Everything was nice

The accomodation was really nice, we really liked the jungle-vibe of the place. The host was rather nice and helpful, he helped us tinker our plan and even helped us arrange transportation to the next accomodation. The breakfests were excellent. Should we ever come back to Ella we would stay there again!

Stayed in August 2025

Internet works fine for tourists. Maybe not for zoom calls

We spent two nights at Spice Lodge in Ella and it was simply spectacular. The room was super comfortable — honestly, some of the best nights of sleep we’ve had in Sri Lanka. Breakfast was outstanding, freshly prepared by Kamal’s mother, and we highly recommend the cooking class with her and Kamal’s sister, which was a wonderful experience. The homestay has a very warm and family atmosphere, everything is spotless clean, and the location is just perfect — only 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk from Ella center, right at the starting point for the Nine Arches Bridge and also a great base for Little Adam’s Peak at sunrise or sunset. Kamal was the perfect host, always kind and helpful. He even took us on a tuk-tuk trip to a waterfall about an hour from Ella, which was an unforgettable experience. In short: great location, great service, spotless cleanliness, and a truly authentic homestay experience. Highly recommended!

Stayed in August 2025

A lot of steps up to the lodge. However, the owner is there to help you with the luggage:)

Hospitality, welcome juice and evening tea. Incense and plants on the terrace, amazing view from it.

Stayed in July 2025

Amazing stay in Ella, highly recommended! Everything was perfect - beautiful room with beautiful views overlooking tea plantations and lush gardens. Delicious and generous breakfast. Host was very welcome y and súper helpful - especially helped make the most of our stay with various fabulous excursions. Thank you again!

Stayed in June 2025

It's absolutely gorgeous, quiet, the staff is very friendly. It's a short walk from the Little Adam's Peak and Nine Arch Bridge, and 20min walk to the center where you find a lot of restaurants. The room is beautiful and super comfortable. The traditional breakfast is delicious!!! I hope I can come back :)

Stayed in May 2025

Everything was great. Probably the only thing to bear in mind is that to get to the room you have to climb a quite steep staircase (same with many of Ella's hotels), if you have serious knee problems or other mobility limitations this could be a problem. For me it was not a minus

Great location, spacious and clean room with no bugs or mould. Lovely terrace in front of the room where breakfast is served and also where it is nice to sit in the evening. Definitely recommend this option, excellent value for money

Stayed in April 2025

Kamal welcomed us at 2:30 p.m. with his little boy, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere right from the start. The guesthouse is nestled in the middle of lush greenery – you reach it after a short 3-minute walk from the road. The room is beautiful, overlooking the forest, with a very large bed and a lovely bathroom. Everything was spotless. The private terrace is spacious, with sun loungers to relax and enjoy the view. As soon as we arrived, Kamal served us tea and biscuits and suggested activities for our stay (we only had one night in Ella, so we didn’t want to waste time!). We set off to explore the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam’s Peak (just next to the guesthouse) following Kamal’s advice. He gave us great tips on when to catch the train on the bridge and recommended good restaurants for dinner. Since we had to leave early, breakfast was served at 8 a.m. as we requested. We could choose between a Western or Sri Lankan breakfast – we went for the Sri Lankan one, which was delicious, varied, and very generous! Kamal and his family kindly offered seconds if we were still hungry. It was a flawless stay – warm, welcoming hosts, high-quality accommodation, and a truly relaxing atmosphere. A big thank you to Kamal and his family for their hospitality. Our only regret is not having stayed longer!

Stayed in May 2025

We loved our stay at the Spice Lodge, Kamal was a brilliant host. The breakfast was incredible, we had the Sri Lankan style and each morning got to try new delicious food. The rooms were really nice, the terrace overlooked the jungle and you felt surrounded by nature. The setting of the lodge was stunning, and you can tell the hosts care. We took the cooking course with Kamal's family and can highly recommend - the food was delicious.

Stayed in April 2025

Lovely design, high ceilings, scenic outlook over the mountains of Ella. Only two rooms so nice and private with seats and tables out the front so the view can be enjoyed. Big windows that can fold back.

Stayed in April 2025

It’s not the most central location in Ella, but close to the Nine Arch bridge and Little Adam’s peak trailhead which were my priorities while in Ella.

Beautiful lodge, great interior, really good breakfast. Photos don’t do justice, it was even better IRL.

Stayed in April 2025

Kamal goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome. The location is unreal. Short walk to Little Adam's Peak and Ella's city centre. Food was great too.

Stayed in March 2025

We loved our stay here. The rooms are comfortable and the view from the spot is lovely with all of the trees. The rooms don't have AC but we didn't find that to be a problem as Ella is not as warm as other spots we stayed in Sri Lanka - we used the fan at night. It was good to open the windows to let in fresh air as it can be a bit stuffy and humid but I think this is the norm with the humidity. No mould or anything like this :) the location is great right next to a couple of main attractions (Littles Adams and Nine Arches) and some nice food spots but still secluded and quiet. The place is up steps if this could be an issue for you - it was ok for us. The host was super helpful always and also offered us transport and reasonable prices to get to different spots if we asked! We also did the cooking class which we really enjoyed. The breakfasts were a highlight - we had the Sri Lankan breakfast and absolutely loved them - slightly different each day with string hoppers and coconut sambal and different curries plus fresh fruit etc. The hosts also packed us a wee lunch of sandwiches and fruit for our early train and dropped us off there. We really enjoyed our stay here!

