Yellow Elephant Riverside is a small guest house on the Bentota River, set a little inland from the coast at Bentota. It is run as an Ayurveda retreat, listed under the name Yellow Elephant Riverside - Ayurveda Soul Escape, and has just four rooms, so it suits travellers who want a quiet riverside base rather than a large beach resort.
The guest house stands on the Bentara - Uragaha - Elpitiya Road, which runs inland from Bentota along the Bentota River, known locally as the Bentara Ganga. Bentota town, its railway station and the beaches of the south-west coast are a short drive back towards the sea, while the house itself sits away from the busy Galle Road among the greenery of the riverbank.
From Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) the drive south around Colombo and down the Southern Expressway towards Bentota, then inland along the river road, usually takes around 2 hours, depending on traffic. The easiest 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 guest house 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 Yellow Elephant Riverside.
With only four rooms, the house has the feel of a private home rather than a hotel, and its focus is Ayurveda and rest. All rooms are non-smoking, Wi-Fi is free and there is free parking on site. Check-in is from 2 pm and check-out is by 11 am.
The Bentota River is the area's great attraction, with boat rides through the mangroves and water sports where the river meets the sea, and the long beach at Bentota is close by. Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa's country estate, and Brief Garden, created by his brother Bevis, are both in the countryside inland from Bentota. Further down the coast are the turtle hatcheries of Kosgoda, the Madu River and the mask makers of Ambalangoda. Lakpura can arrange private transfers and day tours to all of these from the guest house.
Bookable activities, tours, and tickets within a 25 km radius.
Pre-book a private vehicle for arrival, departure, or onward travel.
