Mawella Hideaways

Mawella, Tangalle & South Coast, Sri Lanka
Book from GBP 79

Two relaxing hideaways (for 2-4) with a shared pool near Tangalle, with stylish interiors and staff to cook, clean and shop

Two relaxing hideaways (for 2-4) with a shared pool near Tangalle, with stylish interiors and staff to cook, clean and shop

On a completely unspoilt stretch of coast, near the market town of Tangalle, two barefoot hideaways await. You’ll find them nestled within verdant tropical foliage at the western end of the sweeping 2km curve of Mawella Beach, set around a shimmering pool. Here you can chill on a sunlounger, shade in the pool house, or wander through your homely hideaway's garden gate and down to the beach, where a plethora of colourful fishing boats lay poised for action. Aside from short periods at dawn and dusk when the boats come and go, the beach is blissfully quiet. Expect to see a few fishermen mending their nets, monkeys and squirrels frolicking in the trees, and little else.

The two hideaways, each a former fisherman’s house, are nestled between the headland and the breakwater, which creates calm waters for leisurely swims. One hideaway has one bedroom, the other has two, but both have airy living and dining spaces and basic kitchens for self-catering (a cooking team is available, shared between the hideaways). Though their layouts differ, they brandish the same minimalist, monochrome interiors.

Escapist couples and adventurous families with older children will cherish the seclusion of these laid-back localities. Rock-top temples, hidden coves and turtle sanctuaries all lie within easy reach.

Highs

  • We loved the privacy and barefoot informality of the simple hideaways
  • Mawella Beach (just steps away) has a breakwater to reduce waves and help fishermen land their boats, so the sea is shallow and good for swimming. There's also a pool beckoning within the gardens
  • Waking up at dawn to watch fishermen hauling in their catch as the sun rises over the sea; this feels like a proper slice of authentic Sri Lanka
  • The staff are extremely helpful and friendly, the food delicious, and the housekeepers are always on hand should you need anything
  • The air charter/taxi service from Colombo lands on the nearby lagoon, so it’s easy to reach (500m)

Lows

  • No bar, but you can BYO at no charge or ask the team to purchase it on your behalf
  • The bungalows aren't air conditioned, but they do have ceiling fans
  • A little hard to find (use Nicola's map), and restaurants are a beach walk or tuk-tuk ride away
  • Nature often finds its way indoors, so don’t be surprised to come across an insect or two – particularly in Kumbuk, which is set a little further inland
  • Full pre-payment is required by bank transfer (or credit card on request)

Best time to go

November to April are considered the best months in this part of Sri Lanka, both for their hours of sunshine and for their calm seas. Temperatures hover around 29C throughout the year, but heavy rain usually falls in May/June and September/October.

Our top tips

Be sure to bring your own books, digital entertainment and toiletries (including insect repellent).

Great for...

Beach
Family
Great Outdoors
Romantic
  • Beach Villas
  • 2 houses for 2-4
  • Self-catering (+ cook)
  • All ages welcome; best for older kids
  • Open all year
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Daily Maid Service
  • Towels & Bedlinen
  • Laundry Service
  • Housekeeper
  • Bats, balls and body boards to borrow
Room: Kotamba

Rooms

Kotamba: 1-bedroom beachfront hideaway
Kotamba sits in leafy surroundings, its garden stretching onto Mawella Beach and the sea beyond. It has simple yet chic décor and facilities, including a four-poster bed wrapped in mosquito netting, a big ensuite shower room, and a living room with oversized daybeds made from local kithul wood. Doors and windows open onto wraparound verandas; the owners' monochrome photographs of local life set the scene.

Kumbuk: 2-bedroom coastal hideaway
Kumbuk is set a little further back, with its own path to the beach. It has 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin) and a larger garden to compensate. The setting offers a greater sense of privacy while still being a stone's throw from the beach (20 metres away).

Features include:

  • Fan
  • In-room treatments available
  • Mosquito net
  • WiFi

Eating

Both hideaways have simple kitchens equipped with fridges, stoves, kettles and toasters, plus the option of a cook if you wish. Eat in your hideaway or in the pool house dining area. Chat with the cooking team each morning about what you’d like and they’ll do the rest; you just pay retail prices for the ingredients. Staff can shop on your behalf – useful if you want to order drinks, midnight snacks, or specific items such as cereal.

