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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
5.0
#4 of 125 hotels in Kandy
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
4.8
Value
4.7
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Aarunya, translating to "first rays of the sun" in the ancient Sanskrit language, is an award winning collection of private pool villas perched atop a nine-acre estate adorned with spice & tea gardens. In operation since June 2018, it is our special purpose to provide our guests with a genuine, personalized, heartfelt Sri Lankan hospitality experience encompassing personalized service and authentic local experiences. Commanding a breathtaking view of the UNESCO Natural World Heritage listed Knuckles Mountain Range, Aarunya invites you to embrace unforgettable sunrises, embark on wonderful excursions and authentic local experiences, indulge in extraordinary dining experiences, and immerse yourself in exotic therapeutic wellness rituals. Revitalize your mind, body and soul at Aarunya, a Nature Retreat like no other.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Nestled in the lush landscapes of Kandy, the Aarunya Nature Resort is celebrated for its immaculate cleanliness and lush atmosphere. Guests often laud the luxurious amenities, including the private pools and spa, although some suggest there's room for enhancement.
The resort's service garners high praise for its attentive and professional staff, contributing to an overall valuable experience. Accommodations are admired for their spaciousness and modern touches, with the stunning views particularly noteworthy, despite occasional remarks about insect encounters.
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Remarkable
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Lavish
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Words can't describe how amazing our stay was, absolutely magical! ❤️ The resort itself is a piece of art: The esthetics of the architecture, the astonishing views, the diverse fauna & flora, ... We have also attended the dining & high tea experience and had the spa treatment, which were all top class as well. Last but not least, we want to thank the entire staff for their friendly & exquisite service, attention to detail and their overall hospitality. They didn't just make us feel at home, they made us feel like family! ❤️ we have stayed in 2 different Villas. First one was the Premiumvilla and the second was a Sky Tented Villa. Both of them were just WOW! This has genuinely been the best experience of our lives, I hope we'll be able to come back one day 🙏🏼Thank you for everything.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled 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.
This resort is the best resort in Sri Lanka I have tried more than 8 hotels / resorts in my life in Sri Lanka , and this was the best in terms of the customer service, the house keeping, the very well maintained furnitures , and the very comfy beds.
My family and I love ❤️ a the waiter called Indu, who approached us very nicely, and understand our needs, and what exactly we love to eat , we tried breakfast, dinner, and lunch and all worth trying. She is spreading the happiness in the hotel by her smile and the excellent treatment we have received from her.
Actually at the beginning we spent one night, and then we have changed the hotel we went to another hotel for one night , but my kids keep saying we want to go back to Indu hotel. So we called the hotel and guess what Indu answered the call to check if there is available room, and we were lucky enough to spend 2 more nights in this resort trying the Sky Suite Villa. And this time I also tried Spa treatment, where I enjoyed my time and felt extremely relaxed hearing the nature’s voice while having my treatments.
The Spa lady is very professional and knows what she is doing , she seems highly educated and loves her job. I love the hospitality after my treatment the tea , the sweets, and the yummy apple pieces.
Dinuka is managing the front desk professionally and very friendly with kids even though my kid is not easy to manage he could made her listened to him and he made her very happy. Mr. Dinuka is a very kind person and easy going . Always there and he responded to your requests effectively and efficiently.
The Gm is a caring person who takes care of everything and everyone there as I sow . He is managing the property smartly. The new year eve was fantastic with the fireworks 🎇 party and the dinner was excellent and delicious!!
A must visit for anyone visiting Kandy, best hotel and the rooms are big enough for a family of 4 ppl.
Well done for this resort please do keep up the great work , and keep maintaining the resorts room very well like what u r doing now.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled 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.
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What an amazing piece of paradise. We were totally pampered at Aaruyna Nature Resort. The location is up in the hills about 30 mins from Kandy and has just spectacular views over the countryside. Our villa was beautiful, spotless and the décor was very minimalist but with everything you could need , the shower was so powerful, beautiful spacious bathroom , the bed was very comfortable, and we loved the jacuzzi outside on our balcony. The infinity pool down by the Verandah restaurant was just beautiful, with views to die for from it. The food was excellent, breakfasts were delicious with a varied menu to choose from, lovely fresh fruit and breads and also eggs cooked to order and bacon, plenty of choice. We had the Sri Lankan tasting menu for dinner at the Aahaara restaurant, it was just amazing, from our Arrack Cocktail to start served at The Verandah with its magnificent views , then being led down to Aahaara by lighting torches, the musicians playing to welcome us and performing while we ate dinner, Indu and the chef producing a spectacular show with delicious food, it was just all fabulous. Indu and the chef were terrific hosts and made the evening so interesting, we loved seeing chef cooking and Indu grinding the spices and explaining all about the menu.
