Santani Wellness Kandy

My husband and I stayed in the Mountain View Chalet at Santani for one night during our journey from Ella to Colombo. In hindsight, I would strongly recommend at least two nights—three if you have the time—to fully experience what Santani has to offer. Kandy was our penultimate stop during our 10-night Sri Lanka itinerary, and Santani promised the perfect respite we needed at this stage. While the setting and aesthetic were truly breathtaking, our experience was marred by a series of frustrating inconsistencies and service failures. Unfortunately, our 06:37 am train from Ella was cancelled, forcing us onto a later train, which delayed our schedule and caused us to miss the lunch service at Santani. Although we provided a heads-up about our ETA, we were informed that only sandwiches and fruit could be offered for lunch upon arrival. I pleaded for a hot meal after a 6-hour journey but was met with a firm no. While I understand the need for structure around meal times, the lack of flexibility felt unnecessarily rigid, especially given that lunch was included in our package. It was a bitter start to an otherwise promising stay. For each meal, we were offered two menu options: Western or Sri Lankan. A chef consultation was arranged to tailor the menu to our dietary requirements—my husband is gluten-free and does not eat red meat. The concept of personalisation sounded wonderful in theory, but the delivery fell far short. At dinner, the meals differed from what we discussed earlier, and when we questioned this, we were told certain items contained gluten. My husband’s dessert, for example, was swapped from Sri Lankan pancakes to a makeshift fruit salad—hardly the bespoke experience promised. At breakfast, they served granola containing gluten and suggested my husband “just eat a little,” as if his dietary restriction were a mere preference. This was not only disappointing but also felt deeply unprofessional. Additionally, previously requested items like a Sri Lankan omelette and mixed fruit smoothie were either forgotten or met with bizarre responses like “eat this first, and we’ll bring another.” The grounds and chalet were stunning, and the views from our Mountain View Chalet, for which we paid an additional $40 upgrade, were well worth it. The serenity and natural beauty are Santani’s greatest strengths. We also had 90-minute Ayurvedic treatments, which were very relaxing. However, there was inconsistency here too—my husband received the promised consultation with the doctor before his treatment, while mine skipped the consultation entirely. The lack of uniformity was frustrating and detracted from the wellness experience. Finally, as we were checking out at 12 noon and couldn’t stay for lunch (which begins at 12), we requested a packed meal. I specifically asked for a salad alongside my sandwich, but we were instead given fruit—again, an instance of Santani failing to meet basic expectations. Individually, these lapses in service might not see

I stayed at this hotel in 2019, and at the time, I had a much better experience than I did now. Unfortunately, despite the significant price increase (150% more), the quality has dropped considerably. For a hotel that advertises itself as a wellness destination, the environment does not provide the tranquility one would expect. The constant noise from the restaurant, both from the kitchen and the staff, made the experience unpleasant. Additionally, disturbances caused by guests in the next room during the evening and by the staff early in the morning further disrupted the sense of relaxation. Another negative aspect was the internet, which was extremely slow—something unacceptable for a hotel charging 800 euros per night. The cleanliness was also subpar, with the room windows, both top and bottom, visibly dirty. To make matters worse, at the restaurant, we were asked to keep the cutlery between courses, which is not appropriate for a service of this standard. Overall, the hotel seems to have lost focus on customer experience and the essence of a wellness retreat. I do not recommend staying here until these issues are addressed, especially given the high cost.

Prepare for an experience that will never be matched ! As a travel agent , I had very good clients of mine here the year before, they still talk about Santani now, so I was incredibly excited to stay for myself. Santani is a wellness centre like no other , it really is something that will stay with you forever. The architecture & design beautiful and totally in keeping with the stunning views & location. Some of the most top notch staff I have come across in the industry from the onsite naturalist to the chefs , it’s like Santani has found the best of the best to ensure you are well looked after. The location is serene , the perfect place to unwind & de stress. Spa treatments are out of this world, possibly the best treatment I have ever had, I continue to keep trying to find another as good , but each time I am met with disappointment. Santani offer a great range of activities, I booked one of their walks down to the river. I have saved the best until last … the food! I still day dream about the food , it’s out of this world ! I have eaten in some really amazing restaurants & hotels over the years but again Santani had raised the bar once more. If you are looking for a stay that is truly unique, whether you are looking to destress, detox or just take life at a slower pace in luxury surroundings you need to stay at Santani , a truly transformative experience.

Be careful booking here! They advertised A/C when we booked, but then they don’t actually have A/C in the rooms. And there are bugs that come into the room in the evening. The Garden View Chalets are a complete waste of money since there’s no view and it’s far from the main area. They also don’t tell you to book a spa booking in advance if you don’t book direct, so it’s fully booked when you show up.

I have visited Santani Wellness Kandy for a second time this year. I went for a sleeping retreat and it was really amazing. The hotel and all the facilities are amazingly linked with nature and this is an important part of healing there. The villa (you hear the nature around), the SPA is open to nature. When you are having a massage, you hear wind, leaves on the trees moving, monkeys jumping around... The programs there (distress, antiaging, sleeping) are really well prepared. My difficulties with sleep got better already in the week I spent there. I also had an amazing yoga, meditation and relaxation teacher Saman. He taught me techniques for relaxing before sleep but most importantly helped me with his advice hot to deal with negative thoughts, overcome sadness and heal. I will definetly request having sessions with Saman again when I return next year and would greatly recommend him.

Our experience at Hotel Santani Wellness in Kandy was absolutely unforgettable. Nestled in a breathtaking location with exquisite architectural design and a tranquil atmosphere, the hotel left us truly amazed. What made our stay even more remarkable was the exceptional team – from the very skilled Ayurveda therapists to the attentive and friendly staff, every detail was handled to perfection. A heartfelt thank you to Corporate Executive Chef Indika Bandara and his outstanding kitchen team, who treated us to a culinary journey worthy of Michelin-star accolades. Thank you for crafting such a remarkable retreat of luxury and wellness – we can’t wait to return! Warm regards from Switzerland.