Best Palatupana Hotels

We've stayed at Back of Beyond Dune Camp for 2 nights. During our stay we also booked an epic safari! In a way we might have been lucky that we've seen so many different species of wildlife but we believe that this was also due to the expertise of our excellent ranger Sanka. The dune camp is a lovely place to stay right next to the sea. The dunes are georgous at sunset and the dune walk arranged by the campsite (again with Sanka) was an excellent way to already get acquainted with many of the birds to be seen in Yala NP and also provided stunning views overlooking the ocean on top of the white sandy dunes. We've stayed in a awesome tent with a beautiful Seaview. It really was perfect and definitely one off the highlights during our 4 week stay in Sri Lanka. The staff is incredibly friendly and did everything to make our stay memorable. Especially on the last evening, they had a lovely surprise for us.. Which I do not want to spoil!! Just go there, enjoy and definitely book a safari tour with Sanka!

The hotel is not that simple to get to. Once you leave a nice hard top road, you have to drive down a long dirt road for about 10 mins to get to the hotel itself. That road can become a bit flooded if it rains hard - as it did on one day we were there - and that can prevent some guests getting in and out of the hotel. We’d had a lovely quiet evening meal one night and only found out afterwards that there had been a large group due in but couldn’t get down the road. Generally, it’s ‘normal’ vehicles and buses that bring people but, on occasion, a 4x4 would be better. On the days we arrived and left the roads were passable but you could see how they become easily impassable with rivulets running across it. The hotel though is lovely. The old one was washed away in the tsunami but the replacement looks strongly built, with its exposed concrete and stone construction there for all to see. That doesn’t make it cold and like a factory though. Far from it. It feels like it belongs where it is and its appropriate for a climate that varied between sun, wind and heavy rain whilst we were there. Whilst there are bedrooms on the ground floor (plus the gym and spa), most of the hotel’s common spaces are on the top floor, where reception, the bar and a la carte restaurant are. The main restaurant is one floor down, which has a nice view from the verandas around the outside. We had drinks in the bar on a couple of evenings, choosing to sit on the covered balcony as the indoor space - complete with pool table - whilst lovely was rather cold. The cocktails we had were really well made and come with our recommendation. We didn’t try the a la carte restaurant. Frankly, there was no need to from a food perspective. It was excellent all the time in the main one. The hotel tends to get large groups stay, who like to sit together (and create quite a noise), so the main restaurant can get quite noisy. The a la carte would offer a break from that as it’s in its own, quiet space. We genuinely couldn’t fault the food at the hotel. Breakfast always had a large choice ranging from cold offerings, cereal and salad, through to traditional Sri Lankan and hot western options. Tea and coffee was to order whilst you helped yourself to juice. The story was similar for evening meals too. If anything, evening meals catered less for western palettes and more for the Chinese guests that frequent the hotel. There were always lots of local Sri Lankan dishes too, which were simply delicious. All the hot food was outside the main restaurant space, under cover, with much of it being cooked in front of you. The cold starters and desserts were indoors. I have to say, one odd highlight was the soups. Every night there were 2 soups on offer and they were really good. I did have a tiny bug bear sometimes, which correlated with the busiest nights. That was the staff were a little too keen to clear plates. On occasion, you’d literally be chewing still and hadn’t quite put your cutlery dow

Great, great, super great First of all, I booked the Cocoon Suite, which includes 2 meals The hotel is very mysterious The staff explained all the way that after dark, you must be led by a staff member when you leave the room, because small animals will appear in the hotel at night. We saw a porcupine on the way out of the room. There is also an opening in the hotel, which is guarded by a special person 24 hours a day. This opening is the elephant's door. Two months ago, an elephant came Each large cave (large tent) is actually equipped with a small cave (small tent) behind it. If you are a family of four, then the small cave behind is just in handy. Of course, if you only book a cave, you have to pay 485 US dollars when you arrive, including three meals. The small tent also has an open-air shower. Special recommendation, must include three meals. It is inconvenient to enter and exit the surrounding area. The hotel's meals are also very good, and there are different menus for three meals. I guarantee that you will not get tired of it. I especially recommend the tuna for lunch. And the smoked beef.tuna for dinner. The key is that the safari early the next morning is still a VIP channel, and there is no need to queue at the door. A good guide is also very important, and this is also a matter of luck. Our guide explained while flipping through the book to show us what animals they are. We encountered a leopard (a rat with thorns on its body), a leopard, which is very fast, so you must look carefully at the low places, an owl, a crocodile, a wild boar, a peacock, an eagle, and various birds, elephants, deer, and lizards.

It is just two next door to jetwing yala, this is a primitive one, the modern one, here is a small single-family room, outside the room is the forest of the national park, it is said that animals may be seen. In general, the hotel here is suitable for people who are not afraid of bugs and prefer the original environment, because there are really too many small bugs in the room, flies, mosquitoes, flying insects and gecko. After staying for one night, I found three geckos running fast, and I was still a little scared. 😂. The facilities are OK, but the electricity is unstable. The power is cut off several times. Although the call is very fast, the hot water is too small. There is no separate restaurant. If you eat, you will take the car at the front desk to the next house for dinner. According to friends, the dinner buffet is not bad. Choose on demand

The villas are stunning in a gorgeous setting - wish we could have stayed for more than one night but we were Turing Sri Lanka. The staff are extremely friendly and courteous: to have wildlife including monkeys and chipmunks in and around the complex was a special experience- highly recommend.

The hotel is very new, everything is in a very good condition and we liked the concept that it’s not a standard Hilton. You can feel that the service routines are not at the level as it should be, but the staff were always friendly a helpful.

A truly unique holiday experience deep in the forest. I was so glad to share it with my 8 year old daughter although she was probably too young to fully appreciate. I know one day she will remember jungle walks looking for elephants ( unfortunately (?) we didn’t stumble on any although they were all around. Kamal is a knowledgeable and thoughtful host the locally sourced vegetarian jungle food was incredible. This is a rare and authentic sustainable tourism experience in Sri Lanka. Twitchers and conservationists will love but don’t come expecting lattes and internet. If you want a swim head to Jetwings at Wellawaya for a day trip.