Uga Chena Huts - Yala - All Inclusive

Beautifull hotel in the jungle.. Sea view is very Beautifull

Hospitality at its perfection. We were taken care of even before we arrived and it didn’t end until we unfortunately had to leave. We stayed 2 nights and will definitely be back one day. A very well trained and organised team all working together to please their guests in an unbelievably beautiful environment. The “huts” are expensive but worth every cent. Cuisine (including vegetarian needs!) and choice of beverages were remarkable. There was one comment concerning toilet privacy which is true, but that can be avoided by the partner going for a swim in your own pool. It would be unfair to name one member of the staff for his work as they all worked together as a team and were always in for a joke. The safari tours are a must even if you don’t get to see the leopard or the famous tusk elephant, the guides and the drivers are enthusiasts all the way. Thanks. Keep up the standard.

After over 40 years of traveling, from ultra-luxurious five-star hotels to charming two-star surprises, we embarked on a three-week journey through Sri Lanka, staying at some of the country’s best properties. Wild Coast Tented Lodge? Outstanding. Eraeliya Weligama? Outstanding. Ceylon Tea Trails? Fantastic. Then came UGA Chena Huts—an experience so underwhelming it left us wondering how on earth this place maintains its high rating. This is not a five-star resort. It is, at best, a three-star establishment charging luxury prices while coasting on its location and reputation. The owners have clearly decided that “good enough” is the standard, rather than investing in what could be a truly exceptional experience. THE POSITIVES: ✔️ Spectacular location with breathtaking views over the Indian Ocean. ✔️ Kind and professional staff—they are trying their best despite what they have to work with. ✔️ Food is decent—not exceptional, but not terrible either. ✔️ Nice sundowner setting—a moment of peace before the reality of the resort kicks back in. ✔️ Beautiful beach dinner arrangements—a rare highlight. ✔️ Decent open-air bar area—nothing special, but at least functional AND OPEN … ✔️ Excellent safari rangers—if only the resort matched their level of professionalism. THE NEGATIVES: 1. DATED, DATED, DATED. The entire property screams neglect. This isn’t “rustic luxury” or “understated charm”—it’s just old, tired, and uninspired. 2. The Huts? Large but Utterly Soulless. Yes, they are spacious. But space means nothing when it’s filled with boring, outdated furniture and zero atmosphere. Staying here feels more like being in a forgotten timeshare unit than a luxury retreat. 3. The Plunge Pools? A Complete Joke. I cannot stress this enough—the so-called private plunge pools are an atrocity. Small, cheap plastic tubs, with tiny, worn-down decks that wouldn’t even be acceptable in a low-budget roadside motel. How anyone thought this was an acceptable feature for a luxury resort is beyond comprehension. 4. The Main Pool? An Absolute Misery. Instead of using the stunning ocean views to create an infinity pool masterpiece, they’ve hidden it in the bushes. No atmosphere, no view—just an uninspired, lifeless pool area that feels like an afterthought. 5. No Proper Pool Bar – Just a Slow, Overworked Server on a Bicycle. Want a drink by the pool? Be prepared to wait an eternity. There’s no real bar—just a lone staff member who has to bike over to fetch your order. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a beer or soda. If you want anything more complex—good luck. 6. The Dining Room? A Glass Prison. Whoever designed the main restaurant must have hated nature, because instead of making the most of the setting, they shoved it inside a glass aquarium with AC. You can technically dine outside, but space is ridiculously limited. It’s a total mystery why a resort that markets itself as an “immersive nature retreat” has such an unwelcoming, uninspired dining experience

Paradise. We stayed at Una Chena Huts for 8 nights and it was absolutely fabulous. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by smiling friendly staff and offered a beautiful welcome drink. I knew we were going to have an amazing holiday. One of the best holidays I have ever experienced. The huts are beautifully appointed villas with a large pool. The room is huge, with a fully stocked mini bar, a massive comfortable bed, The toiletries are plentiful and there is a separate very large toilet and separate shower. Our villa had a view of the lake where we would see our resident water buffalo who I named Bert every day just wallowing in the water keeping cool. Every evening at 6pm we were invited for drinks at the sundowner bar on the beach overlooking the beautiful ocean. The restaurant served amazing silver service breakfast, lunch and dinner. The choice of food was fabulous with a choice of 4 course European or Sri Lankan specialties. The chef would come and say hello during dinner to ensure the meal was satisfactory. During our stay we were visited by an elephant walking to reception, an elephant on the beach who made his way to the restaurant and reception. Monkey family enjoying the freedom of the resort. One particular evening on returning to the villa from a night enjoying fabulous food and drinks we were greeted by Bert our water buffalo on the porch of our villa munching on the greenery and when he was full he wandered behing our villa of our villa. Uga Chena Huts have a fabulous team of guides who arrange and take you on the safaris. We were lucky to be offered 2 safaris a day one early in the morning and one late afternoon. Our guide Kalihdu was absolutely fabulous, his knowledge was exceptional. He was super friendly and changed our route through the park every day. We were so lucky to watch a leopard just chilling in the bush who then decided to sit in front of our 4x4 just relaxing and cleaning herself for 5 minutes then we had the same experience with an elephant. It was surreal seeing these beautiful animals in the natural habitat. The animals we saw were leopards, elephants, water buffalo’s, monkeys, crocodiles, deer and an amazing array of birds. All the staff at Una Chena Huts are absolutely fabulous. Leezel Daniel The resident manager must be so proud of all her staff. They were exceptional, always had a beautiful smile and going above and beyond to ensure our stay was unforgettable. Una Chena Huts is paradise and we will definitely return.

The huts are large and very comfortable, wirh a great private pool. All of the staff are excellent, incredible service and attitude. We particularly appreciated Salman, who was so professional and so friendly The food and choices were excellent quality And the restaurant and bar was very nicely appointed. We were out on Safari multiple times and were lucky to see a notirious Tusker, a Leopard and many other Elephants amongst several species of birds and other animals. The ranger Dushmantha & Driver Roshan were absolutely excellent, knowledgable and very accomodating. We highly recommend.