98 Acres Resort

Introduction

The 98 Acres Resort is a 28-room eco-friendly resort in the Sri Lanka hill town of Ella. It is contemporary in design with the use of granite, polished cement floors, columns made of eucalyptus trees, and roofs of bamboo and Illuk straw – giving it a minimalist feel. Sustainable construction methods haven been used with minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Discarded railway sleepers are used for walls, paving and even furniture. Accommodation at the 98 Acre Resort is in individual stone chalets and the lounge and restaurant is in an open sided pavilion on a hill with breathtaking views. As the name suggests, the Resort spreads across a 98 acre, privately owned tea plantation surrounded by mountains and spectacular views of the southern plains. On a clear day, views extend all the way to the southern lakes in Uda Walawe and Tissamaharama. A 10 acre patch of untouched wilderness within the tea estate attracts many species of hill country birds and is ideal for trekking and nature trails.

Accommodation

98 Acres offers comfortable accommodation in 28 elegant rooms across 6 categories. Each chalet opens up to beautiful views of the mountainous landscapes. Standard in-room facilities include Wi-Fi, 32-inch LCD TV with satellite channels, tea/coffee facility, mini-fridge, safe, hair dryer and room service. Ensuite bathrooms are designed with stone interiors and h/w showers in the form of spouts with water that cascades down.

Standard Rooms: The 6 Standard Rooms are furnished with queen size beds. Located in three stone chalets close to the restaurant these rooms have laminated wood floors and a bathroom with h/w shower spouts. Extra beds are not recommended in these rooms and your room could be either upstairs or downstairs, depending on availability.

Superior Rooms: The 3 Superior Rooms are all located downstairs and come furnished with king-size beds as well as a large balcony overlooking the Ella Gap and Mini Adams Peak. An extra bed can be accommodated, along with a cot if required.

Premier Deluxe Rooms: Each of the 12 Premier Deluxe Rooms have polished timber floors and can accommodate either one king-sized bed or two single beds. The large balcony overlooking the Ella Gap is furnished with sunbeds and armchairs. These rooms are located in three sets of 4 rooms each and can occupy one extra bed as well as a cot on request.

Honeymoon Deluxe Rooms:As the name suggests, each of these 3 spacious rooms above the Superior Rooms, are ideal for honeymooners and comes with its own living area. It also boasts a beautiful bathtub overlooking the mountains.

Greenland Suite: This spacious suite comes with its own kitchenette equipped with a microwave, toaster and cutlery. The extra-large balcony offers 270 degree views of the Ella Gap and is a great place to spend the morning.

Grand Executive Suites: These two-storeyed suites located close to each other have their entrance upstairs and are able to accommodate up to 5 people. The upper level consists of a double bedroom and a private infinity pool along with a front deck while the lower level room is furnished with two single beds. The large balcony offers beautiful 270 degree views of the Ella Gap.

Facilities

The lounge and restaurant pavilion is situated on a hillock. This large open-sided pavilion is designed with a high roof of bamboo and Illuk grass. Sink into a comfortable bean bag or relax in a lounge chair made of recycled railway sleepers and take in the spectacular views. Sri Lankan and western cuisine is served in the restaurant or in the privacy of your own balcony. Speciality teas from the owner’s tea factory are served throughout the day. The swimming pool is located by the restaurant. Hours can be spent here taking in the views. There is also a children’s pool. Mountain bikes are available for guests to explore the winding estate roads and the small town of Ella. The 98 Acres Resort offers several excursions including guided treks up Little Adam’s Peak which is right in front of the Resort; nature treks into the 10 acre wilderness within the estate where numerous birds and small animals can be spotted; and visit to the tea factory for an authentic tea experience and tea tasting.

Why We Like It

The eco feel, the spectacular views and the easy access to Little Adam's Peak and Nine Arch Bridge.

Sustainability

Designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, 98 Acres does much towards sustainability: the hotel was mostly constructed from recycled materials; the buggies operate on battery power (zero emissions and limited sound pollution),and the furniture was made using local and widely available timber.

Location

The 98 Acres Resort is set amidst tea covered hills with magnificent views of the southern plains, Ella rock and Little Adam’s Peak. Ella is situated in the southern highlands and can be accessed by train or by car via Nuwara Eliya, Arugam Bay on the south east coast, or the deep south via Wellawaya. A daily sea plane service also exists between Hatton in the tea country and Koggala on the south coast and we can book seats at competitive rates.