Profile information
Host rating
70 %
Last replied
26 May 2026
Reply rate
64.3 %
Usually responds within 6 days
Feedback
49
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Email verified
Badges (4)
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Details
Description
We are an Ecolodge & Wildlife Sanctuary in the Diyadawe Rainforest area close by the famous Sinharaja Rainforest.
On 6 acres of hill land, situated on an 100 year old Tea Estate, we established an Eco Lodge within a unique setting. We are blessed with peace, abundant nature, organic fruit trees &herbs, own spring water and a very pleasant climate.
We are looking for someone with hospitality experiece who can help us looking after guests in July and August.
Our location is perfect for people who love peace and don't mind beeing in a quiet place off the civilization.
Please contact us if you can stay for at least a month.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Light maintenance
Interests
Self development
Pets
Charity work
Art & design
Music
Gardening
Cooking & food
Drawing & painting
Yoga / Wellness
Camping
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
It's a unique opportunity to be in a quiet, very natural environment with own spring water, a river with rainforest and lots of birds and other wild animals. It's a great place for Yoga, Meditation plus there is a hall for practitioners next to a large Banyan tree.
Through the interaction with our team of locals from the nearby village, you can learn about Sri Lanka's delicious food and rural life.
Help
We host guests who like to experience a peaceful, close to nature stay and explore the nearby Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve. In July and August, we need help with welcoming guests, showing them the rooms and environment of the Sanctuary.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
The accomodation is a twin room with bathroom.
What else ...
The Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve is the local attraction where different tours can be arranged. We have a large, natural pool and a surrounding river with small pools.
In the nearby village Kotapola is the locally famous ancient buddhist cave temple Getabaruwa Dewalaya, situated on a hill (458m above sea level) which is worth a visit.
Or just take a relaxed walk on our local Batandura road and experience authentic village life.
A bus is going four times per day from our nearby road /bridge to Deniyaya.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The Internet is ok for streaming at some places further up the property
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Joda
We have 3 dogs and one cat
Host ref number: 766775677146
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
+21
Feedback (28)
10 Mar 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Rahim & Mohammadmehdi)
We really enjoyed having Rahim and Medhi with us since they are very kind, helpful and respectful. They have helped us with setting up our Storage room, laundry room, did some painting jobs, fixed leaking pipes and taps, repaired broken sockets and lights. Medhi is skilled with plumbing and electricity, has a great knowledge about the quality of… read more
(Excellent
)
10 Mar 2025
Left by Workawayer (Rahim & Mohammadmehdi) for host
We spent two wonderful weeks with Karina and Cedric. In the middle of the forest we were amazed to see animals like eagles, squirrels, leeches, monkeys, peacocks etc. We woke up in the mornings to the sound of birds. We enjoyed the food which was mostly vegetarian and cooked by the staff. Our room was very nice and clean with a view of the forest.… read more
28 Jul 2024
Left by Workawayer (Yuechen) for host
I Volunteered for Karina July 10 th to July 23rd, mainly task was to focus on teaching yoga and meditation class and doing online marketing for it. The open space yoga hall next to a giant banyan tree is absolutely beautiful and peaceful, it also still needs some improvements for roof, storage shelves and decoration etc.
I originally planned to… read more
I originally planned to… read more
1 Jul 2019
Left by Workawayer (Maddy) for host
Sam and Karina's place is enchanting and full of awe! had a great couple of weeks here, exploring the jungle, experiencing the wild life and hanging out with new friends!
The food was ace, a variety of different vegetarion dishes that we loved, not to mention the cake that we had cake pretty much every single day aswel, haha.
During my stay the… read more
The food was ace, a variety of different vegetarion dishes that we loved, not to mention the cake that we had cake pretty much every single day aswel, haha.
During my stay the… read more
30 Jun 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Maddy)
Maddy is very skilled with working with wood, weeding, painting, managing the coboven, ...only to meantion some jobs he has done here. We can highly recommend him. We hope to see him again and we wish him a phantastic time!