Stayed in April 2025

a mosquito net above the bed would have been appreciated

Kamal is a great host and it is very close to little Adam‘s peak which is a great spot for sunrise and sunset. Main road is also in walking distance

Stayed in April 2025

Accomodation is quite up to hill, so be prepared for some stairs. I read it in other reviews, so I was preparred and we did not mind the stairs. More stairs means nicer view. But I can imagine that for some people it can be problem.

This accomodation was my favourite form all Sri Lanka. I loved the view and sittiing on terrace in the morning feeling like in the middle of the forrest. Room was spacious and bed very comfortable. I loved the front wall made completely out of huge windows, so you can enjoy the view even from the bed. Our host was super professional and so helpful. I would recommend this accomodation 100%.

Stayed in March 2025

Nothing. Its basic but excellent

Great location. Breakfast was excellent. A short tuck tum ride from busy central Ella but very quiet with good local restaurants. Short Walk to Little Adams Peak. Owner was really helpful. Definitely recommended.

Stayed in March 2025

Nothing, everything was perfect.

The property was one of the best we’ve stayed at during our trip and had stunning views. Every morning the family cooked the most delicious Sri Lankan breakfast and Kamal made sure we had everything we needed and looked after us amazingly. He even took us on a day trip to see spectacular waterfalls. The Wi-Fi worked well for us too. I will definitely stay here again!

Stayed in March 2025

There are barking dogs at night but this is not something the host can help

Amazing lodge with two rooms - both have beautiful views. Host is really lovely and has breakfast ready for you every morning at your requested time. Sri Lankan breakfast was delicious, especially the coconut pancakes! About 10-15mins walk into town but very close to 9 arch bridge and little Adam’s peak. Room was big and comfortable.

Stayed in March 2025

Room was a bit warm during the day & lack of mosquito net or window screens made it hard to leave door/windows open too long, but did cool off & we slept comfortably each night.

Kamal was a phenomenal host who went above and beyond to ensure we had an amazing stay (giving rides to town, helping with dirt bike rentals, giving great personalized recommendations). Breakfast was the best we've had. Location was nicely off the main strip (though easily walkable) and convenient for hikes up Little Adam's Peak & Nine Arches Bridge. Highly recommend!

Stayed in March 2025

Great rooms in an amazing setting, the photos don’t do it justice. Staff were lovely and breakfast was delicious, best I’ve had in Sri Lanka.

Stayed in March 2025

We had an amazing experience with Kamal during our stay From the moment he picked us up, he went above and beyond to ensure our trip was special. Kamal guided us to Diyaluma Falls, and drove us to the Halpewatte Tea Factory, and.. He was incredibly kind, attentive to details, and always made sure we were comfortable. What really stood out was Kamal’s thoughtful planning—he shared invaluable tips to help us avoid crowds and enjoy peaceful moments at each destination. He patiently waited for us, gave us plenty of time to explore, and was never in a rush. His friendly attitude, local insights, and very reasonable pricing made the experience truly memorable. We highly recommend him to anyone visiting Ella! At the same time he was not pushing us to anything we did not want to do! We also did the cooking class they offer which was also amazing local experience.

Stayed in February 2025

One thing to keep in mind if you have walking difficulties is that there are about 50 steps leading up to the accommodation.

Review for The Spice Lodge in Ella: 10/10 The Spice Lodge in Ella is absolutely perfect! Our room was spacious, spotlessly clean, and very comfortable. The hosts were incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. The ambiance of the entire place is so relaxing, and the breakfast was absolutely delicious – a great way to start the day. They also offer a cooking class, which is a wonderful experience, and a convenient laundry service. The location is ideal: it’s right at the start of the Little Adam’s Peak hike, which made our early morning adventure super easy. While it’s a bit of a distance from the city center (about a 20-minute walk or a quick 3-5 minute tuk-tuk ride), we found it peaceful and perfectly located for exploring the area. Overall, we had a fantastic stay and would highly recommend The Spice Lodge for its comfort, hospitality, and perfect location!

Stayed in January 2025

Room was a bit dark but very spacious.

Excellent location, quiet lush garden and lovely view. Delicious meals both breakfast and dinners. Personalised service - host Kamal was so helpful and friendly.

Stayed in February 2025

It could be a little more private. Sometimes owner children are a little loud.

The view is amazing! You are surrounded by nature. Room was very clean, nice bathroom, comfortable bed and huge windows to look out in the green. Terrace was fantastic.

Stayed in February 2025

Amazing stay in Ella! The place is very clean, room is big and has a nice terrace with an amazing view. A delicious breakfast is served every morning on your terrace. The host is really friendly and you can even do a cooking class with his family. We did it and we definitely recommend it. Location is great as it is a bit outside the noisy center and close to Little Adam’s peak and the nine arches bridge hike. Best value for money in Sri Lanka. Would like to come back again!

Stayed in January 2025