House

Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.

Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.

Photo gallery for Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.

Pool
Aerial view
Exterior
Property grounds
Pool

Overview of Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.

9.4 out of 10 Exceptional
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 11220 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Ocean view

Explore the area

Galle, SP
  • Popular LocationUnawatuna Beach13 min walk
  • Popular LocationDalawella Beach3 min drive
  • Popular LocationMihiripenna Beach22 min drive
  • AirportColombo (CMB-Bandaranaike Intl.)119 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Bedroom 2

Lower Garden Suite

Master Bedroom

Upper Garden Suite

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Lower Garden en-suite

Toilet · Shower only

Master en-suite

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Upper Garden en-suite

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.

The Space
‘Unakanda' (a shortening of the location Unawatuna Kanda; “kanda” = hill), is the creative passion project of an Australian architect. Four bedrooms and four bathrooms are spread between two unique buildings either side of an infinity pool. Laid back, fresh spaces celebrate amazing sea views, climate, gardens and wildlife. Unakanda is a short walk above Unawatuna beach and less than 15 minutes from Galle Fort by tuktuk. A mix of mature trees give the sloping site a jungle garden feel which wraps around an old stone quarry, full of water, fish and turtles. It is a magnet for bird life and playground for monkeys and squirrels.
The "White House", originally a modest villager’s home, contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living space opens onto the pool terrace and a cantilevered, polished concrete dining pavilion.
Opposite is a two-level contemporary building nestled into the slope and trees. On each level is a generous suite with king size bed, sitting area and bathroom. The Lower Garden Suite has a small private terrace shaded by passionfruit vine with plunge pool and garden outlook. The Upper has a balcony overlooking Unawatuna bay. There is also a delightful roof terrace accessible to all guests via an external staircase which has a tree house feel and a stunning 270 degree view.
Our greatest asset is Team Unakanda. From first contact we endeavor to provide local information, assist with travel arrangements and accommodate individual needs. We have hosted honeymooners, birthdays, family Christmas gatherings and a rooftop wedding. Manoj, Chi and Sujeeva care for the property and have been delighting guests with gentle attention and beautiful food since 2015. Vegan no problem. Our aim and pleasure are to create an inspiring, relaxed and beautiful setting for visitors to enjoy their Sri Lankan adventure.

Guest Access
Guests are provided with keys and have exclusive use of the entire property except staff area and facilities. Our staff are not resident, but live nearby and will keep a discrete eye on things and can be contacted for help should anything urgent arise after hours.

Interaction with Guests
While we will not be present during your stay, we do leave you in the very capable hands of our fabulous team. They are available to prepare meals, clean, provide information and to help facilitate a wonderful stay. Breakfast is included with each booking, and the guys will be happy to prepare an additional meal each day for the cost of the ingredients. Please discuss your requirements with them - they are a wealth of local knowledge and contacts and will be more than happy to assist with suggestions and arrangements for activities.

The Neighborhood
Unakanda offers peace and tranquility just minutes away from Unawatuna Beach, the restaurants and havens of Thalpe, and historic Galle Fort. It is located above the beach amongst local village houses. Within less than 20 mins of travelling you will find many casual and fine dining options, more beaches, turtle hatchery, antiques dealers, etc. We provide guests with a list of local eateries, attractions and other useful information.

Getting Around
Walk down the property, through the temple, over the road and you are on the beach. Local tuk-tuk will be able to take you to most of the places you might like to go. There is a bus and railway station at nearby Galle. Transit from Colombo International Airport to Unakanda takes between 2-3 hours depending on traffic. Airport pick -up and drop-off can be arranged.

Other Things to Note
Morrie is our resident dog. We ask that he is not permitted into the accommodation. If you prefer that Morrie is not onsite during your stay, he will be happy to have a sleepover at a friend's house.