A huge thank you to all the staff who were so welcoming and could not do enough for us especially Kumar, Manesh and Indu.
We left reluctantly and could easily have stayed at Aarunya for another few nights! It was so peaceful and such a beautiful place. I would recommend at least 3 nights.
Hopefully we will get to return one day. If we get to return to Sri Lanka, Aarunya will definitely be on the itinerary, could not recommend it highly enough.
Best of success with the resort and thank you to Alec the resort manager for a wonderful stay memories of which we will treasure forever.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The suites have amazing views
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 Aarunya during a weekend and the stay did not live up to our expectations. We got a warm welcome from the hotel staff and a quick check in to our room. After having a quick shower we went for lunch and asked for the menu but we were told that only chicken biriyani is available for lunch. We were told previously that they offer à la carte menu to choose from but NOPE. Good luck if you're a vegetarian and trying to have lunch at Aarunya. But the biriyani was nice, then again when you're paying a higher price, you need to have options to choose from. We stayed some time during the eve in the Jacuzzi which was the only luxurious thing that I can highlight during our stay, but being it an outdoor jacuzzi the magnificent view of the mountains were blocked by some trees in the garden. For dinner and for breakfast (no desserts were available for the breakfast) we had the à la carte menu (some satisfaction at least). The food is fine, but nothing really to highlight. The most frustrating thing was hot water was not available in the morning. At 7.00 am I called house keeping and informed, a person came and said he turned on the solar and in 5 min the hot water will be available. Waited 10 min, NOPE. Called again and another person came and said he routed the power back from generator and in 5 min it'll be available. Waited more than 15 min and no hot water and the water supply totally ran out, so no water at all. Called again and another new person came and did a fix saying they have two water lines and there is no water in the line routed to our room. Then it took another 10 min or so to get water back. So from 7.00 am to 8.00 am I was trying to wash myself. Such a disappointment. The staff was nice and have a nice view of the mountains for the main pool. But unfortunately it was a average stay for a higher price.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Location
Service
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.
Response from Alec van Cuylenburg, General Manager at Aarunya Nature Resort - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Responded Sep 23, 2020
Dear Mr. Somasiri, We are indeed surprised with this review. With the exception of an issue with hot water, owing to us utilising solar energy for this purpose, we are disappointed with the outcome of your stay. This too was rectified after switching to regular electricity. The comfort and satisfaction of all our guests is important, so despite the negative review we appreciate your feedback. On the issue of price, since you have mentioned it 2 times, please note that the price you paid is certainly not higher. While you stayed on a heavily discounted rate, it certainly has no bearing to the high levels of service or product offering we strive to maintain. This is aptly made clear by the positive reviews by hundreds of guests who we have had the privilege to host in the past. Note for future guests : We do not serve buffet style meals, this is conveyed both at pre-booking as well as on arrival. Lunch is traditional Sri Lankan or an alternate depending on guest movement. Dinner is a 4 course international menu. Breakfast is a choice of Sri Lankan or Western, which is a fantastic spread. We do not offer dessert at breakfast. Fresh fruit is however served. We are in the mountains, we are a nature resort, and our focus is on lessening the impact on our environment. Our villas all offer varied and individual views overlooking the mountains. We don't intend on cutting down any trees in the immediate future. I will be in touch with you direct. Sincerely,
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Me & my friend stayed here for 4 nights on a mini break. This place is amazing! The location is on the mountain top in the middle of a jungle paradise it’s just breathtaking! A hour from Kandy & 3/4 hours from the international airport pending traffic. Getting up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains is a must do during your stay. The perfect instagram delight! The hotel has several villas all set apart from each other so you have peace, quiet & privacy. We stayed in a villa with our own hot tub set against a back drop of beautiful jungle! The room was very comfortable & had everything we needed with a spacious bathroom lots of attention to detail with the extras in the room. A/C, WiFi, mini bar all good. The staff were excellent & a special mention to Indu she was just delightful, super friendly & professional. Nothing was to much trouble & they all went out there way to accommodate us. The general manager greeted us upon arrival & was again friendly, honest & professional. The staff arranged TukTuk for us on 2 occasions to take us out & about. We also booked a day out with driver to see the elephants. There were many excursion available to book directly with the staff at reception. Airport transfer was arranged with them to & was timely, efficient & professional. Sri Lankan roads require a skill level of driving & patience and we always felt very safe. The infinity pool at the main reception area was also amazing the views across the landscape from here are wonderful. There is a small gym to & outdoor bikes to use if you needed them but I wouldn’t fancy the cycling back up the hill! We had treatments at the on site spa which was lovely getting a massage surrounded by nature just added to the relaxation. Food was delicious & breakfast very good! I can highly recommend the coconut chicken tenders we couldn’t get enough of them! Yummy! The hotel is away from the local village so other eating out options are limited as nothing else is close by but this was not a issue. Dinner service was also very good with a nice selection of local dishes on offer. Overall this is the perfect place for peace, quiet & relaxation. Highly recommended! Thank you for a wonderful stay.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled 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.
