One of the 4-unit hotel buildings

Our arrival at the lodge didn’t get off to the best start. The resort was full and our names weren’t on the arrival list. But the manager somehow managed to find us rooms anyway. It was the start of a really different level of friendly service that I hadn’t seen anywhere since the Philippines.

They had great covered decks outside of every room. The chair was comfortable and the view was great.

I have to say, Sapana Village Lodge is really my kind of place. It was pretty and designed with thought and care, but it wasn’t too fancy which made it more charismatic and welcoming in my opinion. There were balconies outside the rooms with views, and places to sit in the shade and read…pillows and footrests..  There was a really chilled out bar area with giant floor cushions where you could just hang with a cup of coffee or something a bit stronger.  I loved the large deck overlooking the jungle and the river.  I could have hung out around the resort all day reading, except that I had to get the elephant bug out of my system….and I had to go ride in a canoe…..But now that I have experienced those, if we are lucky enough to come back, it will be to chill out, read, and just enjoy the countryside and friendly atmosphere for a few days.

The ultra chilled lounge. Just hanging out next to the jungle and river! This is where we spent new years eve in the dark, sitting next to a fire pit.

The rooms were pretty nice too. The bedspreads were made locally by a fair trade organization. We liked them so much we bought our niece one!

“Development Project for Poverty Alleviation” Not only was it a wonderful, friendly place to stay but it was run as a community project for the benefit of locals.

The lodge store had handicrafts made by locals from local materials. As we sat drinking our tea, we could watch people collecting the reeds from the river to make the baskets. 50 meters away was the elephant barn, and in the little shop they sold notebooks made from elephant dung.  (Which are actually very nice….  The elephants actually do most of the work making pulp out of straw for the paper making if you think about it that way!) There was a constant connection between the resort and its surroundings…their elephants footprints were definitely bigger than their carbon footprints!

They had a culture of friendliness and interest in the guests that was unusual too. The service ethic was there, but sometimes a waiter would come over and talk just to get to know you, or ask about your experience in Chitwan.  It was very engaging and yet laid back at the same time.  I started my Christmas plans in October and initially booked Tiger Tops Resort, as everyone told me that it was the best, the most romantic, and well worth the very high price they charge . However, I’m really glad we changed our plans.  I’m sure Tiger Tops has a lot going for it, but Sapana Village Lodge was excellent, friendly and very good value for money.  I highly recommend it and am already working on ways to get us back for a few days!