98 Acres Resort & Spa 

Lost-world vibes in the hills

This award-winning boutique mountain resort has a beautiful tranquil setting on a historic tea plantation.

Relax and unwind in this peaceful and eco-friendly resort which is nestled within a 98-acre colonial tea estate in the Ella Gap. One of the region’s most sought-after properties, 98 Acres provides guests with an elegant and distinctly Sri Lankan experience. Its handful of rustic thatched chalets come with hill views that could keep you glued to your balcony for hours – though the fantastic nature trails on the doorstep may well tempt you away.

Why we love 98 Acres Resort & Spa

  • It’s set among misty hillsides draped in tea bushes or wild greenery, with soft mountain breezes and pin-drop peace

  • There are just 36 charming thatched chalets that seem to merge into the landscape of the tea estate on which they’re set

  • Its picturesque look and timeless atmosphere has made it a hit with couples and honeymooners

  • While it’s tempting to stay put, there are ancient temples, waterfalls and wildlife reserves in walking or biking distance

4 stars
Feb - Aug
Colombo 10½ hours
Close to the town of Ella, in the beautiful Hill Country
Approx. 6 hours from the airport
Honeymoon

Rooms

Facilities

  • Restaurants & bars
  • Board
  • Spas & wellness
  • Sustainability
  • Good to Know

There’s a suitably rustic restaurant and bar, with open sides to make the most of the fabulous views.

Restaurant 98
At the hillside Restaurant 98, there are more panoramic vistas, a breakfast buffet and an extensive à la carte menu featuring Sri Lankan, Far Eastern and international options.

Bar 98
The open-air bar serves a deletable range of tea-themed cocktails and mocktails, wines and spirits, as well as hot and cold soft drinks.

For something a little different, you can arrange to join the chef in the kitchen for a hands-on lesson in Sri Lankan cuisine and eat what you’ve cooked for lunch or dinner at the end.

What's included

Breakfast at Cafe 98 Restaurant.

Upgrade options

Half Board • Breakfast and dinner at Cafe 98 Restaurant
Full Board • Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Cafe 98 Restaurant.

At the charmingly diminutive spa, you can enjoy indulgent rituals featuring tea and herbs grown on the estate while you gaze out over it from the open-sided treatment room. Our pick is the 98 Royal Treatment, a two-hour pampering session that includes an aromatherapy massage, reflexology and scented milky bath. Yoga lessons are also available on request.

While there is a fully equipped gym, the chance to hike, bike and trek through the stunning highland scenery that surrounds the resort instead is not to be missed.

The chalets are made from natural materials, including old wooden railway sleepers, granite and “illuk” straw thatch. All the buildings are positioned and constructed to benefit from cooling breezes, so air conditioning is not needed. The electric golf buggies used to carry people and things around the resort produce no emissions and almost no noise pollution. Ingredients for the kitchen and bar are sourced as locally as possible, which includes tea from the estate itself.

Compulsory Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve gala dinners, supplements apply.

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