Location

The house is located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, about 78 kilometres from Galle, 208 kilometres from the centre of Colombo and 215 kilometres (approx 2.5 to 3 hours by car) from Sri Lanka's main airport, Colombo Bandaranaike International ('CMB').  Hambantota Airport ('HRI') is 78 kilometres away but has very limited flights. 

Tangalle Beach House is relatively close to the main road connecting Galle to the Sri Lankan south coast (but with no road noise) and to Tangalle, the local market town five kilometres away. 

Getting There

The quickest route from the airport is via a comfortable van which we can arrange via our house manager. Alternatively, you can charter the sea plane run by Cinnamon Air runs from Colombo airport and other places around Sri Lanka to Dickwella lagoon about five kilometres from the House.  The flight time from Colombo airport is approx 40mins.  Tuk tuks or a minivan can be arranged to collect guests from the lagoon.  Uber now operates in Colombo.

Comfortable mini van can be arranged to collect guests from Colombo city, Galle, or from other hotels or villas. 

Activities

Beaches: the beach outside the house is rocky and is not really recommended for swimming although it is fun to walk across the rocks, watch the waves break and poke around in the rock pools.  A very short walk from the house takes you to Unakuruwa beach which has a reef break and attracts a few surfers. If you walk in the opposite direction from the house through the village, you reach the Amanwella beach and the Aman hotel.  This beach falls away steeply and can have big waves but it does have a lifeguard generally present.  

Alternatively, you can take a tuk tuk to Mawella beach some five kilometres away which is good for swimming. At the far end of Mawella beach there is generally good surf for boogie boarding.  This beach is also excellent for running, frisbee and ball games.  Note that there is no lifeguard.  Mawella beach has two good simple local restaurants and the Halcyon Hotel. 

Further afield:  the house is well located to explore Southern Sri Lanka's many cultural and outdoor attractions:

• Surfing and snorkelling with the excellent and highly rated team at Bandula's Surf School. Mr Bandula comes and picks you up in an immaculate vehicle with surf boards and takes you to the beach(es) with the most appropriate surf for your level. He provides cold drinks and towels, etc and then drops you back at the house. Please note that he gets very booked up in season.

• Yala National Park (100 kilometres away) famous for leopards, elephants and birds including fish eagles.

• Seasonal turtle hatching at Rekewa (20 kilometres away), potentially followed by dinner at Buckingham Place, a highly rated hotel owned and run by a friend of the hideaways' owners.

• Udawalawe National Park (65 kilometres away).

• Kalametiya bird sanctuary providing bird watching via boat across fresh water lagoons bordered by palm trees.

• Whale watching excursions from either Mirissa (40 kilometres) or Dondra (22 kilometres), depending

• on the season.

• Temples such as Mulkirigala and Wewurukannala. Mulkirigala is about 30min drive from Tangalle. It is a monastic site on a 200m high rock rising straight up out of the forest, so it's a steep climb to the top.

• Cricket at the historic and incredibly scenic Galle stadium, or at Hambantota stadium, the latest international stadium to have been built in Sri Lanka (73 kilometres).

Massage/spa

Simple massages can be arranged with a local lady on request.  Some of the other local hotels also offer spa services, we can help out here.

CHILDREN

Children are very welcome although the pool is neither fenced nor alarmed and Unakuruwa beach doesn't have a life guard.   It may not be the most relaxing holiday for parents with small, mobile children that don't swim confidently. We can organise basic English-speaking childcare on sufficient notice.

RESTRICTIONS

We regret that pets are not allowed on the property.

Smokers are requested not to smoke anywhere indoors.

Essentials

The house is cared for by our local team who are on hand to deal with and generally care for you during your stay.  The house is fully equipped with bed linen, beach towels and bath towels.  

The team cook, serve, wash up clean, and tidy the house and gardens every day.

The closest town is Tangalle which is about five kilometres away. Tangalle provides a food market, a small supermarket and various other simple shops for day to day purchases.   The fish shops sell a range of locally caught seasonal fish, prawns and lobster.  It is a working fishermen’s town and does not have major tourist attractions.

Please note that once a stay has been booked we provide substantial notes and advice in greater detail.

RATES (per night FOR THE WHOLE HOUSE)

• December, January, February: $700

• November, March: $600

• April to end of October: $400

NOTES: 

• There is a minimum stay of three nights.

• Preferred payment is via bank transfer. We do accept credit cards on request.

• Payment of 50% should be made within 7 days of receiving a preliminary booking confirmation from us. Bookings are only confirmed after receiving 50% of the payment.

• The remaining balance must be paid at least 30 days prior to arrival, or on booking if the reservation is made within 30 days of arrival.

Cancellation Policy

• More than 60 days before arrival: 20% of total

• From 60 days to 31 days before arrival: 70% of total

• Less than or 30 days before arrival: 100% of total

• No show or early departure: 100% of total

Payment and cancellation policies may vary with special offers.
We recommend that you take out insurance against cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

What is included

Cook, houseman, gardener, food shopping service, bed linen, beach and bath towels.

What is not included

All food and alcohol although these can be bought on your instructions by the team in the local markets.

Transport

We can arrange either tuk tuk or mini van transport for our guests for trips into Tangalle, day trips or to the airport.  The air taxi seaplane flies from either Colombo airport or Galle airport and lands just five kilometres from the house.  The seaplane can also be chartered privately through Cinnamon Air.

WEATHER

The best weather runs from November through April.  The rainy season is usually from May to July, although there is still plenty of sunshine.  It gets drier in the months of August and September and then there are the autumn rains in October and November.  December is probably the best time for diving and snorkelling because the sea tends to be at its calmest.

CLOTHING

All you really need is light clothing; shorts, sarongs, flip flops etc.  Trainers are suitable for light touring, but if you are planning to go on long walks or trekking then you should bring appropriate hiking boots.  When visiting places of worship, whether as a tourist or a member of the congregation, you will be expected dress respectfully and to cover your legs, shoulders and upper arms.

VISAS

Unless you are from Singapore or the Maldives, you will require a visa for entry into Sri Lanka.  You can obtain a visas either online, or from the Sri Lanka Overseas missions, or from your travel agent or operator.