Hotel Elephant Bay - World's Best Place to See the Elephants

Hotels
8 (2073 reviews)
Pinnawala, , Pinnawala , LK

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Business center
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Beautiful views
Good amenities
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Needs maintenance
Food quality variability

Categories

Cleanliness
6.39
Several mentions of poor cleanliness and odor problems in the rooms.
Service
9.36
Staff are described as friendly and helpful across multiple reviews.
Location
9.4
Location is positively highlighted, especially for elephant viewing.
Room Quality
6.85
Issues with room condition and maintenance reported by guests.
Amenities
8.38
Amenities like the pool and balcony are appreciated, but overall care of facilities is questioned.
Value for Money
7.84
Mixed feelings, with some reviews suggesting better quality for price could be expected.
Food and Beverage
7.39
Food received mixed reviews; some enjoyed it while others found it lacking.
Overall Experience
8.36
Mixed reviews, but general appreciation for the location and staff.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 18:53

Property Description

Spectacular Views and Tranquil Surroundings
Hotel Elephant Bay in Pinnawala offers rooms with private balconies overlooking the Ma Oya River. The bright and airy rooms are equipped with modern amenities for a comfortable stay.

Leisure and Adventure Awaits
Guests can explore the tropical garden, relax on the sun terrace, or rent bicycles to tour the area. For the more adventurous, activities like hiking and fishing are readily available.

International Dining and Convenient Services
Indulge in a variety of international dishes at Ivory Inn Restaurant or opt for room service for a cozy night in. With easy access to the airport and nearby cities, Elephant Bay Hotel is the perfect base for your Sri Lankan adventure.

Ready to experience the charm of Hotel Elephant Bay? Book your stay now for an unforgettable getaway.

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 02:00 PM

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 2073 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.39
Service: 9.36
Location: 9.4
Room Quality: 6.85
Amenities: 8.38
Value for Money: 7.84
Food and Beverage: 7.39
Overall Experience: 8.36
R
Rodion • family_with_children • ru
10
Pros:

Amazing hotel in an amazing location for elephant watching, staff and service way above the expected, breakfast is delicious and well served, thank you elephant bay for a great experience 🥳

2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
J
Jose • extended_group • ph
9
2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
J
Jayaratne • family_with_children • gb
5
2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
M
Murad • couple • ae
5
2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
R
Rajdeep • family_with_children • in
10
2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
M
Mahdi • extended_group • iq
10
Pros:

The view, the staff, the food everything was perfect

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
R
Rae • couple • gb
8
Very pleasent,lovely view over river
Pros:

Stunning outlook over river
Great pool
Very attentive staff

Cons:

Room not worth the money
Mould on walls
Cleaner swept litter into river every morning where elephants bathe!

2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
P
Prabu • couple • in
10
Perfect spot for the Elephant Connection
Pros:

The hospitality and the Staff are more friendly

Cons:

Nothing.. all good

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
H
hongxia • extended_group • cn
9
2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
T
Tharaka • solo_traveller • lk
6
2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Very friendly staff nice hotel beautiful view really enjoyed my stayed and lovely room clean and spacious

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
M
madushanka • extended_group • kr
10
2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
X
xavier • extended_group • es
5
vale la pena para poder ver tantos elefantes durante horas mientras estas en la piscina o la terraza
Pros:

las vistas son increibles , desde la piscina ves el rio donde cada mañana van los elefantes del santuario a bañarse

Cons:

el hotel se encontraba en obras, tuvimos que pedir que nos cambiaran de habitacion ya que el aire acondicionado hacia mucho ruido

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
D
Denise • solo_traveller • ar
8
Pros:

El hotel es muy amplio y las vistas son preciosas

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
A
Anais • couple • fr
9
À faire absolument
Pros:

Nous avons adoré notre venu chez vous , la vue était exceptionnelle avec la piscine aussi nous avons manger la bas c’était bien
La chambre était très spacieuse et avec un bon équipement
Le personnel très accueillant et serviable
Je recommande

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
F
Fernando • family_with_children • lk
5
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
D
Dimuthu Singankutti • solo_traveller • fr
9
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
M
Manfred • solo_traveller • de
8
Aber die Elefanten...
Pros:

Die Anlage ist etwas in die Jahre gekommen und einige Sachen in den - sauberen - Zimmern müssten renoviert werden. Das ist aber nebensächlich, weil man ja eh nur wegen der Elefanten kommt und die Aussicht von der Terrasse, dem Pool oder dem Balkon ist grandios. Der Service ist auch gut, genau so wie das Frühstück und das WLAN.

Cons:

Die Vorhänge könnten mehr abdunkeln (ist aber fast überall ein Problem)

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
U
Unicorn • solo_traveller • lk
7
Pros:

Great view of the elephants. Rooms were decent.

Cons:

Most of the staff was a bit indifferent towards the guests. The phone to reception didn't work and they weren't picking up the phones listed in the app or the internet. They ask guests to leave a 10 star review when leaving.

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
T
Travis • family_with_children • au
10
We had an amazing time swimming in the pool. The weather was great. The food was great. The elephants were amazing.
Pros:

The Location was amazing. We had elephants walk up to the handrail and we ended up feeding them.

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee