Rooms

There are 2 double ensuite bedrooms on the upper floor. As with the rest of the house, they're decorated in a soothing blend of white, teal and natural colours, with wicker lamps and crisp linen on double beds that look out to sea.

Both rooms have air conditioning and hairdryers, along with bathrobes and products in their shower bathrooms, but generally, it's not a place with multiple mod cons - you just don't need them. You may want to use the mosquito nets that drape around the modern four-poster beds but we didn't bother with them and were fine.

We liked the quirks in the décor, such as the saloon doors with unusual wooden screens, and the bathrooms painted in a textured turquoise to give the impression that you're under the sea. Both rooms open onto a veranda with sisal matting and wooden loungers plus one of the best views of the sea that you'll experience, complete with palm trees swaying in the near distance.

Downstairs there's an open-plan living/dining area, with lots of space for a double blow-up air mattress for two kids. There's a third bathroom down here, too, with a shower.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The villa comes with a private cook who prepares bespoke meals in the open-plan kitchen/diner - and food is excellent. Generally, you have a chat about what you would like, and Shantha the chef does the shopping - ask to join if you fancy learning a bit more about Sri Lankan cooking and local produce. However, there's flexibility to run the food side of things the way it suits you best - and you can self-cater a bit if you want to.

You should certainly try local specials such as spiced fish curries and delicious vegetable accompaniments. Breakfasts could be tropical fruit with pancakes or eggs any style, but basically, you order what you want.

Meals can be served indoors or outside overlooking the pool on a long wooden table with a turquoise paisley runner, the sea breeze adding an exotic flavour.

There's no need to eat at the villa every day if you don't want to: just a short stroll along the beach in either direction you'll find beach cafés. We recommend KK Beach Hotel’s restaurant for lunch and refreshing cocktails, just a few doors down. Galle, a 10km drive north along the beach, is a good place to visit if you want a more upmarket dining experience.

Features include:

• Dinner by arrangement
• Full kitchen
• In-house cook
• Lunch by arrangement
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Relax in the breezy living room, laze by the pool or in the shade, and wander barefoot to the beach. You can book an in-room beauty treatment or massage if you want to completely bliss out
  
• The sandy beach is well known for attracting egg-laying turtles - they usually lay at full moon between Nov-May; otherwise, there's a small turtle hatchery next door where you can hold palm-sized turtles in your hand and release them out to sea – an unforgettable experience
  
• If you fancy swimming with turtles, Wijaya Beach is close by. The water here is shallow and calm, so great for families too
  
• Take a tuk-tuk to lovely Unawatuna beach (4km) for swimming, diving (there's a PADI centre), snorkelling and temples
  
• Go whale watching or dolphin spotting from beautiful Mirissa beach - best between November and March
  
• Or go surfing at Weligama beach, one of the island's most renowned spots
  
• Take a day trip to Galle (20 minutes by tuk-tuk) to admire the Unesco-listed fort, fortified town walls, lighthouse and cricket ground. It has some sensational interiors shops and lovely restaurants
  
• Take a catamaran ride on nearby Koggala Lake to spot alligators, monkeys and birds
  
• Get a boat over to the Ananda Spice Gardens, where you'll find natural cures for sunburn and heavenly spices to take home, or to Cinnamon Island, where a local will show you how cinnamon is grown, harvested and produced
  
• Visit the Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya temple, 5km from Koggala, which dates back to the 13th century
  
• Hire bikes and explore the coast, forest and small villages in a slow and leisurely way

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Scuba diving
• Scuba diving courses
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Turtle hatching
• Well being
• Whale watching

Kids

Children are very welcome and the villa has hosted many happy families (though there are no twin rooms). It's spacious and largely hazard-free, although the pool isn't fenced. It's close to the beach as well as plenty of lovely family-friendly attractions, including a sea turtle conservation centre and spice gardens. There's a laundry room, which parents of babies and toddlers will find really useful. A baby cot is available.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

There are 2 bedrooms, both doubles, and in addition, you can add a blow-up double mattress and a baby cot. There are 3 shower bathrooms.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 2 hours (Colombo)
• Hospital: 15 minutes (Galle)
• Nearest shop: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Turtle Beach House is in Habaraduwa, a beachside hamlet 10km south of Galle on the southern tip of Sri Lanka.

By Air:
Colombo Bandaranaike International (162km away) is the closest airport - click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
It takes 2 hours by car to reach this region from Colombo airport. The owners can arrange this for you at an extra cost. Alternatively, Sri Lankan Airlines runs a convenient air taxi service from Colombo airport to Koggala Lake, 5km from the villa. From there you can jump in a tuk-tuk.

By Bus/Train:
Take a bus or train to Habaraduwa station then a tuk-tuk to the villa. It's only a short distance away.

Getting Around
If you want to hire a driver and car for your whole holiday, enquire through our Tailormade Tour Operator.

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

More on getting to Sri Lanka and getting around