Location

The hideaways are located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, about 78 kilometres from Galle, 208 kilometres from the centre of Colombo and 220 kilometres from Sri Lanka's main airport, Colombo Bandaranaike International ('CMB').  It takes between 2.45/3.00 hours by road from the airport, now the airport has a direct link to the Southern Highway. The new Hambantota International Airport ('HRI') is 78 kilometres away but currently has very few flights. 

Mawella Beach is little more than a kilometre from the main road connecting Galle to the Sri Lankan south coast and to Tangalle, the local market town ten kilometres away. 

Getting There

Cinnamon Air run a sea plane private charter only service from Colombo airport to Dickwella, landing on the lagoon just 500 metres from the hideaways.  As Sri Lanka’s economy picks up they may reintroduce scheduled flights. The flight time is approx 40mins.

Otherwise a comfortable mini van can be arranged to collect guests from Colombo city or the airport (approximately 2.5 hours), from Galle (approximately 1.5 hours), or from other hotels or villas. 

PLAN OF THE HIdEAWAYS

This is a plan, not to scale, of the hideaways, showing their location in relation to each other, the pool and pool house and to the beach.

Activities

Pool: the almost 19 metre infinity pool sits between the hideaways looking out to sea. Behind is a pool house with comfortable sofas for reading and playing games, a dining area where our guests can congregate, and a guest bathroom. This only for use by our guests. Please note it is not fenced and is 1.5 metres deep so please do watch your children!

Beach: the tranquil sea within the breakwater in front of the hideaways is calm for swimming as it is protected by the anchorage wall and the adjacent headland. Beyond the breakwater there is the main Mawella beach and at the far end of the beach there is generally good surf for boogie boarding.  The beach is also excellent for running, frisbee and ball games.  There is no lifeguard on the beach.

The beach hideaways have boogie boards and bat and balls available. There are also a couple of hotel restaurants in the middle of the beach. The Halcyon hotel also makes great cocktails!

Further afield:  the holiday hideaways are ideally situated 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

• 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

Massages from a local person can be arranged.  Some of the local hotels also have spa facilities.

CHILDREN & PETS

Children are welcome and it is a good set-up for families, although there are no specific facilities for children other than the pool, beach and associated sports.  Parents should take note of the fact that there are no lifeguards on the beach and the current can feel strong for inexperienced swimmers.  We can organise basic English-speaking childcare on sufficient notice.

We regret that pets are not allowed.

Essentials

The hideaways and gardens are cared for by our local house manager who lives at the entrance to the properties. She is on hand to deal with and generally care for you during your stay.  Each holiday hideaway is fully equipped with bed linen, beach towels and bath towels.  

The team cleans, washes up and tidies the hideaways and gardens every day.

The closest town is Tangalle which is about ten kilometres away.  The team can shop there for you.  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 real tourist attractions.

Please note that once a stay has been booked we provide substantial notes and advice in greater detail as well as a map to find them!

kotamba RATES (per night)

• December to end February: $175

• March to end November: $125

kUMBUK RATES (per night)

• All year: $100

NOTES: 

• There is a minimum stay of two nights.

• Payment is via bank transfer or by credit card 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 cost

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

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

• No show or early departure: 100% of total cost

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 (maybe shared with another of the hideaways), house manager, 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

Our manager, Ruhunu can arrange either tuk tuk or mini van transport for our guests for trips into Tangalle, day trips or to the airport.  The air charter seaplane flies from either Colombo airport or Galle airport and lands just 500 metres from the hideaways.  The seaplane can also be chartered privately through Cinnamon Air. 

WEATHER

The best weather runs from end 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 by day; sarongs, shorts, flip flops, T shirts 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 or shoes.  Do remember 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.  The beach is used by tourists, locals and fishermen alike so please be respectful.

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 at Colombo Airport ($40 each), your travel agent or operator.