We were really looking forward to a relaxing end to our two week stay in Sri Lanka and had booked a beach hut thinking it would be tranquil and beautiful being in the outdoors. We were very wrong! On checking in we were told to put all our belongings in the assigned cupboard so that the monkeys wouldn't get things, that was fine but one of the locks was broken so our case had to be pushed against it. We were also told there are a lot of mosquitos at present - they were not wrong!! We got no sleep the first night feeling things crawling all over us regardless of the amount of debt we had doused ourselves in. They provide insect killer so we got through a can of that daily as well as the burners they provide. Regardless we were covered in itchy bites throughout our stay. On returning home we continued to get bitten so had to get pest control in to treat bed bugs. I have contacted Talalla Retreat as a courtesy and they responded adamant that the beach hut that we stayed in does not have bed bugs and we are maybe reacting to mosquito and sand fly bites. All I know is 6 days after checking out I am still getting bitten and have had to pay pest control £250 to treat my flat and go through all the inconvenience associated with an infestation. Aside from this, the beach is beautiful, the pool was ok but be prepared to have insects constantly crawling all over you. I also found the staff quite arrogant compared to those in the hill country and we did get approached by one (persistent) member of staff wanting to take us out on their tuktuk on their day off but who can blame them for trying. Overall I probably wouldn't go back.

Very beautiful place! I spent 7 days here and was treated all along very friendly by all the personnel. Whenever I needed something, anyone was happy to help. After seeing the very nicely located sea view villas I upgraded to a deluxe room upstairs with a great view over the garden and the ocean just a few steps away from the water. The beach is stunning, totally uncrowded with more locals than tourists if at all. It‘s also great to swim and just spend some time in the ocean and if you prefer, also the pool at the retreat is super nice. I did not take any yoga classes but the people who did were really happy about it. However I took some surf sessions with their amazing local surf guide Sajit who made me progress like nowhere before within just a few days, could not be any happier about it! So even if not participating in a yoga or surf retreat, you can get all you want and need - all in all an amazing week in such a beautiful environment, I would come back anytime!

Very nice spot to relax and calm down. Staff is very friendly without exceptions! You can book surf lessons and meet people from all over the world. The instructors take you to beaches nearby. There are daily yoga classes with a nice view of the beach. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner offer a good variety. The rooms provide for what you need and fit the 3* standard. If you want it more quiet during the night book a room with walls and AC (the other rooms are open/do not have windows). For local standards overall not cheap, but worth it if you come here for surfing and yoga.

Probably one of the worst places I stayed in Sri Lanka. To start with the food quality of their breakfast menu doesn't have variety and fruit flies are all over the places in the dining area. I could not eat fruit due to flies sitting on it. Secondly the hotel charges a good enough amount and they don't provide basic juice during the complimentary breakfast. Thirdly the toiletries they provide are literally nothing. Just the basic shampoo and body wash. Lastly they operate on WhatsApp for any requirements. They don't have phones in the rooms and due to that I had to message and wait for the water bottle for 2 hours. The only saviour in this hotel was the staff who were extremely polite, helpful and very sweet.

My friend recommended this place and now I know why. Incredible service, beautiful location, best massage and so much fun surfing. Highly recommend!

Good for local standards, but definitely not worth 200 EUR per night for yoga retreat

Last weekend we went for a dayouting and we were very disappointed to see the lunch they prepared. The amount of food provided was not enough for the crowd. The buffet was not allowed. Lunch was served on plates and only fried rice and chicken deviled. Also there were no options for vegetarians. But, I must say the place was beautiful, calm and clean and it suits for the ones who are seeking room packages. Not for day outing packages.

Nice location and most staff are friendly. It’s not a surf camp as it’s not possible to surf on the beach next to the hotel. They charge 50 USD (!) per session to rent a board to go to a nearby beach. Yoga is charged 20 USD per day. The prices at the restaurant were among the highest in Sri Lanka with low to average quality. Nearby Mosque starts their prayer at 4-5am for several hours making it impossible to sleep, this is of course not the hotels fault, but with almost no occupancy they placed us in the most noisy location on the propert. Reception is not very friendly and does the bare minimum.

