Mawella Hideaways

Rooms

Kotamba & Kahumba: 1-bedroom beachfront hideaways
Sharing the same simple yet chic décor and facilities, these 2 hideaways sit either side of a private strip of grassy garden (owned by the owners) facing onto Mawella Beach. They have four-poster beds wrapped in mosquito netting, big ensuite shower rooms and living rooms with oversized daybeds made from local kithul wood. Doors and windows open onto wraparound verandas; monochrome photographs of local life set the scene (we loved the portrait of a wizened old fisherman in Kahumba’s bathroom).

Kotamba, a renovated fisherman’s house, enjoys the longest stretch of beachfront, with views of the whole bay from the terrace or the dining pergola. Kahumba was built from the ruins of an old house and features a lovely open-air shower, plus a guest bathroom and an alfresco table under its namesake tree looking onto the beach.

Kumbuk: 2-bedroom coastal hideaway
Kumbuk is set a little further back from Mawella Beach, just behind Kahumba Hideaway. It has 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin) and a larger garden to compensate. The setting offers a greater sense of privacy while still being within strolling distance of the beach (20 metres away).

Villa 123: 3-bedroom luxury coastal villa
For something entirely different, stay at super sleek Villa 123, a 10-minute drive away. With minimal contemporary styling, its 3 ensuite ocean-facing bedrooms are spacious, bright and breezy. It has a large open-plan kitchen, dining room and living room, beyond which lies a wide terrace and stunning 60ft pool. We had a really relaxing day swimming lengths here. The villa faces 3 headlands - the furthest of which is beyond Mawella, where the blowhole can be seen in the distance. Wander halfway down the hill to the floating lookout point for more secluded gazes at the ocean. Although there is access to a beach here, it's rocky and not great for swimming so we recommend taking a tuk-tuk 5km to Mawella Beach or strolling to Unakuruwa beach.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots Available
• Extra beds
• Fan
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Mosquito net
• Oven
• Terrace
• Toaster
• WiFi

Eating

The hideaways and villa each have private kitchens and dining areas. Villa 123 has a modern fully equipped kitchen and a dedicated full-time cook. The 3 hideaways have simple kitchens equipped with fridges, stoves, kettles and toasters, plus the option of a cook if you so wish. Whether in the hideaways or in the villa, chat with the team each morning about what you’d like and they’ll do the rest; you just pay for the ingredients. A tick-list of essentials is provided so that staff can shop on your behalf - useful if you want to order mixers for drinks, midnight snacks, or specific items such as cereal.

If you do have a cook, meals tend to emphasise local cuisine. For breakfast you might try string hoppers with creamy curries and sambols, or go continental with bread sourced from the local musical tuk-tuk; we would highly recommend the delicious buffalo curd, too. Lunches are light affairs such as salad Niçoise (the fresh local tuna is fabulous), while dinner options might include barbecues, grilled fish or a Sri Lankan curry spread. We dined by candlelight on Kotamba’s terrace and ate spicy chicken cooked in a clay pot, along with deliciously herby aubergines.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Children's meals
• Coffee / tea making
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• In house cook
• Oven
• Shopping service
• Toaster

Activities

• Mawella Beach is ideal for walking, jogging and swimming (the sand shelves slowly into the sea). If you're staying at Villa 123, either take the 5km tuk-tuk journey here or stroll 5 minutes to Unakuruwa beach. The rocky beach at the bottom of the garden is not suitable for swimming
  
• Unakuruwa Beach, a short walk from Villa 123, has reef breaks for surfers; if you want to take lessons, Bandula's Surf School will pick you up and take you to the best beaches for your ability level, but be sure to book early as he is very popular!
  
• Keen photographers will love the Mawella Beach fishing scene; dawn is usually a hotbed of activity. Staff can arrange for you to head out to fish with one of the boats (cost negotiable with the fishermen)
  
• Thai-style massages can be arranged in the privacy of your hideaway or villa (request in advance). For a comprehensive range of treatments, book into Amanwella’s lavish spa down the coast
  
• Take a tuk-tuk to Tangalle, whose bustling harbour and markets offer an insight into local life
  
• Observe marine turtles hatching and laying eggs at the Rekawa Turtle Sanctuary
  
• Hike to the top of Mulkirigala, a sacred Buddhist rock temple, to admire the cave murals and stunning 360-degree views

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Body boarding
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Wildlife

Kids

The hideways and villa are great for free-range families.

At the hideways, children of all ages will enjoy Mawella Beach (there's no life guard) and the bats, balls and body boards. The gardens are fenced, but the proximity of the waves mean it's not best suited to toddlers, and you'll need to keep an eye on youngsters around the sea as there may be currents.

At Villa 123, the set-up is best-suited to children old enough to safely navigate the unfenced infinity pool. The rocky beach immediately below the villa is not safe for swimming.

Best for:

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

Family friendly accommodation:

Kumbuk hideaway has 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin) and a fenced garden; it's tucked 20 metres back from Mawella Beach for added privacy (just behind Kahumba). The other 2 hideaways are beachfront, with one double bedroom each, plus 2 daybeds in their living rooms. Note that Kahumba has a guest bathroom and larger living area. Villa 123 has 3 ensuite double bedrooms and a 60ft infinity pool immediately in front of the villa off the terrace. A baby cot is available if requested in advance.

Distances:

• Airport: 3.5-4 hours (Colombo)
• Hospital: 15 minutes (Tangalle)
• Shops: 15 minutes (Tangalle)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The 3 hideways are located at the western end of Mawella Beach, between Dickwella and Tangalle, in southern Sri Lanka. Villa 123 is 5km from Tangalle, on the outskirts of a village about 1km from the main Galle road.

By Air:
Most guests arrive via Colombo Bandaranaike (215km away) and then take the Air Taxi service to Mawella Lagoon, just 500m from the bungalows / 5km from the villa. Alternatively, staff can arrange transfers from the capital's airport in a comfortable minivan (a 2-3 hour drive).

By Train:
You can take the slow but scenic train from Colombo to Matara (30 minutes away), where staff can arrange for a taxi to meet you.

By Car:
It you want to hire a car and driver for your entire trip, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator. Otherwise, the bungalow and villa staff can arrange cars, drivers and tuk-tuks for day trips and local journeys.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.

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