Our Story
Polwaththa Eco Lodges was established in 2010 giving guests the opportunity to experience rural life in Sri Lanka and for the local community to benefit therefrom. It was necessary to find a village not too far from the touristic route but still remote, with a pleasant climate, a pristine environment and an authentic Sri Lankan village inhabited by hospitable people – not an easy task by any means, but we did not have to look far. Lying just 19 Km from Kandy city, the owner’s ancestral village was available - a perfect fit! With humble beginnings and a huge challenge ahead, Polwaththa Eco Lodges was launched at a time when Sustainable Tourism was beginning to pick up. From then on, there was no looking back and our determination to succeed finally paid off, winning the TripAdvisor Certificate for Excellence for consecutive years - thanks to our dedicated and friendly staff who are proudly our own villagers and our esteemed guests who supported us with great reviews and encouraged us to forge ahead.
Our enthusiasm to satisfy our guests continues and we strive to meet the demands of the ever-changing trends in modern-day tourism. As we see it, the desire to change the world is to uplift the living standards of mankind - at a huge cost to the environment. Our aim is to provide, besides an enjoyable holiday, an experience - based more on spiritual values and less on material uplift, which will hopefully have a positive influence on your own life. This to us, is one sure way of sustaining this world for us to live in harmony and for our future generations to benefit from.
The idea to start this project came from within the family, primarily Nihal who has vast experience in the tourism industry. He had a vision to set up such a sustainable tourism project from the time he entered the tourism field and since then, we have been working closely with the local villagers, educating them, learning from them and establishing ourselves as a genuine ecotourism business.
A unique feature of our Eco Lodge is the close bond between the management and the local villagers. The local staff-members and other relevant villagers are consulted when planning and implementing any new projects. The staff, after receiving initial training in necessary areas, are encouraged to handle the guests independently. While this gives them the much-needed confidence, it also gives the guests the opportunity to closely interact with a “local”. Although tradition discourages women from working in the hotel trade, we have succeeded in having nearly 30% of women in our staff of 17.
The active participation of Nel, Nihal's Dutch wife, in areas connected with re-forestation, besides discovering new nature-based treks and promoting local handicrafts, gives a global thrust to a local need. Her deep love for nature combined with an unwavering determination, ensures a high success rate – 70% of the 700 new trees planted from November 2016, are doing well, despite challenging weather conditions.
Adding to the international flavor are Remon and his English wife Freya. Remon is Nihal's son who had his education in Sri lanka, graduated in Travel & Tourism in the Netherlands and finished his 7-year work-experience in the hospitality trade in London. He together with Freya have gradually taken over the property, as passed on from one generation to another since the early 20th century. Remon looks like a European but acts like a Sri Lankan – a good balance where a European taste and a local culture have to blend.
Our Philosophy & Projects
At Polwaththa, we proudly employ 80% of our staff from the local village and surrounding areas, ensuring that we contribute to the community's well-being. We offer above-average wages, along with a savings account for each employee to encourage better financial planning. We actively involve local staff and villagers in our project planning, and we encourage all visitors to plant a tree before they leave, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship. Additionally, we support local schools, fund education for the underprivileged, and invest in local schools, community centres and agricultural projects, all while promoting conservation through our Forest Healing Foundation.
Most of our lodges were built using locally sourced on the land and we proudly support our community by sourcing all our supplies from local shops just 5km away. We grow, source and hand roast our own organic coffee as part our commitment to empowering local women and farmers. This led us to launch Eko Land Produce in 2020 which has grown to. export over 10 different spices to Europe and USA.
We're committed to waste management by turning food waste into compost and recycling plastic and glass. We also minimise the use of water and electricity through solar panels and using well water.
And let's not forget our community shop, which showcases local crafts, clothes and provides vital financial support to our talented community!
The Snug
Welcome to The Snug, your new coworking space, jungle cafe/bar where nature, comfort and productivity come together. Enjoy our artisan coffee or our one of our fresh juices while enjoying the stunning views of the forest. Altough we pride ourselves on local Rice & Curry, if you are bored then why not try our locally made mushroom burger!
Although we try to minimuse the use of technology, we accept today's reality and have created this space with high-speed fiber internet. Allow nature to inspire your creativity.
Join us for a unique experience that feels like a home in the jungle!
How to reach us
We are located in a jungle only 19 Km from the bustling hill-capital, Kandy (40 minutes) and about 120 Km from the airport/Colombo. The closest town is called Digana from where we arrange pickup since the last 1km is a steep climb. Therefore please call us on 0704810100 before travelling to us. For travel routes from main tourist spots please click below.
Volunteering
Are you interested in becoming part of our community? Then you have come to the right place! If planting trees, wall painting, social media stuff (making noise!) or documenting our work sounds exciting then please reach out! You can contact Remon at remon@ekoland.lk
Accommodation
You will be staying in one of our wonderful lodges. Accommodation is free and meals cost $36 per week (6 nights) which includes 3 daily meals and unlimited drinking water.
Volunteer periods
September - December & April - June
Volunteer contracts are between 1 - 12 weeks with 20 hours per week. You will be working 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. Working hours are flexible and you will given enough time to explore the rest of the island.
FAQs
What is the weather like?
The rainy season typically occurs from mid October to mid-December, but predicting it can be challenging due to the shifting global climate. We are often seeing sunny spells in the morning which is typical during the monsoon season. On rainy days, you may encounter leeches that resemble black worms but there's no need to worry—they are harmless! Temperatures generally range from 23°C in the evenings to 26°C during the day. We suggest bringing a jumper as it can be slightly chilly in the evenings.
The warmest period in Sri Lanka is January to April when temperatures can go up to 30°C but the forest will make sure you stay relatively cool.
What should I bring?
Pack plenty of soft T-shirts and shorts. Please note that Sri Lankan village culture differs significantly from Western norms, so we advise women to wear shorts that reach the knees and to cover bikinis with a T-shirt when swimming or in public areas. Additionally, consider bringing walking shoes, a light rain jacket, a jumper (for the cooler nights), swimwear, and rubber slippers.
How can I pay?
We prefer payment to be made in cash in either US Dollars, Euros, Pound Sterling or Sri Lankan Rupees (SLRs.) which you could obtain from the many ATM machines available nearby which accept debit or credit cards issued by most banks. We also accept card payments but please note there is a 4% process fee.
Do you provide driver accommodation?
Unfortunately, we no longer provide accommodation for drivers but we can recommend places within a 5km radius that cost between Rs 2,000- 3,000 per night.