Parrots, fishing eagles and monkeys can be spotted from the house and peacocks often leave wet footprints on the floor of the pavillion. The beach offers opportunities for jogging, boating, fishing and snorkeling. The vicinity provides excellent surfing (Unakuruwa, Hirikatia), numerous cultural attractions, including famous rock temples, living Buddhist monasteries and ruins of dynasties past. It is also famous for bird-watching, animal safaris and jungle tours. Other close by activities are boat rides, whale- and turtle watching (at Merissa and Rekawa) as well as Safaris (Leopards, elephants, buffalo, crocs…in Yala and Udawalawe).

Excursions / Culture

Historic town of Galle
Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage, offers Portugise and Dutch colonial architecture, museums, excellent shopping and fun restaurants. Take a walk on the ramparts, enjoy the mid-century athmosphere and the sea breeze.

Mulgirigala Rock Monastery (20 min. by tuc-tuc)
Visit the ancient Mulgirigala Rock Temple perched on an enormous boulder more than 200m high. According to ancient inscriptions carved on the rock, Mulgirigala dates back almost 2,000 years when it was a site of a Buddhist monastery. It was here where a British archaeologist discovered the ancient manuscripts of the Mahawamsa: the great chronicle of Sri Lanka’s early history.

Sithulpawwa Rock Temple
Tucked away inside Yala National Park is Sithulpawwa Rock Temple, one of the most significant Buddhist monasteries dating back over 2,200 years.
The site contains a large number of stupas, cave temples that carry inscriptions in early Brahmi script, Buddha statues, a stupa house and image houses that still contain fragments of paintings. Pilgrims continue to flock here on the full moon of each month, clad in white, to practice the Buddha’s teachings and meditate.

Kataragama
Kataragama is a holy city for Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus alike. In July and August, the predominantly Hindu Kataragama festival draws thousands of devotees who make the pilgrimage over a two-week period. Try to visit on a full moon night, be part of the procession and go with the flow… The Manik Ganga (River of Gems) serves as a place of ablution and is believed to have miraculous healing powers, thanks to its high gem content and the medicinal properties of trees lining the water.

Kirivehera
The Bo tree situated behind the Katharagama temple is one of the eight saplings of Sri Maha Bodhi, which is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world. The Buddha is believed to have paid a visit here during his third trip to Sri Lanka.

Kirinda
The small fishing village of Kirinda centres on a Buddhist shrine perched atop huge rocks, right at the shore.
On a clear day the lonely lighthouse on the Great Basses Reef appears like a needle in the distance, and visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Tissamaharama.

Sports (a.o. Surfing, Golf), Yoga and Ayurveda

An excellent Surf is in walking distance (Unakuruwa). A 10 min tuc-tuc drive away you will find THE surf spot of the Deep South (Hiriketiya). The Seenimodara bay (sugar Bay) with its sugar soft sand is ideal for jogging or long walks, (locals say it`s full once you spot someone on neighboring Mahawella beach). For Ayurvedic massages, the care taker Amaresiri can call an ayurvedic doctor. Alternatively you can book ayurvedic day treatments including food in a neighbouring hotel. Yoga teachers are available by appointment.

There is a 18-hole Golf Course at the Shangri-La Hotel Hambantota (45 min.by car). We have boogie boards which you can use.

Wildlife and natural wonders

Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park is a bird sanctuary. It is a fantastic maze of waterways, lagoons and dunes that glitter like gold in the late-evening sun. This wonderland shelters almost 200 species of birds within its 62-sqkm area. It also has a small but very visible population of elephants, as well as civets, wild boars and lots of crocodiles.

Yala National Park
Yala National Park is Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book brought to life. One of the first National Parks of Sri Lanka (opened in 1938), it is one of the best places in the world to observe and photograph leopards. The reserve is also home to a large population of elephants, as well as spotted deer, sambar deer, wild buffalo, sloth bears, jackals, mongoose, pangolins and crocodiles.

Bird watching on Mahawella lagoon
Boat rides on the lagoon take you through an area of rich biodiversity, with several varieties of mangroves, many bird and fish species, plant varieties and mammal species.

Turtle Beach
On the other side of Tangalle, in Rekawa, is the perfect place for animal lovers and eco-tourism seekers – a turtle breeding beach. You can find five out of eight known species of turtles laying eggs here.

Kudawella „Blow Hole“
Hire a local fishing boat for an hour and ride the waves to the “Hummanaya Blow Hole”. It is a natural fountain of sea water that is pushed upwards through an underwater cavern. From the top of the rock formation, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of both the Sinharaja Forest and the Indian Ocean.

Whale watching in Mirissa
Enter a boat in Mirissa harbour and accompany a dense population of Blue-, Sperm- and other whales.