Why Go?
This bucket-list destination is for honeymooners drawn to the wild thrill of nature. With leopard-tracking at dawn and star-strewn skies by night, UGA Chena Huts offers wild romance, and an off-grid kind of luxury.
Honeymoon Style
UGA Chena Huts is for couples who want to swap infinity pools for watering holes and sunrise yoga for safaris with elephants. It’s luxe, but not overtly glossy. Picture freestanding thatched villas with plunge pools, jungle paths lit by lanterns, and dinners set to a soundtrack of crickets and crashing waves. There’s privacy in spades, but with its generous sense of place, this retreat is a love letter to the wilderness around it. It’s not your typical beach escape, and that’s precisely its charm.
Set The Scene
Tucked between tangled forest and a wind-brushed sweep of beach, UGA Chena Huts rests gently within its wild surroundings. This exclusive five-star retreat, on the fringe of Yala National Park, feels more like a natural extension of the landscape than a luxury lodge. Everything here is softened by nature; the architecture low-slung and sympathetic, the palette drawn from sand, stone and sun-dappled leaves.
Eighteen thatched villas are thoughtfully scattered amid the coastal scrub, offering natural seclusion and effortless privacy. You might not encounter another guest all day, though a passing elephant could momentarily claim your view. The resort’s all-inclusive philosophy eliminates the need for decision-making, allowing you to be fully immersed in the experience. From twice-daily game drives – where leopards, elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, crocodiles, and more than 200 species of wild birds, including the elusive black-necked stork, await – to candlelit dinners with expertly curated wine pairings, there’s an effortless flow to each day that invites you to simply settle in and savour the experience.
The game drives are what draw most people here and for good reason. At Uga, they’re led by an incredible team of in-house rangers who know the park like the back of their hand. They instinctively steer you away from the crowds and into the stillness, where you can take your time soaking up the magic of the wild. They even know the leopards by name, which makes each sighting feel all the more intimate and special. And just when you think the day can’t get better, there’s the secret sundowner drive, a dreamy little detour where you’re whisked off to a hidden spot, handed your favourite cocktail, and served a gourmet spread as the sun dips below the horizon. It’s pure magic, and the kind of moment you’ll want to bottle up forever.
Inspired by traditional ‘chena’ farming huts, the design is tactile and unpretentious. Pathways weave through jungle, lanterns flicker at dusk, and the soundtrack is a symphony of birdsong, cicadas and the distant rumble of the Indian Ocean.
Food & Drink
Dining at Chena Huts is immersive, atmospheric and entirely attuned to its rugged, coastal setting. At the heart of the experience is The Basses, named after the nearby reef and storied lighthouse. Its subtle nautical nods encompass weathered timber, rope detailing, and maritime hues. By day, the restaurant serves up a hearty breakfast, and set-menu lunches, with fresh salads, grilled meat and seafood plated up with effortless finesse. Guests can also opt for a more relaxed midday meal by the pool or bar, with smaller plates and cold drinks offered under the filtered shade of palms.
As the sun sets, guests gather on the sand dunes for sundowners with signature cocktails and light canapés served against a backdrop of fiery skies and crashing waves.
At night, The Basses softens into something more sultry. Flickering torches light the pathway with the rhythmic hush of the waves as the soundtrack. Dinner here is an affair with nature, whether perched on an elevated deck or barefoot at a beachside table beneath the stars. The menu is a considered blend of local flair and international favourites elevated with Sri Lankan flavours, such as spice-rubbed tenderloin, a delicately fragrant Mung Dhal Wellington, or the richly aromatic Sri Lankan Ambula – a vibrant constellation of curries, spiced rice and sambols (the country’s traditional fresh coconut relish). The Bush Grill is another highlight, where seafood and meats are seared over flame with theatrical flair. For an added touch of romance, a private dinner can also be arranged beneath the stars, complete with a bonfire and your own stretch of moonlit beach.
Rooms
Each villa is a cocoon of calm: all warm timber, earthy tones, and sweeping views of the jungle or ocean. And these aren’t so much rooms as open-plan villas enveloped by wilderness. At 1,600 square feet, they’re the largest in the region, designed to dissolve the boundaries between inside and out.
Each hut is a study in understated elegance; timber underfoot, rattan and linen textures, and soft earth tones that draw the outside in. Light floods in through floor-to-ceiling glass, framing either the jungle or the silvery shimmer of the ocean beyond. A super-king bed anchors the space, billowing with cushions and facing out to your private deck and plunge pool.
The layout flows intuitively. A lounge area for reading or idling, a dining table for private dinners beneath a whirring fan, and a writing desk poised for letters never sent. Behind the bed, the bathroom emerges like a quiet surprise: a deep freestanding tub, rainfall shower, twin vanities, and all the serenity of a spa with none of the fuss.
Sustainability
Sustainability at Uga is not a marketing claim but a deeply embedded ethos that informs every aspect of its operations. Natural, locally sourced materials are used to harmonise with the landscape rather than distract from it, while a dedicated sustainability team ensures that each property not only meets but exceeds Global Sustainable Tourism guidelines. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as training and hiring locally, growing much of the produce on-site, installing solar panels, conserving wildlife, reducing water waste, and eliminating single-use plastics.
Uga’s ethos extends beyond environmental stewardship to actively supporting the communities it operates in, through building facilities and donating supplies to local schools, investing in infrastructure such as water tanks, and even constructing homes.
Spa
Tucked away within the jungle canopy, the Sanctuary Spa is a serene escape from the wild energy of the surrounding landscape. Treatments draw from ancient Sri Lankan healing traditions, using indigenous herbs, essential oils, and time-honoured techniques. Couples can opt for a romantic massage beneath a thatched pavilion or choose in-villa treatments for total seclusion.
Family-Friendly
UGA Chena Huts is geared toward adults seeking solitude and safari adventures. While children over six are welcome, the ambience is hushed and grown-up, a sanctuary for couples rather than families.
Location
You’ll find UGA Chena Huts in Yala, on Sri Lanka’s southeastern coast, nestled between jungle and ocean. Reaching Chena Huts from Colombo is part of the adventure. Guests can either take a domestic flight from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport to nearby Hambantota, followed by a scenic 1.5-hour drive through paddy fields, villages, and winding jungle roads. Alternatively, a private chauffeur-driven car can be arranged for the full journey – around six hours by road – ideal for those wanting to see more of the country’s lush, ever-changing interior along the way.
Room rates
From approximately £962 per night, depending on the season and room type. For more information please visit: ugaescapes.com/chenahuts/
Address: UGA Chena Huts, Palatupana, Yala National Park, 82600 Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka
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