Sri Lanka’s Secret: Why This Island Nation Is Every Eco-Traveler’s Dream Destination

Travellers are becoming more conscious about the effect their choices have in the countries they visit, and ensuring they make a positive impact is more important than ever. This has resulted in a growth in demand for eco friendly accommodation and experiences. 

With plenty of options when it comes to eco hotels and eco lodges in Sri Lanka, this nation island is right at the forefront of sustainable travel. Whether you’re looking to stay by the beach, in the mountains or in the middle of the jungle, there is a wide array of eco friendly hotels and eco lodges in Sri Lanka to suit all tastes.

Unlike many destinations where it is hard to find truly sustainable practices in tourism, this beautiful country has something for anyone looking for ecotourism and eco friendly accommodation and experiences.

By choosing to stay in eco hotels and eco lodges in Sri Lanka, you’re not only supporting green practices, but a lot of these types of accommodation offer the opportunity for you to support the local community.

With this in mind, I’ve asked a few fellow travel bloggers to recommend the best eco hotels and eco lodges in Sri Lanka.

Best Eco Hotels and Eco Lodges in Sri Lanka

Tri by Amaya, Koggala

By Ilse from Digital Travel Couple

Tri by Amaya in Koggala is the first contemporary sustainable luxury design boutique hotel in Sri Lanka. Located along the south coast and overlooking Koggala Lake, this is a place you have to experience. 

Tucked away in the forest around Koggala Lake are eleven suites of natural materials built in a spiral on a six-acre hill of lush nature. Ecotourism at its finest! The wall decoration of the villas is from cinnamon sticks and the roof has a little garden on it.

There are solar arrays, edible gardens and entirely local materials that merge the property with the landscape. The food is also incredible and organic. A very high standard and incredibly tasteful!

Tri is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promotes sustainable practices like monitoring the water and electricity consumption, the use of solar panels and solar arrays to power the facilities and LED lighting.

Tri Lanka is a plastic-free hotel, where glass water bottles are provided in your room with free refills. Toiletries are only available in refillable containers and there are only original Tri bamboo straws.

A stay at Tri Lanka reconnects you with yourself and the nature around you. There is so much peace and silence and the hotel. There is much space to relax, and enjoy quality time in a natural environment. 

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Cinnamon Wild Yala

By Inma from A World To Travel

If the thought of having monkeys on your roof, being accompanied by elephants to the stairs of your home at night, or seeing deer drinking from the pool doesn’t bother you, Cinnamon Wild Yala might be just what you’re looking for.

Located just 2km from the entrance of Yala National Park, in the south of Sri Lanka, this hotel has some tree cabins you won’t forget.

Between the jungle and a spectacular beach, you can go on jeep safaris to the park during the day or night (check the people of Nature Trails for more info) with infrared equipment to see in the dark, among many other surprises.

As well as other exceptional plans such as dining by a pond with crocodiles and other wild animals in perfect harmony – always keeping a safe distance from wild animals so as not to disturb them.

All this while working towards sustainability with projects such as Project Leopard – supervised and deployed by the Nature Trails naturalists on-site – that supports the livelihoods of local farmers and preserves the nearby leopard population, in-house control systems to prevent wasting water during power cuts, and future plans that include a biogas digester next year to reduce their emissions using food waste to generate biogas.

A unique experience awaits you in the jungle chalets and beach chalets of Wild Yala by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. Enjoy!

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Banyan Camp, Udawalawe

By Paul from The Two That Do 

Banyan Camp on the shores of Lake Hambegamuwa in south central Sri Lanka is a carbon neutral, off-the-grid eco retreat, a world away from modernity and common day luxuries.

However, don’t be fooled by its unpretentious simplicity or lack of hot showers and wi-fi.

This stunning setting offers visitors a unique destination to celebrate the riches of the surrounding natural environment and wildlife.

From their delightful driftwood furniture to guest rooms constructed from recycled bottles and even an old Mercedes truck, the camp blends seamlessly into the lush lakeshore.

A two day break here, two hours south of Ella, offers guests the perfect chance to de-stress. Whilst you can enjoy an elephant safari to neighbouring Udawalawe National Park you are more likely to be enticed by a river swim or a relaxing canoe on the lake itself.

Just watch out for troops of monkeys jumping above you amongst the dense foliage as they seek out available fruit or snacks. They have a particular fondness for toothpaste too!

During your stay do not miss the incredibly romantic candlelit dinner hosted on a raft in the middle of the lake. The combination of simple yet delicious local cuisine surrounded by the sounds of the jungle makes for a truly unforgettable evening.

As you leave the charming Banyan Camp you will yourself promise to follow their enticing motto of ‘less is more’.

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KumbukRiver Resort Elephant Villa, Buttala

By Kirsten from Sand in my Curls

Sri Lanka has some incredible places to stay. But I bet you never knew you could rent out an Elephant for a night! KumbukRiver Resort has everything from treehouses to jungle cabins, but the Elephant Villa is what they are known for. It’s a 40-foot-tall, two-storey villa shaped like an elephant and made exclusively out of wood and straw.

