Amaya Lake Dambulla is five stars in hospitality, including rooms, food, location, premises and staff.  The restaurant offers a delicious set menu and a buffet with local and international food. Reserve half board/breakfast and dinner, or have breakfast included. The breakfast buffet with fresh omelettes, juice and waffles was a highlight. I also enjoyed a delicious dinner by the pool with a special menu, which I highly recommend. The views of the mountain and the lake, and I mean it, are truly stunning. The grounds, gardens, and pools are perfectly maintained, and the staff is helpful and happy. I was honoured to meet the General Manager (Mr Amith), who looked after me during my stay. Mr Amith was highly professional and talented. I also met the Food and Beverages Manager (Mr Tennekon), who organised a fantastic dinner under the direction of the General Manager. I also met the Assistant Food and Beverages Manager, who helped me with essential enquiries during dinner, and Ayesh and Imeisha were both super helpful during breakfast and dinner. The Ayurvedic massage, a unique feature of Amaya Lake Dambulla, was a standout experience. What made it even more impressive was that it was supervised by an Ayurvedic doctor, adding a layer of authenticity and trust. The pools are great, and one has a bar. The pools are good for swimming, and kids must be supervised even though there is plenty of staff to assist you. Lastly, the hotel's strategic location, nestled near the safaris and a stone's throw away from the magnificent temples and mountains, offers a perfect blend of convenience and tranquillity, ensuring a memorable stay. I look forward to returning soon!

From the moment we arrived, the excellent customer service stood out. The front house staff were exceptionally friendly and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was perfect. The resort itself is nestled in a breathtaking location with stunning views of Kandalama Lake. The beautiful landscaping throughout the property creates a serene and picturesque environment that truly enhances the experience. Our room was clean, comfortable, and well-appointed, providing a perfect retreat after a day of exploring. The attention to detail in maintaining the rooms was evident and much appreciated.

The welcome at Amaya Lake was wonderful, from the gentleman who met us at the car to the receptionist, to the lovely mango juice and cold towel. Our guide was also welcomed and treated which we appreciated. The lobby area is lovely with a nice breeze blowing through. The hotel is perfectly placed for exploring Sigirya and Dambulla which were amongst the highlights of our tour. The accommodation is in bungalows within the grounds and we enjoyed our short walks to breakfast and dinner. Meals are buffet style and the food is good. We found breakfast could be very busy as there were quite a few tour groups staying, especially around the omelette station. The chef was very calm and did a wonderful job on the omelettes but it might be worth considering an additional chef at busy periods. After a busy day exploring the local area it was wonderful to come back to the hotel and relax around the pool in the late afternoon. We had a couple of issues with the safe and the bath plug and the housekeeping team were excellent and immediately rectified any issues. We would highly recommend this hotel and would definitely stay again if we return to Sri Lanka.

We had 3 days here and stayed as a family in a suite. The location was great to explore all the sights in the area. Sigiriya, The cave temple, Anuradhapura Ancient City etc The hotel was amazing. It has a large ground with beautiful garden/ park out to Amya lake and many cozy places where you can sit in the shade and enjoy the view including swings and tree top houses. 2 great pool areas with view. The restaurant serves excellent food and was able to cater for food allergies for us (nut allergies). The service was outstanding by everyone there, the cleaners, reception, restaurant etc. We wish we could have stayed longer. Highly recommend!

Nothing- all was perfect

Location was perfect for our stay in Dambulla and to be able to visit Sigiriya, Minneriya National Park and Pidurangula. Stayed half board and food on both evenings including the breakfast was good with live cooking stations. Restaurant is open-air so it was nice to be sat outside and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Hotel has buggies to take you back and forth to your room if required. My daughter rented a bike and enjoyed cycling around the grounds.

Room (303) needs some refurbishment. The bathroom door handle came off in night one but was fixed the next day. The shower door did not close properly so we had to be careful when showering and we had a lot of ants in our room. The pool area could also do with some modernisation but it was sufficient for our stay.

We stayed at Amaya Lake for one of our honeymoon nights, and honestly, it was the perfect start to our getaway. The resort has this calm, peaceful vibe from the moment you enter. The setting is just beautiful — surrounded by greenery and right by the lake. It feels like you’re in the middle of nature, far away from the hustle. Our room was spacious, super clean, and had this lovely charm. The bed was really comfortable, and we had everything we needed. We were welcomed with a refreshing drink and the staff was genuinely warm and friendly — you can tell they care about guests having a good time. One thing we absolutely loved was the environment. You hear birds chirping, see squirrels running around, and the lake view just adds to the whole experience. It’s such a great place to unwind. We took a walk around the garden and chilled by the pool for a bit — it was really relaxing. The buffet dinner was decent, with a fair variety of Sri Lankan and international dishes. Breakfast the next morning was pretty good too — nothing super fancy, but definitely satisfying. Overall, Amaya Lake gave us a really cozy, peaceful experience. It’s got a very natural, authentic feel to it. Perfect for couples looking to relax and reconnect with nature. Would definitely recommend for a quiet getaway.

Our first trip to Sri Lanka, and this the first hotel. Such a beautiful spot. Large wooded and well maintained garden situated on a lake. The birdsong is so lovely and the lake and its surrounds are teeming with wildlife. I could just sit for ages, eyes closed, listening to the birds and other sounds from the wildlife - including inquisitive monkeys. Our villa had a superb private swimming pool, which we enjoyed. The villa, if somewhat dated in its decor, was atmospheric and an enjoyable space to be in. On the recommendation of Davinda, the Residence Manager, we booked the treehouse at the lake for a private supper. Beautifully prepared tasting menu by the head chef. It was such a personalised, atmospheric and sensory experience we can strongly recommend. Being in a stilted structure overlooking the lake, rain and lighting about, abundance of night sounds from the surrounding wildlife, the delicious food prepared by the chef, to the great service of our dedicated waiter, Manjula, made it a night to remember. The stilted tree house is redolent of more rustic functional structure in rice paddy fields from where the farmer keeps his watch for roaming elephants who have a taste for the green shoots. All the staff at the hotel made a considerable effort for us to feel welcome and comfortable, with the warmth of the Sri Lankan character. Thank you to all of them. In particular, Davinda’s generosity as “our host” went well beyond any expectations we might have had to ensure that our stay represented the best of Sri Lankan hospitality and the kind humility of its people. Davinda and his team are a great asset to the hotel.

Food was fantastic! Even though breakfast didn't have many varieties, especially for meat items, it was good and tasty. Dinner was amazing! Couldn't enjoy the pool, but it looked quite enjoyable. The only unenjoyable thing I had to face was that the sofa in my room had a bit of an ant problem, and when I was sleeping in the middle of the night, I had a crazy itching problem on my ear & face. Found out some bed bugs (might be the ants) had attacked me while I was sleeping. That was quite uncomfortable, but the hotel or staff had nothing to do with it, as understandably, this hotel was located in the middle of a jungle. Overall, everything was great and I'd definitely visit again!

Room cleanliness

Amayal Lake is a remarkable hotel harmoniously integrated into the dense green, opulent surroundings. Indulge in pure relaxation and tranquility at this retreat, an ideal destination to conclude your vacation. The hotel boasts an array of facilities conducive to relaxation, ensuring an unforgettable stay. We spent two nights at the property and enjoyed an abundance of activities. The rooms blend seamlessly into the natural environment, though occasional encounters with insects are understandable. We highly recommend this place and eagerly look forward to revisiting in the future.

What an experience!!!! It was exceeding our expectation. Starting from the welcome from the reception, the buggy service and the staff at the restaurant, it was such a wonderful service. Special mention to buggy driver, Keerthi. He took extra care to take us around the hotel in the buggy to ensure my mum, who is having walking difficulties gets a chance to explore. From the check-in to our check-out Keerthi was an amazing help. Also, the reception staff was helpful and friendly. I feel the success of the hotel is because of the wonderful people. This is our second Amaya hotel experience during our holiday and Amaya hotels always exceeded our expectations. The buffet was very good. The variety was good in both Dinner and breakfast. The three villas we had was comfortable, clean and very close to the nature. I highly recommend Amaya Lake as a very good holiday destination.

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