Ariya Tissa

The staff were fantastic, and the food was very good, with plenty of vegetarian choices. It's a clean, nicely presented place with new, high-quality facilities and a great base for a safari. They'd chosen the driver well, with both the animals and passengers in mind. We'd happily return.

I usually choose hotels, but my girlfriend talked me into trying this place, and I was glad she did. Everything in the room was really clean, and the host went out of his way for us. We asked about dinner very late after failing to find somewhere else, and even though the kitchen was closed, he went out to buy fresh chicken and make us a curry. They also packed a tasty breakfast for our safari, better than what we got on the tour.

Indika made us feel welcome right away and did his best to meet every request with a smile. He understands what Western guests often expect, and that helped us feel at ease. The room was huge and very clean, with a comfortable bed and a spacious shower with great pressure. After our 4:30 am safari pickup, he had a takeaway breakfast ready. When we came back, there was homemade yogurt with fresh fruit from his garden, a really thoughtful touch. Ariya Tissa is in a handy spot for Yala National Park. Both the main entrance and Katagamuwa entrance were easy to reach, and we visited each on separate days. Everything about our stay was wonderful, and we’d absolutely come back. Highly recommend it to anyone in Tissamaharama.

Nissanka was a fantastic safari driver, experienced and quick to find rare animals. We saw two leopards and a tusker elephant with his help. The place itself was worth it too: spotless rooms and common areas, strong water pressure, and friendly, welcoming staff. The food was delicious, with local dishes and Western-style breakfasts, and they arranged a full-day safari for us.