Although it’s made with eco-friendly materials, it is still modern. There is electricity, a hot-water shower, and a plunge pool.

The ground floor has a dining area and an open-air lounge. Head upstairs to the two bedrooms and balcony for wildlife viewing. Since you are in the middle of the jungle, there is plenty to look out for, including elephants.

The onsite restaurant uses locally grown produce and prepares the meals without any modern appliances to remain as eco-friendly and traditional as possible.

The property is built adjacent to Yala National Park – the best place to go on safari in Sri Lanka because it is full of leopards. We saw two different leopards feasting in our one-morning safari drive – be sure to get an English speaking guide when you book your safari.

KumbukRiver Resort has also partnered with the Geo-Explore Foundation. Originally, they approached the poachers, loggers, and miners who were destroying the area in order to make a living.

Through education, accountability, and ownership, those villagers became the best guardians of the natural resources of the area and now make a living off the land instead of devastating it.

Together they created a sustainable reforestation project along the edge of Yala National Park. They’ve planted hundreds of trees and more than 20,000 plants have been nursed and replanted in the area.

Check availability on Expedia

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Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo

Whether you are travelling to Sri Lanka for ten days or three weeks, chances are that you will be arriving in Colombo. A lot of people skip the capital altogether and head straight out to other areas of the country. But I recommend spending at least one day here, as Colombo is a very interesting city to explore.

The Cinnamon Lakeside in Colombo is the place of choice if you are staying overnight in the city. It is located a 45-minute drive from the airport on the banks of the Beira Lake, and a 10-minute drive from Crescat Boulevard shopping mall.

Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the lake, tennis and squash courts, and a gym. You can also enjoy a massage at their spa if you want to unwind.

The Cinnamon brand of hotels is one of the leading eco hotels in Sri Lanka. They invest in the community by employing local people and offering continuous professional development, and they have implemented practices that reduce the hotel group’s carbon footprint.

They also invest in various nature projects that protect the Sri Lankan wildlife such as leopards, elephants and whales. 

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Aqua Dunhinda Villa, nr Kandy

By Heather from Conversant Traveller

Aqua Dunhinda Villa is nestled in the heart of nature in a secluded valley just over half an hour from Kandy in central Sri Lanka. Built as a bit of a passion project by the owner, a stay here is all about spirituality, connecting with your environment and living sustainably off the land.

The views down to the river are incredible, and there’s an infinity pool which is perfect for hot afternoons, but the real draw here is the food, organically produced in the villa’s hillside gardens and lovingly prepared by the welcoming small team of staff who discreetly look after your every need.

The recipes are all traditional Sri Lankan cuisine, and it’s fun exploring the tea gardens to help pick ingredients for the evening feast, and choose which fruits to pluck for some refreshing juice-making. Even the honey here is organic, harvested from the bee-hives that sit beneath the shade of tropical trees.

As one of the top nature hotels in Sri Lanka, nature is welcomed here too, and you’ll see it all around if you look closely, including in the lily ponds which are home to the frogs of the future.

The villa is ideally placed for visits into Kandy to see the famous Temple of the Tooth, as well as the surrounding central hill area of the country. Being fairly remote you either need your own transport or ask them to pick you up in the tuk tuk and arrive in style!

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Jetwing Sea Hotel, Negombo

Being so close to Bandaranaike International Airport, Negombo is a very popular spot to either start or end your Sri Lanka itinerary. And it’s by the beach, so it’s the perfect place to wind down before or after a long journey.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to accommodation in Negombo. But if you are looking for an eco hotel, this Sri Lanka resort has got you covered with the famous Jetwing brand of green hotels. 

There are three Jetwing hotels on the same road, Jetwing Sea, Jetwing Beach and Jetwing Blue.

I stayed at Jetwing Sea and it was the perfect choice. My double room was enormous and it opened up directly on to the beach, so you only had to roll out of bed and step outside to be on the beach. It was perfect to see the prawn fishing boats on the horizon at dawn.

Jetwing is at the forefront when it comes to sustainability in hospitality in Sri Lanka.

They have implemented green practices with the aim to become carbon neutral by transitioning to renewable energy and improving waste management. Not only do they promote the unique culture of Sri Lanka, but they also invest in conservation projects as well as in their local communities.

I was very impressed to find out that when Sri Lanka’s tourist industry was badly affected by the Easter bombings of 2019, the Jetwing group of hotels kept all of their members of staff despite not having any customers for months.

They instead took the chance to offer general and specialist training, giving the opportunity for employees to develop their professional skills and improve their chances to move up in their careers.

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Aarunya Nature Resort, Kandy

By Ilse from Digital Travel Couple

Aarunya Nature Resort, tucked away in a green valley near Kandy, is a collection of eleven modern luxury villas with a private jacuzzi or pool.

Built on 7 acres with tea, fruit and spice plantations, Aarunya offers an unforgettable getaway in their sustainable luxury boutique hotel. During your stay at Aarunya you’ll feel one with nature and in true relaxation. 

The resort is facing east, so you can enjoy a magical sunrise, referring to their name Aarunya which means “first rays of the sun” in Sanskrit.

