Hotel Elephant Bay

Hotel Elephant Bay descritpion

Located in the heart of Pinnawala, Hotel Elephant Bay is right across from the famous elephant orphanage. It provides rooms with large private balconies and spectacular views of Ma Oya River.
Rooms are bright and airy, with simple décor and furnishings. They feature a flat-screen cable TV, a tea/coffee maker and private bathroom facilities.
Guests can enjoy leisurely strolls in the tropical garden or make use of the hotel’s sun terrace. The Elephant Bay Hotel offers bike rental facilities for guests’ convenience. Various activities like hiking and fishing are available.
Ivory Inn Restaurant serves international dishes. Room service is provided.
The Elephant Bay Hotel is a 70-minute drive from Bandaranaike International Airport and a 2-hour drive from Colombo. It is an easy drive to cities like Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.

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Facilities of Hotel Elephant Bay

Outdoors ：BBQ Facilities | Grounds | Sun Deck

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

Reviews for Hotel Elephant Bay

Review 1：Just don't leave the balcony door open at night.... lots of mosquitos :-((

Review 2：Fabulous location. And the view... breath taking....The elephants came right up to the hotel so we could feed them. My kids loved it!! Stayed for 2 nights so we were given a tour of the town... went to a tea factory, temple, elephant poo paper factory (yep that's right!) and the local market via a couple of tuk tuk's.... all arranged by the hotel for free!! Very friendly staff... made sure the kids were very happy all the time. Very relaxing too listening to the sound of the river at night time!!! Loved it!!!! Don't waste your money going to the elephant sanctuary... its all on the doorstep at the hotel!!!

Review 3：No wifi in room. There's not much to the hotel (no pool or gym), however most will be passing through staying one or two nights max.

Review 4：Location great. Nice welcome. Riverside balcony room was spacious and clean. The view is great. Good housekeeping.

Review 5：The View, make sure to pick a room with a river view so you can see the elephants from the orphanage washing. The Room was also very nice and big, Our room was the top floor with monutain and river view and we felt secluding like there was no else around, just us and nature, it was great

Review 6：Staff weren't very helpful and spoke quite harshly. Wifi was unpredictable.

Review 7：House keeping guy was awesome and very helpful. Good location. Close to elephants. Rooms were nice.

Review 8：The receptionist wasn't very friendly or helpful but the housekeeping ninja was awesome

Review 9：You won't stay anywhere else that's closer to the elephants

Review 10：There was very little buzz about the hotel and public areas. The corridors had some unused furniture etc laying around which made the place look a bit messy.

Review 11：The hotel was right next door to the elephant sanctuary. Unfortunately while we were there the river levels were very high and therefore the elephants were not being washed in the river. The hotel was in a great location and was clean enough but wasn’t to a very high standard. I definitely recommend the river view room with balcony. The public areas of the hotel were not very inviting and the hotel was very quiet. There is not much in this area to do therefore I wouldn’t recommend a lengthy stay here.

Review 12：Up lots of stairs, sheets did not fit bed.No tea or coffee, cost 100 rupees for water.Bathroom small and no glass in window.No TV, also room was hot.There was no welcome by the staff. We will be telling people not to go there.

Review 13：Nothing

Review 14：Cleanliness, smell, no front desk over night, bugs in the rooms and in public area of the hotel. Poor breakfast with bugs on the food,....

Review 15：Location, elephants swiming in the river in the morning and you can touch and feed them.

Review 16：Relatively poor facilities as compared to the other hotels around the same area. Food was just ok. No room cleaning during the 2 days we stayed there.

Review 17：Location was ideal for Pinnawala and watching elephant bathing. Loved our top floor room with panoramic glass windows overlooking the river.

Review 18：Book the room with river views- they are simply amazing!! Floor to ceiling Windows overlooking the river where the elephants are washing each day. (Rooms 25 & 28 I think)

Review 19：The staff weren't the friendliest people we've met in Sri Lanka so far, but definitely not rude. Just a bit bored maybe?? We ate at the restaurant a couple of times and our order got mixed up most times - but as we didn't bother to learn any Sinhalese, I'd say that's partly our fault too!

Review 20：If you want to see elephants, this is the place for you!! We literally had elephants wade through the river right up to the edge of the hotel - touching distance - where we could sit in the shade and watch them for ages. Also avoiding the crowds at the main ramp they come down.

Review 21：The location was amazing and the staff was so welcoming and accommodating. We felt special and loved our time at the hotel. Keep in mind the rooms are minimal but clean, purposeful, comfortable. And the opportunity to eat breakfast as you watch elephants frolic is a priceless moment

Review 22：The staff were not very helpful, food was really disappointing. Our family was split and put on two different floors in rooms we did not request.

