Ratmalkanda Estate, 90090 Ella, Sri Lanka
#13 of 189 hotels in Ella
Guests' ChoiceBased on 86 hostel reviews
9.5Cleanliness
9.4
Comfort
9.3
Location
9.2
Facilities
9.2
Staff
9.7
Value for money
9.7
Free Wifi
7.5
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End of dialog contentReviewed: April 9, 2025
Efstratios
United KingdomGreat hostel and lovely staff!! The best thing is the fact that you get free breakfast and dinner. You can have add-ons for extra but the main meal is free which saves up a lot in comparison to restaurant prices. Its right next to Ella Rock entrance. And a 40-minute walk along the train tracks to most things (if you check maps it shows you a bigger distance because it doesn’t account the possibility of walking the tracks).
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: April 2, 2025
Karen
AustraliaNo power sockets next to the bed Beds were hard and there were no curtains
Great location, food, and staff
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: March 29, 2025
Anni
GermanyPerfect stay close to the trails and nature in Ella. Everybody was very nice and helpful. Highlight is the free vegan dinner which is very tasty - 100% recommended
Stayed in March 2025
Reviewed: March 28, 2025
Mathilde
FranceI had a perfect stay here! Beautiful place, surrunding by nature. The owner is very nice and helpfull. You'll have breakfast, diner, tea or coffee and water for free !! It's super easy to connect with other travelers, very social place. The only thing is that you are a little bit far from Ella, but the walk to go there is so nice and Ella rock is really close so. Enjoy !
Stayed in March 2025
Reviewed: March 8, 2025
Frauke
GermanyCurtains on the dorm beds missing. New pillows. The small pleasures of life ;)
Great in the Green. Amazing view. Very Social. I enjoyed it better then beeing in town
Stayed in March 2025
Reviewed: February 26, 2025
Keely
AustraliaI absolutely loved my stay here. It’s out of town but that’s what made it so special, it was so peaceful. It had a beautiful view out into the rice fields and mountains and the walk along the train tracks was beautiful. The building itself was so cute and included brekky and dinner! Plenty to do around.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 23, 2025
Cora
United KingdomI absolutely loved this hostel, its location is so peaceful and I spent most of my days just watching the rice paddy workers and hanging out. So much nicer than being in Ella itself and the walk in was beautiful, definitely worth the slight inconvenience. Also free breakfast and dinner! Allowed you to do own laundry for 200 rupees only.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 21, 2025
Marthe
NorwayIt is a bit far from Ella center, so if you plan to go out a lot this might be placed a bit far out. However, if you plan to be in nature and hike, this is the perfect location!!
So quiet and peaceful at night here, and easy to meet other travelers! Loved the puppies that were all around <3
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 19, 2025
Thibault
FranceNothing
Great stay and amazing people, relaxing, dinner and breakfast really nice. Such a good atmosphere around the cultures.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 17, 2025
Thibault
FranceNothing
Great property away from the hustle. Great people too.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 17, 2025
Madalena
PortugalNothing
Breakfast was simple but great. Dayan was super helpful
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 16, 2025
John
AustraliaSome of the showers near laundry either did not have hot water or I did not know how to receive hot water. Maybe there was a trick that I'd not been shown. There was hot water in my dormitory though.
Friendly staff & friendly guests. Manager was very experienced & gave detailed maps & advice regarding available attractions. Very good value that included meals. Washing machine & drying facilities were very good.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 14, 2025
Korak
IndiaIt was hard to leave. ☹️
Just how great it was for workationing with ample spots in the premises to sit, chill, hangout, work, play games. Mr Dayan, the host, is a very kind and generous person who takes great care of the guests. They offer free breakfast as well as dinner!!! The meals are taken as a community in big tables. I met awesome people and formed friendships I’ll cherish. I just wanted to keep extending the stay.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 14, 2025
Cláudia
GermanyThe bathroom wasn’t the cleanest and the water pressure is very low so I recommend taking a shower before the night falls. But this is also the average hostel experience, totally survivable.