Meals tend to emphasise local cuisine. For breakfast you might try string hoppers with creamy curries and sambols, or go continental with bread sourced from the local musical tuk-tuk; we would highly recommend the delicious buffalo curd, too. Lunches are light affairs such as salad Niçoise (the fresh local tuna is fabulous) or buttery prawns, while dinner options might include barbecues, grilled fish or a Sri Lankan curry spread. We dined by candlelight on the pool terrace and tucked into a gorgeous chicken curry, accompanied by cinnamon beetroot, green beans, lentil dahl and crispy poppadoms.

Features include:

  • Barbecue
  • Fridge
  • Full kitchen
  • Hob or stove
  • In-house cook
  • Kids' meals
  • Oven
  • Shopping service
  • Toaster
Eating: Kumbuk
Activity:

Activities

  • The main Mawella Beach, just steps away, is ideal for walking, jogging and swimming (the sand shelves slowly into the sea)
  • Simply chill out by the large pool. It's shared between guests and has a pool house with shaded sofas for reading and relaxing, plus a kitchen for preparing poolside meals and snacks
  • Unakuruwa Beach has reef breaks for surfers; if you want to take lessons, Bandula's Surf School will pick you up and take you to the best beaches for your ability level, but be sure to book early as he is very popular!
  • Keen photographers will love the Mawella Beach fishing scene; dawn is usually a hotbed of activity. Staff can arrange for you to head out to fish with one of the boats (cost negotiable with the fishermen)
  • Massages can be arranged in the privacy of your hideaway (request in advance)
  • Take a tuk-tuk to Tangalle, whose bustling harbour and markets offer an insight into local life
  • Observe marine turtles hatching and laying eggs at the Rekawa Turtle Sanctuary
  • Hike to the top of Mulkirigala, a sacred Buddhist rock temple, to admire the cave murals and stunning 360-degree views

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Boat trips
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Shopping / markets
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Traditional cultures
  • Well being

Kids

The hideways are great for free-range families. Children of all ages will enjoy Mawella Beach (there's no life guard), and the section with a breakwater creates a calm lagoon for safe swimming. Bats, balls and bodyboards are available to borrow. There's also a large shared pool (unheated) complete with a pool house - perfect for shade and comfort.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Kumbuk hideaway has 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin) and a fenced garden; it's tucked 20 metres back from Mawella Beach for added privacy. Kotamba hideaway is on the beachfront, with one double bedroom plus two fill-sized daybeds in its living room. A baby cot is available if requested in advance.

Cots Available

Babysitting:

English-speaking childcare can be arranged with advance notice.

Baby equipment:

  • Baby cot
  • Booster seat

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Children's meals:

The cooks can tailor meals (and spice levels) to young taste buds, and the kitchens are handy for whipping up kids' snacks.

Kids Activities on site:

  • Large pool and pool house
  • Boogie boards
  • Bats
  • Footballs
  • Board games

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Mawella Beach is excellent for swimming
  • Seasonal turtle hatching (Rekewa, 20km away, has 5 endangered species)
  • Udawalawe National Park (65km)
  • Kalametiya bird sanctuary, go bird watching via boat across fresh water lagoons
  • Whale watching excursions from either Mirissa (40km) or Dondra (22km), December - April

    Families Should Know:

    The gardens are fenced, but the proximity of the houses to the sea means they're not best suited to toddlers, and you'll need to keep an eye on youngsters in general as there may be currents. Kids should stick to swimming in the breakwater, as the stretch of sea beyond this has big waves. The pool is unfenced and is 1.4 metres deep with no shallow end.

  • Distances:

    • Airport: 2.5-3 hours (Colombo)
    • Hospital: 15 minutes (Tangalle)
    • Shops: 15 minutes (Tangalle)
    Kid Friendly: Lucy\\\'s pics

    Location

    The hideways are located at the western end of Mawella Beach, between Dickwella and Tangalle, in southern Sri Lanka.

    By Air
    Most guests arrive via Colombo Bandaranaike (215km away). You could then take the air charter service to Mawella Lagoon, just 500m from the bungalows. Or, staff can arrange transfers from the capital's airport in a comfortable minivan (a 2-3 hour drive).

    By Train:
    You can take the slow but scenic train from Colombo to Matara (30 minutes away), where staff can arrange for a taxi to meet you.

    By Car:
    It you want to hire a car and driver for your entire trip, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator. Otherwise, the bungalow staff can arrange cars, drivers and tuk-tuks for day trips and local journeys.

    Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.

    Airports:

    • Colombo Bandaranaike International 215.0 km CMB

    Other:

    • Beach 0.1 km
    • Shops 1.0 km
    • Restaurant 6.0 km

    Our guests' ratings...

    Based on 11 independent reviews from i-escape guests

    10/10
    Room
    10/10
    Food
    10/10
    Service
    10/10
    Value
    10/10
    Overall

    A true hideaway, a beautiful, exclusive place. The taste of the owners for decoration rates high. Not so many objects, but all well chosen. Very quiet and relaxing (but we were alone, we hope that families with children respect the spirit of the place). Staff were so nice, cuisine is excellent. First class massages. It’s difficult to come back to normal life!

    10/10, , February 2025

    We loved Mawella Hideaways. The house was a very special space and we loved the location by the beach and amidst wildlife. Staff cooked for us - this was offered at time of booking and food was tasty, fresh, tailored to our requests, and made with skill and love. Service overall by three women (sorry I forgot their names!) was excellent. They were communicative, friendly and attentive. Lovely pool too and lots of comfy sun loungers. We were pleased to find small shops at walking distance (although main meal shopping was done for us). We arrived at Belliatta by local train and jumped in a tuk tuk from there - about 5 km. We then caught an express bus from Tangalle - nearby town - to our next stop, Columbo. Buses went on the hour - brilliant! Some lovely cafes along beach - but guests need to know they'll have to wade through sea - fine if you've got your cozzies on. Overall a peaceful stay in a beautiful villa - fairly priced.

    10/10, , January 2025

    We stayed in both cottages over 8 nights for Christmas 24 and they were gorgeous…contemporary interiors, airy and comfortable and the communal area with dining, lounging and pool was just perfect. The manager and ladies looking after us were so lovely and they cooked the most fantastic food…you told them what you wanted at breakfast and they would buy ingredients and then cook lunch and dinner for you. They kept the cottages and beautiful grounds spotless. Lots of bird life in gardens and daily visiting monkeys. The pool was brilliant, very long for doing lengths and the sea at the bottom of the garden was calm for swimming. Lovely walks along beach from cottages and tuk tuk available to order when needed. We were sad to leave and could have stayed much longer.

    10/10, , January 2025

    Amazing spot in this quiet corner of Sri Lanka, the food was absolutely exceptional, every meal was beautiful - best we had on our whole trip. Rooms are simple, but kept spotlessly clean and have everything you need, there's no air con but that didn't matter we were very comfortable. The common pool area is great - the pool is huge and surrounded by wildlife, we regularly watched monkeys playing right outside our house. The thing that makes it extra special is the hospitality of the team - all the ladies were so warm and friendly (and exceptional chefs!). We would love to return one day

    10/10, , January 2025

    We had a wonderful stay at Mawella! The team are so welcoming and keep the house and grounds immaculate. They did everything they could to make us comfortable and content. We saw monkeys and monitor lizards in the garden every day which our son loved. Mawella is still one of the less busy beaches on this coastline which makes the Hideaways feel like even more of a sanctuary. But busy bays like Hiriketiya are just a tuktuk away if you want buzz. The masseur they booked for us was really fantastic too. Huge thanks to everyone at Mawella!

    10/10, , January 2025

    Mawella is a peaceful retreat on a fishing beach. Our fisherman's hut was large, comfortable and had simple furnishings. There is no aircon. Swimming on the beach and by the pool was lovely. Its walking distance to some other hotel and restaurants but the cooking by the house chefs in the pool house was delicious and the staff are charming. It's a great value for money stay.

    9/10, , January 2025
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