Just a total delight. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere with wonderful staff. I will be coming back. Also the misfortune of checking out UTMT Resort as well. Don't make that mistake! Talalla is so so good! Lots of love guys i hope you're all well.

Amazing hotel if your trying to zone out and really relax. The most beautiful beach and hotel grounds. The food and drinks are great. We stayed 2 nights but wish we stayed a week.

This review is about the restaurant, not the hotel/retreat. We had dinner here and also afternoon drinks the next day. Lovely buffet meal with Sri Lankan and western options. A tad pricey compared to non hotel local restaurants but lovely service, extensive drinks menu and big space that feels like outdoors but is sheltered when raining. Very laid back. For food we loved the chicken skewers, bitter gourd salad, okra curry (could have been spicier though), in particular. The fresh buffalo curd and pine trailer is of course delicious.

I left my heart in Talalla Retreat. Incredible staff who were so welcoming and hard working, the Retreat itself is stunning. I had an upstairs bedroom so was able to fully enjoy the surroundings. The food was incredible. I felt super safe. I didn’t want to leave. A must visit - and please do as the Sri Lankan people need visitors right now.

I took the 1 week surf and yoga retreat and had an unbelievable time. The quality of the surf camp was the best I’ve experienced yet. The video reviews with the coaching were so helpful and I’ve progressed so much. The instructors are incredibly friendly and inclusive, they went above and beyond to give us a great experience. They took us to uncrowded surf breaks and we had such a good small group. The yoga by the beach was just as great, again, the instructors were super competent. The retreat is well paced and the food is delicious, the staff very friendly and the facilities very well managed. I highly recommend Talalla for solo travellers, couples or friends wanting to relax and improve their surfing.

Beautiful resort, went there as part of a group tour. Food is fantastic. I didn't know I needed a coffee scrub in my life until I had one here. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Rooms are very comfy and have nice view of the pool and surrounding areas. All in all a perfect place to disconnect and relax from the world. Hannah

My husband and I stayed at Talalla Retreat as the final part of our 3 week honeymoon trip and it was such a wonderful way to end a hectic trip. We had spent the prior 2 1/2 weeks moving around every 2-3 nights so coming here and staying for more than that was bliss in itself, but the retreat really was exactly that. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, the location and grounds were beautiful, the rooms were great and the food delicious. Also good to note the booze wasn’t ridiculously expensive which is a welcome bonus in a retreat style location. The bathroom in our room was open to the outside elements which we both loved, but may not be everyone’s style, likewise the open to the elements bedroom, however there are other rooms which are more closed off and entire bungalows if your budget allows. All in all, this was a fabulous place to relax, switch off and take some time to rest

We really enjoyed our stay here at talalla retreat. The yoga lessons are absolutely wonderful and the beach is just beautiful. It’s perfect for swimming and just relaxing. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The rooms are clean and nice. Thank you for our stay

I really enjoy this place. I spent most of the time at the beach, a nice croissant of brown sugar sand we can walk for a long time! Our room was in a little building of 4. I liked to be on the second floor. The view is nice and we have more space. If you have the possibility to have a sea view, it is gorgeous! The view on the sunrise is incredible!! It is a place to do yoga and a spa offers massage! The swimming pool is very nice! There are buffet on morning and evening. It is good but not a gourmet.

This place is just incredible we only had time for one night but we will definitely come back. We stayed in the bamboo hut nearest the beach and just siting on the terrace it is stunning. The beach is beautiful and unspoilt with very fun waves. Food was also very good however maybe a few candles on the tables and light music outside would have made for a better atmosphere at dinner. The room was so different and lovely, the open sides mean you go to sleep and the only noice you hear is the animals and the sound of the waves. Perfect stay