I didn’t notice the hostel was far from the center when I booked it, but that ended up being the highlight of this stay. The center is far too busy, touristic, and noisy and this was the perfect alternative immersed in nature. The 45 min walk down the train tracks to reach the center were my daily pleasure. It is full of breathtaking views, nature, birds and very free. The free breakfast and daily community dinners in this more remote location ended up really fostering socialisation and I met very nice people. The host is also very kind and funny! Close to Ella rock and the waterfall. Totally recommend.
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: February 8, 2025
Seif
EgyptA brilliant place with stunning views. The staff is very helpful and they offer free breakfast and dinner. Would definitely visit again
Stayed in February 2025
Reviewed: January 29, 2025
Jeanne
GermanyTea and water for free, just chill vibes, very peaceful and quiet
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: January 15, 2025
Svenja
GermanyNot easy to get to if it’s raining;
The peaceful surrounding; the staff and the food
Stayed in January 2025
Reviewed: December 29, 2024
Mark
HungaryExcellent location and at atmosphere
Stayed in December 2024
Reviewed: December 24, 2024
Daisy
Sri LankaGreat atmosphere. Wonderful and super friendly and helpful staff! Very quiet and calm place submersed in nature. Comfortable beds and very clean spaces. The food was amazing!!
Stayed in December 2024
Reviewed: December 10, 2024
Mahesh
IndiaNothing.
Everything
Stayed in December 2024
Reviewed: October 26, 2024
Tam
Hong KongClean & tidy excellent good staff and food
Excellent good
Stayed in October 2024
Reviewed: September 18, 2024
Dias
AustraliaNone
The hostel was an absolute gem! From the moment I arrived, the staff went above and beyond with their warm hospitality, making my stay nothing short of amazing. The rooms were spotless, and comfortable—everything felt thoughtfully designed for relaxation and ease. The location is perfect, and literally gave easy access to all attractions I wanted to experience. The views from the hostel were breathtaking, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploration.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: September 17, 2024
Maria
SpainIf I had to suggest areas for improvement, I’d recommend checking the water heaters, as some showers seemed to lack enough pressure, resulting in cold water. In the larger dormitory, some softer light would be helpful to avoid using the main overhead light and disturbing other guests. Also, a few more hooks in the shower area would be useful. That's all.
I stayed at this hostel for two nights, and it was absolutely worth it! While it may be a bit farther from Ella town, the location is stunning, nestled right by one of the trails that lead up to Ella Rock. The surroundings are truly idyllic, with beautiful landscapes and a peaceful atmosphere, making the distance more than worthwhile. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, making us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. They even organized a delicious barbecue for us, which was a highlight of our stay. The entire place is spotlessly clean, with lovely indoor common areas and a charming porch where you can relax and enjoy meals. One of the great perks of staying here is the easy access to the scenic railway tracks that lead into town. The walk along the tracks is beautiful, (at about 35 minutes), passing by natural pools and even a waterfall—a unique and enjoyable way to explore the area. The hostel offers both dormitories with bunk beds and private bathrooms, as well as plenty of outdoor facilities, which made our stay much more comfortable and convenient, especially as we were traveling in a large group. They also provide a Jeep service for pick-ups, which was a great help. On top of all this, the price is fantastic for what you get! Free tea and coffee are available all day, and you can even use the washing machine if needed. Overall, I highly recommend staying here—it's a hidden gem and a perfect base for exploring the beautiful surroundings of Ella Rock.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: August 30, 2024
Tone
NorwayDisclaimer; the hostel is placed in the hillside, so when arriving with backpacks from Ella you’ll need a tuktuk (If you’re arriving by train however it’s pretty easy and short walk from the station before). It’s 30 minutes to walk down to Ella, an easy walk, but just know it before booking. We were met by a very friendly host who made us tea and was happy to help us out. We were leaving with the morning train the day after arrival, and he woke up to make us breakfast and see us out. The location is lush and quiet, and the rooms were clean. There is a fan, but no AC in the room, however it’s not needed as the temperature is better here than for example in the south.
Stayed in August 2024
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