Rooms

Kotamba & Kahumba: 1-bedroom beachfront hideaways
Sharing the same simple yet chic décor and facilities, these 2 hideaways sit in leafy surroundings on either side of a grassy garden facing onto Mawella Beach and the sea beyond. 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 is a renovated fisherman’s house, enjoying the longest stretch of beachfront. Kahumba was built from the ruins of an old house and features a lovely open-air shower room, plus a guest bathroom and an alfresco table under its namesake tree.

Kumbuk: 2-bedroom coastal hideaway
Kumbuk is set a little further back, 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 a stone's throw from the beach (20 metres away).

Features include:

• Fan
• In room treatments available
• Mosquito net
• WiFi

Eating

The hideaways have simple kitchens equipped with fridges, stoves, kettles and toasters, plus the option of a cook if you so wish. Eat in your hideaway or in the pool house dining area. Chat with the cooking team each morning about what you’d like and they’ll do the rest; you just pay retail prices for the ingredients. Staff can shop on your behalf – useful if you want to order 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) or buttery prawns, while dinner options might include barbecues, grilled fish or a Sri Lankan curry spread. We dined by candlelight on the pool terrace and tucked into a gorgeous chicken curry, accompanied by cinnamon beetroot, green beans, lentil dahl and crispy poppadoms.

Features include:

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

Activities

• The main Mawella Beach, just steps away, is ideal for walking, jogging and swimming (the sand shelves slowly into the sea)
  
• Simply chill out by the large pool. It's shared between guests and has a pool house with shaded sofas for reading and relaxing, plus a kitchen for preparing poolside meals and snacks
  
• Unakuruwa Beach 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 (request in advance)
  
• 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
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being

Kids

The hideways are great for free-range families. Children of all ages will enjoy Mawella Beach (there's no life guard), and the section with a breakwater creates a calm lagoon for safe swimming. Bats, balls and bodyboards are available to borrow. There's also a large shared pool (unheated) complete with a pool house - perfect for shade and comfort.

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. A baby cot is available if requested in advance.

Distances:

• Airport: 2.5-3 hours (Colombo)
• Hospital: 15 minutes (Tangalle)
• Shops: 15 minutes (Tangalle)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hideways are located at the western end of Mawella Beach, between Dickwella and Tangalle, in southern Sri Lanka.

By Air
Most guests arrive via Colombo Bandaranaike (215km away). You could then take the air charter service to Mawella Lagoon, just 500m from the bungalows. Or, 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 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.