NH Bentota Ceysands Resort sits on a narrow spit of land at the mouth of the Bentota River, with the river on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, and guests arrive by a short boat ride across the lagoon. Known until June 2024 as Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, it is now managed by Minor Hotels under the NH brand, the first NH hotel in Sri Lanka, with 165 rooms and suites, a private beach and a beachfront infinity pool.
The resort occupies the Bentota peninsula on the south-west coast, between Aluthgama and Bentota. Cars stop at the jetty on the Aluthgama side of the river, and a short boat ride takes you across. Aluthgama railway station is under a kilometre away, Bentota station is about 1.2 km, and Beruwala lies a little under 5 km to the north.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is about 105 km from the boat jetty at Aluthgama, and the drive usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours on the airport and Southern expressways, depending on traffic around Colombo. The simplest way to arrive after a long flight is a private airport transfer booked in advance with Lakpura: an English-speaking driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to the resort's jetty in an air-conditioned car, van or coach sized for your group, from 2 up to 15 guests, at a fixed price for the whole vehicle rather than per seat. The same service works in reverse for your departure flight. Book the Colombo (CMB) Airport transfer to NH Bentota Ceysands Resort.
Rooms are modern and each has a balcony or terrace. The categories run from Superior rooms with garden or ocean views to Deluxe rooms facing the ocean or the river and Deluxe Poolside Terrace rooms, and then to the Family Suite, the One Bedroom Ocean View Suite and the Royal Suite.
The resort has five dining venues. Café Bem is the all-day restaurant, with a breakfast buffet of Sri Lankan and Western dishes; 360 is the seafood restaurant, with views over both the river and the ocean; and Siam Pearl serves Thai cooking. The Ceylon Club is a quieter spot for tea and drinks, there is a bar by the pool, and in-room dining is available.
Days revolve around the beach and the water: the infinity pool looks out to sea, the spa offers Ayurvedic treatments and massages, and there is a gym, a kids' club and an E-Zone for teenagers. The resort's water sports centre arranges activities on the river and the sea, and boat rides take you through the mangroves of the Bentota River. Lakpura can arrange private transfers and day tours along the coast from the hotel.
Bookable activities, tours, and tickets within a 25 km radius.
Pre-book a private vehicle for arrival, departure, or onward travel.