(Excellent
)
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
+21
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.3)
10 Mar 2025
Left by host for Workawayer (Rahim & Mohammadmehdi)
We really enjoyed having Rahim and Medhi with us since they are very kind, helpful and respectful. They have helped us with setting up our Storage room, laundry room, did some painting jobs, fixed leaking pipes and taps, repaired broken sockets and lights. Medhi is skilled with plumbing and electricity, has a great knowledge about the quality of… read more
(Excellent)
10 Mar 2025
Left by Workawayer (Rahim & Mohammadmehdi) for host
We spent two wonderful weeks with Karina and Cedric. In the middle of the forest we were amazed to see animals like eagles, squirrels, leeches, monkeys, peacocks etc. We woke up in the mornings to the sound of birds. We enjoyed the food which was mostly vegetarian and cooked by the staff. Our room was very nice and clean with a view of the forest.… read more
28 Jul 2024
Left by Workawayer (Yuechen) for host
I Volunteered for Karina July 10 th to July 23rd, mainly task was to focus on teaching yoga and meditation class and doing online marketing for it. The open space yoga hall next to a giant banyan tree is absolutely beautiful and peaceful, it also still needs some improvements for roof, storage shelves and decoration etc.
I originally planned to… read more
I originally planned to… read more
1 Jul 2019
Left by Workawayer (Maddy) for host
Sam and Karina's place is enchanting and full of awe! had a great couple of weeks here, exploring the jungle, experiencing the wild life and hanging out with new friends!
The food was ace, a variety of different vegetarion dishes that we loved, not to mention the cake that we had cake pretty much every single day aswel, haha.
During my stay the… read more
The food was ace, a variety of different vegetarion dishes that we loved, not to mention the cake that we had cake pretty much every single day aswel, haha.
During my stay the… read more
30 Jun 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Maddy)
Maddy is very skilled with working with wood, weeding, painting, managing the coboven, ...only to meantion some jobs he has done here. We can highly recommend him. We hope to see him again and we wish him a phantastic time!
(Excellent)
7 Mar 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Emma)
Emma was a great help for us during a very busy period in our Eco Lodge. She helped us with all kinds of work and always with a very positive attitude. It was very sad to see her leaving and we hope to see her again. Thans a lot.
(Excellent)
11 Jan 2019
Left by Workawayer (Tineke & Juda) for host
Unfortunately this was our only bad experience on Workaway. This was not a place for us because of the lack of a positive atmosphere, lack of communication, and our different opinions about what is and what isn't an EcoLodge.
If you are ONLY looking for food, accomodation and jungle all around you in exchange for work, then this is the place for… read more
If you are ONLY looking for food, accomodation and jungle all around you in exchange for work, then this is the place for… read more
7 Nov 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Hakan)
Hakan helped us for a week, unfortunately he could not stay longer. But we had a great time having him here. Althought it was a bit stressfull sometimes he always remained calm and did a great job with building a window frame plus installing it, further he did some other small carpentry jobs and is a very kind person and great to talk to. We hope… read more
(Excellent)
26 Oct 2018
Left by Workawayer (Hakan) for host
Karina,Sam and also Sagırı for the opportunity to help you.I had a great time with you.
I recommend this beautiful place (wonderfull view of the valley) ıf you want to exprience the real Sri Lanka Rainforest. I enjoyed my time there helping them.
Hope to see you again.
I recommend this beautiful place (wonderfull view of the valley) ıf you want to exprience the real Sri Lanka Rainforest. I enjoyed my time there helping them.
Hope to see you again.
28 Dec 2017
Left by Workawayer (Tetsu) for host
I stayed here for a month.
The place is in deep rainforest so amazing place!
I met so many wild animals here such as monkey, giant squirrel, chameleon, monitor, beautiful birds, porcupine, and many insects. Also there are lovely dogs cats.
We could get jackfruits regulary , now one of my best fruits!!
They gave me varied jobs for not to be bored,… read more
The place is in deep rainforest so amazing place!
I met so many wild animals here such as monkey, giant squirrel, chameleon, monitor, beautiful birds, porcupine, and many insects. Also there are lovely dogs cats.
We could get jackfruits regulary , now one of my best fruits!!
