Luxury Hotel · Sri Lanka
98 Acres Resort And Spa
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Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
98 Acres Resort and Spa sits on the former Southerland Tea Estate in Ella, a working tea plantation of 98 acres with views across Little Adam’s Peak and the Ella Gap.
The resort has over 46 chalets built largely from recycled materials including discarded railway sleepers, illuk straw thatching and rough-hewn granite, and the construction sits within the landscape.
Little Adam’s Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge are both a 15-minute walk from the property, and the Demodara Railway Loop is around 10 minutes away by car.
The property offers a full-service spa, a gym, a pool bar, a hilltop restaurant and a helipad for guests arriving by air.
Highlights
- Over 46 chalets on a 98-acre working tea estate in Ella, built from recycled materials, with views of Little Adam’s Peak and the Ella Gap
- Full-service spa, outdoor pool and pool bar, gym
- 15-minute walk from Little Adam’s Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge
- 10 minutes by car from the Demodara Railway Loop
Accommodation
Standard
The Standard chalets have views across the Ella Gap and Little Adam’s Peak from a private veranda. Interiors use polished cement floors, rubble stone bathrooms and a stone shower.
Each has a queen-size bed, LCD TV and tea and coffee making facilities.
Premium Deluxe
The Premium Deluxe chalets are larger than the Standard, with king-size beds, wooden floors made from reclaimed timber, rain showers overlooking the Ella Gap and a private balcony.
The bathrooms are finished in rubble stone with stone wash basins.
Royal Deluxe
The Royal Deluxe chalets step up further in size with a separate living area, polished timber floors and furniture crafted by local artisans from reclaimed wood. Views take in the Ella mountain range from the private balcony.
Honeymoon Deluxe
The Honeymoon Suite has a private living area, views of the Ella Gap and Little Adam’s Peak and a stone shower bathroom with a rain shower and separate stone wash basin.
It suits couples who want more space and separation from the main chalet areas.
Grand Executive Suite
The Grand Executive Suite is the largest option at 98 Acres, with a master bedroom on the upper floor and a ground floor annex bedroom. The living area opens onto a wooden deck with a private heated plunge pool overlooking the tea plantation.
It suits small families or guests who want the most private configuration on the estate.
Further information
Food & Drink
Restaurant 98
Restaurant 98 sits on a hillock above the estate with views across the tea fields and mountain range. The menu covers Sri Lankan, Continental and Far Eastern dishes, with a specialty tea menu and the resort’s signature Tipsy-T cocktail.
Bar 98
Bar 98 is constructed from recycled timber and serves cocktails, soft drinks and snacks throughout the day and evening. The pool bar operates alongside the outdoor pool for guests who want drinks without leaving the water.
Spa & Wellness
The full-service spa at 98 Acres offers massages, body treatments and Ayurvedic therapies in dedicated treatment rooms. A gym is available for guests throughout the stay. The outdoor pool is the main focal point for relaxing on site, with sun loungers and the pool bar alongside it.
Beyond the property, activities include hiking from the estate toward Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock, archery on site, bike hire for independent exploring, and guided treks through the surrounding tea country with the in-house naturalist.
Little Adam’s Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge are a 15-minute walk away, and the Demodara Railway Loop is around 10 minutes by car.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a tear-shaped island sitting off the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean, separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait. It is small enough to cross by road in a few hours, yet varied enough to feel like several different countries within a single trip. The island has a population of around twenty-two million and a history of continuous civilization stretching back over two thousand years.
Our Experts
Sri Lanka is truly one of the most special places I've been lucky enough to visit. There's so much heritage and culture to discover on this small island nation - and the vistas are absolutely breathtaking.
Sri Lanka is the ideal place to pair with a trip to the Maldives, offering a dose of cultural stimulation following a sumptuous Maldivian escape. There's also a bounty of luxury properties in Sri Lanka.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
Suggested tours
Sri Lanka Family Adventure
Tailor-made HolidayA trip built around holding a family's attention: wild elephants, warm water, and just enough temples to keep things interesting. This itinerary is built for families who want genuine exploration and genuine downtime in equal measure, moving from a coconut plantation retreat through the temples and wildlife of the Cultural Triangle, to the beaches of Passikudah, the cultural heart of Kandy, and a working tea estate to close.
14 days tailor-made from £4,395 per person View trip
Sri Lanka Wildlife and Culture Tour
Tailor-made HolidaySri Lanka is a land where nature flourishes in its most untamed form; a place where elephants roam freely, leopards prowl through dense jungles, and exotic birds fill the skies. This luxury journey takes you from the colonial elegance of Colombo to the wildlife-rich landscapes of Gal Oya and Yala, where safaris by land and water reveal the country's most elusive creatures.
12 days tailor-made from £4,955 per person View trip
Classic Sri Lanka
Tailor-made HolidaySri Lanka fuses ancient cities, tea-covered highlands, and a historic coastline within a single trip. This itinerary moves from the sacred sites of the Cultural Triangle through the misty hill country around Ella to the beaches and colonial streets of Galle. A land of timeless beauty, Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for a gay adventure holiday, with its fusion of culture, landscapes, and wildlife.
10 days tailor-made from £4,995 per person View tripThe hard part is not finding a beautiful place. It is finding the right one for you.
Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.