Malala Retreat

My family and I loved this quiet little sanctuary tucked away in nature. The staff work hard to keep everything lovely and clean, and it was great seeing monkeys nearby. There's a variety of food, though the restaurant doesn't sell alcohol. You can bring your own and keep it in the room fridge. The main gentleman, whose name I think was Fazal, was amazing and helped arrange a safari and boat trip.

Bird watching was a good reason to come, with peacocks and monkeys around, and a walk through the rice fields was calming. The views over the paddies were great, and the rooms were clean and basic, but the service felt disengaged. Most staff spoke little English, though the chef, who was also the manager, spoke it well. Dinner was good, but had to be ordered in advance. Breakfast was simple, and the eggs and sausage arrived cold. The silence may suit other visitors, but I wouldn't return. It was a good start to our next stop, two nights at Thalpe’s paddy villa.

We took their bird watching boat safari, which was relaxing and gave us the chance to see lots of birds. The property is absolutely beautiful, and chef Fazal was gracious, great company, and fed us delicious food. Athula and Dinesh looked after us kindly too. Thank you all.

I only stayed two nights, and wish I'd allowed more time to enjoy Malala's quiet, natural surroundings. Even with a late arrival, the staff waited to welcome me. Fazar went especially far out of his way, getting up around 3:45am to make me a sandwich for my safari. They also reheated the takeaway food I'd brought and served me a Sri Lankan breakfast, a real feast because that's what I wanted. The care felt warm and refreshing. My room and bathroom were very clean, and the bed was so soft I slept like a baby. I spent my last morning taking in the peaceful scenery, and it was time well spent. I'll definitely come back for a longer visit. It's a lovely place to get away and enjoy the quiet and nature.