Ella Nine Peaks

Set into a hillside above Ella, on Sri Lanka's central highlands, Ella Nine Peaks looks out toward the Namunukula mountain range. It comprises two separate villas. The Araliya Villa, built in a Dutch colonial style, holds two rooms with salvaged antique doors and sleeps up to six guests around a shared verandah and a deck cut into the slope. The Club House came later, set on a four-acre plot with three deluxe bedrooms, each with its own courtyard and bathroom, sleeping up to twelve. It leans toward a Bali-inspired look: a plunge pool with jets, a chandelier-lit dining room, a fire pit, and a wood-fired pizza oven shared by both properties. You can hear birdsong from the deck at Araliya most mornings. A caretaker and chef run each villa, cooking Sri Lankan dishes such as string hoppers and pol rotti alongside pizza and grilled meats, and both full and half board plans are available. An on-site guide arranges hikes to Ella Rock, Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge, all within reach of the villas. Rooms carry air conditioning, TVs and tea and coffee facilities throughout. It is a quiet base for a group or family, built for staying put rather than passing through.