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Reviews of Rafters Retreat 1 stars

Hilland Group, Kitulgala, 71720 Kitulgala, Sri Lanka

#8 of 11 hotels in Kitulgala

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 26 hotel reviews

7.8

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.6

  • Comfort

    7.8

  • Location

    9.5

  • Facilities

    7.5

  • Staff

    9.3

  • Value for money

    6.7

  • Free WiFi

    2.5

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 1 April 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Prices hidden until checkout. Canyoning activity did not include going down the 40m waterfall, despite multiple staff confirming

    Lovely property. Our group arrived at odd times in the night and the staff were so helpful getting everyone in. No need to book activities in advance, there are staff on site that will take you rafting upon request. The hotel has all of the equipment. Dinners were lovely!

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 February 2024

    8.0
    Fun, friendly place with brick cabins, right on a beautiful river.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 2 nights

    More choice at breakfast, and milk for tea!!

    This is a fun, fairly rustic place, right on the river. The rooms are surprisingly comfortable with good beds and decent bathrooms for this type of accommodation. Amazing to have the river rushing by. The food is fine, nothing exceptionable but authentic, good Sri Lankan. Breakfast is fruit and omelettes. The bar has beer and a few soft drinks. The staff are very smiley and helpful. We went white water rafting directly from Rafters which was great fun.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 12 January 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night

    Poor value for money. Staff appeared reluctant to disclose costs of activities or meals.

    The location fronts directly onto the river. Dinner (traditional Sri Lankan curry and rice) was one of the best meals of my +2 weeks in the country.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 December 2023

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Activities seem a little overpriced considering you are on the doorstep

    Great location and staff will organise all your watersports activities to work around your schedule. Also amazing breakfast

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 21 February 2023

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No hot shower, however not that big of a deal because of the warm climate.

    Nice rooms with a beautiful view at the nature and river. Food is really good! We arranged a short canyoning at the hotel, which was fun!

    Stayed in February 2023

  • Reviewed: 10 December 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No choice in food for dinner and overpriced.

    The location and the staff were amazing.

    Stayed in December 2022

  • Reviewed: 28 February 2022

    9.0
    My Retreat!
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The Crickets were noisy, but hey, that's nature! Open balcony was great for the ambience but that meant air conditioning was not possible.

    Tranquility and proximity to water rafting. Also the rooms overhanging on the river. The sound of flowing water.The family run hotel made us most welcome and were great at sorting our diet requirements. It truly felt like a retreat. Well done , and thank you.

    Stayed in February 2022

  • Reviewed: 21 January 2022

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    A few parts look a little old and tired or messy. The price is very high for Sri Lankan countryside (this is somewhat justified by the lack of alternatives though). The drink selection is a little limited.

    Very friendly and helpful staff. Amazing location with "eco chalet" room looking over river, mountains and jungle. Steps down to be able to swim in the river within hotel ground! Great breakfast spread included with curry and more western offerings. Warm shower! This is part of the experience but just be prepared that there will be ants, frogs, spiders etc in your room as it's open to nature. The mosquito net over the bed and bug repellent worked though!

    Stayed in January 2022

  • Reviewed: 5 January 2022

    8.0
    I would come again
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    relax

    relaxing

    Stayed in January 2022

  • Reviewed: 6 March 2024

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room was not clean the pillow covers were not clean.but the price charged was quite high

    The only thing worth is tha view. Nothing else

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 9 February 2024

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Incredible view of the lake right in front of the room, excellent food, very friendly staff, rafting was great and really easy to sort out

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 October 2023

    2.0
    Very poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room was really not maintained, to say the least, the bed was cracked, the sheets were not clean upon arrival, the floor is really dirty like a street floor , the rugs that were on the floor were torn and dirty

    The staff was very nice and thoughtful.

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: 26 September 2023

    10
    Great for rafting trip
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    All good

    Great stay - perfect for rafting trip

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 11 September 2023

    3.0
    Very basic rafters retreat
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The noise of the river ! You need earplugs to sleep !!!!!! 60 decibel ! The room is very basic and very poor (but if you want to go basic it is perfect) Very very overpriced room ! I would not recommend this place !

    Very close to the river with a great view!

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 7 September 2023

    10
    Great for nature lovers. Magical stay right on the river.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing.

    Lovely stay on the river listening to the sounds of nature while you sleep. One side of the chalets are fully open which is perfect for nature lovers. Surprisingly there are hardly any bugs in the chalets. They keep them really clean. Great value for money, and run by a great team. The meals are enormous and homely. They organise a lovely 1.5 hr rafting trip which ends at the resort itself for 35 usd. The rapids are light, nothing overbearing, great for beginners.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 30 September 2022

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Breakfast should have had more items

    Rafting and other activities were awesome Room is so close to river we could hear sound which was relaxing

    Stayed in September 2022

  • Reviewed: 22 July 2022

    10
    Great place to experience a tropical jungle vibe & adventure
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It was a great experience to sleep in a hut by the river. Incredibly helpful and friendly staff. Amazing food; recommend the Sri Lankan curry. They took us on water canyoning and white water rafting trips. Close enough to wall into the town or take the boat across to the other side to walk in the tropical jungle.

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 18 March 2022

    5.0
    Won't stay there again
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Facilities, Poor Breakfast, No WiFi in the room, No shampoo, no conditioner, no coffee or tea, nothing room empty with one bottle of water and one soap.

    Only location and views.

    Stayed in March 2022

  • Reviewed: 1 February 2022

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    the location is amazing, right next to the river, with great rooms that open straight out onto it. the communal areas are also quite spectacular and very relaxing. Channa and his family who own the retreat are lovely and so helpful; they took us kayaking, showed us round the family home and the cinnamon production area, arranged activities for us. Rafting is the main reason people come, but there are lots of other activities that they can arrange for you besides that, like birdwatching and trips to caves, or cycling trips, so consider spending more time here and speaking to Channa about what else you can do

    Stayed in January 2022

  • Reviewed: 15 March 2024

    9.0
    Excellent place for rafting.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 30 June 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: 18 July 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 21 December 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Chalet
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 4 October 2023

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room with River View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There are no comments available for this review

    Stayed in October 2023

Showing 1 – 25

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