Secret Mountain Paradise

The hosts made us feel welcome, and breakfast was delicious. Secret Mountain Paradise is only about 1.5 km from Ella town, so it’s easy to get there while still enjoying a quiet, restful spot with beautiful mountain views. Their tuk tuk service is much cheaper than the ones in town. A lovely place to unwind in Ella! 🌿✨

The owner was polite when we spoke, and agreed to cancel our booking and refund us. But we were left to find another hotel at the last minute and spend more money, and the tuk tuk ride into town ended with the driver demanding 700 rupees after they’d offered to take us. Without a tuk tuk, getting out seemed impossible, and taxis or tuk tuks wouldn’t come to the property. Getting there was a problem from the start. The place looked nothing like the Booking.com photos and sits far down narrow dirt roads. Our taxi couldn’t get close, so the driver called the hotel. They sent a tuk tuk, then drove us another 5-8 minutes along a steep, dangerous mud track. The walk from the “lobby” to our room felt unsafe too. My girlfriend nearly fell twice and arrived with two leeches on her legs. The room was filthy, with bugs on the bed and pillows, ants on the floor, a sticky bathroom floor, a yellow, dirty fridge inside, and hundreds of squashed bugs on the wall. There were insects throughout the place. I’m being honest and fair here, but the stay was appalling. Good luck to anyone booking.

We came back for a second visit to this magical little place hidden in the jungle. The staff are lovely, and Duburu is one of the best hosts.

There’s a lovely outdoor space surrounded by natural jungle, and we had a spacious room with two beds, a small fridge, and a kettle. We hired a scooter to get to and from town. Breakfast was pleasant, and the owner was kind and hospitable.