They gave me varied jobs for not to be bored,… read more
5 Oct 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Zonia)
We had a wonderfull time having Zonia here. She helped us with all kind of work with a very positive attitude, kind and relaxed. Even in stressfull moments she remained calm and helpfull. Our garden has one more beautiful mosaik she has made with lots of dedication and love to details. And it was great to talk to her about various things and… read more
(Excellent)
26 Sep 2017
Left by Workawayer (Zonia) for host
This place is amazing, words honestly can't describe how I feel about this spot. This was my last stop in Asia before heading back to the states and it really wrapped up my trip in the best way possible. Sam and Karina are really awesome people doing really awesome things. They are both so inspiring to me. Theres always a lot to do around this… read more
21 Jul 2017
Left by Workawayer (Jake) for host
This was my first Workaway experience and I can say it was great! Sam and Karina are wonderful hosts, who can cook great food and have a good chat with. You can generally choose what kind of work you want to do - which there is plenty of! It's quite inspiring to see what Sam and Karina have made of this piece of land nestled in the hills of the… read more
19 Apr 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Gwendo)
We had a wonderful time having Gwendolyn here for three weeks. She heleped us with the kitchen work, maintenance and hosting guests as well as with some work on the roof of our new mudhouse and with gardenwork. She is very well structured and reliable, a very fast learner and hard worker. On top she also knows how to look after her own ressources… read more
(Excellent)
7 Apr 2017
Left by Workawayer (Gwendo) for host
For those who adore being secluded in a stunning bit of nature with 2
lovely, dedicated people and lots of different things to do - this is perfect. I spent 3 weeks here helping with the roof of the new cob house, planting pineapples, weeding, light housework like washing and preparing the rooms plus preparing and serving easy breakfasts to… read more
lovely, dedicated people and lots of different things to do - this is perfect. I spent 3 weeks here helping with the roof of the new cob house, planting pineapples, weeding, light housework like washing and preparing the rooms plus preparing and serving easy breakfasts to… read more
28 Dec 2016
Left by Workawayer (Leyla & Chris) for host
This was our first experience with workaway and we had a fantastic time with Sam and Karina. They taught us the basics of cobbing, and Sri Lankan cooking, and we enjoyed working hard to help them maintain their wonderful land and build on their success so far.
At the start we were the only volunteers, and appreciated the trust that Sam and Karina… read more
At the start we were the only volunteers, and appreciated the trust that Sam and Karina… read more
5 Oct 2016
Left by Workawayer (Dorota) for host
I spent only one week volunteering on the farm but this place is so beautiful that I'd gladly stay for much longer to admire everything more - wonderful views on the valley, lovely dogs, forest, birds, monkeys and the huge garden full of different fragrant plants. I sometimes miss even the diva-rooster!:)
The atmosfere was very friendly and… read more
The atmosfere was very friendly and… read more
17 Jul 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Louise)
Thank you so much Louise and Alex. You are a wonderful couple and a great team. It was also inspiring to have you here and very lucky that such talented guys like you came to our place to make it more beautiful. I hope to see you again here one day! Mercie :)
(Excellent)
15 Jul 2016
Left by Workawayer (Louise) for host
This was our first workaway experience and it definitely worth it.
Thank you Karina for sharing with us your beautiful place.
We stayed 1 week but it was too short of course !
We really enjoyed the camp fire, the fire flies, the food, building the mud house and take care of the animals.
Thanks also to let us paint some walls all around your… read more
Thank you Karina for sharing with us your beautiful place.
We stayed 1 week but it was too short of course !
We really enjoyed the camp fire, the fire flies, the food, building the mud house and take care of the animals.
Thanks also to let us paint some walls all around your… read more
29 Apr 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Matt & Elizabeth)
Thank you so much Matt and Lizzi, it was really great to have you here. Unfortunately Lizzi had a injured leg and couldn't do much outside but was a great and passionate help with the mosaic around the kitchen tap and other stuff she could do sitting. Matt did a good job laying stones on the terrace and just today I thought of you both looking at… read more
(Excellent)
26 Apr 2016
Left by Workawayer (Matt & Elizabeth) for host
We Volunteered for Karina and Sam a few weeks back and their place is lovely! We worked 5 hours a day and spent the rest enjoying the forest and spending some quality time offline and with nature! We played cards and chatted with other workawayers and guests during the hot afternoons and had pizza with Karina and a couple of guests using the… read more
3 Mar 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Monika)
Thanks Monika for your spontanious visit and help with all your experience in many practical things. And the great cooking. Let's keep in touch.
(Very good)
29 Feb 2016
Left by Workawayer (Monika) for host
Thanks Karina,
my stay was short, but pleasant, just what I needed.
If you tow need help on your project, don't hesitate to call me back.
And let's stay in contact, let's make a network.
Monika
my stay was short, but pleasant, just what I needed.
If you tow need help on your project, don't hesitate to call me back.
And let's stay in contact, let's make a network.
Monika
22 Jan 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Maria & Rajkumar)
Thanks for beeing with us and although we've had lots of work you both were very peaceful and focused on the jobs that needed to be done. We are still very happy with the kitchen cupboard you've made and the Bamboo Cuttlery holder looks very nice, too. Have a great time!
