Hard to explain the perfection of this place! It’s a tranquil sanctuary where you can relax in the pool and watch the birds and monkeys, chat with other travelers, and use as a great base to visit Bundala or Yala National Parks. The team that greeted us was so quick to help with organizing an afternoon river boat ride, a morning Bundala safari, and our meals, all within the first 15 minutes! The food is outstanding - we had planned to eat in town in the evenings, but the first meal we ate there convinced us to let Chef Srikanth take charge of all of our meals for our stay. He is a true gem, lovely to chat with, accommodating on timing, and the dishes he creates are amazing! Highly recommend the Sri Lankan breakfasts (I miss them!), the curries, and also the fish and chips for a lunchtime snack! The rooms are spacious, very clean, and beds super comfortable. Each room has its own little patio/terrace area which was a lovely addition to the pool, lake, and other public areas. Easy parking options within the closed gates. Was the best find of our stay!

Nothing!

We recently had the pleasure of staying at Malala Retreat, and it was an unforgettable experience. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Chef Srikanth deserves special mention – the food was delicious, prepared with care, and he is very friendly and interested in his guests. The surroundings were simply breathtaking, with a vibrant array of birdlife and playful monkeys adding to the charm. The peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by nature, was perfect for relaxation and unwinding. The room was comfortable and well-appointed, providing everything we needed for a restful stay. The hot shower was very much appreciated. Overall, Malala Retreat offers a perfect combination of great service, good food, stunning wildlife, and a beautiful setting. Highly recommended for anyone looking to escape and recharge!

We enjoyed this small, quiet resort near a lake and rice fields. It’s filled with the sight and sounds of wildlife - peacock, kingfishers, bee eaters and songbirds,herons, egrets, all drawn to the pond on the property. Frogs, turtles, a small crocodile and a troop of monkeys round out the day. The owners have lovingly built this property up over 20 years for their guests’ enjoyment. It was great for the nights we were in the area for safaris. Nice pool, good breakfast, friendly staff. A nice little family run place.

It’s about 7km from town, and the 1/2km to the main road can be muddy in the rainy season.

The place is immaculate and despite being built over 20 years ago (i was told), it feels like it was opened only recently. Breakfast was good, especially as the Resort Manager/Chef Sri cooked ours to order. The setting is amazing and even thought we did a half day safari while we were there (organised by the staff), you could have seen a good proportion of the wildlife we saw at Bundala just by sitting on a sunbed by the pool with a pair of binoculars. The pool itself and the sunbeds are great and pads and towels are provided.

The site is quite remote, you can't just pop out on a tuk tuk to local shops or restaurants as they are just not there. We ate in the restaurant, which was great and once again, immaculate. There was no alcohol served on site, but I think that might be changing as Sri, who has only been in charge for just over a month, tries to make alterations. My main observation would be that the place needs to offer a few more facilities - they certainly have the space. Yes it is sold as a "retreat" but, in my opinion, it just needs a bit more "soul", as it's all a bit too clinical. Maybe a communal area with a bit of soft seating might be popular. We had the whole place to ourselves for 2 nights, so maybe there would be a different feel to the place if there were more people staying?

Simply amazing from arrival to departure. The staff is the friendliest and most helpful we have ever seen, they offer nice spacious rooms with proper and silent AC, so we had a good night sleep. The breakfast was very tasty and offered a wide variety of foods. They helped us with everything we asked for. The environment too is absolutely breathtaking with palm trees and small ponds everywhere, with peacocks and monkeys and parrots all around the area. They also offer a pool which is just perfect. We completely loved the place and regretted that we haven’t stayed for more nigths.

Beautiful, tranquil location that's the perfect place to go if you want to get away from everything for a couple of days. Clean rooms and facilities that are well maintained. Friendly and accommodating staff, especially Srikkanth who runs the place and is also the chef. Nothing was too much trouble for him and his staff. Had a very relaxing couple of days at Malala.

Nothing to dislike. You have to choose your meals in advance if eating at the hotel but I fully understand why this is needed given the location of the property.

Wonderful spot which we stopped over at for a night between Ella and the southern beaches. The pool was stunning, rooms were clean, comfortable and plenty of space, and it was a lovely surprise to have a fruit plate waiting for us. Amazing pressure in the shower (best we’ve had in Sri Lanka), and the staff were exceptional, so warm and friendly. Really loved that they’re trying to be self sufficient with the solar panels on the roof, and the property felt very secure and private.

WiFi wasn’t great, and I think the restaurant was overpriced.

The hotel manager Sri was really nice and made several times sure we were taken care of fully. Diner and breakfast were also really good. Our cook was flexible and wanted to know if we'd like to change anything to the dishes. All in all a very quiet and wonderful location Thanks to Sri and the staff!

The road towards the hotel was the real adventure since it rained along and we slid our way in. But we were told the road towards will be sealed this month!

This is an amazing property located in a quiet area surrounded by nature. It is quiet, remote and has plenty of opportunities to view amazing species of birds, monkeys, and other local nature all while relaxing on the property. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. When I stayed here I was one of the only guests for a few nights and the staff here made me feel safe and at home. It is truly a great retreat, very good prices and food and an overall excellent experience. Would visit here again and highly recommend!

If you like peace and quietness, look no further. There are animals in the wild around the property while you are in the pool and it’s just so nice and relaxing. The staff went above and beyond and Srikanth cooked us some delicious vegan meals! The water of the pool was perfection!

My only comment is that the pillows were small and not fluffy and that it’s a bit expensive for Sri Lankan standards.