Property manager

Tim

Languages

English, Italian

Amenities

Pool
Breakfast included
Kitchen
Washer
Air conditioning
Ocean view

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Children welcome

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed
Pets considered

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking only

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited

We should mention

A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Unawatuna

This villa is located in Unawatuna. Japanese Peace Pagoda and Galle International Cricket Stadium are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Unawatuna Beach and Dalawella Beach. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Unawatuna Beach - 13 min walk
  • Dalawella Beach - 3 min drive
  • Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya - 8 min drive
  • Mihiripenna Beach - 22 min drive
  • Sahana Beach - 26 min drive

Getting around

  • Midigama Railway Station - 28 min drive
  • Bandaranaike Intl. Airport (CMB) - 119 min drive

Restaurants

  • Le Café Français Boutique (Vegan & Vegetarian) - 18 min walk
  • Peacock Restaurant - 16 min walk
  • Pink Elephant - 4 min drive
  • Banana Garden Restaurant (Rooms & Apartments) - 13 min walk
  • Bluewhale Sea Food Restaurant - 20 min walk

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews" "

Reviews

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

jenny v.

Lugnt och undebart
Ett underbart hus, sköna sängar. En avkopplande trädgård och värsta utsikten. En pool, trevlig personal som lagade jättegod mat. Vad mer kan man begära?
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

aurelie m.

Superbe villa L'endroit oú séjourner sans hésiter
Nous avons passé une semaine à la villa Unakanda, cette maison est superbe, la vus est magnifique sur la baie d'unawatuna, l'emplacement est parfait (à 5 minutes du lagon de wijaya beach où l'on peut nager avec les tortues ....) L'accueil de manoj ET sujeva est vraiment chaleureux et convivial. Nous avons adoré faire le marché de poissons avec Manoj qui le soir nous a cuisiné des beignets de calamars pour l'apéritif, des gambas, des poissons..... Bref ici c'est le paradis ! Tim est très réactif et répond à tous les messages, ET donne plein de conseils et de bonnes adresses, Manoj ET Sujeva sont aux petits soins tout en étant discrets. A RECOMMANDER SANS HÉSITER
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Arek W., Zurich, Switzerland

Beautiful private villa with an infinity pool
I stayed in Unakanda with 3 friends in September 2015, as the last part of our trip around Sri Lanka. We spent there 3 absolutely amazing days, even despite some rain (it was a rainy season). My contact with the hosts (Shar and Tim) prior the arrival was smooth. They were both friendly and extremely helpful. When we arrived to Unakanda we were greeted by two local hosts - Manoj and Sujeeva who looked after us and the villa during the entire stay. They cooked for us delicious meals, looked after the garden and were helpful with any ad hoc requests. They made us feel like at home. Unakanda is a beautiful villa which combines modern design with a local touch. It is surrounded by a lush garden with the private infinity pool. The interior is magnificent too. The outdoor bathrooms are the highlight of the place, but so are the furniture and fabrics which give a local touch. All is perfectly designed and well thought. Well done! It was a pleasure to stay in Unakanda and we would definitely recommend it to everyone for a tranquil and relaxing vacation.

About the host

Hosted by Tim

Host profile image
Expat Aussie Family living and working in Dubai and living the dream in Sri Lanka (when we can get there!)

Why they chose this property

Unakanda is ideally located near Galle and the wonderful UNESCO world heritage listed Galle Fort with its fabulous architecture, quirky shops, galleries and cool cafes. The property is minutes from Unawatuna beach and has easy access to the lovely cafes, restaurants and hidden little beaches scattered along the coast between Unawatuna and Mirissa. Whale watching, turtle hatchery, cycle tours, diving, surfing, shopping, tea plantations, silk worm factory are all nearby.
Yet many of our guests shelve their plans to explore, opting instead to chill by the infinity pool or soak in the separate plunge pool, or laze on the tree shaded roof terrace with its 270 degree sea view, or just watch the endless parade of wildlife while sipping on fresh coconut juice.....

What makes this property unique

Our team are special. Big smiles, excellent cooks and delighted to provide local information or help arrange outings and activities. Although it is unique, guests frequently tell us that Unakanda feels like home, which we feel is a huge complement and testament to the relaxing nature of our little piece of paradise.

Languages:

English, Italian
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