Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House
Kick off your shoes and relax at Samudrawasa, our beautiful colonial villa in Ambalangoda, Galle Province. Built in 1901, it has been renovated to a very high standard and is now a laid-back, luxury retreat sleeping 6-12. A private pool to the front of the house is the perfect place to cool off, and the sandy beach is a stone's throw away. Samudrawasa is looked after by our house manager, Kingsley, and his small team. It sleeps 6-12 comfortably in 5 bedrooms (2 king suites, each with additional day bed; 2 queen suites; 1 twin room), all of which have A/C and en suites. There is also space for an additional 2 children/nannies in the bunk room that can be accessed either from the queen suite at the back of the house or from the rear veranda. Cots and baby chair available on request. Breakfast (served at a time of your choosing), tea, coffee and evening cocktails are provided on a complimentary basis. If you would like Kingsley to prepare lunch and/or dinner for you, please discuss your menu choices with him at breakfast so that he can buy the necessary ingredients - these will be charged to you at cost price. Those who prefer to cook may take advantage of the separate, well-equipped sea-view kitchen, which is stocked with a complimentary pantry of spices, condiments and base ingredients. There is a large communal sitting room and a dining room that seats 10. The internal courtyard with traditional reflecting pool and the verandas to the front and back of the property allow for seamless indoor/outdoor living. The infinity-edge-style swimming pool is situated to the front of the house with views of the beach. Please note that the pool is not fenced off, so children MUST be supervised at all times. Wifi is available for those who wish to stay connected! Also available for guest use are: a picnic hamper and beach mats; beach games; 2 x sea kayaks; body-surfing boards and fins; snorkelling equipment; 4 sets of scuba-diving equipment; scuba-diving compressor and 6 tanks (available for shore and boat diving, for qualified divers only). Life-jackets available for all activities. Please note that the beach directly opposite the house can be choppy at certain times of the year – please take note of the safety flags. For more sedate waters all year round, head to the harbour side of the breakwater. Obviously guests enter the surf at their own risk, and swimmers/surfers should be aware of possible rip tides when there are waves. Getting here: The villa is situated in the small coastal town of Ambalangoda in Galle province on the southern coast, approximately 2 hours from Colombo international airport. Transfers can be arranged at any time directly to the villa; depending on flight times, some guests choose to spend their first night or last night in Colombo, in which case transfers can be arranged to/from your overnight hotel.
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Amenities
Pool
Breakfast included
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 10
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is no smoke detector on the property
Frequently asked questions
Does Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House?
As of 7 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House on 9 Apr, 2026 start from S$730, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Premium Colonial Villa with Pool, charming Staff + Beach House located?
Situated by the ocean, this villa is within 1 mile (2 km) of Ariyapala Mask Museum and Ambalangoda Beach. Puppet Museum is 1.7 mi (2.8 km) away.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Staff very good helpful and friendly. Nice pool and comfortably beds.
Michael W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019
Verified
8/10 Good
Gillian T.
26 Jan, 2018
The property was just perfect. Lots of space so we could spread out, find a quiet corner if needed .
Samudrawasa was a really special villa. Beds were so comfortable, the pool was just great, food and staff were perfect nothing was too much trouble for them. It was just such a pity there was so much rubbish on the roadside and on to the beach.
Gillian T.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
GEOFFREY S.
14 Jan, 2018
Beautiful property by the sea
Great property, friendly and attentive staff, lovely food. Wonderful family holiday.
GEOFFREY S.
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2017
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Anita K.
2 Jan, 2018
Amazing place with perfect location for a family holiday
Samudrawasa was the perfect place for our extended family vacation. The standard of the house itself is exquisite, beautifully renovated to a genuine colonial feeling, and the rooms fully met our need for 7 grownups and 4 kids ranging 5-13 years old. The private pool is a real treat (and the A/C also very welcome).
The staff is also lovely; so friendly and helpful in every way. They prepared breakfast every morning, and dinner/lunch at demand, all really great food. As there are very few other opportunities in Ambalangoda, this is a good option if you don't want to go to Hikkaduwa - a bigger town just 15-20 min away by tuk-tuk, which Kingsley is happy to provide. Hikkaduwa is bustling with beach bars and restaurants (but also with touts and noise, very different from Ambalangoda). Kingsley and his men can also help with day trips and excursions to other parts of Sri Lanka.
Ambalangoda itself is a small, local town with few tourist facilities, but an absolutely gorgeous beach just 50 m from the house. Quite a high surf there at times, but most days, both the young and the older had a great time swimming and playing. Only for good swimmers, though.
On the beach, there's a fairly new beach bar called Chill Pill, which all-in-all is a great asset also for Samudrawasa. We highly recommend at least one dinner there in the sand, we had the best sea platter ever there at Xmas eve (but bring your chill, everything takes time in Sri Lanka in general, and in Chill Pill especially). The music can be a little loud some evenings from the house, but generally not a problem from the rooms.
The internet connection was very variable in our days there, claiming to be a problem for the town rather than the house, but be aware if you plan to bring your work with you.
All in all, I hardly think we could have found a better place to spend our Xmas holiday. Samudrawasa and it's staff comes highly recommended from us in Norway.
Anita K.
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar, 2020
Dear Anita,
Thank you so much for your considered review of Samudrawasa. I know that Kingsley and his team found it a pleasure to look after you and your family and we’re glad you had such an enjoyable stay.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Tracy B.
19 Oct, 2016
Cool, clean, comfortable, charming.
This extremely aptly named cool retreat is comfortable and elegantly furnished, and we were very well looked after all week by Kingsley and his team, who cooked excellent Sri Lankan dinners for us every night (and showed me how to make the delicious aubergine dish). Kingsley was also very helpful in suggesting day and half day outings and booking a driver for us. We enjoyed cocktails on the terrace and cooling off in the pool, and we both had a marvellously relaxing hour-long massage at the house. !n September, just pre-monsoon season, the sea was too rough to swim in from the beach opposite the villa, however our walks along the picture postcard beach were perfect, and the sunsets spectacular. We saw nothing to suggest a need for a 24 hour security guard on the property but were nevertheless reassured by his presence.
The charm, comfort and coolness within are a contrast to the bustle, obvious poverty and general untidiness without, but it is also only 12 years since the tsunami hit many parts of this coastline. On the Galle road there is a tsunami museum and a brutally graphic memorial to the many hundreds who died here. We enjoyed our visit to Galle, which is more touristy than the busy, teeming Ambalangoda, and has some more upmarket shops. We did a long day trip to the Udawalawe national park and enjoyed the safari experience although it would have been better to go earlier or later in the day for an opportunity to see the elephant herd. Kingsley will take you in the tuk-tuk to the river just 15 minutes away for a lovely 2 hour boat trip, mangroves and all, not forgetting the obligatory trip to the Buddhist temple on one of the islands. We ate lunch in randomly chosen roadside restaurants on two occasions, sticking to vegetable curries, which were very good. On your outings try to have handy a collection of 100 and 200 (50p and £1) rupee notes for tips; these are small sums but make a difference to guides, waiters and drivers.
Whether you just chill out at the villa, or use it as a base for sight-seeing trips, Samudrawasa is a wonderful place to stay. I felt real regret on leaving it, and Sri Lanka.