This is an incredibly generous escape for a group, family or three couples. Bedrooms gaze seawards and are spacious; the indoor-outdoor living areas soothe you with squashy sofas and comfy daybeds, and the swimming pool, just a few footsteps from the front veranda, is 16m long. To cap it off, you have a small team of attentive but discreet staff, including a chef, full-time laundry lady and night security guard, to kick-start your R&R.
Designed by one of Sri Lanka's premier architects, Jayatillaka Sumangala, the villa is a contemporary construction yet the aged Dutch tiles, squat veranda columns and recycled timber door frames hark back to Sri Lanka’s golden era. Its design is effortlessly stylish, blending essential mod cons with antique pieces to create a tranquil and timeless setting. The pool is magnetic, and as you drift off next to it, lulled by the sea’s swell, the stresses of life and work are quick to melt away. Beyond the lush lawn, a white gate leads onto a long golden-sand beach, while Galle Fort, the region’s main attraction, is a 25-minute drive away.
Highs
- We immediately felt relaxed, and loved the villa’s tranquil vibe; swimming laps in the pool at sunrise was particularly memorable
- On-call manager Ruwan is a mine of local information and happy to share insider tips
- A wonderful in-house cook, who can conjure up a range of fabulous Sri Lankan and international favourites; restaurants are a 10-minute tuk-tuk away
- Great value, only a 2-night minimum stay (except over Christmas-New Year), and a reduced rate if you only take one bedroom (price on request)
- The beach is home to nesting marine turtles, which may be spied at night - and there's a turtle hatchery nearby
Lows
- All three beds are doubles, so kids will have to share or sleep on camp beds
- The sea is rough for most of the year and generally unsafe for swimming, but the pool here is incredibly inviting
Best time to go
December to April are the driest months on the south coast, but bear in mind that this is the height of the tourist season, so you'll need to book well in advance and prices are much higher. May and June are generally wet, as is November; July and August are pleasant but the Indian Ocean is rough. September and October can be sunny, though heavy rain and humidity are typical. Availability may be limited during January’s Galle Literary Festival.
Our top tips
You can sometimes see marine turtles in the sea shallows looking for a safe place to ‘land’ and bury their precious cargo (especially at night). If not, make for the small turtle hatchery 200m down the beach, which rescues the turtle eggs from poachers and safely releases them into the sea.
Location
Serendipity is set on Habaraduwa’s palm-fringed sandy beach, 25 minutes east of Galle on Sri Lanka's south coast.
By Air:
Fly into Colombo Bandaranaike (135km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines. It takes 3 hours by car to reach this region from Colombo - staff can arrange this for you at extra cost. Alternatively, Sri Lankan Airlines runs a convenient air taxi service from Colombo airport to Koggala Lake, 5km from the villa. From there you can jump in a tuk-tuk.
By Bus/Train:
Take a bus or train to Habaraduwa station then a tuk-tuk to the villa. It's only a short distance away.
Getting Around
If you want to hire a driver and car for your whole holiday, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Sri Lanka and getting around
Airports:
- Colombo Bandaranaike 135.0 km CMB
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 3.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km