Book direct with Ministry of Villas for the best price and to receive our complimentary concierge service. Select your dates below to reserve THE HERMITAGE
Prices are calculated using the villa's nominated currency, typically USD. Amounts shown in other currencies are based on today's exchange rate.
Description
The Hermitage Overview
Escape the ordinary and discover a hidden oasis in The Hermitage. Built on the site of an ancient hermitage over 600 metres over sea level, this luxurious villa offers the ultimate experience in lush Sri Lankan nature and sublime privacy above the madding crowd. The villa is set amidst a staggering six acres of natural forest populated by countless species of exotic birds, monkeys, deer and other wildlife. The healing herbs grown by the original hermitage are still being used in the villa’s kitchen to this day. Nestled high up in the mountains, the villa is surrounded by a pleasant climate of some 25 Celsius and as a result, has no need for air-conditioning. The Hermitage has three bedrooms and ample living areas, all beautifully styled with curated antiques and art sourced from the enchanting city of Kandy.
Sleeps: 6 guests (8 max)
Features
- Kitchen
- Private pool
- Smart TV
- Free Wi-Fi access
- In-room safe
Inclusions
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome drink on arrival
- Villa manager
- Chef
- Housekeepers
- Butlers
- Security guards
- Return airport transfers*
Extras
- Extra bed adult USD $100 per night
- Extra bed child USD $35 per night
- Priced menu available
- Spa services
Hot Deals
Last Minute & Early Bird Bookings
Contact our Villa Specialists to find out if your dates are eligible for our Last Minute and Early Bird discounts.
The Hermitage Living
The Hermitage is a once-in-a-lifetime mountainside villa with deep historic roots in the fertile soil surrounding the villa. What was once a remote hermitage inhabited by monks has been meticulously converted into a luxurious villa catering to the tastes of discerning travellers looking for a Sri Lankan escape a cut above the ordinary.
Living Room
The villa’s ample living areas are styled with luxurious furniture, rich textiles and curated art, striking the perfect balance between historic charm and luxe modern polish. The lounge room is a relaxed, fan-cooled space with beautiful stone floors, timeless leather furniture and walls lined with cabinets decked with fascinating pieces of art and curios. On an upper floor, a second lounge are is surrounded by windows on all sides, offering an elegant setting for drinking in the treetop views.
Dining Room
The dining room is a stunning space crowned by a double height ceiling, with views looking out to the surrounding natural forest. The space is dominated by an elegant dining table long enough to seat all six guests staying in the villa with ease.
Garden & Pool
To call the villa’s vast grounds a garden would be an understatement to say the least. Spanning some six acres of land, the natural forest wrapping around the villa is home to 41 species of exotic birds, along with monkeys, lizards, deer and more. Positioned high above sea level, the villa enjoys an average temperature of 25 Celsius. One of the many highlights of this magnificent villa is the stunning infinity pool which seems to spill into the lush forest and blend in with the shimmering waters of the lake below.
The Hermitage Bedrooms
The Hermitage has three bedrooms. Each room is furnished with a king-sized four-poster bed and adjoined by an ensuite bathroom. The rooms are ornately decorated with classic furniture and artful details, creating a luxurious setting for rest and recuperation.
Bedroom 1
The Kundalini bedroom is positioned on the second floor and offers views of the lake and surrounding treetops. The room is furnished with a grand king-sized four-poster bed, a wardrobe and an antique writing desk. The ensuite bathroom is decorated with art and antiques and features a bathtub and shower, with views looking out to the lake.
2 Guests
1 King Bed
Bathroom (Bath + Shower)
Bedroom 2
The second bedroom Samatha bedroom is located on the first floor together with the swimming pool and above the spa room. This room looks out to the lake on one side and over the forest on the other. The room has a king-sized four-poster bed and includes beautiful antiques from Kandy. The ensuite bathroom has a shower.
2 Guests
1 King Bed
Bathroom (Shower)
Bedroom 3
The Vipassana bedroom overlooks the lake and forest and is neighboured by a family of wild parrots. The grand room features a king-sized bed, dressing room and an antique library with a collection of rare coins and ivory artwork from Kandy. The ensuite bathroom has indoor and outdoor showers and an over-sized bathtub. Even the bathroom is filled with antiques and offers beautiful views of the lake.
2 Guests
1 King Bed
Bathroom (Bath + Shower)
The Hermitage Layout
The Hermitage is a large three-bedroom villa set over six acres of natural forest. The villa features generous living and dining areas, three bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a private swimming pool.
The Hermitage Staff
Your stay in The Hermitage is made enjoyable by the professional staff. The Hermitage’s staff have been professionally trained and will do their utmost to please with their warm and friendly hospitality.
Villa Manager
The Hermitage’s experienced and knowledgeable manager is responsible for the overall operation of the villa. The villa manager will oversee and coordinate the staff and property and assist you during your stay.
Housekeeping
You didn’t think you would be expected to clean while enjoying time off did you? All of our villas include housekeeping to tidy up the villa, arrange the laundry services, wash up and simply make sure you don’t lift a finger whilst on holiday with the family.
Butlers
Butlers are on hand every day to assist with serving during meal times and attend to other guest requirements throughout your stay.
Chef
The villa’s skilled private chef will happily prepare anything from the Western, Asian, vegetarian and children’s suggestion menus, as well as discuss special requests and dietary requirements.
Security
It’s nice to know you have security and many villas will have full-time guards or night time security available. Additional security can also be arranged if the villa doesn’t include any in the daily rate.
Location
The Hermitage is located in Kandy in Sri Lanka. The villa is located in the heart of the island, elevated some 600 metres above sea level with cool mountain air keeping the average temperature at a pleasant 25 Celsius. The sight of an ancient hermitage, the villa is a destination in its own right, with the forest clad six-acre property home to over 40 species of birds along with monkeys, deer and other wildlife. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the city of Kandy where you can visit the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Kandy Travel Guide
Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second largest city in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the island’s undeniable cultural and historical centre. Located in the mountainous centre of the island, Kandy attracts visitors to witness its glory, heritage and experience the local culture, cuisine and living traditions.
Bookings
Click on the ‘Reserve’ button to view live rates and availability for your desired dates. To book click on ‘Reserve Now’ and follow the steps. Ministry of Villas accepts Visa, MasterCard, Amex, PayPal or bank transfer. Once your payment has been processed, we will send you a booking confirmation via email.
Need to Know
- Return airport transfers included for guests arriving and departing on the same flight*
- Minimum stay: Low Season: 3 nights, High Season: 3 nights, Peak Season: 3 nights
- Our rates include Government tax and services. Other websites add this on at the end of the booking!
- We offer the best rates online and offer a price guarantee to prove it!
- A deposit of 50% of the total amount must be paid at the time of booking
- Final payment is required 60 days prior to arrival
- Check-in time: 2pm – check-out time: 11am
- Payment can be settled by credit card or PayPal (3% payment processing fee)
- Payment can be settled by bank transfer in your preferred currency (AUD / EUR / GBP / JPY / NZD / SGD / USD)
- Read our full terms and conditions
Sara O’Shea –
This is a great property just outside Kandy. The owner certainly has artistic flair as it’s a very creative design. The property overlooks a lake with a private pool and great views.
Dinendre Dissanayake –
Had a two night stay at The Hermitage, with the entire place to ourselves the former private villa is located away from hustle and bustle of kandy city with views of the Victoria reservoir ,tastefully architectured with an antique soul.
Google Reviewed May 2025
Romi Messer –
A beautifully designed boutique hotel with impressive spaces and a welcoming atmosphere. The rooms are comfortable and thoughtfully designed, with an exceptional bathtub and shower – perfect for design enthusiasts. The shared spaces are inviting, and the staff is friendly and professional, providing excellent service.
Located 20 minutes from the city center, the experience is well worth the distance. The hotel offers a high-quality dining experience and a shared kitchen, though menu prices are slightly higher than average.
Breakfast is delicious and indulgent. A top-tier hospitality experience.❤️
Google Reviewed March 2025
Ravindu napevithanage –
My wife and I were on our holiday to Kandy and stayed at Hermitage Kandy. We had a fantastic experience with luxurious amenities, impeccable services (specially damith and his team), and excellent room views with victoria lake . it’s best place to stay away from your busy life.try out.🥂
Google Reviewed December 2024
Sihina duleeka –
The cultural experience at (Hermitage Kandy ) left us with many stories and great memories. The hotel facilities and room services are exceptional. The staff are also accommodating and friendly.
The best hotel I’ve ever been privileged enough to stay at. The elegant décor of the rooms, top-notch amenities, and high-quality services are the prime attractions(very close to lake side ) of this hotel. I loved it!
Google Reviewed November 2024
Tash Carolides –
Damith and his team were impeccable from start! They were so attentive and made sure we were completely comfortable and had everything we wanted. The chef was great and made us a lovely Sri Lankan meal both nights. The breakfasts were also delicious. The property is clean and the beds were really comfy. We loved it here!
Google Reviewed November 2024
Navigator67780314733 –
Fantastic Hospitality- Great Retreat!