At the central bungalow is a common infinity pool where also “The Verandah” restaurant is located, complete with a relaxing lounge and pool table.

For sporty people there is a gym with incredible views on the lush green valley, and you can use the mountain bikes to explore the area around Aarunya. 

Aarunya is a top eco resort in Sri Lanka, where its contribution to reducing its carbon footprint is by using only glass bottles for natural mineral water.

Another part of their dedication to sustainability are the resort’s plantation gardens where vegetables, fruits and other spices are grown. These ingredients provide currently 20% of the kitchen produce. The chef’s ambition for the resort’s future is to self-supply 70% of its produce. With this, they reduce their carbon footprint and always have fresh and organic ingredients. 

Read more about our stay on this review of Aarunya Nature Resort.

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Back of Beyond Dehigaha Ela, Sigiriya

By Claudia from My Adventures Across The World

Back of Beyond Dehigaha Ela is the best eco lodge in Sri Lanka. Located between Sigiriya and Dambulla and allowing easy access to both sites, as well as to Pidurangala Rock, this is a rustic resort with just a touch of luxury that will make you feel pampered. 

Completely secluded in the countryside of Sri Lanka, well off the main road, the first thing you will notice upon arriving at Dehigaha Ela is the silence – the only noise you will hear there is that of nature.

You will be given the option to sleep in one of the tree houses, which are entirely open and from where you can enjoy beautiful views of the lush garden and the forest around it; or in the boulder cottages, which are a bit more secluded and look more like a proper house. 

In both cases, you will have a large outdoor bathroom – so don’t be surprised if you have to share your shower with a frog – and traditional wooden furniture.  

Animals regularly roam the area – which is why you will be advised to keep your belongings safe, as monkeys especially have a habit of stealing anything they deem edible. 

Like all Back of Beyond properties, Dehigaha Ela is built with minimal impact to the local environment, thanks to the use of traditional building techniques. All staff at Dehigaha Ela are hired from the local community, so that they see the benefits of tourism.

Rainwater is collected into mini-lakes set throughout the property so that during the dry season it can be used to water the gardens and for wildlife. Sustainable sources of energy are used throughout the property – solar energy to warm up water; and all bungalows are illuminated mostly by natural light and have no air-con system but only use natural ventilation.

At Back of Beyond Dehigaha Ela you will have the chance of going on nature walks in the forest or on bird watching and elephant watching expeditions to the nearby Kaudulla or Minneriya National Park.

The resort has a good on-site restaurant that offers freshly prepared traditional local food. There are hammocks scattered around the garden, and you can enjoy an all natural fish-pedicure in the nearby river. 

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READ MORE
Climbing Pidurangula Rock for the Best View of Sigiriya

North Gate by Jetwing, Jaffna

North Gate by Jetwing is centrally located in the city of Jaffna, capital of the Northern Province. Right opposite Jaffna Railway Station, it is the perfect starting point to explore this exciting city.

It is a relatively small hotel, with only 44 rooms, which makes it feel very intimate. The rooms are elegantly decorated and they all have a private balcony overlooking the city.

There is a small secluded swimming pool and a gym, and the hotel can arrange tours and experiences with a local guide. And speaking of local, the restaurant offers the famous specialty of the area, Jaffna crab curry, so don’t miss trying it out.

Jetwing is a well known brand of eco hotels in Sri Lanka which has had sustainability as one of their key policies for many years. They promote the unique culture of Sri Lanka and invest in their local communities as well as in conservation projects.

They also have put in green practices with the aim to become carbon neutral by transitioning to renewable energy and better waste management.

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The Kip, Ahangama

By Annika from Midnight Blue Elephant

As an ode to all things homemade, The Kip is one of those places that merge feeling like home with incredible hospitality and one of my favourite eco friendly hotels in Sri Lanka.

You are welcomed by the three rescue dogs Rubie, Delilah, and Foxy before a hello over a fresh coconut from owners Phoebe and Seddy.

Stylish, authentic, and very Instagrammable are the words that describe the style of The Kip best. A bit of DIY, a bit of traditional, a bit of modern Sri Lankan, and a whole lot of charm awaits.

While looking good, eco-friendliness and sustainability are key here. You will look in vain for anything plastic at the Kip as water is refilled in ceramic mugs, bins are lined with paper, and the straws are bamboo.

In addition, energy is conserved wherever possible thanks to solar panels and overhead fans instead of ACs in the room. 

A highlight is the cafe not only serving breakfast but also healthy organic meals throughout the day. You can even watch the veggies grow in their own backyard.

At night, turn off the lights, get comfy under your mosquito net, and leave the windows open – fireflies will create an absolute magical atmosphere! 

Book directly with The Kip here

Map with the best eco hotels and eco lodges in Sri Lanka

Planning your trip to Sri Lanka

Do you recommend other eco hotels and eco lodges in Sri Lanka?
Let me know in the comments!

Travelling to Sri Lanka? Check out my other Sri Lanka articles

• The Perfect 10 Day Sri Lanka Itinerary
• Unmissable Things to do in Jaffna
• Climbing Pidurangula Rock for the Best View of Sigiriya

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