The best eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka

From Colombo to Kandy, Sri Lanka is a tropic paradise with it all—stunning beaches, lush jungles, and diverse wildlife. You can join a safari to visit elephants and leopards in their natural habitats, taste Sri Lankan cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, and swim or surf in the blue-turquoise Indian Ocean. It is also a forerunner in eco-tourism with some of the world’s most innovative environmentally-conscious resorts. Check out our list of the best eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka that allow you to indulge in the country’s beauty while offsetting your impact on the environment.

The best eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka

1. The Kip, Ahangama

Set in an old colonial villa, The Kip (pictured above) was a former fisherman’s house converted to a charming four-room B&B. The owners, Phoebe and Seddy, wanted a more conscious and slower-paced life. The result is The Kip—a home tucked away in a traditional village, surrounded by lively jungles, and steps away from a secluded beach.

After a morning of surfing some of the best waters in Sri Lanka, refuel at The Kip Café that offers local and organic food made with love, using ingredients from their garden. The Kip is also the place to meet fascinating locals and immerse yourself in the regional culture. At night, you can fall asleep in their cosy queen-sized beds with the windows open to the sound of crashing waves.

Find out more about The Kip

2. Gal Oya Lodge, Ampara

Gal Oya Lodge is the ideal hideout for those seeking adventures in the Sri Lankan jungle. In addition to elephant safaris and birdwatching expeditions, you can visit the Vedda—the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of central Sri Lanka. The lodge offers a walking tour with the village head, who will impart his knowledge on how his ancestors worked the land.

Gal Oya Lodge has nine luxurious bungalows and family villas designed with harmony with nature in mind. Each space is nestled in the jungle with minimal impact on that land. All bedrooms have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors that open to a private verandah. There is even a pool on the property for when you want to take a break from exploring.

Find out more about Gal Oya Lodge

3. Tri, Ahangama

Situated on the bank of the eco-diverse Koggala Lagoon, Tri is a hideout that offers sustainable luxury. A hotel built with local materials and guided by its surroundings, Tri has green roofs, solar arrays, and edible gardens. We love the compact and comfy Water Tower Room in the cinnamon-wood-covered hilltop water tower. It has a king-size bed, and the ensuite bathroom has slate floors, hand-cut terrazzo walls, and a rainfall shower.

One of the best things about Tri is its locale. You can get on a bike to experience the countryside or take a tour of the lagoon to visit Cinnamon Island—the source of some of the best cinnamon in the world. For some city life, ride a tuk-tuk to the colonial town of Galle for some gelato. After a day of exploring, you can unwind at Tri with a massage or a quantum yoga class.

Find out more about Tri

4. Banyan Camp, Udawalawe

Banyan Camp is an off-the-grid, eco-retreat in rural Sri Lanka. One of its main attractions is its access to Udawalawe National Park, famous for wild elephants in their natural habitat. It is also the perfect spot for seeking waterfalls, exotic birds, and fresh mountain air.

The retreat itself blends in with its surroundings and leaves little carbon footprint. It is outfitted with scavenged doors and windows and furnished with driftwood furniture. One of the rooms—Mercedes Lodge—is made from an upcycled 1971 Mercedes minibus. It is a “dreams on wheels”—a unique outdoor room with a thatched roof made with dry grass.

Find out more about Banyan Camp

5. Mahoora, Various Locations

Mahoora is a provider of authentic, mobile-luxury adventure in the Sri Lankan wilderness. All Mahoora Elite & Premium Campsites border Sri Lanka’s most famous National Parks, such as Udawalawe, Yala (in the wetlands of southern Sri Lanka) and Wilpattu (the lowland dry zone of the northwest coast). All three locations provide premium safari experiences where you can see elephants, leopards, and hundreds of bird species.

