Reviews of Sigiri Arana Sigiriya

Fantastic location, super friendly hosts. Would definitely recommend this property to stay in Sigiriya. Food was delicious and Safari with our host was fantastic. Thank you for such a lovely stay!

Our family had the absolute pleasure of staying at Sigiri Arana in Sigiriya, and it’s safe to say we left with full hearts, happy stomachs, and unforgettable memories. From the moment we arrived, Sunanda, Samadi, and Randi made us feel like part of their family. Their warmth and hospitality turned their lovely home into a home away from home. The property itself is nestled in a peaceful, green location—comfortable, clean, and serene, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. We genuinely wished we had booked a longer stay. One of the highlights was the early morning hike up Sigiriya Rock. Despite the 5am start, it was already bustling with other sunrise seekers. Sunanda kindly offered to take us, sharing interesting stories along the way. The panoramic views from the top were stunning, and the local wildlife—monkeys and birds—were all too happy to mingle with the tourists! We also visited Pidurangala Rock, just a short walk away (definitely bring shoes with good grip). And our jeep safari with Sunanda in his own vehicle was a standout experience. It was an incredible day seeing elephants up close, spotting monkeys, peacocks, and a range of wildlife. The kids absolutely loved the ride, and the thoughtful touch of snacks and drinks made it all the more enjoyable. Every morning and evening, we were treated to delicious home-cooked meals by Samadi, who is truly a fantastic cook. The variety of curries was astounding—some of the best food we had throughout Sri Lanka. We looked forward to each meal on the porch, sipping a beer, watching the wildlife, and chatting with the family about the day’s adventures and plans for the next. Sunanda is deeply knowledgeable about the local area and wildlife, and he’s always eager to share this with his guests. His passion for nature and community really enriched our experience. We left feeling incredibly grateful—not just for the amazing memories, but for the seeds from their garden, which we’ll plant at home as a reminder

Moving on!

Excellent hosts, very friendly and welcoming. Had plenty of local knowledge and ideas for activities. Breakfast and dinner we had were very tasty as well!

Sunander and his family are the best hosts one can ask for. They went above and beyond to make our stay the best possible. Sunander drove us to Lion Rock and Dambulla in his vehicle and they cooked us such tasty food. They are hardworking and kind and have been working for 15 years to open their guesthouse! Stay here when you are in the area - you have a view of Pidurangala rock and Sigiriya rock is only 15 minutes by foot.

Everything was perfect!!

My girlfriend and I stayed for 3 nights. The homestay is within a 10 minute walk to Pidurangala Rock and a 20 minute walk to the entrance of Sigiriya (Lion Rock). You even have a view of both from the home. The owner and his wife cooked delicious homemade meals for us, breakfast each morning (tea, eggs, rotti, with Coffee & Tea), as well as dinner sets for us in the evening (Sri Lankan chicken curry with rice, noodle, fried rice, soup, & desert). With large portions, you won’t be left hungry staying here! We chose to climb Pidurangala Rock for sunrise in the morning, and we were given a ride at 5am before dawn from the villa owner for a good price. There’s lots of incredible nature (Arana) at the property, with friendly village dogs, peacocks, & beautiful birds all passing by. The 2 guest rooms are connected to the owner’s family’s home, and we were always greeted with big warm smiles when we interacted with them. If you’re interested, the owner also does a Safari tour, having his own vehicle for it. Thanks for welcoming us to Sigiriya! We enjoyed staying at your little slice of this beautiful & historic city 😌 - Vincent & Anastasiya

Nothing much!

Hosts family were really wonderful. Room are spotlessly clean, A/C, hot water shower & mosquito net. Food was homemade and delicious. Great location for climbing Lions Rock at sunset & Pigeon Rock for sunrise.

Nothing really. Good was a bit pricey but totally manageable.

We had a lovely 1 night stay. Location is perfect for going to Pidurangala rock / Lions Rock - if you go for sunrise you can get a lift there in the way in (too dangerous to walk due to elephants!) and then walk about afterwards. Room was clean, AC was nice & cold and the food was tasty & reasonable (£5-£8 a meal). Which is good as not many restaurants within walking distance. Also as it was Sri Lankan New Years we got to do/see some fireworks! I would recommend staying here especially if you want a good location and a lovely host family!

I chose this place for being a bit out of town and I loved the location. The room is nice and new, the bed is really comfortable and everything super clean. The bathroom is spacious and clean. I enjoyed hanging out on the terrace and enjoying the surrounding. The optional breakfast and dinner was great. (I even got a small bday cake, that was a lovely gesture.) Pindurangala rock is 10 minutes away on foot (you will need a lift if you go for sunrise), while the entrance of Lions Rock is about 30 minutes away on. The hosts were nice to offer different programs, also offering safari (which I didn’t do, but heard good reviews from the couple staying next door).

