Very Relaxing weekend getaway. The place itself is lovely with a homely feel, great accommodation, food, and staff very helpful and flexible. The yoga instructors were great, accommodating and activities a lot of fun. The Yoga itself was suitable for all levels but challenging at the same time. Definitely be visiting again!

I have just enjoyed the most delightful six days yoga treat at the Villa Ratnakara, Dondra, Sri Lanka. Emily is a fantastic host and yoga teacher. I have learned so much from her despite being a regular practitioner for almost 40 years. Over the six days we experienced such diverse sessions of yoga - every one of them to an inspiring playlist, in a beautiful yoga shala watched over by the swaying trees of the jungle and the sound of the waves. The yoga was by turns demanding, energising and restorative and the villa is beautiful. A precious time to savour for many weeks to come when I return to the fray of day to day life. Thank you Emily.

Fell so in love with this beautiful place whilst staying here for two weeks in the summer that I found myself back for another ten days in November. Brought with me a group of Ratnakara virgins to whom I had raved incessantly for the previous four months about how wonderful Ratnakara is. I could not have sold it higher but thankfully and unsurprisingly it did not let me down and not only met but far exceeded their already sky-high expectations.

Arriving at the house after a long and tiring journey from the UK to be met by the familiar welcoming smile of Wasantha and the rest of the lovely staff felt like coming home and I realised that this is exactly what makes Ratnakara so very special - it really is a home from home where it is impossible not to feel completely at ease and like you belong. As one of my companions wrote in the guest book “possibly the most relaxing place I have ever been”, and all the while whilst being looked after impeccably. Faultless. Again.

From the incredible build of the place, the lavish rooms and the sheer size of it all, to the long infinity pool which reaches into the tip of the jungle and from which you can see and hear the ocean, to the warm, consistently friendly and helpful 'A1' staff, THIS IS PARADISE - the only bad thing was leaving! BOOK NOW!

Just back from a fortnight staying at this little piece of paradise on earth and am finding it difficult to temper the tone of this review as I fear I am in grave danger of just gushing about how totally, flawlessly amazing Ratnakara is: the house, the bedrooms, the pool, the staff, the food - oh my goodness the food - the monkeys, the peacock, the ocean, the location… all utterly, decadently, perfect.

Whilst it would be very easy to never leave the property, there are lots of cool things to do nearby. Highlight of our trip was a safari in the Ude Wallawe National Park where we got up close to elephants and water buffalo - do be prepared to get up early though as you really need to be there for about 8am. We also visited a tea planation and a turtle hatchery. There is a little beach below the house that you can swim from but do take a 10 minute tuk-tuk ride to nearby Talalla Beach for a late afternoon walk and swim at least once. The fortified port town of Galle is about an hour away by train and is well worth a day trip for shopping and a lazy lunch.

Nearer home is Matara where you can pick up practically anything: recommend a trip to Cargills/Food City for bottles of the very quaffable Sri Lankan gin, Rockland with which Wasantha will prepare you most delicious lemon-grass (fresh picked from the garden) G&Ts before dinner or indeed at any time you want them…... He also does something moreishly delicious with the local spirit Arack.

Oh and don’t let the internet put you off travelling in monsoon season - we had stunning weather the whole fortnight and when we did get the odd twenty minutes of rain every now and again it didn’t stop us doing anything. In fact one of the most memorable moments of the fortnight was swimming in the rain at night with all the lights out and the full moon casting a bright beam across the pool.

We had a wonderful 2 week stay at Ratnakara with friends! What a stunning villa, comfortable, clean, modern and beautifully decorated and furnished! The villa has absolutely everything that you could need. The staff are great - attentive, polite, friendly. The chef is very good providing us with 3 delicious meals a day - his barbecues are the best! The villa is in a good location with lovely sea views, the beach is a short walk away and the town can also be accessed on foot, although Matara (the bigger town) is about a 15 minute tuk tuk ride away. It is easy to do day trips (tea plantations, safaris etc) which Wasantha can organise with no problem. We will definitely be back! Thanks for such a wonderful and memorable stay!