Tekanda Lodge
Jungle-chic eco lodge with a home-from-home communal feel. Colonial charm meets safari aesthetic — mosquito-netted beds, handmade wooden furniture, thatched roofs — but without any stuffiness. Barefoot luxury with a strong conscience.
Book Cabana Kale for the most privacy — it has a semi-circular floating verandah ideal for private starlit dinners and can sleep up to four (two built-in daybeds)
Why It Matters
Michelin Guide selected, Conde Nast Traveller 'best hotels in Sri Lanka' listed. Only six rooms on a private 10-acre estate. The Tekanda Foundation runs Sri Lanka's first girls' cricket academy and supports 300+ local women and children in the surrounding village. Half the estate has been rewilded; the rest grows organic cinnamon, pepper, tea, and coconut.
Six rooms on a ten-acre hilltop estate that was once an abandoned tea and coconut plantation. Built in wood, natural stone, and traditional Sri Lankan iluk thatch, Tekanda Lodge sits above paddy fields and secondary jungle with 360° views — Koggala Lake to the west, a distant Indian Ocean strip to the south. It's family-owned and run by Charlie and Richard, and that shows. Dinner is communal. Wildlife roams the grounds. Solar powers the lights. And the infinity pool might be the best in Sri Lanka.
Where You'll Stay
4 room types available
Cabana Kale
A standalone conical cabana set slightly apart from the main lodge, named after the Sinhala word for jungle. High vaulting wood-beamed ceilings, a queen-size four-poster bed, and two built-in daybeds make it the most flexible sleeping option on the property — it can sleep up to four guests. The semi-circular floating verandah overlooking palm tops and jungle is the standout feature. More private than the lodge rooms, but with easy access to the pool and communal spaces.
Queen Four-PosterCabana Kumbura
Named after the Sinhala word for paddy field. Set apart from the main lodge, this spacious and airy cabana faces a different direction from the rest — looking out over sweeping rice fields toward jungle-covered hills to the north and the hamlet of Thiththagalla to the west. The feel is subtly different: more open, with plantation chairs and a sofa around a coffee table rather than built-in daybeds. Also comes with a mini-fridge and double ceiling fans.
Queen Four-PosterExclusive Use — Full Lodge
All six rooms plus full exclusive use of the lodge facilities: infinity pool, open-sided living room with 12–14-seat dining table, two day rooms, stone deck, and gardens. Staff provided includes lodge manager, assistant manager, head chef, assistant chef, housekeeping, gardeners, and day and night security. Groups can work with the head chef in advance to create a tailored flexible menu. Ideal for family gatherings, friend groups, and private retreats. Available by request only.
Lodge Room
Four large en-suite bedrooms arranged around a traditional Sri Lankan courtyard. The look blends colonial charm with safari chic: beds draped with white mosquito netting, handmade wooden furniture, antique-style writing desks, and light-flooded bathrooms. Two of the four rooms have freestanding bathtubs. Each room has a private verandah overlooking the estate gardens and jungle. Rooms 1 & 3 can be configured as double, twin, or triple; Rooms 2 & 4 are doubles with an optional extra single bed. Rooms 1 & 2 share an adjoining day room; Rooms 3 & 4 share another.
QueenThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The lodge's in-house tuk-tuks take guests to Kabalana Beach (2km, under 10 minutes) and Ahangama's surf breaks and café scene (8 minutes). Both are excellent surf spots. Pay cash or add to the room bill.
UNESCO-listed Galle Fort is 20km away (about 30 minutes). Lodge staff can arrange tuk-tuk transfers. The fort, lighthouse, and windswept beaches make for a full afternoon and evening.
A guided walk around the 10-acre estate led by owners Charlie and Richard or the estate team. Guests learn about organic tea picking, cinnamon peeling, and the property's rewilding efforts. Keep an eye out for the resident family of endangered Purple-faced Langur Monkeys, Mongoose, Asian Palm Civets, Wild Boar, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy Kites, and Kingfishers.
A guided fishing trip on Koggala Lake, a 2-minute drive from the lodge. The lake is also accessible via Cinnamon Air seaplane. Sunrise crocodile safari also available on the lake.
Yoga classes held on the scenic outdoor deck, typically in the morning.
Cook a traditional Sri Lankan dhal and other dishes with the head chef. Often paired with a morning trip to the local fish market in the nearby village.
Visit a nearby working tea factory — frequently mentioned in guest reviews as a highlight.
Guests can help with tea weighing and harvesting on the working organic tea estate.
Early morning excursion to the local fish market, arranged by the lodge. Typically combined with the cooking class.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
A well-stocked honesty bar available for after-dinner drinks under the stars. Wine, beers, and spirits available. Cocktails and drinks incorporate tea and other ingredients grown on the estate.
A large open-sided communal living room with a 12–14 seat dining table at its centre. Two day rooms either side of the central open courtyard provide quieter retreat space. Shared TV and board games available — good for families with older kids.
WiFi is available throughout the property at no charge, though connection can be intermittent in this rural location. Download essential content before arriving.
Babysitting can be arranged with 24 hours' notice.
Complimentary tea, coffee, and fresh coconuts available all day for guests.
Daily room cleaning and evening turndown service.
A curvaceous emerald-green infinity pool overlooking jungle treetops, bordered by a spacious stone deck. Regularly cited as one of the finest hotel pools in Sri Lanka. One end is shallower — suitable for supervised children 6+. No diving or jumping permitted. No lifeguard on duty.
Day and night security guards on-site. In-room safes in all rooms.
Solar energy provides the lion's share of the lodge's power needs. Water is filtered from an on-site well. The lodge is built using sustainable local materials including traditional thatch.
Paid airport transfer service from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (approx. 2hr 15min). Can be arranged through the lodge.
A team of trusted tuk-tuk drivers arranged by the lodge for local destinations — beach, Ahangama, Galle Fort. Pay cash or add to room bill at end of stay.
Secure on-site private parking available at no charge for self-driving guests.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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