The Last House

Rooms

There are five guest rooms: three of which are set in the grounds of the property, and two on the first floor of the main house. All are stylishly uncluttered, with antique furniture, Egyptian cotton bedding, whitewashed walls, mosquito nets, ceiling fans and dashes of colour. Bawa's aim when designing the house was to merge the indoor and outdoor spaces, with pleasing sightlines in all directions and large open walls to let the breeze flow in.

The three rooms set in the grounds are charming and spacious, with high ceilings and ensuite walk-in shower rooms. Moonamal, the largest, also has the added luxuries of a lounge and an outdoor shower area. This room and Atteriya share the same cool blue and white décor, while Na breaks the mould with its wooden structure, warm pink colours and queensize bed. Elevated on stilts, it’s windowed on three sides and looks out over greenery, with resident birdlife; perfect for some added privacy, though maybe a little hotter due to less sea breeze (although air-con will solve this issue).

But it's the Cinnamon Hill rooms – one double, one twin – that we loved most. Set on the upper floor, they open onto the house's wraparound balcony with imperious views of the ocean. The double in particular is enormous, with ceilings open to the rafters, a kingsize bed, and a large ensuite bathroom with a freestanding tub placed dramatically in its centre. These rooms can be taken by couples or friends (an antique screen divides the balcony if so) and would work well for families with older kids as they share the upper floor.

You can also hire the whole house (sleeping up to 12 people), which would work well for families or a group.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• In-room treatments available
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Guests eat in an open-air dining area overlooking the colourful pool and gardens – the ideal spot for a leisurely meal.

Breakfast is a tempting spread of fresh fruit juice, muesli, pancakes, eggs and Sri Lankan specialties such as hoppers. Lunches tend to reflect the beachside location, with an abundance of seafood salads and risottos on offer. We tucked into a calamari and tuna salad, which was light, refreshing and perfect in the heat.

But it’s dinner that will really grab your attention. The fabulous meals make the most of the ocean – perhaps crab salad with spicy coconut sauce to start, grilled fennel-crusted tuna with wilted garlic kangkong and curd raita for the main, and a refreshing passion fruit curd tart to round things off. We were lucky enough to be there for the twice-weekly Sri Lankan curry night: a 10-dish feast of fish, beef and tropical veg curries.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• In-house cook
• Lunch by arrangement
• Shopping service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Step from the garden onto the safe golden sands of Mawella beach, where you can swim in the shallows or hit the waves (boogie boards are available to borrow)
  
• Take a bike ride or go on a fishing trip, then relax with an Ayurvedic massage or a yoga class (all available through the hotel)
  
• Go on an early morning or late afternoon walk to the Maxwell lagoon (1.5km away) for birdlife and bats, or you can kayak here too
  
• Fascinating historic Galle is 45-minutes away
  
• There are wonderful surfing beaches nearby, staff can arrange for board hire and lessons
  
• Visit the turtle sanctuary in nearby Rekawa to witness nocturnal hatching and sea release
  
• Take a tuk-tuk to the fishing town of Tangalle. Its bustling market and harbour offer an interesting insight into local life, and the surrounding coast is peppered with deserted beaches
  
• There's a magnificent blowhole at Kudawella, and a Buddhist temple complex built into the mountain at Mulkirigala (25km away); climb to the top for spectacular views
  
• The Kalamatiya bird sanctuary is just 30 minutes away
  
• A little further afield you’ll find the Uda Walawe reserve for elephants and migrating birds (some of which are rare)
  
• Head to Kataragama (about 70km from Tangalle) for one of the country’s most important religious sites with 1000 year old paintings. Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus all visit, and the Hindu festival in August usually draws a good crowd
  
• The Yala National Park and Bundala Bird Sanctuary are also within striking distance
  
• Back at the hotel, there's an antique chest full of board games, plus inflatable animals and lilos for the pool, and equipment for football, cricket and badminton

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

Children aged 10 and over are welcome if you are booking by the room, while all ages are welcome for a whole house booking. Extra beds incur a supplement. Most food requirements can be accommodated. The sea is safe and good for swimming most of the year.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Cinnamon Hill rooms (one double, one twin) are a good option for families as they share the upper floor and have their own entrance up a staircase. Smaller families may prefer to stay in Moonamal, Atteriya or Na, all of which have space for 1 extra bed.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 2.5-3 hours

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Last House is set 7km from the town of Tangalle on Sri Lanka's southeast coast. It's 45 minutes from Galle and 2.5-3 hours from Colombo airport.

By Air
Fly into Colombo Bandaranaike International (189km away)

From the Airport
Staff can arrange transfers (enquire when booking; extra cost), or you can catch the Sri Lankan Airlines air taxi service from Colombo to Koggala Lake, which takes 1 hour 20 minutes. The hotel can arrange a transfer from Koggala Lake.

By Public Transport:
There's a train from Colombo to Beliatta. From Beliatta it's a 15-minute taxi ride to the hotel.

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.