Response from Alec v, General Manager at Aarunya Nature Resort - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Responded Feb 3, 2020
Dear Kerenza & Sophie, Thank you ladies for this wonderful review. It was indeed our pleasure to host you during your time in Sri Lanka. Your review of your stay is detailed enough that we are proud to have made it a memorable one. We look forward to the opportunity of hosting you, among friends and family in the future. Indu, along with the rest of the staff wishes you both the very best. Kind regards, Alec van Cuylenburg General Manager
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We visited this resort as a couple and the decision was mainly made based on photos and ratings. The fact is that reality is even nicer than the photos. We spent here 4 nights and it was unbeliavable experience! Yes, the stay is not cheap but you get what you can't get in most of other hotels/resorts: 1) it's situated in beautiful nature, 2) stunning views, 3) amazing staff (e.g. Kumar, Indu,... guys were so helpful and generous) and fantastic general manager (Alec, thanks for everything!), 4) cleanliness, 5) own jacuzzi in villa, 6) gym, 7) high level kitchen, 8) max 15 other guests, so it's very quiet, 9) individual approach from the resort. This place was so amazing that we even cancelled some cultural plans because we wanted to enjoy this unique place:) I definitely recommend this place to everyone who wants to enjoy some "me-time" and who appreciates high quality. YOU WON'T REGRET!!! ;)
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled 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.
Aarunya Nature Resort is one of the loveliest resorts in Sri Lanka among the hotels that I have visited so far. For those who are looking for a relaxation from the busy schedule I think this resort is a brilliant choice.
It is a both nature oriented and view oriented resort where we can feel nature, actually it’s like spending a vacation in a Bali resort due to its location and architecture.
We stayed 3 nights and 4 days there and we experienced 2 villa categories. The Sky tented villa is very special since it has a plunge pool with a breathtaking view with a lovely interior.
From the arrival to the departure we got a great hospitality service and it’s very worth the money.
Villas - Big spaces. A wide range of quality amenities. Very clean. They have provided everything which needs to make our stay to the upper experience. For example they provide Bluetooth speakers and binoculars as villa amenities. Food & Beverage - Aahara Destination Restaurant is my favorite spot due to the restaurant environment and food are very tasty. To be honest the dinner which we had in the Aahara Destination Restaurant is one of the most delicious meals that I have ever had. Definitely I especially recommend this restaurant to have dinner, to anyone who is going to be staying at Aarunya.
Overall, they have a better A’ la carte menu, you can have luscious meals in the veranda or as in room dining with stunning views.
Service & Staff – They offer a very efficient service and always think about guest’s comfort. And also they are friendly and can trust without any hesitation.
Activities – You can do cycling, yoga and hiking as well. They have a lovely spa with a nice surrounding and the treatments are perfect. At the Aahara Destination Restaurant you will be able to get a better idea about Sri Lankan village tradition and activities as well.
I highly recommend this resort to anyone without any hesitation. Thanks a lot Aarunya instead of providing us a superb experience. We will definitely visit you again.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Trip type: Traveled on business
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 reserved the premium villa with jaccuzi for our two year old baby as she really like to play with water. After check in, we instantly asked the staff to switch on the water heating of the jaccuzi, and went to dinner, expecting to enjoy the jaccuzi after dinner. Staff said the water will be ready in half an hour. But after dinner and two more hours waiting, the water is still cold.
The staff said they only need ten more minutes to fix it otherwise they can add hot water in the tank manually. After several barrels of hot water poured, the jaccuzi is still cold as there is just to much cold water!
I asked for a refund with the amount of price difference between room with jaccuzi and room without jaccuzi. Hotel told me there is nothing they can do about it. So we ended up spending whole night fixing the jacuzzi with hotel staff, failed and still have to pay higher price for the jaccuzi.
strongly advise travellers to avoid booking
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled 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.