You’d better have your own wheels or like to walk, otherwise you’ll feel a little isolated out there. I expected there are bicycles to rent (based on the service info on the site), but that is not the case. The optional meals are a bit on the expensive side, but not much dining options in the area. Walls are extra thin, you will hear every word spoken in the other room.

I liked everything about this accomodation. First of all, Rathnayaka and his wife did eveything to have a great experience. Since we arrived he recomended a very nice tur, with the bowl, the boat and a cooking lesson of sri lankan food - i really recomend this tour. Then he helped us with his car to get early morning 5AM to pidurangala rock. We also had dinner and breakfast to their home - great food, great taste( they are trying to get you as much as they can). Also Rathnayaka ask me several times: Are you happy? Because he really wants you to feel great. The silence and peace from his place is wonderfull. Also I had the opportunity to see a big elephant în their back yard at 100m(don't worry it was 100% safe). Inside the rooms were very clean and beds were also very confortable. I recomend 100% to choose to stay at Sigiri Arana.

Super hospitable. Great food. The hosts are very obliging, friendly and help immediately. We got great tips for the surrounding area. Rooms are very clean. Highly recommended.

Sunundai and Samadi were the best hosts, so friendly, kind, helpful and generous. The location is rural and almost in the centre of both Pidarangula Rock and Sigiriya Rock. So you can hike Pidarangula for sunrise and Sigiriya for sunset on the same day, if you wish. Sunundai is also a guide and I did an elephant safari with him which was excellent. We saw various herds of elephants up close and I was even lucky enough to be shown a baby elephant (about 1 month old). This was a truly beautiful experience and Sunundai was an excellent guide. The accomodation is spacious, clean and comfortable. Samadi can make you breakfast/dinner for an addition fee and her cooking is top quality. Both Samadi and Sunundai work very hard to make sure their guests have a 10 star stay. Oh and the garden is beautiful and the bird life is amazing!! I highly rate this stay if you want to be in a more peaceful and rural location that is easily accessible to the beautiful Pidarangula and Sigiriya rocks. Many thanks Sunundai and Samadi 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

It's worth noting that Google maps finds it difficult to find correct location. So give tuk tuk drivers the name of the road and tell them it's very close to entrance for Pidarangula Rock. Any issues call the number.

Sunanda and his wife are the most perfect hosts. Kind and generous they run a spotless homestay. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. Dinner and breakfast are delicious. The Lions Rock and Pidurangola are within walking distance - both well worth climbing. Sunandina offers safaris to Hurulu Eco Park to see the elephants - magical! Highly recommend 👌

We had an amazing stay here! The hosts were incredibly kind and welcoming, making us feel like part of their family. They prepared delicious homemade dinners and breakfasts, which added a special touch to our experience. The surroundings are truly unique – a wild and peaceful environment where you can spot a variety of birds and lizards. The location is also perfect for anyone planning to visit Pidurangala Rock, as it’s just a short walk away. Highly recommended for those who appreciate nature and genuine hospitality!

We loved our stay with Sunanda and his family. They are helpful in arranging transport, activities and provide excellent hospitality. It’s in a great location, very peaceful in amongst the greenery. Make sure you give your driver the correct address when you are arriving as there is another Sigiri Arana that is getting built nearby.

Clean

Access to hotel

Such a lovely, friendly & welcoming family who treat their guests like family too. Good communication on WhatsApp, nice welcome drink, delicious home cooked meals, nice big spacious room and a beautiful terrace. Surrounded by peaceful nature, peacocks in the garden in the mornings. We asked for recommendations on what to do and they arranged a local village tour for us. Was such an authentic experience with the friendliest people and an amazing lunch cooked by the local women. Can’t recommend staying here enough, 10mins walk from Pidurangala rock (which you can see from the terrace and garden). Thank you

Cool and calm place

Not availability of AC

It was an incredible stay in this lovely homestay. The whole family is more than welcoming and caring. It is only 10min away from Pidurangala Rock (transfer for the morning hike was organized) and around 20min away from Lions Rock - all by foot. It's very quiet, except the sounds of the jungle which was a perfect get away in Sigiryia. They also provide Safari tours, if you want one. The accommodation was very tidy and the beds comfortable and there was hot water If you would have needed it. Both of them really get out of their way to make their guests feel comfortable and i immediately felt relaxed after traveling to Sigiryia. The food provided is homecooked and incredible (also try their dinner). Their concept seems to be quite eco friendly alltogether. I would recommend it for sure and will come back again :)

Perfect stay to visit the lion rock! The hosting family was very welcoming and helpful! We would come back!