If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook or are part of my Introverted Traveller Club, you’ll know by now that I’m a big introvert.
I bloomin’ love my own space and spending time alone and when I’m travelling, I need to know my accommodation has room for me to re-charge my social batteries in peace.
If you’re the same and have Sri Lanka on your travel horizons, keep reading! I spent a month in the country and stayed in 13 (yes, 13!) different accommodations and these are my TOP FOUR introvert friendly places to stay in Sri Lanka.
The Ultimate Introvert’s Paradise
When I say this place is dreamy, I’m telling you this place is DREAMY. Swiss-owned and designed but with Sri Lankan hosts and hospitality, Uyana is already off to a good start. It’s located in Ahangama, near lake Koggala, about half way between the popular towns of Weligama and Unawatuna.
It’s the perfect location to get away from the backpacking crowd and just hide out with a book for a bit. Plus, with only four bedrooms (meaning a grand total of eight guests at any one time!), it becomes an introvert friendly winner.
Add in an infinity pool overlooking wild monkeys in the jungle, a jackfruit tree and a field of water buffalo and you’re probably already rushing to book.
This beautiful boutique hotel is completely hidden away and you can be forgiven for thinking you’re in your own private world when you’re inside. It’s the very definition of peaceful and just the ultimate place to re-energise and recharge.
I mean, the pictures speak for themselves, am I right?
Hotel In The Hilltops With The Best Views
My lovely friend Niamh and I found the Horizon Hilltop Villa in the morning, spontaneously booked it to check-in that same day and I am SO glad we did! Such a stunning, quiet hotel and check out those balcony views below!
It’s close enough to Dalawella and Unawatuna to give you the social interaction when you want it, but it’s hidden up in the hills behind the beach. Perfect for when you need to just get away and re-energise surrounded by monkeys in the trees and beautiful bird song.
Each room overlooks the pool and the jungle view and with only a few rooms in total, you can be sure to have plenty of time to yourself. And, bonus: the food in the open air restaurant is delicious, so if you don’t fancy a tuk tuk ride into town and just want to grab some dinner and run back to your balcony to read alone, it’s ideal!
Forested Hideaway In The Central Northern Region
These next two hotels are both part of the Cinnamon chain found across Sri Lanka and although they’re larger resorts, they’re both introvert friendly places to stay in my opinion!
Cinnamon Lodge Habarana sits in probably some of the most beautiful hotel grounds I’ve seen. In the mornings the mist rolls through the trees, across the grassy areas and the lakes and if you’re up before everyone else, a walk through the grounds is idyllic. If you’re a nature lover, this is the hotel for you as there are SO MANY wild monkeys running playfully around. You’re almost guaranteed to see more monkeys than people!
The main building with reception, restaurant and pool area is lovely, but the grounds and rooms are where the introvert friendly vibe comes in.
The rooms are dotted throughout the grounds in small lodges. Each has at least one big terrace or balcony, so if you need space to relax alone, you’ll have it. Top tip: ask for a first floor room for extra balcony privacy!
Secluded Lodges With Wild Animals
The second Cinnamon hotel to feature in this post is Cinnamon Wild Yala, on the edge of Yala National Park. It’s the ultimate safari spot, with wild elephants, leopards, sloth bears, buffalo and more wandering around (and through!!) the hotel complex.
You’ll also see a ton of crocodiles in the lake just in front of the pool, which isn’t something you get just anywhere in the world!
Each room comes in its own private, free-standing lodge, all hidden away down different winding nature trails. Granted, once it gets dark you might need to ask for a chaperone from the hotel staff to get back to your lodge, but potentially bumping into a wild animal is kind of part of the fun right?!
Once you’re in the resort, there’s nowhere outside for you to walk to. No lively bar scene down the road to lure you into a night out you don’t really want but feel pressured to have. Eat the delicious food at the buffet (I know, the word “buffet” sends shivers over me too but I swear it’s so good!), grab a quick sunset drink on the rooftop and then scurry back to your lodge in peace.
Just try not to walk into a leopard, ok? I was kidding when I said that was fun.
So there you have it!
Travelling around a new country, meeting lots of new people and interacting with locals on a daily basis can all take a huge toll on an introvert’s social battery. Take the pressure off yourself and book into one of these introvert friendly places to stay.
And if you do head to Sri Lanka and stay in one of these, tag me on Instagram and let me know! Happy (peaceful) travels!
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