98 Acres Resort & Spa is the best-known place to stay in Ella and the one most couples picture when they plan the hill country leg of a Sri Lanka honeymoon. It sits on a working tea estate on the ridge toward Little Adam's Peak, a few minutes by tuk-tuk from Ella town. The rooms face the valley, the tea bushes run right up to the paths and the view across to Ella Rock and the gap is the thing guests talk about long after they leave.
It suits couples who want a comfortable base with a view rather than a remote plantation bungalow. You can walk to the Little Adam's Peak trail and reach the Nine Arches Bridge on foot in about 20 minutes. You can also be at a cafe in town for dinner without a long drive in the dark. The spa leans on Ayurvedic treatments, the restaurant is reliable and the staff get strong reviews. On booking sites the resort scores in the mid-nines out of ten across more than a hundred reviews.
It is not a quiet retreat in high season. Day visitors walk past on the way to the peak. The resort is built down a slope, so expect plenty of steps.
Highlights at a glance
- Rooms set on a working tea estate
- View across Ella Gap to Ella Rock
- Dedicated Honeymoon Room category
- Walk to Little Adam's Peak and Nine Arches
- Ayurvedic spa treatments
Why Couples Love 98 Acres
The reason is simple: you wake up inside a tea estate. Pickers work the rows below the balconies in the morning, mist lifts off the valley and the light moves across Ella Rock through the day. Most rooms are angled toward that view, so even the entry category gives you something to look at from bed.
The location does a lot of quiet work too. Ella town is noisy in season, with tuk-tuks and bar music on the main street. Up here you get the silence of the hills while staying close enough to dip into town for a meal. The Little Adam's Peak trail starts nearby, which makes a sunrise hike easy. You can be back on your balcony with coffee before most day-trippers have left their guesthouses.
Staff are a big part of the appeal in reviews. Guests regularly mention small kindnesses, from early breakfast boxes before a hike to help booking train tickets.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The resort offers several room types. Size matters more than you might expect here because you will spend real time on your balcony.
- Deluxe Double Room, Mountain View: about 226 square feet. Comfortable but compact, fine for two or three nights.
- Honeymoon Room, Mountain View: about 369 square feet, built for two and the obvious pick if the budget stretches.
- Royal Double Room, Mountain View: about 409 square feet, with more space to spread out.
- Premium Room: about 495 square feet, good for longer stays.
- Suite with Balcony: a two-bedroom option of about 1,119 square feet, more than a couple needs.
For a honeymoon, book the Honeymoon Room or a Royal Double. Ask for a room with an unobstructed view of Ella Gap. Ask too for one that does not sit right beside the main paths, since walkers and other guests pass close to some units.
Food, Drink and the Spa
98 Restaurant & Bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a mix of Sri Lankan dishes and familiar international plates. Go local at least once: a proper rice and curry spread, hoppers at breakfast and a pot of tea grown a few hundred feet from your table. Coffee shop snacks and a bar cover the rest of the day.
The spa focuses on Ayurvedic treatments and massages, which are welcome after the Little Adam's Peak climb or a long day on the train. Book a couples massage in the late afternoon and walk back to your room as the light goes.
Prices for food and drink are higher than in town, as you would expect. Many couples eat at the resort on arrival day and when it rains, then head into Ella for one or two dinners. A tuk-tuk each way is cheap and quick. Ask reception to call one rather than walking the unlit road at night.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Ella is a walking town and 98 Acres puts you close to the best of it.
- Little Adam's Peak: an easy hike of around 45 minutes up from the area near the resort, best at sunrise before the heat and the crowds.
- Nine Arches Bridge: about a mile away on foot. Check the train times and wait for a blue train to cross the viaduct.
- Ella Rock: a harder half-day hike with big views. Go with a guide or a clear map, since the trail has several false turns.
- Tea factory visits: estates around Ella run short tours with tastings.
- Ravana Falls: a short drive down the Wellawaya road, at its best after rain.
If one of you wants to hike and the other wants a slow morning, the resort works well for both. The view is good company on its own.
Getting There
Most couples arrive on the hill country railway, one of the classic train rides in Asia. Trains run from Kandy or Nanu Oya through tea country to Ella station. The last stretch is the most scenic. Book reserved seats well ahead in peak months. Unreserved carriages get very crowded.
From Ella station, the resort is a short tuk-tuk ride up the Passara road and then along the ridge. The last section climbs and some luggage handling involves steps, so pack light or let the staff carry bags.
By road, Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is about six hours away. Most travelers come from Kandy, Nuwara Eliya or the south coast with a private driver. A driver for the whole trip is the norm in Sri Lanka and makes it easy to continue south to Yala or the beaches after Ella.
Is It Worth It?
For most couples, yes, with expectations set correctly. You are paying for the setting, the view and the convenience of being close to Ella's walks. On those three points 98 Acres is hard to beat. Rates swing a lot by season and booking site snapshots have shown around $550 for two in an entry room, approximate. That is high for Sri Lanka but in line with the best hill country hotels.
It is less suited to couples who want total privacy or a big resort pool. One guest review notes that the pool is at a sister property a short distance away and charges for access, so confirm the current setup before you book if swimming matters. Couples who want butlers and four-course dinners should look at a tea estate bungalow near Hatton or Nanu Oya instead. Anyone with mobility concerns should know the site involves many stairs.
Insider tips
- Ask for a room with a clear view of Ella Gap and away from the main paths.
- Climb Little Adam's Peak at first light and ask the kitchen for an early breakfast box.
- Confirm where the pool is and whether it charges for access before you book.
- Book reserved train seats into Ella as early as your plans allow.
