AMBA
Amba Estate is a farmhouse, organic estate, and social enterprise in the Uva Highlands of Sri Lanka in Ella. With comfortable accommodation, offering views over the valley, Amba has an abundance of unique experiences in one of the most beautiful spots in Sri Lanka and is surrounded by 130 acres of mountains, waterfalls, caves, forests, and tea fields. Amba was built approximately 100 years ago by one of the local families to develop their own tea estate. Accommodation at Amba has many unique features such as the original Farmhouse which has 4 double or twin rooms, 1 single room, and two shared bathrooms.
Amba has a good range of accommodation which is excellent value and even hostel style accommodation which works well for those on a budget. The Amba Linerooms next to the Farmhouse consisting of 3 double or twin rooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. While Clove Tree House is a 1930s planter’s bungalow perched 200 meters away from the Amba Farmhouse. This has 1 family suite, 1 double room, and 1 twin room, each with its own ensuite bathroom. The Clove Tree house are the most comfortable. None of the rooms have air-conditioning. At this altitude it isn’t normally needed.
Other unique features of Amba are that all the houses have their own kitchens, living, and dining areas which offer views across the valley. Full-time staff at the property are able to prepare meals in each house and provide daily housekeeping to attend to all guest needs. Guests are afforded the opportunity to learn more about organic farming and artisanal tea-making during their stay at Amba.
There are a number of beautiful walking trails available for guests in addition to farm tours and an abundance of wildlife. We highly recommend the fascinating tea-tasting experience with one of their estate managers. Their expertise gives you the opportunity to learn about how their artisanal tea is grown and how the different methods of hand production produce each of the unique flavours.
Among the walking trails, a 2-hour hike climbs more than 400 meters to the top of Ella Rock. From there you can return to the farm or hike down to Ella town on the other side. A 30-minute round trip walk leads down to the abandoned hydro-powered tea factory and the secluded swimming pools and spectacular rock shelves you can bathe in at the top of the Ravana-Ella Waterfalls – a truly magical experience.
The Travel Gallery Take – A special recommendation is to wake up before dawn to take a short walk to the mountain top 15 minutes away from the main house where you can watch the sunrise over the vast plains that emerge from the edge of the Uva mountains towards the Indian Ocean.
Amba Estate’s goal is to maximize local employment and income while preserving and restoring the natural environment. They work with the local community to produce and export a range of artisanal products, and they offer guests the opportunity to relax and recharge. The whole experience resonates well with our ethos of immersive travel that benefits local communities.