Response from Alec v, General Manager at Aarunya Nature Resort - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Responded Jan 23, 2020
Dear Guest, Thank you for your review. I was away from the hotel last evening but was aware of the prevailing issues concerning your booking and stay while it was happening. As you are aware, we are a nature resort which you booked knowingly. Our energy conservation efforts were clearly explained to you during your room introduction including all available alternates to ensure your stay was comfortable. We are not in the habit of running electricity for hours to heat a jacuzzi not in use as it goes against our business principals. Unfortunately a 600 liter Jacuzzi does not heat up in minutes and we would have appreciated your understanding in this regards. The pouring of hot water into the Jacuzzi is not a standard of the hotel, rather the effort of the staff to fix a problem they felt needed fixing based on your demands. In regards to your requested refund, you have failed to mention that we offered to first upgrade you to our highest category villa. You refused. We then offered to relocate you to another villa that was awaiting arrival of another guest, you refused that too. You have also failed to mention that you gladly accepted the complementary dinner that was extended and not charged. We hope that you take the time to read the reviews of our past guests which clearly indicate that we go to great measures and practice extraordinary standards of service in ensuring our guests a pleasant stay. I am sorry to note that you felt different. For these reasons only a refund partial or otherwise was refused because it was clear you were only interested in getting your money back, rather than enjoying your night at Aarunya as per the free upgrade on offer or the opportunity of staying in an equal category villa. Best wishes, Alec van Cuylenburg General Manager
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Stayed at the Aarunya Nature resort for 4 nights over the Christmas period and was thoroughly impressed with the entire end to end journey. From the moment we arrived to the last moment we left, we felt welcomed and taken care off, which was mainly down to all the professional staff.
The resort: The private villas are worth their weight in gold. Nestled away in the mountains, each resort comes with their private infinity pool that overlooks the mountains (fantastic sunrise can be enjoyed from your bed) and comes fully equipped with a complimentary bar and out door bathroom for that truly natural feel :). It’s great for couples or families alike. Social out to Alec for the upgrading us and also lovely manager all around.
The food: Hands down the food is defiantly a good shout especially the unique western or Sri Lankan breakfast. I’d opt for the Sri Lankan breakfast as it’s something truly special and a lot of food! Have to mention Indu & Mahesh for the food recommendation and just generally Going above and beyond to ensure we were always fed and happy! Doing a cracking job and hope Alec can recognise your hard work with a cheeky raise :)
The service: In true Sri Lankan hospitality the entire team are super friendly, happy and care for attention to detail. From booking excursions or assistance with train tickets (thanks dhanku (sorry if I spelt your name wrong).
Overall, a really great experience and friendly bunch that care about hospitality! Great staff and stunning location.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled 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.
This is my honest review. This is not really a luxury hotel and definitely not a spa resort. It is really a collection of bedroom chalets in a very beautiful location with stunning views, if the weather allows. There is very little “spa” experience! as they only have one member of staff who does the treatments. My husband and I could not ,for example , get a massage at the same time. The massage room is located right next to a village house with a barking , whining dog , chopping and loud music , so it was not very relaxing.
The location is not ideal for visiting Kandy . The trip into town took over 45 mins each way, so I would suggest taking in the sights of Kandy before staying at the hotel.
The food is good but not not amazing given the prices. I was charged 20 US for a large gin and tonic , which was served with a plastic bottle of very unpleasant tonic.
The bedroom was very pleasant and had everything you need but I did not find the bed very comfortable . The bed creaked and the linen was an issue for me. We used the jacuzzi only once as you have to call the staff to get it working .
The main dining area is in the same space as the main Reception , the “bar” , the billiard table and everything else. So, on dining one night , a large van arrived with new arrivals right by our table and the driver left the engine running and the noise and the fumes was really in pleasant and disturbed the enjoyment of our meal.
The staff are really lovely and try their hardest but the resort?? ( I’m not sure what to call it ) is bit of a sham. Go for the views and the lovely staff but for me, nothing else.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Hi! Aarunya is quite far from sightseeing places. It is about 45 minutes from Kandy and 1.5 hours from Pinawala. Keep in mind, too, that the roads around Aarunya are absolutely insane! They are barely wide enough for one car, and yet public busses zoom around the blind corners causing near heart-attacks! Also, the roads near the resort are not paved, either, and very literally in the jungle, so you need a reliable vehicle and GPS (or professional driver) to navigate the route. I believe when we went it took us nearly 30 minutes to drive the last 1 or 2 kilometers! Still, Aarunya is one of the most breathtaking resorts I've ever been to, and would highly highly recommend it. Give yourself a day or two to just relax there, then head to the sightseeing spots after!
There are more places to choose from in the Kandy area.
PRICE RANGE
$579 - $722 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Sri LankaCentral ProvinceKandy DistrictKandy
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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