Review 23：The location was absolutely fabulous.

Review 24：The main facilities were not clean, the food in the evening was ok, the breakfast was appalling both in the offer, and the fact that hundreds of flies were all over the food and area (not the hotels fault I guess due to proximity to the river, however the hotel has plenty of rooms that breakfast could have been served in)

Review 25：The location is incredible! Elephants you can feed and touch are at the edge of the hotel grounds and could be seen from our room! The room was very good. This was definitely the best hotel in the area for seeing the elephants! And what we went to see!

Review 26：Very poor food (although we didn't get ill). Hotel is shabby and basic but air conditioning worked well.

Review 27：Location is great but there is no need to stay in Pinewalla overnight. Seeing the elephants bathing in the river is amazing but can be done in an hour. Best enjoyed as a day trip from Kandy.

Review 28：The food was slightly disappointing, however it is not really the main focus of the visit so was not an issue.

Review 29：The location of the hotel is fantastic, right on the edge of the river you wake up, walk outside and you see the elephants!! Definitely an experience to remember

Review 30：If you require a taxi for your further trip, we advice you to book it outside the hotel.

Review 31：The hotel is situated along the river, where the elephants are bathing twice a day. We arrived earlier than the check-in time, and for a few hours the hotel supplied us with another room, because of our room was not ready yet.

Review 32：We would have appreciated more authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. I was surprised there were not more people staying there during our visit.

Review 33：Seeing the elephants and having a balcony overlook the river was perfect. The staff were very helpful in arranging a car and driver for us to our nest location.

Review 34：N/A

Review 35：We arrived late at night when it was dark, in the morning when I walked onto the balcony it took my breath away! I have never seen such a beautiful natural sight and there was even an elephant bathing in the river below.

Review 36：It was almost deserted in the evening as most visitors come for the day only to the Elephant Orphanage across the road. Nothing to do outside the hotel in the evening in the immediate vicinity.

Review 37：The location is excellent , perfect viewpoint for Elephants twice a day and beautiful view over flowing river

Review 38：* We came here for 2 nights, but after first night we wanted to change hotel. Our room was dirty, there was one used towel in the bathroom, insect everywhere and not hot water in the bathroom. * We asked at the reception to quit our stay, because we wanted to go to another hotel, but the "manager" told us, it is not possible, because we already have the reservations for 2 nights. They changed our room to better one (average but much better than the previous and cleaner). And because of the compliance offered us the "manager" free 1 hour tuktuk ride in the neighbourhood. It should expect us at 4 p. m. At 4 p. m. there were no tuktuk, no "manager" and the lady at the reception did not speak English at all, so she was totally unable to help us. So this was really terrible customer service, they promised something but they did not do it! * For the breakfast was one day continental breakfast, we got a many time before us used bowl of butter and jam - you could see the pieces of bread in the jam after previous uses. We had to asked twice for the coffee and tea. The other day was buffet breakfast. * It was really big disappointment and can not recommend it to anyone.

Review 39：* Really excellent location, the elephants come exactly to the hotel terrace, so you can touch them or feed them. The best hotel for the contact with elephants.

Review 40：None

Review 41：It would be difficult to find a hotel that is a better value. For less than $45 we got a large room with an excellent shower-toilet room and a balconey with a great view of the Elephants when they are taken twice a day for a bath in the river. All this and an excellent buffet breakfast included. The staff will also hand out bannans so you can feed the Elephants from the dinning room terrace!

Review 42：What I didn't like was the airie feeling about the hotel. We arrived at about 4pm on Tuesday 10th feb and there was not a soul around. No people at all to be seen, all the little shops had closed. Hotel staff were in short supply shortly after checkin. It felt we were the only guests staying in the whole area let alone just our hotel. We ate dinner in the restaurant that night and we were the only people there. I wasn't even sure if the restaurant was open as it was in practically in darkness. Very very strange feeling. Breakfast time wasn't much better, there were 4 of us eating breakfast and the breakfast wasn't great! The tv in room didn't work which was a Shame as there is absolutely nothing to do in the area in the evening. And the wifi kept cutting off. That being said the the elephant experience the next morning made it all worth while. One thing that would be a help is the. Girl on reception should at least have a train or bus timetable for people like myself looking to find out times of transport leaving the nearby train station rambukana. But she didn't have a clue.

