Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Free beach shuttle
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
BBQ facilities
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean rooms
Friendly staff
Great location
Comfortable beds
Cons:
Limited parking
Expensive breakfast
No spa services

Categories

Cleanliness
7.5
Guests consistently mentioned cleanliness as a positive aspect.
Service
8.3
Service was generally appreciated, although a few guests had complaints about wait times.
Location
8.1
The hotel is located in close proximity to many key landmarks and public transport.
Room Quality
7.8
Rooms were spacious and comfortable, although some guests mentioned minor maintenance issues.
Amenities
7.2
The amenities provided were satisfactory, with some guests highlighting the gym and pool, while others mentioned the lack of spa services.
Value for Money
6.9
Some guests felt that the price was a bit high for the services offered, while others thought it was reasonable given the location.
Food and Beverage
7.3
Breakfast and restaurant services were generally well-received, although a few guests thought there could be more variety.
Overall Experience
8
Most guests had a positive overall experience and would recommend the hotel to others.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-06-28 08:09

Property Description

Scenic River Views and Mangrove Sanctuary
Located beside the Bentota River, Selavi Resort offers a unique experience within a protected Salt water Mangrove Sanctuary. Enjoy the tranquil river views from your terrace or balcony in our well-appointed guest house.

Diverse Dining Options and Exciting Activities
Indulge in a delicious meal at our on-site restaurant or unwind with a drink at the bar. For adventure seekers, we offer a range of activities including windsurfing, fishing, and canoeing. Don't miss the chance to spot monkeys, crocodiles, varans, and mongooses in the property's surroundings.

Proximity to Beach and City Center
Just 2 km from the stunning Bentota beach and city center, Selavi Resort provides the perfect blend of relaxation and convenience. Explore the vibrant Hikkaduwa, located 32 km away, known for its water activities, seafood restaurants, and nightlife.

Book your stay at Selavi Resort for a memorable riverside retreat!

Important information:

Please inform Selavi Resort Bentota in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 6 years old stay for US$5 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 4 years old to 12 years old stay for US$10 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 13 years old to 17 years old stay for US$15 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 7 years old to 12 years old stay for US$10 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    People 13 years old and over stay for US$15 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.8
Based on 5 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.5
Service: 8.3
Location: 8.1
Room Quality: 7.8
Amenities: 7.2
Value for Money: 6.9
Food and Beverage: 7.3
Overall Experience: 8
B
Bente • group • no
10
Exceptional
Pros:

SELAVI is an oasis of calm and quietness. It has a beautiful garden and overlooks the Bentota river. The food is exeptional & come with large portions.
The staff are friendly and drop us off on the beach in the morning for free. We only payed a few hundred rupees to get back in the evening.
We really loved our stay and will be back next year with friends. :-)

2025-03-02 • via Nuitee
S
Sri • family with young children • lk
10
Peaceful setting by the lake and tasty big portions of meals.
Pros:

The peaceful setting by the vast Bentota lake.
The tasty food is excellent, big portions.

2025-01-21 • via Nuitee
T
Tomas • family with young children • cz
10
Doing our two week travel through Sri Lanka, this was a nice surprise. Very calm place in nature but close to the main s
Pros:

Very nice, cosy and calm place. you will get a great view over the Bentota River for time of your breakfast and great service of the local staff. This is especially good for family with kids (like us, we are five )because these are two separate bungalows with a nice garden. 

2023-09-01 • via Nuitee
B
Bente • group • no
10
We will visit Srilanka again. Next time directly to Selavi with friends from Norway and Denmark.
Pros:

Selavi in Bentota is value for money at an exeptionally nice peacefully located waterfront villa with beautiful garden and wildlife.
This was our best accomodation in Srilanka so far.
We stayed in the Junior Suite with bath & Terrace. It's a fantastic and comfortable luxury room with a private terrace and a very nice bathroom.
The room is equipped with Aircondition, hot & cold water, dual use private bathroom, refrigerator, fan with regulator, Satellite Tv including all European channels, high speed Wifi, clean new white linen and bathroom towels, bathtub, bidet and high-quality fittings. And free Tea & Coffee and electric kettle, free bottled drinking water. All for USD 55 for the double room per night - amazing.
The breakfast was amacing and included in the price. It included strong coffee, good Srilankan fresh fruits, jam, butter, toast and Srilankan omelette. Breakfast served in the restaurant while watching the small fishingboats.
They served a very tasty seafood dinner with prawns & calamari incoconut cream, curry and green vegetables salad, which also was amacing, for just USD 15 p.p.

After breakfast we enjoyed an unforgettable Bentota River Safari and saw many animals like Monitor lizards, Fruit bats, babycrocodiles, Mongoose, kingfisher, colorful birds and Water Lilies in theirs natural habitat.
It was a nice experience, and compared to other River Safari at Madhu ganga, there was not much boat traffic. It was a nice peaceful River Safari, all for 30 USD with a very good safari driver who saw all the animals much before us.

During the day, Elion, the manager and tour guide, drove us to the Kandevihra Budhist temple and to a beautiful garden named Brief Garden.

Next time we visit Srilanka, we will do a bird watching tour to Bundala, Yala and Kandy with Elion as his knowledge about the country's history and culture and birds is awesome.
Selavi also has a very good home visited Ayurveda Masseur.

2023-02-14 • via Nuitee
E
Eliot • with friends • gb
9
A really excellent and peaceful night here listenong to the roiver and eating whikst overlooking it. The family are very
Pros:

This is a small family-run guesthouse near to Aluthgama and Bentota. It's slightly off the beaten track but you are rewarded as it is a very relaxing location on the river with a beautiful view. The walk into Bentota Beach is around 2km but worth it and Andre Peter, the son of the owner was kind enough to give us a lift (and buy us beers). The home-cooked food was absolutely excellent. We only had time to stay here for one night on our travels but they can arrange many local activities for you.

Cons:

Some people have mentioned mosquitos but this is no different to many other parts in Sri Lanka. You are after all near a lovely mangrove. However, they were unnoticeable if you have repellant with DEET.

2022-11-14 • via Nuitee