If you’re looking for the ultimate Sri Lankan sanctuary to escape the stresses of everyday life, Santani is the place for you. Gazing out from its treetop balconies in the lush Sri Lankan hilltops, time itself seems to hold its breath. Panoramic views unfold across a forested river valley, and on the horizons, an endless game of hide and seek plays out between the mountain peaks and the swirling clouds. Indeed, calling Santani a sanctuary isn't going far enough: it's a refuelling station for the soul. The 20 striking chalets are purposefully minimal, the architecture modernist, the setting free of unnecessary clutter. It's all about inner focus. With meals included and no distractions, a few days here will make you feel refreshed, revitalised and ready for anything.
But it’s not just the setting that takes the breath away. This is a world-beating wellness destination with first-rate facilities. The tri-level spa, which appears to be carved out of a hillside, has an open-fronted design (inspired by the region’s monastic cave dwellings) that houses an impressive array of international therapies (like deep tissue and lomi lomi massages) and Ayurveda treatments by a resident doctor. Free sunrise and sunset group yoga, use of the sauna, steam room and thermal salt bath are all included in your stay, as is the thoughtfully curated cuisine. Based on the ancient yet au courant concept of six tastes, it aims to nourish 'from the inside out'. With time on your side, explore the surrounding countryside on a bird walk, visit the Hulu river with a resident naturalist followed by a brisk swim – it will enhance your wellbeing like never before.
Santani Wellness Kandy
near Kandy, Kandy & Hill Country, Sri Lanka
Highs
- The dramatic mountain setting lets nature nurture your ruffled feathers, and is very calming
- The chalets are utterly romantic: secluded, spacious, with stunning views over forested hillsides
- We loved the spa, its hydrotherapy facilities and the gentle healing hands of our Keralan therapist
- It’s peaceful without being overly quiet – fall asleep to chirruping crickets and frogs, then wake to vibrant birdsong
- The cuisine is exceptional – organic, nutritionally balanced, yet gourmet at the same time
Lows
- This is a remote spot, a full hour's drive from Kandy, so we advise at least 2 nights here
- It's quite expensive, but bear in mind that rates include all meals, daily guided walks, spa access and some activities
- Santani is a 'WiFi optional' resort, so WiFi is only available in your room on request
- It's not very family-friendly: the spa and chalets are over-12s only (but all ages are allowed in the 2- and 3-bedroom villas)
Best time to go
Our top tips
On arrival, leave your phone in your suitcase and don’t look at it until you leave. The opportunity to unwind in tranquil surroundings should be cherished. Instead, pack your yoga gear, and bring plenty of books for evening reading on the balcony.
- Nature & Wellness Retreat
- 20 rooms + 2 villas for 4-6
- All meals included
- Allowed in villas only
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
Stylish simplicity is the watchword here. The chalet-like rooms are furnished with just the essentials, but very comfy: kingsize beds wrapped in mosquito netting, timber framed armchairs, cupboards (with drawers for your suitcases) and open plan bathrooms with walk-in rain showers. The mixture of grey cement, off-white furnishings, glass and timber adds to the minimalist aesthetic, while natural ventilation and ceiling fans keep the room cool (air con is only in the villas but , in truth, it's barely needed up here).
The 16 Mountain View Chalets jut out from a steep grassy hillside and feel like modernist treehouses. Their obvious draw is the panoramic views across the valley which you can survey from bed, or from a floating balcony furnished with deck chairs.
A further 4 Garden View Chalets are located in a secluded grove and conceived for small groups, since each pair of rooms share a living area. These rooms have traditional bathrooms as opposed to the open layout of the Mountain View Chalets.
For families, the sleek and very spacious Two- and Three-Bedroom Mountain Villas are stunning. They boast glass-fronted kitchens and dining rooms, outdoor sofas and bars, exposed concrete bones, and slender infinity pools that seem to ripple into the horizon.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Coffee / tea making
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Mosquito net
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- WiFi
Eating
All meals are included in the rates - and we're talking beautifully presented, organic, Michelin-key dining - as well as unlimited fresh juices and herbal teas, plus alcoholic drinks (except on the Personalised Wellness Programmes).
Santani follows the Ayurvedic principle of six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent), which aims to neutralise food cravings by ensuring a balanced nutrition. Though lighter on carbohydrates than many European cuisines, we found these dishes to be really flavoursome and satisfying - so that, even after a gourmet 4-course dinner, we weren't left feeling uncomfortably full.
The restaurant sits on the first floor of a light-bathed, glass-framed modernist building that surveys the valley and hills. Breakfasts include tropical fruit, vegetable and fruit juices, granola, and eggs cooked any way. Lunch might be a vegetable soup followed by grilled tuna with couscous and greens, and a pudding of rhubarb crumble. Sri Lankan curry is always an option, too.
There are no menus; instead, the chefs share the day’s lunch and dinner choices with the guests. These meals are flexible – dietary and personal preferences are taken into account, while those staying on wellness packages will have meals curated for them.
If you're staying in a villa, you can dine there if you prefer. You also get a well-equipped kitchenette - fridge, microwave and stove (but no oven) - in case you want to prepare additional snacks.
Features include:
- All meals included
- Bar
Activities
- Make a beeline for the spa – treatments range from massages, scrubs and wraps to Ayurvedic treatments by Keralan therapists
- Enjoy free access to the indulgent hydrotherapy facilities – thermal pool, steam room and sauna
- And twice-daily yoga classes; or book a one-on-one session with a visiting master
- We loved the daily guided nature walks: the 2-hour stroll down to the Hulu River for a refreshing dip in its clear waters, or an early morning bird walk
- Or trek a little further to the Hanging Bridge of Narampanawa and visit a Buddhist temple
- Float in the free-form outdoor pool, meditate on the hillside, or practice yoga anywhere on the resort
- Visit a handloom workshop or watch the intricate goings-on at a local tea factory
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Hiking
- Private guided tours
- Sauna
- Spa treatments
- Steam room
- Swimming
- Traditional cultures
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
This tranquil wellness resort is aimed more at couples than families. Having said that, children of all ages are welcome in the 2- and 3-bedroom villas, which are well separated from the spa; but we wouldn't recommend them for toddlers due to their design (concrete floors, unprotected drops, unfenced infinity pool). And teens are welcome in the chalets, though if they want treatments they need to be 18 or over.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Santani Wellness Kandy perches on a remote hillside amid 120 acres of wild grassland, tea fields and forests, around an hour’s drive northeast of Kandy in central Sri Lanka.
By Air
Colombo Bandaranaike is the closest international airport (140km or 4.5 hrs' drive); an alternative is to fly with domestic airline Cinnamon Air to Kandy’s Polgolla Reservoir Airport (1 hr’s drive from the hotel).
From the Airport
The hotel offers a transfer service by luxury van from either airport. Alternatively, you can take a train from Colombo to Kandy (2 hrs' ride) and then a taxi (1 hr's drive).
Getting Around
The hotel has its own trishaw for short trips. Staff will help arrange transport for longer excursions.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Colombo Bandaranaike International 100.0 km CMB
Other:
- Beach 100.0 km
- Shops 13.0 km
- Restaurant 30.0 km
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Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests