Villa de Zoysa

"My partner and I had a fabulous stay at Villa de Zoysa, thanks to Devinda and his wonderful, hospitable staff. The "white house" itself was a stately building, full of character, history and charm. The yoga classes were challenging, the instructors, superb. We especially liked the little touches, like getting fresh coconuts to drink after the morning yoga class, tea on the terrace in the afternoon, watching DVDs in the living room in the evening, having our laundry done for us, eating breakfast and dinner as a group at one big table every day, sitting out on the lawn on cushions drinking wine on New Year's Eve. We felt very at home there and met so many wonderful people. The food was fabulous and varied. Our ground-floor room was spacious and quirky, a bit dark and spartan, but we liked it, especially the "outdoor" shower. This retreat is really more of a homestay, and Devinda makes you feel very welcome in his home, his two friendly dogs always vying for attention. We look forward to going back again and again"

BookYogaRetreats.com Website, edited

"I spent almost a month at Villa de Zoysa and it was one of the most rewarding retreats I've ever done. It was like a home away from home. Devinda is such an amazing person and he makes you feel at home; and he shares a lot of funny stories. He even took us to the school nearby and we played some music with the kids with special needs. The staff were lovely and always smiling. And the dogs "Prince and Bow" were such a treat; they attend most yoga classes. The food is by far the best food I've had in Sri Lanka; so fresh and yummy to the point that I didn't have a single meal outside for the entire duration of the retreat. I've met some amazing people there that I'd keep for life. It was so hard getting to leave this place. And I'd definitely come back very soon. I am sorry Devinda, but for sure you will be seeing me again."

BookYogaRetreats.com, edited

"Villa de Zoysa is a true white diamond at the beautiful West coast of Sri Lanka. We stayed for the whole package (2 weeks) and experienced an amazing and fascinating yoga retreat. We had really good yoga classes twice a day in the yoga shala, viewing the garden and the new saltwater-swimming-pool in front of the shala. Our best time of the day was at dawn with a wonderful sunset, birds singing, fireflies buzzing around and the background rhythm of the ocean waves. We are sure that Villa de Soysa serves the best food in Sri Lanka (we tried food other places elsewhere before and after). Devinda the charismatic Sri Lankan owner of his rebuilt and refurnished childhoods house, is a must love, so are his lovely dogs.And we could go on: the staff was always helpful and friendly, we met many lovely and interesting people from all over the world, and there was no single breakfast or dinner without hearty joy and cheerful laughter. The facilities are great and you do not feel to be a guest in an anonymous anti-septic tourist hotel, but relax in a more authentic and cosy atmosphere. In fact, this very combination of quality yoga classes AND relaxation AND good healthy food AND people AND location makes this place so exceptional.So, whats the catch, you might ask? Well, honestly, there IS none except that we hereby might praise Villa de Zoysa so much, that it will be overbooked in the future and we would not get the chance to come back :-). This would be a shame, as coming back is already on top of our to do-list for the future."

January 2016. BookYogaRetreats.com website, edited

"Villa de Zoysa is a tranquil haven located just two hours south of Colombo. I opted to catch the train from Colombo. This scenic route travels down the coast with excellent views of the Indian Ocean. Devinda is a wonderful host My stay coincided with Poya, a full moon celebration. We went to the local temple to light oil lamps and admire the lights and lanterns. The grounds are stunning, scattered with frangipani flowers all year round and fireflies illuminating the night sky. Yoga classes are taken in the shala, overlooking the pool. For yogis to novices, the yoga classes are altered to suit your needs. I arrived as a beginner, however, after less than a week have noticeably improved and mastered the headstand. There are many additional activities to make your stay a complete Sri Lankan holiday. Nearby attractions include a multitude of surf beaches nearby, Lily the Elephant, tea plantations, and the must-see Galle Fort. I would highly recommend the Ayurvedic massage. The food was divine! Healthy, delicious, and fresh organic, locally sourced produce. Breakfast typically consisted of an array of tropical fruits, buffalo yoghurt, passion fruit curd, freshly made roti bread, fresh coconut sambol, Sri Lankan style pancakes and omelettes. And for dinner: fresh seafood, red rice, and numerous vegetable dishes followed by dessert and cleansing lemon grass and ginger tea. Whether it be a short weekend getaway or an extended stay, they will cater for all your needs. I was initially only booked to stay for five days, however I am enjoying myself so much that I have decided to extend my stay! As a solo traveler, Villa de Zoysa has been a great place to make new friends – meals are shared and there is always company for day excursions."