Review 43：The location of this hotel was perfect with a great view of the river. The elephants arrive at the Pinnalanda hotel which is next door more or less to our hotel. But you can go down to the riverside about 8.30am to wash them and feed them before the mass of tourists arrive at 10am. Although there are things I didn't like as mentioned below. The whole experience of getting to see and touch and wash the elephants at such a close range made all the bad points of the hotel fade into insignificance. Definitely worth the trip but get down to the river around 8.30- 9am to get a close one to one session, make sure you have some money to give the boys aswell. Anything under 500 ruppees is seen as too cheap.

Review 44：The services for food really so bad. Take more then 1 hour to order 1 friedrice..!and the taste of food is not enough salt, during check in also abit slow.our name was not in the security post,so we need to wait till one guy come and give our booking paper! We need to wait in front of main road till that boy come.

Review 45：view really nice,feeding elephant,watch so many elephant! really we love it.

Review 46：too expensive,there is another one and in better position just 100metres from this hotel and cost nothing in comparison with this one and the other one gives you a chance to see the elephants very close,they pass all the time near that hotel,food was really horrible,there is wifi,but its not good,you have to try so many times to connect and not always you can do this

Review 47：nice hotel,you can see elephants many times a day,they come to the hotel°s restaurant...some nice terraces,very beautiful views

Review 48：Staff not attentive and poor service from staff. Food not up to standard. Most food on the Menu was not available. Cleanliness around dining area is poor with stray cats roaming.

Review 49：Location - bordering the river, close to bathing elephants. Room had basic facilities. No tea making facilities in room. Sound of the flowing river was soothing.

Review 50：Only real issue was the grubby bed linen which was off-putting and needed replacing. Shame because everything else was pretty good.

Review 51：Amazing location on the river, pleasant staff, decent food, hot water, good value for money.

Review 52：nothing. we had a great experience

Review 53：The room / balcony / view was excellent. The service from the staff was exceptional. We only had breakfast which was good and the elephants experience at the hotel was just amazing

Review 54：The noise level of the rapids in the river was so great my hearing aids were overwhelmed. Removing them solved the problem but that meant I could not hear what people were saying. It was expensive for what it was, a moderate b & b establishment

Review 55：Staff were enthusiastic. Such a shame that their competence was often lacking.

Review 56：No atmosphere. Quite run down. Poor food choice. Cooked breakfast was all cold one morning. Very poor lightning. Terrible manager who didnt listen to any feedback. Poor correspondence where they simply didnt reply to any emails - we had asked for a room view of the river three times weeks ago to no reply and found we had a room with no view! Absolutely crap wifi access. Left one night earlier.

Review 57：The closeness to river and elephant orphanage. One of the cleaners was a nice man who really went out of his way.

Review 58：We took a family room river facing. It was basic with 2 double beds and I was OK with that, was disappointed about the bathroom/shower facility... shower rose was waist height and 3 open plug sockets next to the bath? a bit unsafe.

Review 59：The location, right on the river was brilliant, I couldn't wipe the smile from my face seeing all the elephants whilst sitting in the restaurant. We stayed 2 nights which was enough as there are no facilities at the hotel.

Review 60：service a bit slow.

Review 61：The whole reason for my visit to Sri Lanka was to see the elephants... and I did, in abundance. Loved every minute of being in this area

Review 62：Spotty wifi - even in the lobby; many of our lights were out.

Review 63：We really enjoyed watching the elephants bathe while we ate breakfast (good food!). Staff was friendly; great location for the elephant orphanage and the drive to Kandy is not bad.

Review 64：Almost everything; the river so beautiful, especially when the elephants came to bathe. The ambience was out of this world. The food was good and the staff was polite and friendly. What more can you ask?

Review 65：Getting to the hotel and the food at the hotel was terrible!

Review 66：The elephants come to bathe outside the hotel which is good! Getting to the hotel and back from say Colombo May prove a tad bit pricey!

Review 67：Unprofessional and unhelpful staff, dirty everywhere, horrible cold food, we were 4 people and had 3 pillows in the room! Asked for one more pillow and they couldn't provide as all were taken by other customers!!!! Restaurant didn't have any food as all others were on a trip in Kandy, they played loud local music for themselves running the peace and quiet of the place! Mosquitoes everywhere and hotel did nothing about it! Upstairs the inside place was decorated for a wedding which was a show room clearly! Could have used this room / area for clients to dine in as mosquitoes outside in the evening but nope! No room service. Old furniture, just a horrible place to spend even a night. Highly recommend for a day trip to see the elephants.

Review 68：The location and view of the elephants when they come for a bath.

Review 69：poor and unclean catering and non working tv. It was the first hotel i stayed in when I arrived to Srilanka, however when I went to different places and hotels I get to know that they've tricked me with a very expensive transport service to be paid to the hotel directly not to the driver (it is not nice for the owner to get to this low level of tricking customers).

Review 70：Seeing the elephant, feeding them, and my children very much enjoyed watching and interacting with the elephant.

Review 71：The manager was so rude and made us wait more than an hour to get our room. The bed was super hard and uncomfortable and in my towel I got a dead spider and something that looked like very dirty hands that had been wiped before folding it. Overall there were bugs everywhere and the hotel smelled like mold and wet soil. Breakfast only started at 8.45 and was horrid. Seriously do not book this hotel

Review 72：Choose this hotel because it is near an elephant orphanage in Pinnawalla and its position on the river sounded great

Review 73：There was no hot water at all and we asked about this and they said it sometimes works! Great answer! Also the water drips from the shower no power at all! There where insects in our room and the bed sheets where dirty! The food isn't that great here either intact awful, we didn't have one good meal here! Breakfast is the same not really that good! Make sure your there when they start serving it at 7 ( usually 7.30 ) otherwise it's all cold! I can only say we enjoyed the juice for breakfast and the pineapple!

Review 74：To be quite honest this place is the perfect place to stay if you want to see elephants, the elephants come down to the river twice a day for 2 hours which is amazing and the millennium elephant foundation is very near aswell and the orphanage! Apart from that not much else is really that good!

Review 75：Location location location

Review 76：Didn't care for the food, but very good value for the money.

Review 77：Best place to stay to see the elephants!

Review 78：I loved that you could see the elephants bathing from the hotel! The breakfast was also great.

Review 79：kitchen closes at 10pm

Review 80：LOCATION , the view of the waters in moon light and of course the sight of the elephants bathing and playing in water

Review 81：No wifi in the room.

Review 82：Clean and cozy room. Great view. Watching and feeding elephants made our day.

Review 83：Bit jaded and needs attention to detail

Review 84：Location overlooking elephants and river

Review 85：None.

Review 86：We could see the elephants bathing in the river from the hotel. An excellent location.

Review 87：Severe noise of falling rain on the roof

Review 88：Location

Review 89：Access road is narrow and the cleanses is not to a good level.

Review 90：Very near to elephant orphanage. Staff in the dining area is very friendly.

Review 91：Superb location to view the elephants. Friendly staff.

Review 92：To be there to see the Elephants which was amazaing

Review 93：Excellent location to see the elephants come to the river from the local orphanage.

Review 94：Old furniture, bad ventilation and the building needs to be renovated

Review 95：You can see elephants closely when they come to the river

Review 96：Perfect location to view the elephants bathing.

Review 97：Great hotel for viewing the elephants. Basic facilities but everything you need

Review 98：Location is next to river and elephant bathing place. So excellent view. Room is very nice

Review 99：Great location. Perfect view of elephants as they bathe and frolic in the lake.

Review 100：Very rude staff with know people skills

Review 101：The location was fantastic for really getting close to the elephants. Plenty to see around the hotel and excursions. Very comfortable room.

Review 102：Great Location on the river

Review 103：Elephant

Review 104：bad welcome

Review 105：nice location

Review 106：Not many options for food.

Review 107：So close to the elephants.

Review 108：Situated right on the river where the elephants bathe and just across the road from the elephant orphanage. What more could you ask for?

Review 109：the room was large and had a wonderful double aspect of the river

Review 110：I didn't mind but there is no lift and lots of stairs.

Review 111：We'll run hotel in good location with good food and rooms.

Review 112：insufficient staff room not cleaned beds not made up reception hardly ever manned crockery not clean

Review 113：location room bed

Review 114：no pool r any were to swim and cool off

Review 115：Everything was really bad at this hotel! A very bad experience.

Review 116：I liked nothing about this hotel at all!!!

Review 117：No need to stay more than 1 night

Review 118：Elephants, elephants and more elephants......

Review 119：Perfect to see the elephants

Review 120：Relatively old facilities

Review 121：You can see elephants bathing while you have breakfast

Review 122：Extremely dirty hotel. Do not go!

Review 123：mosquitoes

Review 124：the view and elephant shower.

Review 125：Little worn down, in need of updating

Review 126：Perfect location, breakfast with the elephants in the morning

Review 127：It is very basic - we arrived in the evening and spent the first hour trying to get rid of the bugs in our room so we could sleep! But you get what you pay for, and we were there for the location not comfort. 1 or 2 nights is plenty- I wouldn't stay longer.

Review 128：Location next to the river where the elephants bathe is fantastic.