Had an excellent 2 night stay at this wonderful property. The setting, location and amenities were all top notch. The staff were friendly and affable, and were always looking out for the comfort and well being of my family. Hat tip to Damit who really pulled out all the stops to make sure we had a great experience. Highly recommended.
Tripadvisor Reviewed
Stayed in March 2024
Sherine Ibrahim –
A Jewel in Kandy!
Those three days our family spent there over Christmas were just magical! This luxury serviced villa was outstanding for our entire family, with the beauty of the decor, the cleanliness of the rooms, the stunning views, gorgeous nature and tasty food. We missed Sri Lankan cuisine and we got it! Dammit and the entire support team were so thoughtful and accommodating of all our requests. Best experience of our overall stay in Sri Lanka. Thank you to the team :-)
Tripadvisor Reviewed
Stayed in January 2024
PFoggSydney –
Great house good stay
The Hermitage is great contemporary Sri Lankan architecture, perfectly positioned overlooking a picturesque reservoir/ lake. The spacious suites are tastefully furnished. The most comfortable bed memorably so. It was not a Hasten’s, but maybe it was even better. The food was family cooking and was delicious, and we ate all meals there. There’s a smashing swimming pool, good for some lazy lengths. We preferred The Hermitage to Kandy itself which we thought was somewhat over-rated, especially after the long and tedious road to get there. However, we always felt safe and happy with Delaxan, the Edward Collection’s excellent driver.
TripAdvisor Reviewed June 8, 2022
Stayed in May 2022
Lukshan F –
Amazing place with beautiful architecture
The Hermitage Kandy is an amazing place in Kandy, the architecture, furniture, and surroundings are tastefully created too. The rooms are very comfortable and cozy, the washrooms are beautifully done. The pool was the most relaxing place to be at with lovely surroundings. An ideal place to relax and unwind. The reservations officer Pooja was really helpful and went out of her way to book the resort for us. She even sent us the menus prior to visiting so that we knew the food that was being offered at the resort. I called her several times to inquire about various matters yet she always gave us her best. Staff members at the hotel were also very helpful, priyantha was the best out of all of them. In terms of food The eggs Ben was the highlight and so was the seafood soup and the grilled chicken, the Sri Lankan rice n curry and string hoppers were great along with the chicken curry. Happy stay!
TripAdvisor Reviewed January 15, 2020
Stayed in November 2019
Pakiripost –
Lush, green, airy, oasis.
We spent seven nights here and used it as a base to see the central part of Sri Lanka. It is a beautiful villa overlooking Lake Victoria. The breeze passes through the house making it a very cool place to rest and relax. The rooms are large and comfortable with everything you may need. The staff is ever obliging and willing to accommodate most requests. The Sri Lankan and English breakfast are good with excellent fruit platters and freshly squeezed juices. The dinners are not gourmet if you don’t choose the local food but are absolutely fine. The Sri Lankan food though is excellent. The pool is beautifully clean and a welcome spot to spend some time. It is not licensed so BYO wine. They provide glasses and a fridge to chill it should you need it.
Perfectly feasible to visit the tea plantations, the spice growing area, Kandy itself, etc from here and have the luxury of coming back to the same bed. It is run by two delightful men and a chef who do all they can to make you feel at home.
Highly recommended.
TripAdvisor Reviewed January 14, 2020
Stayed in December 2019
Gugan Vijay –
The staycation was exceptional. We were served by Thiththo and Pradeep they were very helpful as well, meantime the food was delicious and was cooked by Chef Dilshan. Beautiful views of the lake from the hotel and the pool are located in a scenic area where you forget all your stress and immerse in nature.
All in all a wonderful location for a weekend getaway.
Google Reviewed December 12, 2019
Stayed in December 2019
Mark F –
Waking in Paradise
The rooms are authentically Edwardian – ours had an amazing stone-floored bathroom. And you really do feel you are in a retreat, away from everything. The concept of having just one or two staff on hand to help takes some getting used to but they are incredibly good at everything, including dinner and breakfast. Give yourself a full day there, just lazing around and breathing in pure nature.
TripAdvisor Reviewed August 8, 2018
Stayed in July 2018
coupleoftravels –
This airy property faces lake Victoria and has only 3 rooms. We stayed in the superior room, which is tastefully furnished and has a lovely bathroom with tub views of the pool and lake, and an open shower that can turn interesting when it rains. They have two amazing staff ever ready to cater to your needs at any time of the day or night. We were so in love with the property that leaving it to go sightseeing was tough. It was home away from home for us.
Our special thanks to Supun & Pushpa for ensuring that we have the most amazing stay. Stay here to enjoy nature, forest sounds, amazing views, and some ROMANCE!
TripAdvisor Reviewed April 18, 2018
Stayed in March 2018