Testimonials and Press Releases
Happy guests are spreading the Word
A hotel can only be as good as its team.
By doing your work with compassion and love....
you can make your guests... happy.
Here you find the latest reviews from trustworthy booking platforms and Tripadvisor.
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Have a look at some press releases and the reviews of teachers who stayed with their group.
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On our own Booking Platform
Beautiful house set in beautiful gardens which creates a peaceful and serene environment. Elke and her team are very hospitable, friendly and welcoming.
The yoga sessions were invigorating and meditation in the morning with the sounds of birds was very relaxing.
April 2025
Solo traveling female Guest
On Booking.com
My husband and I spent 3 nights at Niyagama House. We really enjoyed the Bliss Yoga package with Elka as well as the morning meditation. Elka is an excellent yoga teacher moulding her classes to suit the participants. After 4 days of yoga, swimming, wonderful food and accommodation we felt fantastic! The whole experience is highly recommended.
June 2025
Gillian, Australia, on Booking.com
On BookYogaRetreats.com
Niyagama House is a beautiful, tranquil place to unwind. The rooms are beautiful, clean and the bathroom has lovely products to use.
The host is incredibly welcoming from the moment I sent the query. No ask was too much and even though it is low season - I still received 5 star attention and treatment.
The food is delicious and made fresh every day. I was actually waking up excited thinking about what I would have for breakfast.
The yoga sessions are of a high quality and Elke is very experienced, knowledgeable and thoughtful in helping you and sharing feedback on where you can improve your postures.
A perfect escape in nature—highly recommended! I wish I could have stayed longer.
June 2025
Chelsey, London, UK, on BookYogaRetreats.com
On Tripadvisor.com
I came, saw, and lived!
The Niyagama House has just done my soul and being good inside and out - the 4 days I spent there were, without exaggeration, just absolutely incredible! I'm really looking forward to coming back - a big thank you to Elke and the whole house!
August 2025
Vera, Paris, France, on Tripadvisor.com
On Google.com
Hidden in the hills, away from the noise and mania is this beautiful boutique property.
Full of charm, space, nature, Niyagama House is a lovely place to pause, practice some yoga and go for a walk, enjoy delicious food.
Elke and her team made this a very memorable experienc
July 2025
Rod, Melbourne, Australia
Niyagama House in the Press
"Niyagama House is the kind of place you would never want to leave"
Condé Nast Traveller Magazine | January 2024
Mentioned in the section about “The best hotels outside Galle Fort”
Niyagama House
Niyagama House is the kind of place you would never want to leave. Nestled in a local village, this Sri Lankan-German owned boutique retreat-style accommodation with a large pool and lounging spaces surrounds its magical jungle and sprawling tea estate, but it’s only a 20-minute ride from the historic Galle Fort.
Expect outstanding, always-smiling service staff, delectable spreads of homemade dishes cooked with locally-sourced produce, daily yoga classes and tropical, design-led living areas with antiques, lotus pods and jasmine-scented nooks. Only open to children above 12.
National Geographic Traveller Experiences Magazine December 2024
"A true home-away-from-home"
Niyagama House
Galle, Sri Lanka
Situated amidst its own lush tea, cinnamon, and pepper plantation, Niyagama House is a boutique hotel and yoga retreat in Southern Sri Lanka, just a 20-minute drive inland from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort at the Indian Ocean.
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This tranquil haven offers the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation, blending traditional Sri Lankan architecture with natural beauty.
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Perched on a hilltop, Niyagama House provides a barefoot-luxury atmosphere with beautifully maintained gardens and an 60-foot-long, chlorine-free pool, which overlooks the plantation.
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Designed by the German architect and yoga teacher Elke de Silva and her husband, a bird photography expert, this family-run retreat has welcomed guests since 2012.
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With a focus on sustainability and personal service, Niyagama House is a true home-away-from-home, accommodating up to 25 guests, aged 12 and above.
The property features a spacious 26 x 40-foot yoga shala, surrounded by nature, and a smaller yoga room, offering daily yoga and meditation sessions as well as retreat packages.
Whether it’s hatha yoga to energize, aerial yoga for a unique experience or yin yoga to deeply relax, the retreat caters to all levels.
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There is also a three-mile-walk or run through nature and the neighborhood, as an alternative to yoga.
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Birdwatchers can observe a spot-bellied eagle-owl, a black-backed dwarf kingfisher or one of the other 90 plus species that can be spotted here.
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The verandah restaurant serves a delightful blend of authentic Sri Lankan dishes such as rice and curries, alongside east-meets-west specialities.
Guests seeking a healthier lifestyle can indulge in Ayurveda Detox packages, ensuring nourishing, balanced meals throughout their stay.
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Guests can also enjoy ayurveda massages, guided tours through the plantation, birding excursions, or a day-trip to the historic Galle Fort.
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For those looking for deeper personal growth, Niyagama House offers a transformative week-long ‘Mindset Yoga’ retreat once a month. This program combines hatha and yin yoga with mindset training and the emotional freedom technique (EFT), helping participants achieve emotional balance and mental clarity.
KEY FEATURES
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Barefoot-luxury atmosphere
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Home-away-from-home for up to 25 guests
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Big yoga shala (26 x 40 foot) surrounded by nature
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60-foot-long, chlorene-free pool overlooking the plantation
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Birdwatching & photography hideout
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KEY ACTIVITIES
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Daily meditation and yoga (hatha, aerial, yin)
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9 different yoga and detox retreats
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Ayurveda wellness massages
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Guided plantation and birding tours
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Day-trip to Galle