Clio Ella Resort

Staying at Clio Ella Resort was easily one of the most unique and memorable parts of my Sri Lanka trip. The adventure literally begins before you even reach the resort! You need to park your car at the highway restaurant, and from there the resort arranges a 4x4 off-road ride of around 5 km through rugged terrain — which is super fun in itself. And just when you think it can’t get better, you cross the river in a private cable car to reach the property… absolutely awesome and unforgettable! The location is simply breathtaking — surrounded by lush jungle with a river flowing nearby. It’s peaceful, untouched, and feels like a hidden paradise. Perfect if you want to disconnect and truly be in nature. The chalets are beautifully placed with stunning views, especially the ones facing the river. Waking up to the sound of water and birds is an experience in itself. The staff were incredibly warm and helpful throughout — always making sure everything was comfortable and enjoyable. The River proximity, is truly a highlight of the stay. It’s not just a hotel, it’s a full experience. Yes, it’s raw and adventurous — but that’s exactly what makes it special. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique, offbeat, and unforgettable stay. Would definitely come back!

We read some reviews that were not so good... people complaining about bugs and animals....yea so there were a few bugs in the room and at one point some small animal, maybe a squirrel, but who cares? If you want a hermetically sealed place then go to the Marriot. The room was big and very nice, the place itself is amazing, huge grounds, very well-kept, all the staff were great, there is plenty of activities and things to do around (we were with 2 young kids and they loved it). I would definitely go back and next time stay longer.

We were two couples who booked this property for two nights, and unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete nightmare. From the very first night, the experience was alarming. Upon entering our room, we found a squirrel and a large mouse inside. This was extremely frightening, and we spent the entire night anxious and unable to rest. To make matters worse, after 11 PM the property staff switched off their phones, leaving us with no support during an emergency. The rooms have open roof gaps, which allow animals like mice and squirrels to freely enter. We raised this issue after the first night, and the management changed our rooms for the second night. Sadly, the problem continued. There were monkeys on the roof, and during the second night, an animal (most likely a mouse) ate the strawberries, milk pudding, and other food kept in the room. Another unsettling aspect was that out of nearly 25 rooms, only our two rooms were occupied. The entire property felt deserted and isolated, located deep in the jungle, which made the experience even more uncomfortable and unsafe. Access to the property is only via a cable car, which felt highly unreliable and unsafe, as if it could stop or fail at any moment. After checking other reviews, we learned that if the cable car stops working, there is no alternative access—guests are expected to hike to or from the property, which is completely impractical. Additionally, the resort is located around 10–15 km outside Ella, so you miss out on Ella’s pleasant weather and convenience altogether. Overall, we strongly do not recommend booking this property. The safety concerns, lack of staff support, wildlife intrusion, and poor accessibility make it an extremely stressful experience rather than a relaxing stay.

We stayed at Clio Ella Jungle Resort for 2 nights from 10th to 12th February, booking 3 rooms for our family getaway. First of all, I would like to give a special shout-out to Mr. Perera, who took great care of us during our stay. He was attentive, helpful, and very professional throughout. The rest of the ground staff were also very friendly and genuinely tried their best to assist us and apologize whenever issues arose. The location is absolutely fabulous, right next to the river, offering a peaceful jungle atmosphere. The food was delicious, and we truly enjoyed the meals during our stay. However, there were very disappointing experiences that must be mentioned. The most unacceptable incident was related to hygiene. On the first night, rats entered my sister’s room. One even came onto the bed in the middle of the night while they were sleeping. This was a shocking and extremely unpleasant situation. Sadly, on the following night, I experienced the same issue in my own room. There were rats running on the window curtains, and I had to call the housekeeping team in the middle of the night while my baby boy was sleeping. Both nights, we did not get proper sleep due to this unhygienic situation. This is something no guest should ever have to experience. While the ground staff tried very hard to handle the situation and sincerely apologized to us, I was quite surprised that the management did not take stronger action or responsibility regarding such a serious matter. I work closely with hotels on a daily basis and have stayed in many properties, but this was the first time I experienced rats running inside a guest room. It was very embarrassing for me, especially in front of my family, as I was the one who arranged this stay for them. I strongly believe the management should take urgent action to resolve this issue and ensure proper hygiene standards are maintained. Guests deserve a safe, clean, and comfortable environment