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Accommodation

Living Heritage

Koslanda, Sri Lanka

Destinations

Sri Lanka

Accommodation

Living Heritage

What began as a passion project by a Sri Lankan filmmaker 30 years ago has evolved into a unique and beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of hill country.

Living Heritage Koslanda was designed to preserve and celebrate Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, using astrology to position the buildings and traditional building methods and craftsmanship to bring the stone and wooden buildings to life. Long before ecotourism was an idea, it was at the heart of the design here. The property spreads over 80 acres within a beautiful forest, Devianga Kale (God’s Forest), a sacred space of waterfalls, elephants roaming forest corridors, monkeys chattering and butterflies and giant squirrels flitting around the canopy.

There are just nine rooms here, each with a unique spirit – from the forest pavilions to the stylish suites. There is an infinity pool which overlooks the hills and paddy fields and the hotel’s spa offers a range of restorative and revitalising Ayurvedic treatments. Meals are served in the open sided traditional Ambalama, and for special occasions there’s a variety of special spots around the property for celebratory dinners. This is a special spot in the hill country, ideal for nature lovers and very welcoming of couples and families alike.

What we love

The hotel’s story is a unique blend of comfort, Sri Lankan heritage and immersion in nature
Set on an 80 acre estate, there are endless trails to explore independently or with a guide
A range of Ayurvedic wellness treatments are available
Make time for a swim in the infinity pool
Cooking classes are a wonderful way to learn some local dishes such as traditional hoppers, as well as enjoying the rewards of your feast
A guided walk through the forest, with a picnic lunch and a swim at the base of a waterfall is a real highlight

Nature lovers should opt for the forest pavilion rooms which immerse you in the sights and sounds of the jungle

The pathways around the hotel are rocky in places, so we recommend taking sturdy shoes to walk around in

We recommend at least a two night stay here to really enjoy the magic of this place

Families are warmly welcomed here, with a minimum age of 6 years for children. There are plenty of books, games and activities to enjoy for children of all ages, including cricket, badminton, cookery classes, bug discovery expeditions and bonfire nights with marshmallow roasting. The luxury villa suites comfortably accommodate a family of four.

Living Heritage Koslanda is proud of its sustainability initiatives, which are at the heart of their operations. They have an indigenous tree reforestation programme on the estate to rehabilitate the land, and guests are invited to plant a tree during their stay. More than 90% of the team are employed from the local area, and more than a third of the team are female, which is unusually high in Sri Lanka. This offers a rare but much needed opportunity for financial independence for local women and thereby supporting their children’s futures.

In the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country, on its own estate, Living Heritage Koslanda is next door to the famed Lipton’s tea estate and easily reached as a stop on the scenic train between Ella and Kandy. The nearest train station is Haputale which is a 45 minute drive away. By road, Ella is 1 hour 15 minutes away, Yala National Park is 2 hours away and Colombo is 5 hours away.

What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.

Roy Wood (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.

Alie C (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace

Daisy Stanton (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!

Andrew S (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North East India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.

Martin Thomas (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference

Sandra Nicholson (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.

Jayant Banerji (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.

Phil Blair ( February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

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