On Sri Lanka’s beautiful south coast, near the market town of Tangalle, three enchanting hideaways await. Each is utterly individual. You’ll find them nestled behind the sweeping 2km curve of near-deserted Mawella Beach, set around a shimmering pool with views out to sea.
Here you can chill by the pool, shade in the pool house, or wander through your homely hideaway's garden gate and down to the sand, where a plethora of colourful fishing boats lay poised for action. Aside from short periods at dawn and dusk when the boats come and go, the beach is blissfully quiet. Expect a few fishermen hard at work mending their nets, which lay in giant coils at their feet, and little else. The three comfortable hideaways each have 1- or 2 bedrooms, an airy living and dining space, and a basic kitchen for self-catering (a cooking team is available, shared between the hideaways). Though their layouts vary they all brandish the same minimalist, monochrome interiors.
Escapist couples and adventurous families with older children will cherish the seclusion of these laid-back localities. Rock-top temples, hidden coves and turtle sanctuaries all lie within easy reach.
Highs
- We loved the privacy and barefoot informality of the simple hideaways
- Mawella Beach (just steps from the hideaways) has a breakwater to reduce waves, the sea is shallow and good for swimming; the waves further along are ideal for bodyboarding and surfing. There's also a pool beckoning within the gardens
- Waking up at dawn to watch fishermen hauling in their catch (have some cash handy to buy fresh fish for lunch)
- The staff are extremely helpful and friendly, the food delicious, and the housekeepers are always on hand should you need anything
- The Air Taxi service from Colombo lands on the nearby lagoon, so it’s easy to reach (500m)
Lows
- No alcohol is available (though you can BYO at no charge or ask the team to purchase it on your instructions), and restaurants are a tuk-tuk ride away
- Nature often finds its way indoors, so don’t be surprised to come across an insect or two – particularly in Kumbuk, which is set a little further inland
- Full pre-payment is required by bank transfer only
Best time to go
November to April are considered the best months in this part of Sri Lanka, both for their hours of sunshine and for their calm seas. Temperatures hover around 29C throughout the year, but heavy rain usually falls in May/June and September/October.
Our top tips
Be sure to bring your own books, digital entertainment and toiletries (including insect repellent).
- Boutique Villas
- 3 hideaways
- Self-catering (+ cook)
- All ages welcome; best for older kids
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Laundry Service
- Housekeeper
- Bats, balls and body boards to borrow
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 is a renovated fisherman’s house, enjoying 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).
Features include:
- WiFi
Eating
The hideaways have simple kitchens equipped with fridges, stoves, kettles and toasters, plus the option of a cook if you so wish. Chat with the cooking 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:
- Children's meals
Activities
- Mawella Beach 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 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). 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:
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Wildlife
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. Kotamba hideaway is on the beachfront, with one double bedroom plus two fill-sized daybeds in its living room. A baby cot is available if requested in advance.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
English-speaking childcare can be arranged with advance notice.
Baby equipment:
- Baby cot
- Booster seat
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
The cooks can tailor meals (and spice levels) to young taste buds, and the kitchens are handy for whipping up kids' snacks.
Kids Activities on site:
- Large pool and pool house
- Boogie boards
- Bats
- Footballs
- Board games
Kids Activities nearby:
Families Should Know:
The gardens are fenced, but the proximity of the houses to the sea means they're not best suited to toddlers, and you'll need to keep an eye on youngsters in general as there may be currents. Kids should stick to swimming in the breakwater, as the stretch of sea beyond this has big waves. The pool is unfenced and is 1.4 metres deep with no shallow end.
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) and then take the Air Taxi service to Mawella Lagoon, just 500m from the bungalows. 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 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. 
More on getting to Sri Lanka and getting around
Airports:
- Colombo Bandaranaike International 215.0 km CMB
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 6.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape