Picture this scene: blazing Sri Lankan sunshine and swaying coconut palms overhead, a cooling sea breeze and long ocean waves in front, a glistening swimming pool luring you in from one side, and complete privacy all around. You pause to explore, taking a tuk-tuk into Galle to see its famous fort, or a leisurely stroll along the shore for a sundowner at a beach bar. Then you return for a candlelit dinner on the sand, accompanied by a chorus of nocturnal life from your tropical garden. We know you want to be there as much as we do right now (our reviewer has been ready and raring to go for months!).
Unawatuna Beach Villa is the real picture. Lording over a glorious stretch of beach, with direct access to golden sand from its garden, it couldn’t be closer to the ocean. Mega in size, it spans two buildings: the main house (sleeps 6) with three bedrooms, kitchen, spacious living/dining areas, beach-themed artworks, a balcony and a big private pool; and a second house with four further bedrooms. You can choose to rent just the main house, or both buildings if you’re a larger group or extended family up to 14.
For added indulgence, you get your own villa manager to help with anything throughout your stay, a private cook who can prepare meals of your choice on request, and housekeepers who make up your bedroom every day. Talk about luxury.
Highs
- Stunning beachfront setting with views out to sea from the tropical garden, verandah, pool and front rooms
- Very spacious inside, with open-plan living/dining areas, big bedrooms and contemporary beach-hut styling
- Rates include two attentive villa staff: a manager to book tuk-tuks and private guides, and a cook to prepare sumptuous dishes using fresh ingredients from local markets
- A short walk along the beach brings you to beautiful Wijaya bay, with reef-protected swimming and a restaurant/bar that's perfect for a refreshing drink at sunset
- Unesco-listed Galle Fort is 20 minutes away by car, making this one of the closest beach villas to the historic site
Lows
- The sea in front of the villa has strong currents and isn’t suitable for swimming – walk along to the next bay (Wijaya) for safer waters
- The house is located on busy Galle Road so you might hear the odd honking horn in the distance (but waves help mask the noise)
- The swimming pool is unfenced so keep an eye on little ones if bringing them, but there’s a gate guarding the entrance to the beach
- There are neighbours on both sides so the villa isn't in complete isolation (The Beach Hut, run by the same owners, is next door)
- There are more twin rooms than doubles, which is great for families but perhaps not so good for groups of friends
Best time to go
November to April has the best weather and the least rain; May to October is monsoon season so expect heavy downpours anytime. Book well in advance for the busy Christmas period.
Our top tips
Enjoy an atmospheric dinner at one of Galle Fort's romantic restaurants; your villa manager will be able to assist with suggestions, transport and booking.
- Boutique Villa (for 6-14)
- 3-7 bedrooms
- All meals by arrangement
- All ages welcome
- 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
Rooms
The main house is extremely spacious and spreads across two floors. The open-plan living/dining area leads directly to the verandah and pool (and beach beyond), with three sets of doors opening out to create an indoor/outdoor feel. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms (one kingsize double, two twin), which are all ensuite, and a sea-view balcony that spans the entire front of the house.
If booking the whole property, you also get full use of the second building, which houses four further bedrooms (two kingsize doubles, two twins). All are ensuite. Rooms are cleaned daily, and linen is changed every other day.
The styling is effortlessly cool throughout. Expect concrete floors, whitewashed walls and splashes of blue to hint at the beach setting: distressed-wood doors painted turquoise, modern art depicting seascapes, royal-blue cushions and headboards, and a big blue wardrobe in one of the twin rooms. There’s lots of rattan furniture and wood throughout, giving the villa a luxury beach-hut vibe.
Features include:
- Fan
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
The villa has a fully equipped kitchen with wood-panelled cupboards, concrete surfaces and a breakfast bar. Chances are you won’t be using it much, though: let the in-house cook do the work for you instead! They can prepare all meals for you according to your tastes and preferences - dietary requirements and kids can be catered for. You’ll receive a menu with suggestions, or you can request your own recipes. All ingredients are freshly sourced from the local market - ask the cook if you want to join them food shopping one day, it’s a great chance to immerse yourself in local life and learn about regional delicacies.
Choose to dine wherever you please: in the dining room, on the verandah, poolside, or in the garden. We particularly like the sound of dining by candlelight beside the beach: very romantic.
Alternatively, take a short stroll along the beach to Wijaya Beach Café for seafood, pizzas and drinks (great at sunset), or grab a tuk-tuk into Unawatuna (10 mins) for more choice.
Features include:
- Barbecue
- Chef on request
- Dinner by arrangement
- Full kitchen
- In-house cook
- Lunch by arrangement
- Restaurants nearby
- Shopping service
Activities
- Stay in and relax: by the pool, on the balcony, on the beach, or in the palm-shaded tropical garden. Staff can arrange spa treatments or yoga classes on request
- Visit the historic town of Galle (20 mins by tuk-tuk) to explore its famous Dutch fort and international cricket pitch
- Swim in the coral bay at Wijaya Beach, with its reef-protected shallows (perfect for kids), then walk up to the nearby temple to watch the sunset
- Go surfing. Weligama has gentle waves so is great for beginners, or there are plenty of more advanced spots around the island. Ask the villa manager for recommendations
- Snorkelling and scuba diving are also popular watersports along the coast. Explore the reef along Unawatuna beach, or head out to see wrecks 20 minutes away
- Visit Udawalawe National Park, known for its roaming elephants. The park is much smaller than Yala and tends to attract fewer crowds
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Historical sites
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
This is a great place for a family beach holiday. The villa can sleep up to 14 (or six if just renting the main house) and has lots of twin rooms for kids. The lap pool is a good size, the garden has plenty of space for playing in, and the beach is directly in front of the house. Although swimming is not possible here, there are lots of sheltered bays a short walk away, with watersports (snorkelling, surfing) on offer at many. Baby cots are available to borrow.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
Baby cots available on request.
Families Should Know:
The sea immediately in front of the villa is not recommended for swimming, but a short walk along the coast brings you to the idyllic reef protected beach of Wijaya. Seas can be quite rough from February to October, so keep an eye on any young children when on the beach and near the pool (unfenced).
Distances:
- Airport: Two hours
- Hospital: 15 mins' drive/8km (Galle)
- Supermarket: Two mins' drive / 10 mins' walk
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Unawatuna Beach Villa is located just outside of Unawatuna, 10km from Galle, on the south west coast of Sri Lanka. It's about two hours from Colombo by road; more by train.
By Air:
Colombo Bandaranaike (165km) is the closest international airport.
From the Airport
The owners can organise a car to collect you from Colombo airport, so enquire when booking. If you're in no hurry you could take the slow but scenic coastal train to Galle, where staff will meet you.
Alternatively, you could consider taking a Sri Lankan Airlines air taxi sevice to Koggala Lake, where you can get a taxi to the house.
Getting Around
It's easy to pick up tuk-tuks for longer journeys, and staff can arrange a car with a driver if needed.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Colombo Bandaranaike International 153.0 km CMB
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.8 km
- Restaurant 0.8 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape