The Last House

Rooms

There are 6 guest rooms: 3 rooms set in the grounds of the property, and 3 on the first floor of the main house - these can also be booked together as a 3-bedroom suite. 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, and large open walls let the breeze flow in.

The 3 rooms (2 double and 1 twin) set in the grounds are charming and spacious, with high ceilings and ensuite shower rooms. Moonamal, the largest, also has the added luxuries of a lounge and an outdoor shower and bath 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 twin queensize beds. Elevated on stilts, it’s windowed on 3 sides and looks out onto a small lagoon with resident herons and kingfishers; perfect for some added privacy, though maybe a little hotter due to less sea breeze.

But it's the Cinnamon Hill Suite that's the star of the show. Consisting of a double room and 2 twin rooms (one of which is pretty small), it has acres of space and opens onto the house's wraparound balcony with imperious views of the ocean. The master bedroom 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.

You can also hire the whole house (sleeping up to 14 people), which would work well for 2 families or a group. Or you can opt for the Cinnamon Hill Suite with exclusive use of the communal areas (but not use of Moonamal, Atteriya and Na).

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• 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.

Remember that alcohol isn’t sold on site, so if you want a drink with dinner you’ll need to bring your own. Choice is limited in the local area, so it’s a good idea to stock up in Colombo or one of the larger towns before you arrive.

Activities

• Step from the garden onto the golden sands of Mawella beach, where you can swim in the shallows or hit the waves (boogie boards are available)
  
• 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)
  
• 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
  
• 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. 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, though they're extensive enough to warrant an overnight stay
  
• 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, badminton and rugby

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• 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.

Cots Available, 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 an hour from Galle and 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 Matara. From Matara it's a 40-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.