out on arrival it wasn't actually booked yet - maybe because lower season so they knew it wouldn't be booked out but as soon as we were on the safari it was truly amazing and well priced. We couldn't have been more happy that the hotel had booked it all for us. There is no card payments at this hotel which is sometimes hard when it is large sums of money.

Very quiet hotel, we were slightly off season I believe. Check in was good, grabbed lunch and it was tasty - flies are annoying but what can you do near a lakeside. Rooms were spacious & comfortable, bathroom was clean and also big. Recommend to go out earlier into town as well for food, as taxis can be hard to find - ubers are around 8-10 minute waits.

Stayed in May 2025

N/A.

It was a fantastic hotel with great food and, although there were some language issues upon arrival, the owner of the hotel spoke fluent English and was very accommodating. The hotel organised a safari tour, which was also excellent - the guide was apologetic we didn't see leopards, but we saw everything else! Next time, we would have an extra day there just to relax.

Stayed in April 2025

No tea, coffee or kettle in room. The staff could make you tea but it was an extra charge.

Beautiful view over the lake and a pool to enjoy. Great shower with hot water and good pressure. It was perfect for our 2 night stay for Safari. We did not eat at the hotel due to having full day safari and wanting to try a local restaurant with more atmosphere. The hotel was nice and quiet and clean.

Stayed in April 2025

A little bit remote

The rooms and pool. Shower was amazing with great water pressure and hot water

Stayed in April 2025

View

Nice property with good view of tissa lake

Stayed in April 2025

The staff were so helpful and friendly, they put food on for us as we arrived late- the best curry I have had! They also washed our clothes from a day at yala safari. Breakfast was lovely and tailored to what we wanted. Would stay here again.

Stayed in April 2025

The first evenings dinner they wouldn't make Sri Lankan curry for 1 person! I ended up with tuna fried rice. It was a large portion and tasty. No card processing machine, which I'm finding in alot of places, so make sure you have cash!

I loved the beautiful views across the lake. I picked this hotel as it wasn't too far from Yala NP. There isn't much else to do close by, although I did go for a walk around the neighbourhood! The room was large with a comfy bed, beautiful big bathroom, lovely shower, plenty of hot water, just what you need after a full day safari! Also a fridge too! The pool was also very nice to relax in also. As I was solo I booked my safari through Get Your Guide! But if you're a couple or more the hotel will book one for you. If you want somewhere extremely peaceful with beautiful views, book here. I'm glad I did!

Stayed in March 2025

Staff are amazing and the dinner there is one of the best curries I have had in Sri Lanka.

Stayed in March 2025

Nothing

Property was outstanding

Stayed in March 2025

Only thing I can say is there is a need for shade around the pool but didn’t bother us too much.

Room was exactly as stated in the photos, clean and comfortable. Would highly recommend this place for anyone wanting a safari as they organised it all for us prior to arrival. We chose to eat at the property due to lack of restaurants around. I can honestly say this was the best food we have had all holiday and the host is an exceptional cook. The photos of the property do not give it justice with a great pool area next to the lake. I definitely recommend sitting outside your room at sunset to see the thousands of fruit bats fly over it is a great spectacle.

Stayed in March 2025

Nothing everything was amazing!

Everything about our stay was amazing! - Location, great spot on the lake and super close to Yala for the early start with safari, only 5 minute Tuktuk to town / nearby nice restaurants - Our room was beautiful spacious and clear and the view of the lake was INCREDIBLE! The pool was also great and nice and clean, perfect for a dip after a hot car journey and long day. - The highlight of our stay was the incredible staff who could not be more helpful organising tuktuks, helping with luggage, bringing tea to our room and for the early safari starts. They even helped us locate a driver for the next step of our trip and asked us what we would like for dinner after safari. All of our tea, breakfast,and dinner was delicious. We had bad weather but it did not dampen our trip or stay at this lovely hotel! We hope the come back in the future and try to see the leopards again!

Stayed in February 2025

Lovely rooms with a view of the lake. Clean and comfortable. Great pool. Excellent breakfast.

Stayed in February 2025

None

Villa is clean, Large rooms, Big porch, Nice working AC, right in front of lake, Clean pool....Manager was very kind person....cooked great meal for us

Stayed in February 2025

Rooms could do with a few pictures/art but that’s me just nit picking. Extremely beautiful view which makes up for it.

Huge rooms, lacking a bit of decor but it was spotlessly clean. Gorgeous view of the lake. Quite a quiet area but we arranged pick up & drop off for dinner with our tour guide but owner would have been happy to prepare food. Very good value.

Stayed in February 2025

None

Very cool place . Excellent Location . Friendly staff.

Stayed in February 2025