Perched on a secluded beach, these three architect-designed villas are a simple yet striking take on a tropical inside-outside style, enveloped around a glittering 30m swimming pool which stretches almost to the width of the property. All enjoy stunning views of the Indian Ocean, framed by lawned gardens of coconut palms, frangipani, bougainvillea and heliconia. The villas offer flexible accommodation, with a choice of 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms; you can book a suite, a villa, all three – according to your requirements. The team here are wonderful; discreetly attending to your every need – families and groups of friends love it.
The atmosphere here is totally relaxed and serene. The villas are set by a quiet village off the beaten track, well positioned just an hour and a half from Colombo, and an hour from Galle – with watersports and turtle hatcheries nearby. Kick off your shoes, drink in the blissful vista, dip your toes in the pool and dine alfresco on sumptuous seafood while watching the sunset – we’re back there in our heads already.
Highs
- The tranquil and unspoiled beach-front setting; this is a wider than the average plot of land
- The architect-designed villas have a wonderfully airy contemporary tropical style
- Such a versatile set up: rent by the suite, separate villas or all together – ideal for a group of friends or families
- The modern Sri Lankan food
- The fun, social vibe – with three villas together there are plenty of opportunities to mingle with other guests
Lows
- The pool is shared by all three villas
- The villas are close to the main road so there is some traffic noise
- The sea in front of the villas can be too rough for swimming at certain times of year
Best time to go
November to April brings the best weather and the calmest waters for diving. The climate is warm all year round, with temperates ranging between 26 and 32C. The months between June and September are slightly cooler, however the sea is not safe for swimming. The monsoon season begins in May and can see very heavy rain.
Our top tips
Visit around December and January and you may see a perahera festival at the local temple, with parades of fire dancers, colourfully dressed acrobats and jewel-bedecked elephants.
- Boutique Villas
- 3 villas for 4-8
- All meals on request
- 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 three villas are designed in contemporary Asian style, with modern facilities and cool, airy interiors. Helpfully, you can book by the suite, by the villa or two or three villas together. All bedrooms and suites (bar the twin in Villa Araliya) have spacious balconies overlooking the Indian Ocean. Furnishings are sourced from South and South East Asia, including handmade bedspreads from India and Sri Lanka, beautiful custom-made furniture and locally sourced antiques. There's a Bali vibe to the spacious living and dining areas which open to the beach and the infinity-edged pool.
Sagara Villa (3 double rooms, sleeps 6-8) has 3 large double suites, including 2 luxe first-floor King Suites. The ground-floor Garden Suite boasts a four-poster bed and tropical outdoor shower. The living room has louvred windows; steps lead directly to the beach. The dining area seats up to ten people at a solid Mara-wood designer table; the kitchen is just next door.
Located in the middle of the three, Nisala Villa (2 suites, sleeps 4-6) has 2 first-floor Double Suites decorated with paintings by local artists. Outside is an open-air shower. The large open-plan living and dining area (also with ten-seater table) has louvred French doors opening out onto the pool. The kitchen and bar are complemented by a wonderful veranda with lounger chairs.
Villa Araliya (4 double/twin rooms, sleeps 8-10) has two King Suites upstairs, with Burmese teak floors and local art work. The third Double Room downstairs has an ensuite bathroom with outdoor shower. The fourth bedroom has twin beds and French windows opening onto the azure pool (only available for whole villa bookings). A fabulous carving of Frangipani flowers hangs in the mustard- and orange-hued living area. The dining room table seats up to 12.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Coffee / tea making
- Cots available
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- WiFi
Eating
Meals are prepared to preferences and can be taken inside, by the pool, in the gardens. on the deck or even at a table on the beach. Choose from an all day dining menu showcasing fresh, local ingredients – perhaps a roasted vegetable wrap, grilled tiger prawns, a Thai-style chicken salad, turmeric battered fish and chips, or fish tacos. There’s a blackboard of daily specials, and all diets and requirements are easily catered for.
