Loading about Sanchara
About Sanchara
Sanchara makes it simple to find and book stays you can trust.
A directory of small, independently owned stays across Sri Lanka. Discover them here, then book directly on each property's own website with no commission.
Our story
Why Sanchara started.
Most guest houses, home stays and villas in Sri Lanka have fewer than twenty rooms, yet they pay heavy commissions to online travel agencies for every booking. Sanchara was created by WEMIXT (Pvt) Ltd to change that: each business gets its own booking website, transparent Sri Lankan taxes and a simple back office, while travellers discover them in one trusted directory.
“Small hosts are the heart of Sri Lankan hospitality. They deserve direct guests and fair tools, not commission bills.”
Mission
Give small Sri Lankan accommodation businesses the tools to take bookings directly, without commission.
Vision
A Sri Lanka where every independent host can reach travellers on their own terms.
Our promise to travellers
Real places, real reviews, and the full price with taxes included before you pay.
What makes us different
Built for trust.
Everything a traveller needs to book a small Sri Lankan stay with confidence.
Verified properties
Every company account is opened by WEMIXT, with the property's SLTDA registration details on file.
Transparent pricing
Service Charge, TDL, SSCL and VAT are itemised, so you see the full total before paying.
Secure payments
Residents pay in LKR through PayHere; non-residents pay in USD by card, through a secure gateway.
Real reviews
Only guests with a completed stay can review. Duplicates, spam and fake ratings are blocked.
Direct with your host
Book on the property's own site and reach the property directly by WhatsApp or phone.
Clear policies
Each property's cancellation policy is written by the host and shown before you book.
How it works
Four simple steps.
From discovering a property to leaving a review after your stay.
Step 1: Search
Browse the directory by location, property type and rating.
Step 2: Compare & choose
Read verified reviews and open the property's own website.
Step 3: Book securely
See taxes itemised, then pay in full in LKR or USD.
Step 4: Stay & enjoy
Check in at the front desk. The property is a message away.
What happens after you book
Confirmation
Booking confirmation and receipt by email, plus WhatsApp if you added a number.
Talk to the property
Questions or changes go straight to the property by WhatsApp or phone.
Check-in
The front desk checks you in and records any extra charges on your folio.
Review your stay
After check-out, leave a verified review on the directory.
Trust, safety & quality
Safe by design.
How we keep properties real, reviews honest and your payments protected.
How properties are verified
- Company accounts are opened only by WEMIXT
- SLTDA registration details recorded for each property
- Suspended companies are hidden from the directory
How reviews stay authentic
- Only guests with a verified stay can review
- One review per stay, with duplicates blocked
- Spam and fake submissions are filtered out
Payments & data protection
- PayHere for LKR, international card gateway for USD
- Card details handled by the payment gateway, not stored by properties
- Encrypted connections (SSL/TLS)
If something goes wrong
- Contact the property directly from your Traveller Dashboard
- Cancellations and refunds are handled by the property, following its own policy
- Our team can help you reach the property
- PayHere
- Visa
- Mastercard
- SSL
- Policies (coming soon)
- Safety Center (coming soon)
- Privacy Policy
Our numbers
Sanchara in numbers
- Companies in the pilot
- 20
- Properties listed
- 50+
- Regions
- 9
- Happy guests
- 3,000+
- Average rating
- 4.7
- Currencies: LKR & USD
- 2
Featured destinations
Places travellers love.
Top-rated properties
Loading top-rated properties
Traveller voices
What guests say.
“Booking straight from the host's own site felt personal, and the taxes were clear before we paid.”
Sophie · United KingdomStayed at Serene Hills Retreat, Ella “Paid in rupees in a minute, and the host messaged us on WhatsApp the same day.”
Nimal · Sri LankaStayed at Ocean Breeze, Unawatuna “Lovely villa and honest reviews. What we saw is exactly what we got.”
Lena · GermanyStayed at Sunrise Villa, Matale
4.7 out of 5
Based on verified guest reviews
- 5 stars:72%
- 4 stars:20%
- 3 stars:5%
- 2 stars:2%
- 1 stars:1%
Values & commitments
What we stand for.
Trust
Real properties, real reviews.
Hospitality
Small hosts at the heart of every stay.
Transparency
Full prices and taxes, up front.
Inclusion
Welcoming every traveller, resident or not.
Local impact
More of every booking stays in Sri Lanka.
Sustainability & community
Commission-free bookings keep more income with local, independently owned businesses, many of them family-run guest houses and home stays.
Accessibility commitment
We design the website to meet WCAG 2.1 AA: keyboard navigation, alt text on images, captions for video and respect for reduced-motion settings.
Property accessibility details are provided by each host.
Ready for your next stay?
Find a property in the directory, then book directly with the host.
