Villa Don Hendrick

Rooms

The 3 elegant bungalows are named after Don Hendrick’s 3 sons: Henry, David and Santeen. They are set well apart from one another, giving lots of privacy - you really feel like you have the place to yourselves even when other guests are around.

We loved the comfort and luxury of our four-poster bed, with its pocket-sprung mattress and soft, crisp sheets. Ensuite bathrooms have a rainfall shower (solar-powered) and lovely Spa Ceylon toiletries.

Other nice touches include a free soft-drinks minibar that gets refilled daily, a torch, tea-making facilities and a Nespresso coffee machine. There's no air con but you won't need it; the bungalows were built according to the ancient Sinhalese principle of ventilation, and we found ours perfectly airy. There are fans in case you want a bit more of a breeze.

Henry and David have double beds; Santeen is a twin. Each has a lovely columned front terrace overlooking the pool, with cushioned easy chairs and rattan blinds.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Harold and Raf will let you know at breakfast if they are cooking dinner that evening. We absolutely recommend you dine in at least once to experience Harold's divine culinary skills. His dinners are a delicious fusion of European and Sri Lankan flavours, and the tableware and decorations are prepared to perfection.

We had white fish balls with wasabi sauce and spiralised cucumber to start, followed by a creamy cuttlefish risotto, then a tangy passion-fruit meringue to finish. While eating out in Sri Lanka is a pleasure, there isn’t always much of a variety from beachside restaurants, which is why our home-cooked meal was such a treat.

If dinner isn't served when you stay, Raf will recommend local eateries that you can tuk-tuk to. Alternatively, there's a fully equipped outdoor kitchen in the garden where you can self-cater. It's got a fridge, freezer, sink, cooker, air fryer and plenty of cooking equipment, plus a large table with chairs and a bench. The kitchen is shared between all guests, so it's a nice chance to mingle with others if you wish.

Breakfast on-site is also an absolute treat, and varies each day. Sip a homemade green juice and eat a deliciously fresh fruit platter while the owners cook scrambled eggs and bacon, or pancakes with honey. We loved their papaya and vanilla jam so much we bought some from the small gift shop to take home.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Take the free bicycles for a spin around the beautiful paddy fields nearby. You'll probably see water buffaloes and herons
  
• Or cycle into Tangalle (3km), where you'll find an authentic fishing harbour, local shops and regional markets on Wednesdays and Sundays
  
• Raf and Harold give you a mobile phone on arrival with useful numbers programmed into it. Call Lalli and he’ll take you into town or to local beaches in his tuk-tuk. He’s a lovely chap!
  
• Nearby Unakuruwa Beach has reef breaks for experienced surfers. If you want to take surfing lessons, the Bandula Surf School will pick you up and take you to the best local beach for your ability level
  
• Sunbathing wise, Medaketiya, Marakolliya, Madilla and Goyambokka are local beaches worth visiting
  
• Go hiking and bird watching in Bundala National Park
  
• Or kayak and picnic at Rekawa lagoon
  
• Visit the Mulkirigala Rock Temple at sunset

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Shopping / markets
  • Surfing
  • Swimming

Kids

Adults only. Santeen is a twin bungalow.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Villa Don Hendrick is 3km inland from the fishing town of Tangalle on Sri Lanka's southeast coast. It's 2 hours from Galle and 3 hours from Colombo airport.

By Air:
International flights will land at Colombo Bandaranaike International (230km away) - click on the links below for a list of airlines. Raf and Harold can arrange a transfer from here (enquire when booking, extra cost), or you can catch an air taxi service from Colombo to Dikwella, which takes 1 hour 20 minutes. It's then a 20-minute tuk-tuk or transfer from there to Villa Don Henrick.

By Car:
If you want to hire a car and driver for your whole holiday, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator; they can collect you at the airport when you land, drive you down to Tangalle, then drive you to your onward destination after your stay.

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

More on getting to Sri Lanka and getting around