(Excellent)
1 Jan 2016
Left by Workawayer (Maria & Rajkumar) for host
Waking up to the sounds of squirrels, birds and with a view, that puts a smile on our faces, is i believe, the perfect way, to start a day. Two weeks of time just passed by without even saying a word. And a big thanks to Karina and Sam, for their hard and interesting work, maintaining the wonderful part of the forest, setting a great example of,… read more
22 Jan 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Robyn)
It was great to have you here. You've worked so hard helping to clear the paths and planting vegetables, your beans and pumpkins doing very well due to the carefull planting. Today we've continued the work on the mosaik you've started and it looks amazing. Have a wonderful journey and we hope to see you again one day.
(Excellent)
16 Jan 2016
Left by Workawayer (Robyn) for host
My friend and I spent just one week here but i wish i could have stayed longer. The location is fantastic - you could spend hours just gaising at the rainforest birds during the day and the fireflies at night. Sam and Karina were so welcoming and very informative! We spent time with their lovely partents wich was a true pleasure. We helped with… read more
3 Jan 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Martin)
Dear Martin ( I wish I could say your name in Chinese),
Thanks for your help and good energy you brought here in. And sorry for all the sanding and varnishing work you had to do ;) I look at the little stool which we use as a table at the moment and think of the day we did it together and the funny moments of doing something new. For both of… read more
Thanks for your help and good energy you brought here in. And sorry for all the sanding and varnishing work you had to do ;) I look at the little stool which we use as a table at the moment and think of the day we did it together and the funny moments of doing something new. For both of… read more
(Excellent)
2 Jan 2016
Left by Workawayer (Martin) for host
(I wish I could write in Chinese, that's more easy to me haha)Actually, this is my first workaway experience and it's a perfect period for me in Sri Lanka. I dreamed I could live in a forest, waked up by sounds of birds, living by fruits everyday, Sam and Karina make me know this kind of lifestyle does work. I love here so much.
I wish my "funny"… read more
I wish my "funny"… read more
28 Dec 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Mary Page)
Thanks Mary Page and Merav for your help and Yoga classes. You were our first Yoga teacher for some days and although we had lots of work going on it was vey nice to have that quiet moment in the morning to strech out our bones while beeing surrounded by lots of birds and other sounds. Peace and light.
(Very good)
22 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Mary Page) for host
Karina and Sam's project was inspiring to get to be a small part of. Although my friend and I only stayed a few days, we enjoyed the rainforest and it's many exotic species, fruits and plants, ate fantastic food and enjoyed yoga with a spectacular view!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to lend a hand in your project, we wish you luck and… read more
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to lend a hand in your project, we wish you luck and… read more
18 Dec 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Matthieu & Chloé)
Chloé and Matt, thanks for beeing with us! It was a pleasure to have you here, you were so helpful with lots of things like plastering and maintaining the houses. And we love your accent ;) it is very seet and you both are very lovely! Enjoy your travels and come back one day.
(Excellent)
14 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Matthieu & Chloé) for host
Dear Karina & Sam,
We really enjoyed the time we spent here with you and all the team. Your place is so amazing and the rainforest is so beautiful.
We learned many things about nature, thank you for sharing with us your way of life.
Karina is such a good cooker and will be very happy to share with you all her knowledges (how to make a… read more
We really enjoyed the time we spent here with you and all the team. Your place is so amazing and the rainforest is so beautiful.
We learned many things about nature, thank you for sharing with us your way of life.
Karina is such a good cooker and will be very happy to share with you all her knowledges (how to make a… read more
14 Dec 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Iris)
Thanks Iris and Geert for bringing in so much here. From the first to the last day you were full of creative ideas how to solve things like building the kitchen furniture and doing a nice wall painting which reminds me of you. You were self motivated and we never had to ask you to do something because you love what you do. Hope to see you again… read more
(Excellent)
12 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Iris) for host
Karina made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. Maybe because of her great cooking skills, maybe because she is so open and interested in all people who come to volunteer. We established the "welcome pumpkin-dahl tradition" which was great! There's so many things to do that there is a lot of freedom and we very much liked using our own… read more
18 Nov 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Chloe & Maddy)
Thanks so much to you two! You were amazing and we really miss you. You are the perfect team, experienced with lots of work and we just could count on you doing it right without much words which was very helpful. Maddy is skilled with working with wood, weeding, painting, managing the coboven, ...only to meantion some. Chloé was a great help with… read more
(Excellent)
15 Nov 2015
Left by Workawayer (Chloe & Maddy) for host
Sam and Karina's place is enchanting and full of awe! We had a great couple of weeks here, exploring the jungle, experiencing the wild life and hanging out with new friends!