Villa de Zoysa website, edited

"A fascinating, welcoming and hearty place to start your Sri Lanka experience. We went on a three week trip to Sri Lanka for our honeymoon and we booked to stay at Devindas for the first four nights. We were recommended this place by a friend and what a recommendation it was. We were there in rainy season and oh boy it rained! But to be honest, it really didnt matter. Devinda made us feel so welcome and made sure we filled our days with various activities so we really didnt mind that the weather was so bad. Sitting on the veranda with pots of tea watching the rain and the dancing fireflies whilst the train flew through the end of the garden was one of the best bits, it really forced us to wind down before we started our adventure. The yoga classes were excellent, his resident yoga teachers seem to rotate monthly but the girl so I am sure you will get a different teacher, but the girl we had was fantastic. The yoga equipment its self was a bit tired so I would recommend bringing at least your own mat, we got on with it but if I was to go again would definitely bring my own.The food . the food was just exceptional. The dining room is a lovely place to sit and chat with other guests whilst you enjoy a fantastic array of delicious dishes around a fabulous dining table. The rooms were clean and the beds were comfy, things are basic but the house on the whole is incredible, quite intriguing, you really feel like you have been whisked into a different world.If you are looking for perfection you will not find it here. You are staying in someones home, but if you are looking for somewhere which is a bit different you really should give it a go.Its good to know before you go that the beach is on the other side of the road and there is a lot of hustle and bustle going on, but we just felt that was all part of the charm.Devinda arranged for someone to pick us up from the airport for a fee, I cant remember how much but it was definitely worth it. We also arranged an ayurvedic massage whilst we were there. Once again its not like being in spa of a 5* hotel but it was a fantastic massage and I would highly recommend it.We stayed in a lot of places during our visit but this is the one we talk about, and its the one we will always remember."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"My one day stay at Villa de Zoysa was absolutely wonderful. It's a very nice place to relax (it has a library, nice dogs to cuddle with and is located near the beach), enjoy good food and of course (hatha) yoga. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable.Because I was traveling on a tight schedule I could only stay for one night but next time I'll come visit Sri Lanka I'll stay here longer Devinda (the owner of this place) is a very funny and helpful guy. He also offers nice day activities which unfortunately I couldn't join.See you next time!!"

Trip Advisor website, edited

"For those wanting a 5 star resort with all the comforts one would expect, this place isn't for you.What you do get at Villa De Zoysa is a very authentic Sri Lankan experience in a truly wonderful setting.I think I speak for most of the reviews on here about the food; so so good. Healthy, vegan/vegetarian options with so much flavour. Hard to beat.Devinda is a lovely host who will assist with pointers on places to see and things to do in and around the area.We keep going back and will continue to do so."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"Firstly the food here is EXCELLENT and our favourite in the whole of Sri Lanka. Get a massage - it was the best massage in Sri Lanka (we tried a lot). The yoga is great and varied every day, it was a positive experience teaching us about the spiritual side of yoga and meditation. I arrived at the Villa with two other friends expecting to find a sociable yoga retreat. The house seemed to be closed up for the season and was empty with no other visitors. There was nobody to greet us on arrival and when we found two men at the back of the house they had little English to communicate with us about our stay. We went to bed not knowing what was happening and got a knock on the door late at night to say yoga started at 7am. Everything got better from then on when we met Ruckshan (yoga teacher) he made us feel welcome and explained the owners were away. The rooms were very spacious with good balconies. Clean but one bathroom had cockroaches. One word of warning - the dogs! The dogs are over friendly and are always seeking attention. During yoga lessons they sit on your mat and push into you (especially with their bottoms!). Aside from this, the place has atmosphere and great potential. Would be excellent in a big group of friends. June seems to be out of season."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"My holiday at Villa De Zoysa was an extremely enriching experience and I would recommend that place to everybody that is looking for something different than a common all-inclusive holiday. The white house is not a hotel, it is much more a home where everybody feels very welcome due to Devindas friendly and generous nature. He helps you out with everything and offers you many beautiful trips to see a bit more of the surrounding area, such as feeding and riding the elephant, walking on the beach, going to the tea plantation... All these trips make your stay even more exciting.I stayed there for more than three weeks- at the beginning with two other girls, later only on my own, which was very challenging. But the house offers so much space for yoga and meditation or just to read one of the many books of the library, that you can easily keep yourself busy. And if you need a change of scene, you can always take the bus and drive to one of the close beaches around Boossa.The food in the house is excellent- everyday lots of variations of different vegetables and fruits. So no need to eat outside.The rooms of the house are all different- most of them offer lots of space and the details are carefully chosen by Devinda. He brought souvenirs home from all over the world.Altogether I had a wonderful time at that place and I definitely want to go back one day."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"We spent 5 days in the villa, doing yoga, relaxing and eating the lovely home cooked food. Devinda went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and happy. We were lucky enough to be in Sri Lanka over the New Year. It was a special experience to take part in traditional New Year celebrations, and Devinda was kind enough to include us in his family feast. We were taken to see Lily the elephant and to a tea plantation which was fun. We loved doing yoga in the yoga shala twice a day, and met some other lovely yogis. We will definitely be back!"

Trip Advisor website, edited

"Staying at Villa de Zoysa was probably one of the best experiences I have had, one week was just too short. Dont expect some resort type of a stay, this place is very special in a way that is difficult to find other places (in my opinion). The food was amazing, the people, the house, yoga. Devinda (the owner) was so funny and knowledgeable and generous, it was pretty amazing. But don't expect things to be perfect, sometimes some things are forgotten, but who wants perfect, Villa de Zoysa is very unique! I am only dreaming about going back."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"Villa de Zoysa is a great place to stay to enjoy the relaxed culture of Sri Lanka in a beautiful house with interesting and diverse people. It's a perfect place to enjoy the flow of Sri Lanka."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"Had a wonderful stay in the simply stunning White House, from the Yoga to the food to living in a mansion it was truly a wonderful stay. Devinda and team make you feel so welcome that you actually feel like a guest in there home. Highly recommend!"

Trip Advisor website, edited

"Yoga was wonderful, we had a great teacher (Klara) who was very patient and understanding as we were basically beginners. We never missed a class, a lovely way to start and end the day - leaving the evening yoga class by candle light with fireflies all over the garden is something we will always remember."

Trip Advisor website, edited

"Devinda is a great host! We had the best time during our two week stay and are already planning our next trip. The food was excellent; the staff was lovely; the house, dogs, and even the passing trains were very charming. We made many friends during our time there."

Trip Advisor website, edited