Dinner on our last visit was a wonderful seafood tapas spread, with tuna, garlic prawns, bruschetta and patatas bravas; you could also go for classic Sri Lanka curry, squid salad with tom yam soup, or a crab feast with murunga leaves, kade paan and vegetables.
Breakfast includes tropical fruit platters, juices, eggs and toast, or tradition dishes like string hoppers or rotis served with curry and sambal. We loved the delicious banana, mango and coconut water fruit smoothies.
If you feel like eating out, there's a variety of restaurants 10 minutes' away in Bentota, ranging from family-run seafood places to smart hotel-based Italians.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Dinner by arrangement
- Full kitchen
- In-house cook
- Kids' meals
- Lunch by arrangement
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Visit the area's world-famous turtle hatcheries, which play a vital role in conservation – help release baby turtles into the ocean by day or bury turtle eggs by night. You may be lucky enough to see turtles laying right on the beach
- Wonderful watersports. Rent surf boards for the day and learn to surf; go diving off the reefs; or go fishing and get ‘your catch’ cooked for supper
- Head to historic Galle just an hour away; built as a Dutch fortress, it's a thriving town with Unesco-listed colonial architecture and quaint shops
- Massages can be arranged in house; or venture out for a full day Ayurvedic treatment. Yoga sessions can be arranged too
- Design your own jewellery with semi-precious and precious stones and take it back home for yourself or presents for loved ones
- Spend a day at Geoffrey Bawa’s properties dotted around Bentota and visit Brief the exotic tropical gardens designed by his brother Bevis for architectural and horticultural delights
- Visit the acclaimed mask-makers and wood-carvers of Ambalangoda, 15 minutes away
- Go shopping in Bentota for beach clothes, jewellery and bags, or head to laid-back Hikkaduwa, 40 minutes away, for paintings, jewellery and leather goods
- Learn to cook Sri Lankan curries and then enjoy them!
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Fishing
- Historical sites
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Traditional cultures
- Well being
- Windsurfing
- Yoga
Kids
Sri Lanka is heaven for families. These 3 villas are ideal as there's a choice of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms, so they cater for every size of family. Or, book two or all three if you are two or more families travelling together. They also work well for three generations with some bedrooms on the ground floor. There are lots of lovely places to visit nearby: hop in a tuk-tuk to visit a turtle hatchery, or, if you're lucky, you might see them on the beach.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
Villa Araliya is the largest villa, with four bedrooms (sleeping up to 8). It has the only twin room, which is ideal for children, with two bedrooms upstairs and two on the ground floor. Villa Sagara has three bedrooms, one of which is on the ground floor. Villa Nisala has two upstairs bedrooms. All villas can sleep 2 extra children on rollaway beds.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting can be arranged on request.
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- Car seats
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
They can arrange club sandwiches, pasta, ice cream and the like for less adventurous tastebuds, or can prepare any special requests for children of all ages.
Kids Activities on site:
- Large pool with shallow area for small ones
- Pool toys
- Volley ball net
- Cricket bats
- Boogie boards
- Board games
- Garden
- Crab hunting
- Bonfire building
- Kite flying
- Fishing
- Birthday parties
Kids Activities nearby:
- Turtle hatcheries
- Surfing, diving and water-skiing in Bentota
- Tuk-tuk rides to nearby villages
Families Should Know:
Villas have direct access to the beach through the communal areas but not from bedrooms. The pool isn't fenced. At certain times of year, the sea is too rough for swimming.
Distances:
- Airport: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Hospital: 20 minutes
- Shops: 10 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Sri Villas is located on a quiet beach 10 minutes south of Bentota, on the south west coast of Sri Lanka.
By Air
Colombo Bandaranaike (100km) is the closest international airport.
From the Airport
Sri Villas can arrange airport transfers. Alternatively, you can take the scenic coastal train from Colombo to Bentota (although this is much slower) and take a taxi from the station.
Getting Around
The staff can arrange cars with drivers for day trips. You can also use one of the many local tuk-tuks for short journeys.
By Car:
If you want to hire a car and driver for your whole holiday, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
Airports:
- Colombo Bandaranaike International 100.0 km CMB
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 6.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
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