Santani Wellness Kandy

From January 28th to 30th, my friend and I stayed at Satani, a luxurious wilderness retreat and wellness hotel highly rated on TripAdvisor. It was our first time in Sri Lanka, and we were drawn to the promise of refined elegance amidst raw nature. The experience, for the most part, lived up to its reputation. The hotel’s design was ethereal, with twenty buildings discreetly nestled in the forest, a stunning hilltop restaurant, and a secluded spa area. Every detail seemed meticulously crafted to immerse guests in the untamed beauty of the surroundings while cocooning them in comfort. The service at Santani Wellness was exceptional, with every staff member radiating warmth and hospitality. The chef, in particular, was a maestro—each meal over the two days was nothing short of spectacular. However, there was one glaring exception that left a sour taste, even after we checked out. The spa manager, an Indian woman with black-framed glasses who exuded an air of elegance and intellect, left us with an unsettling impression. We first encountered her in the restaurant, where she made a point of engaging with every table, enthusiastically recommending the spa and treatments—except ours. We brushed it off at the time. Later, when we visited the spa after booking treatments, she handed us a form to fill out, barely making eye contact, her attention seemingly absorbed by her nails. We couldn’t help but notice that in the restaurant, she continued to greet and chat with every guest—except us. It was as if we were invisible, even in the open, airy dining space. The contrast became starkly apparent when I returned to the spa and witnessed her interacting with a white male guest, patiently explaining each detail of the form with a warmth and attentiveness we had not been afforded. The disparity left us wondering: Did she dislike Chinese guests? Was it our skin color or some other bias that made her reluctant to serve us? I feel compelled to remind her that her behavior is a disservice to the hotel she represents. Moreover, as her own government actively encourages Chinese tourism to Sri Lanka, her actions are not only unprofessional but also profoundly ignorant.

My husband and I stayed in the Mountain View Chalet at Santani for one night during our journey from Ella to Colombo. In hindsight, I would strongly recommend at least two nights—three if you have the time—to fully experience what Santani has to offer. Kandy was our penultimate stop during our 10-night Sri Lanka itinerary, and Santani promised the perfect respite we needed at this stage. While the setting and aesthetic were truly breathtaking, our experience was marred by a series of frustrating inconsistencies and service failures. Unfortunately, our 06:37 am train from Ella was cancelled, forcing us onto a later train, which delayed our schedule and caused us to miss the lunch service at Santani. Although we provided a heads-up about our ETA, we were informed that only sandwiches and fruit could be offered for lunch upon arrival. I pleaded for a hot meal after a 6-hour journey but was met with a firm no. While I understand the need for structure around meal times, the lack of flexibility felt unnecessarily rigid, especially given that lunch was included in our package. It was a bitter start to an otherwise promising stay. For each meal, we were offered two menu options: Western or Sri Lankan. A chef consultation was arranged to tailor the menu to our dietary requirements—my husband is gluten-free and does not eat red meat. The concept of personalisation sounded wonderful in theory, but the delivery fell far short. At dinner, the meals differed from what we discussed earlier, and when we questioned this, we were told certain items contained gluten. My husband’s dessert, for example, was swapped from Sri Lankan pancakes to a makeshift fruit salad—hardly the bespoke experience promised. At breakfast, they served granola containing gluten and suggested my husband “just eat a little,” as if his dietary restriction were a mere preference. This was not only disappointing but also felt deeply unprofessional. Additionally, previously requested items like a Sri Lankan omelette and mixed fruit smoothie were either forgotten or met with bizarre responses like “eat this first, and we’ll bring another.” The grounds and chalet were stunning, and the views from our Mountain View Chalet, for which we paid an additional $40 upgrade, were well worth it. The serenity and natural beauty are Santani’s greatest strengths. We also had 90-minute Ayurvedic treatments, which were very relaxing. However, there was inconsistency here too—my husband received the promised consultation with the doctor before his treatment, while mine skipped the consultation entirely. The lack of uniformity was frustrating and detracted from the wellness experience. Finally, as we were checking out at 12 noon and couldn’t stay for lunch (which begins at 12), we requested a packed meal. I specifically asked for a salad alongside my sandwich, but we were instead given fruit—again, an instance of Santani failing to meet basic expectations. Individually, these lapses in service might not see

This place is incredible. It is the PERFECT place to unwind, relax & just switch off. The scenery is amazing, the food is incredible, the facilities, the treatments - everything! The best part though is really the people. I wish I could name everyone because everyone I spoke to was just so lovely and welcoming. From the night guards, the gardeners, the guys in the restaurant, the naturist, the front of house staff - just absolutely lovely and a pleasure to chat too. Thank you so much. Thank you again Dilshan & Sandu for being so welcoming and helpful. I would most definitely love to come back. 10/10!!

We feel very blessed to have experienced such a peaceful and beautiful place to celebrate our honeymoon. It was extremely relaxing and special. Everyone took great care of us, especially as my husband was unwell on the first evening. The spa is very magical where I highly recommend the Shiro Dhara if you struggle with anxiety. The Sri Lankan breakfast with hoppers and evening curries were absolutely delicious. The room was gorgeous with the most amazing views. You are part of nature with the sounds of birds to lullaby you to sleep. Highly recommend if you need to escape and truly unwind and relax.