We recommend the top-of-the-line, all-inclusive Mahoora Elite. It is a carbon-neutral safari experience covering game drives in the national parks, travelling in an exclusive jeep and guided by an experienced naturalist. You will stay in a spacious tented (32’x10.8’) accommodation with a bedroom, a living area, an ensuite bathroom, and a veranda. Meals are freshly prepared Sri Lankan food that you can wash down with arrack, the local liquor.

Find out more about Mahoora

6. Kodev, Kalpitiya

Glamping at its finest, Kodev is built on a natural mangrove reserve overlooking the Kalpitiya Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. Its isolated beaches have stunning sunsets and make a picturesque setting for stargazing. Kodev offers different activity packages, from kite surfing to safari tours, to crab hunting and island hopping—there is something for everybody.

Kodev’s Wilderness Tented Camp is modern, comfortable and built with conservation in mind. The site is built on existing patches of bare land (no clear-cutting), constructed using local materials, and powered by solar energy. You can indulge in luxury travel without adding to your carbon footprint.

Find out more about Kodev

7. The Mudhouse, Anamaduwa

A rustic getaway, the Mudhouse is on a specular 60 acres of land next to a lake. It has been designed as a traditional Sri Lankan village, with cow dung floors and palm-thatched roofs.

The Mudhouse grows its own fruit and vegetables and uses solar power or oil lamps as the light source to reduce its carbon footprint. The Camping Hut is perfect for a weekend trip with friends. It is a dormitory-style accommodation that can sleep up to 12 people. It is equipped with two indoor bathrooms and outdoor showers. The staff is super friendly and helpful and can help you plan your day’s activity, whether it’s fishing, kayaking, birdwatching or visiting the local Paramankanda Rock Temple.

Insider tip: To enjoy a sundowner by the lake, be sure to bring your own liquor. The Mudhouse has no liquor license but is happy to build you a bonfire while you enjoy a few drinks with friends.

Find out more about The Mudhouse

8. Back of Beyond, Various Locations

Back of Beyond offers several sustainable retreats across Sri Lanka. All of their locations have been planned and developed with minimal disruption to their surrounding areas. They practice rainwater collection, and their mini lakes for storing excess water have become a life-giving source for the wildlife during the dry season.

All their properties are fantastic, but our favourite is Water’s Edge in Anuradhapura. It is a bungalow that has modern and comfortable accommodations and a tree-filled garden. If you prefer to sleep in a tent or a treehouse, try Jungle Camp in Sigiriya. Both locations are close to Sri Lanka’s ancient cities—so be sure to partake in some of the cultural excursions that can connect you to Sri Lanka’s history.

Find out more about Back of Beyond

9. Apa Villa Illuketia, Wanchawala

Hidden away in a patch of jungle just inland from Galle, Apa Villa Illuketia offers six suites in a botanic wonderland surrounded by 10 acres of tropic ferns and blossoms. Once a colonial home on a plantation, choose to stay in the main house or in one of the pool house suites, each promising furniture crafted from natural materials alongside great design and restored glam.

Foodies will love the restaurant here which serves a selection of Sri Lankan, south Asian, and western fare lovingly created with produce from the onsite greenhouse. There’s a pool for cooling off in, but one of the biggest draws here is the ease at which guests can experience a good dose of forest bathing to help them reconnect with nature and forget about the outside world for a bit.

Learn more about Apa Villa Illuketia

10. Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes, Trincomalee

Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes Trincomalee Sri lanka hotel — Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes

From the moment you set foot at Jungle Beach, you’ll feel nature all around you. Looking like glamorous treehouses, the resort is a great base for exploring the eastern coast but offers plenty of relaxing onsite activities, such as spa, pools, and an ocean-view restaurant serving dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients for those who want to slow down.

Choose from beach, jungle or lagoon view chalets, each of which has been crafted to sit effortlessly within its natural surroundings. Sustainable linens and materials have been used throughout the interiors, but mod-cons like rain showers and WiFi are on hand to make your stay extra comfy.

Jungle Beach also features in our guide to the best boutique hotels in Trincomalee.

Find out more about Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes

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