Ella Adventure Park, Ella, Sri Lanka

Nestled on the banks of the Kirindi Oya — a river flowing through the Uva Province of Sri Lanka — Ella Adventure Park is designed for travellers who prefer their holidays to come with a pulse. Surrounded by lush jungles, mountains, gushing streams and beautiful waterfalls, the property sits approximately 240 km from Colombo and about 30 minutes from the hill station of Bandarawela.

The resort is built with a deliberate lightness of touch, keeping its footprint minimal so that the natural beauty of the landscape remains undisturbed. Accommodation, dining and activities are all shaped around this philosophy, making it an appealing base for those who want genuine immersion in the Sri Lankan hill country.

Accommodation

Guests can choose from eco lodges, jungle cabins and a tree house — each built using materials largely sourced from the local area and styled to resemble a traditional Sri Lankan village home. The standard and deluxe rooms, along with the tree house, are located in the main resort area, while the jungle cabins, eco lodges and campsite are set in the valley below, reached by a twenty-minute trek through the jungle. All units are described as well equipped and comfortable despite their deliberate closeness to nature.

Dining

The main restaurant in the resort area serves a range of local and western cuisine. A separate restaurant, situated by the river, focuses on traditional Sri Lankan food — a setting that makes the meal itself part of the experience.

Activities and Excursions

The range of activities on offer is broad enough to fill several days. Water-based options include canoeing in sea kayaks on the Handapanagala Lake. On land, guests can join nature treks and multi-day hikes that pass through traditional Sri Lankan villages, bird watching treks led by local guides, abseiling, rock climbing and camping in jungle or riverside clearings — complete with campfires and barbecues under open skies.

Within the campsite itself, a series of rope challenges — including an aerial rope, monkey rope and slithering rope — add an extra dimension to the adventure. All instructors and assistants at the park are described as highly trained.

Because the property sits close to the towns of Bandarawela and Badulla, day trips are easily arranged to nearby attractions. These include the Dowa Temple, Dunhinda Falls, Ravana Ella and Lipton's Seat — a cluster of landmarks that gives a strong sense of the cultural and natural richness of this part of Sri Lanka.

Setting and Location

The Kirindi Oya, which runs alongside the property, anchors the whole experience. The river, the encircling jungle and the hill-country air give Ella Adventure Park a character that is quite different from a conventional hotel stay — unhurried in atmosphere, yet packed with opportunities for those who want to keep moving.