The food was ace, a variety of different vegetarion dishes that we loved, not to mention the cake that we had cake pretty much every single day aswel, haha.
During our… read more
The food was ace, a variety of different vegetarion dishes that we loved, not to mention the cake that we had cake pretty much every single day aswel, haha.
During our… read more
9 Nov 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Julia & Pina)
It was amazing to have you here and hard to let you go although I hope to see you again soon ;) Your mosaic is so pretty and we will appreciate it every time we use the bathrooms. Besides this you were a big help with organising the kitchen and the general work in the future wich is quite important. Not to forget your knowledge about growing vegg… read more
(Excellent)
8 Nov 2015
Left by Workawayer (Julia & Pina) for host
thanks for this great workaway experience!. though there would have been so much other weeding and gardening work to do we enjoyed doing the mosaics a lot.
the project and what you did is amazing. i really felt sorry for leaving so soon but we'll be back for sure.
we learned so much about the culture and about sri lankan food AND that in jungle… read more
the project and what you did is amazing. i really felt sorry for leaving so soon but we'll be back for sure.
we learned so much about the culture and about sri lankan food AND that in jungle… read more
9 Nov 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Joshua)
Thanks Josh for your help and art work! Your wall painting is not finished yet but will for sure be done soon. We will let you know and we hope you come back to see it live one day. Happy trails and lots of inspiration!
(Excellent)
30 Oct 2015
Left by Workawayer (Joshua) for host
I enjoyed my two week stay here alot, I learned plenty about Sri Lankan culture, medicine and food. Its a pitty that I didnt get to finish my wall piece painting :( hopefully ill be back some day to check up on progress. Thank you and schlaf gut :)
11 Sep 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Dave & Lauren)
Thanks Lauren and Dave for your help with planting, weeding and cooking delicious food. Unfortunately we had not much chance to spend more time together due to illness. We hope you have a great time in india!
(Excellent)
11 Sep 2015
Left by Workawayer (Dave & Lauren) for host
Absolutely stunning landscapes. The amount of effort you can see that has been put into the project is so impressive. Really enjoyed learning about making clay houses. Creative, relaxed and positive space with lovely people and animals to keep you company. Also learnt alot about how certain things grow which was great. All in all lovely… read more
4 Aug 2015
Left by Workawayer (Chanoine & Barth) for host
Sorry for my last comment.
We were from the first volunteers to come and enjoy a few days in Sam's place! He lives in a little paradise( exept with the bloodsucker ^_^) and I was sad to leave so soon but we were share between staying or enjoying our last days near the beach...
I hope everything is going better and better now! And I hope I'll… read more
We were from the first volunteers to come and enjoy a few days in Sam's place! He lives in a little paradise( exept with the bloodsucker ^_^) and I was sad to leave so soon but we were share between staying or enjoying our last days near the beach...
I hope everything is going better and better now! And I hope I'll… read more
29 Jul 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Cecilia)
Thanks so much for your help. You have done a great job! We see the little plants growing around the mudhouse every day and are thinking of you :)
(Excellent)
28 Jul 2015
Left by Workawayer (Cecilia) for host
The farm is located in a very rural area and there are fire flies every night which is kind of amazing to me. I stayed there for 2 weeks in July. It was in monsoon, but still there was sunshine every day due to the changeable weather in the mountain area. There are lot of physical works needed to be done on the farm. The most I did was weeding… read more
22 May 2015
Left by Workawayer (Jamie) for host
Absolutely amazing setting in the Sri Lankan rain forest, contact and directions was top notch. Sam and Karin are creating a magical Eco lodge which is submersed in stunning natural surroundings! Have been delighted with the hospitality and kindness shown as this has been my first work away experience volunteering on a brilliant project, Sam has a… read more
10 May 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Magdalena & Wojciech)
Thanks Magda&Wojtek,
we have appreciated your help and inspiration and hope to see you again. Lots of good times
we have appreciated your help and inspiration and hope to see you again. Lots of good times
(Excellent)
10 May 2015
Left by Workawayer (Magdalena & Wojciech) for host
What we have found in the heart of the jungle amazed us! Serendipity. Absolutely magical place - wildlife, reconnect with nature, peace, lovely people and animals. How much work and heart you put into this project was felt and seen from the very beggining of our stay. The results are awesome! Thank you for this time, it was pure pleasure for us.… read more
