Kalpitiya Beach House

Rooms

This is a gorgeous pad. Expect graceful indoor-outdoor living, with "rooms" that flow wall-lessly into each other and out to the leafy garden. Ceilings are high, with overhanging eaves framing ocean views, and the expansive smooth screed floors are peppered with starfish pebble mosaics.

There are 2 beautiful, cool and airy bedrooms with large four-poster beds; both have sea views and huge open-air ensuite shower bathrooms. Adjoining the larger of the bedrooms is a separate sitting room with cushion-strewn daybeds that can sleep another 3 people if required.

At the heart of the villa is a vast and airy living space with chaise-longues, planter-style chairs and a huge wooden dining table seating 10. One side opens out on to a wide, west-facing veranda that stretches along the entire length of the building, with low tables and loungers that are perfectly placed for spectacular sunset views.

The villa also has a fully equipped kitchen, though you’ll barely set foot in it as private cook Indrani is on-hand to rustle up Sri Lankan feasts. Outside are 6 acres of grounds, with coconut groves, hammocks and a large pond stretching down to a private swathe of pristine white sand.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Mosquito net
• WiFi

Eating

This may be a villa rental, but it's no self-catering holiday. The private cook, Indrani, is on hand to whip up meals, and housekeeper Sisera (Indrani’s husband) will sit down with you every morning to plan the day’s dishes - including any dietary requirements or preferred spice levels. Expect top-notch Sri Lankan fare using the freshest of local ingredients and fishermen's hauls - delicious vegetables and coconuts from the gardens feature too. Best of all, meals here cost a fraction of resort prices! Note that meat and fish cost extra.

Our meals were a real treat - devilled king prawns, grilled fish and chicken curries served with a dazzling display of vegetable dishes, sambals, salad, chutneys and crispy poppadums. At breakfast we had plates groaning with fresh fruit, plus eggs, toast and an assortment of jams accompanied by refreshing juices. Afternoon teas (hot drink and cake) were also a delight.

Beer and soft drinks are available, as is a limited selection of wine. If you’d like other wines or spirits it’s worth bringing them with you, as they're hard to come by on the peninsula.

If you fancy a change of scene you can wander over to the laid-back Bar Reef restaurant, where guests tend to mingle in the thatched pavilion overlooking the beach.

Features include:

• Full kitchen
• In-house cook
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Laze on the veranda with a book, snooze in a garden hammock, arrange a massage, sun yourself on the sand, or wander over to Bar Reef Resort (just 300m away) to bathe in its ocean-facing infinity pool
  
  
• Try your hand at a wide range of watersports including kayaking, catamaran sailing, kite- and windsurfing (best from May-November), water-skiing, boogie boarding and donut rides. It's best to book in advance
  
  
• Take a dawn boat trip to spot spinner dolphins (best from November to April). It’s worth the early start: sightings aren’t guaranteed, but on a good day you’ll see dozens of these graceful creatures leaping out of the water, performing back flips and riding the boat’s wave. If you’re lucky you might see blue whales, too
  
  
• Another boat ride will take you out to coral reefs where you can snorkel alongside tropical fish, stingrays and Loggerhead turtles
  
  
• Take a day trip to Wilpattu National Park (1-2 hours' drive away), which boasts one of the highest concentrations of leopards in the world (as well as elephants, sloth bears and samburs)
  
  
• Birdwatchers could make a day trip to Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary for plovers, herons, stilts, egrets and sandpipers; out at sea you might spot white-bellied sea eagles, skuas and terns

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Dolphin watching
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Kitesurfing
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Whale watching
• Wildlife

Kids

This is a child-friendly beach hideaway, with plenty of space for families. Older kids are more likely to enjoy the watersports, watching dolphins and turtles, and taking safari trips to Wilpattu. The pool at Bar Reef Resort has a separate shallow area where children of all ages can splash around.

Best for:

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

Family friendly accommodation:

One of the 2 bedrooms can be set up as a twin, and there are 6 sofabeds. A baby cot is also available.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 2-3 hours

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Kalpitya Beach House is set on the Kalapitya Peninsula, which separates the Puttalam lagoon from the Indian Ocean, in the northwest of Sri Lanka. It’s a 3-hour drive from the capital Colombo.

By Air
Sri Lanka's only international airport is Colombo Bandaranaike International (110km / 2-3 hours away).

From the Airport
The simplest solution for overland travel is to hire a car and driver for the duration of your holiday, as this will also come in useful for day trips. Enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged, or you can book a car through the official taxi service in the airport.

By Public Transport
You can take a bus from Colombo to Puttalam. Staff can arrange to collect you from there.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.