Testimonials
See up to date reviews here google reviews a sample are shared below, Some of our reviews from previous guests have been sent to us by them after their stay. We are not on TripAdvisor or Booking.com as we are booked privately and we do not pay a commission to any public travel sites. All reviews can be authenticated and you can speak with any of our previous guests who become part of the Kalukanda family and we stay in touch. Some of have returned multiple times…
Experienced the most fantastic idyll and total serenity on a yoga retreat to Kalukanda House. Fantastic location to explore the beaches and wildlife of Southern Sri Lanka, the historical beauty of Galle Fort and relax. The staff were attentive and catered to all our needs. Five stars all the way!
Family
Dilina Ostborn
August 2024
As a retreat host with an attention to fine detail, the team at Kalukanda House is phenomenal at supporting high caliber retreats with lots of specific requests. Well organized, thoughtful, incredibly helpful and supportive, felt like an extension of my team and that they really cared about me and my guests. And of course the villa itself, the food, Hera’s Garden yoga shala, and all the gorgeous nooks and crannies of the property curated with such intention and care make Kalukanda House a go-to without a doubt! Thank you all!!!
Solo Traveler
Davis
May 2024
Thank you for such an unforgettable holiday. From the moment we stepped through the door we knew we were in for a treat. Dee and her wonderful team at Kalukanda House were absolutely fantastic and spoilt us rotten. Their attention to detail is excellent and their chef’s food impeccable. Dee helped us organise the perfect itinerary, ranging from swimming with turtles to a cooking class, to yoga, a Gong Bath and birthday celebration with Kandy dancers. We will never forget this holiday and we hope to be back very soon.
Family
Wendy Abel
April 2024
What an incredible stay at Kalukanda House. I felt so at home with the whole team. Dee selected the most wonderful experiences and really understood what I was hoping for. The tuk tuk team were a dream too and the food was just perfect! My only mistake was that I wish I stayed longer
Solo Traveler
Katie George
March 2024
Loved this place. The atmosphere, the service. The food was amazing. Really gorgeous place to unwind and relax deeply. Will definitely be going back.
Solo Traveler
Indhu Rubasingham
February 2024
We (4 adults and 3 kids) had a fantastic time at Kalukanda House during the Christmas holidays. Lovely staff, great food, we loved the yoga in the shala and hanging out at the beach. The property and it’s grounds are beautiful and the whole place has a very welcoming/relaxing vibe that is hard to put into words. Can’t wait to return. Highly recommend.
Family
Melissa Nichols
January 2024
Two years on from first planning and in the middle of the fuel and food shortages we are here – we are very unaffected by both of those – the staff at Kalukanda House have made our visit a beautiful experience.
Nothing is too much trouble and we have dined incredibly well. Each meal cooked for us by the chef is exquisite. Not to mention the delicious breakfasts of fresh, tropical fruits- I’ve never tasted such delicious mango.
A day trip to the Elephant Safari was definitely a highlight and seeing the feeding of the baby elephants is just magical. The pool is wonderful, the grounds superb – we are surrounded by gorgeous coconut and other trees.
My favourite spot is the veranda – enjoying a G&T and watching the trees dance in the breeze. I’ll be leaving a piece of my heart here and hope to return again. ❤️
Family
Jo Tocher
August 2022
Wow where to start? Two and a half years in the making and well worth the wait. We have had an absolutely amazing time, the staff have been fantastic and we have felt like royalty, our tuk tuk driver has been awesome and airport transfers too. Chef’s food is sublime and I loved the cookery class, I need that aubegine recipe! Elliot want to add that the chicken and chips was the best ever. The villa is beautiful and we have loved the wildlife in the garden. We made some wonderful memories in Sri Lanka and we even saw leopards at Yala National park, We hope that everybody will enjoy this villa and country as much as we have.
Family
Emma, Richard, Elliot and Maddie
August 2022
Sri Lanka will spoil you for all the rest ! Wow, 4 years in the planning and 2 years later than scheduled, but our trip to Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka was incredible. We felt unbelievably relaxed, safe and calm in the knowledge anything and everything is catered for
And the Sri Lankan people are so compassionate and warm and welcoming, even now in one of their most challenging economical and political times – so many smiles and such a deep and sincere appreciation for us taking the time to learn about their wonderful island and culture. Never before have I been so spoilt and yet felt so appreciated for taking the time to just “be” with them.
Family
Millers, 2 families
June 2022
A big thank you to you and your wonderful staff for such an enjoyable holiday last week. From the initial communication right until the very end we felt incredibly well looked after and honestly couldn’t have imagined a more pleasurable holiday. We are still speaking about Kalukunda house daily and plan to visit annually.
Family
Sophie and Sian, 2 families
June 2022
Thankyou for another BRILLIANT holiday, the only complaint is it was too short. The boat trip we had was fantastic, absolutely 5 stars. We had a massive catamaran just for the 8 of us , it felt like we were living the high life. We had such a great time, Kalukanda house is just such an elegant place, so relaxing, we really love it there, please let us back again.
Family
Winnicks, repeat guests
June 2022
Thanks so much for taking such good care of us in Sri Lanka and for such an amazing introduction to an extraordinary country. It is a magical place and we will definately recommend it to our friends it is the perfect family getaway. It’s amazing the staff are so open to cooking whatever we want. I think centering ourselves at the villa and making excursions was the right way forward with the children who loved it and want to go back soon. Thankyou to the team for looking after us so well.
Family
The Coopers
June 2022
Kalukanda House was our home oasis from home. The moment I saw the house online and read it’s story, I knew we had to stay there during our visit. Dee immediately felt like the big sister I never had, and I was so touched by her personal communication and words. Upon pulling up to the gates and seeing the home in reality, Nathan and I were truly blown away! We have never seen anything with such grandeur, sophistication, and an utterly warmest of soul. Our stay in the house could not have been more pleasant. We started our day with a tranquil morning swim in the beautiful pool, soaked in each incredible meal by the extremely accomplished chef, and lavished in the truly incredible perfection of the beach (just one block away!), the phenomenal architecture of the home, and the pristine sunsets in the veranda with our gin and tonics playing our favorite card game. It was, and will always be, one of the most incredible honors of our lives to stay at Kalukanda House and visit Sri Lanka. Nathan and I made an immediate promise to come back for one of our last honeymoons as old husband and wife.
Couple
Rebecca and Nathan, Honeymoon
June 2022
I booked Kalukanda House when we were still in lockdown, having not had a family holiday for nearly two years as soon as I heard about it and saw the website. It did not disappoint.
The house is beautifully designed and tastefully decorated, set in stunning gardens. The daytrip to Udawalawe safari park was amazing. We got to see elephants and monkeys up close, as well as peacocks, water buffalos and beautiful birds and butterflies, then we stopped off at the nearby Elephant transit centre to see the orphaned, rescued baby elephants being fed their milk, which was magical. In between
I have worked and taken calls internationally, the Wifi is strong and no technical problems. I would love to come back with friends or family – the perfect peaceful retreat and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. Thank you to everyone.
Family
Julia
June 2022