Sapana Village Lodge

I will try to keep it short, but that will be difficult, because our stay here was so amazing and there are a lot of aspects which made it so great. - Employees; everyone who works there is so kind and helpful. You feel that they love working there, it really shows. They are genuine and make you feel like they want you there and are happy to work with you. The two lovely ladies in the restaurant were an absolute joy to see three times a day. Also our guide and driver were super kind, we just loved spending time with them and felt very safe around them. - The lodge itself: really so so beautiful. This is how I imagine paradise looks like. So peaceful, green and beautiful. In pictures it looks great, but in real life it’s just special! Also the house cat who just had a kitten a few days before we came, it’s all very in touch with nature. We stayed in the bungalow room which was amazing. From the lodge you can see their elephants grazing in the grass, it’s just wow! - Ethical approach to the elephants; the elephants are just magical animals, so smart and beautiful. The way the lodge works with them is just how it should be everywhere. No elephant riding and no elephant abuse, just harmony and love between elephant and human. We booked via their website, and emailed them to ask for the packages. We went with the four days, three nights package and really enjoyed this. We had a jungle canoeing, jungle walk, jeep safari, elephant bush walk and breakfast, tharu village walk, tharu dance evening, massage, bird watching and candle light dinner with elephant views. Really we enjoyed our stay here so much. Even in the rain season, which was July, we really could enjoy our time here. Sometimes it would rain, but we would adjust our itinerary, and normally only rain early morning, night and sometimes very short during afternoon.

As a traveler who appreciates value for money, I must say Sapana Village Lodge was an absolute letdown. I had read so many glowing reviews and was genuinely excited about my stay, but the reality didn’t come close to matching the hype. To start, the service was abysmal. The staff seemed uninterested, slow, and not very professional. Every small request felt like too much to ask, and there was zero warmth or hospitality in their approach. Not what I expected from a place with such a reputation! The rooms? A disaster. They were outdated, poorly maintained, and not nearly as clean as they should be. There were stains on the bedding, the bathroom smelled bad, and the overall atmosphere was far from comfortable. Calling it “luxurious” is borderline false advertising. The food was no better. Limited options, overpriced dishes, and bland flavors. The waiting time was ridiculous, over 45 minutes for a simple meal, which was cold when it finally arrived. Unacceptable. What really annoyed me was the attitude of the management. When I politely raised these issues, they brushed it off as if they didn’t care. No apology, no solution, just excuses. It left a very bad taste in my mouth. Yes, the location is beautiful, but that’s about the only thing this place has going for it. There are far better options in the region that don’t charge outrageous prices for subpar service and accommodations. For anyone considering a stay here, don’t waste your money. This place might appeal to those who fall for the image it projects, but if you value quality, service, and honesty, look elsewhere.

I was really looking forward to my stay at Sapana Village Lodge after reading all the glowing reviews, but honestly, it was such a letdown. The whole place feels like it’s riding on hype and charging way more than it’s worth. First off, the prices for activities are a total rip-off. They charge more than double what you’d pay for the exact same experiences in town for same tours, same experience guides, just way cheaper if you book elsewhere. It’s like they assume you don’t know better, but trust me, check out the local operators instead. You’ll save a ton and still get the same (if not better) experience. The service wasn’t great either. The staff just didn’t seem to care. I get that places can get busy, but they were slow to respond and not exactly friendly. It felt like I was bothering them every time I asked for something. The rooms were no good either. The bed was uncomfortable, the mosquito net had holes, and the bathroom smelled funky the whole time. It’s hard to enjoy yourself when your accommodations feel this run-down. The Wi-Fi didn't work. The heater didn't work at all. And don’t even get me started on the food. Bland, overpriced, and cold every single time. For the prices they’re charging, I expected way better. It’s not hard to serve a decent, hot meal, but apparently, that’s too much to ask here. The wildlife tours were a joke. Totally commercialized and rushed, with guides who didn’t seem to care. You could tell it was all about getting through the motions as quickly as possible, and it really killed the vibe.

Oh, wow, where do I even start? I had such high hopes for Sapana Village Lodge after reading all the rave reviews because who wouldn't want to pay for a subpar experience, right? First of all, the rooms were absolutely delightful. The shabby, outdated furnishings just gave the place that rustic charm, and the bedding? Oh, it was definitely questionably clean, which really added to the whole roughing it vibe. The bathroom, though, was truly a highlight. I mean, who doesn't love a shower that barely functions and a lovely, lingering odor to make it feel like you're truly experiencing nature at its finest? For what they charge, you’d think they could at least pretend to care, but why bother? As for the service oh, they were just so helpful. The staff were so friendly, it almost made up for the fact that they were completely disorganized. Simple requests like fresh towels? No big deal, just wait for an eternity, or, you know, don’t get them at all. It's almost as if I were inconveniencing them by wanting basic things as a guest. So thoughtful! Then there’s the food, which was an absolute gastronomic delight. If you love paying a premium for food that tastes like cardboard, you’ll be in heaven. Plus, nothing says luxury quite like spending the next day clutching your stomach in regret. Truly unforgettable. And the best part? The activities! They really sold me on their exclusive excursions until I realized I am being scammed for the same excursion which I can book from just a five-minute walk away and at half the price for the same experience. But hey, if you’ve got money to burn, why not? The eco-friendly claims? Oh, please. They really nailed the whole “we care about the environment” thing by covering everything in plastic. Sustainability? More like a buzzword thrown around to make it sound good. But sure, let’s keep checking those eco-boxes. And finally, the location serenity at its finest. Who needs peace and quiet when you’ve got a steady stream of noise from every direction? Truly a peaceful retreat for the soul. In conclusion, this place was just everything I didn’t want and nothing I did. I’ll definitely be taking my money elsewhere next time and I highly recommend you do the same! But hey, if you enjoy being overcharged and underwhelmed, by all means, go ahead and book your stay. You won’t be disappointed... unless you actually expect something decent.