Etamba House

Etamba House sits in green countryside inland from Galle, among coconut palms and open rice fields, with Galle Fort and the beach at Unawatuna within easy reach for days out. It is a single-storey home in a classic Sri Lankan style, with a terracotta-tiled roof, white columns and deep verandas that open onto the garden. Three bedrooms for up to six guests make it a calm, well-looked-after base for a family or a small group of friends.

Below the house, a long stone-edged swimming pool runs across the lawn, with views over the rice fields and palm-covered hills beyond, and it is lit softly at night. The wide covered veranda above the pool is the place for long lunches at the outdoor dining table or an afternoon on the cushioned daybeds, and gentle steps lead down through landscaped grounds. Birdsong and the breeze off the paddies set the pace.

Inside, high timber-beamed ceilings, polished concrete floors and carefully chosen antique furniture give the rooms warmth and character, and the open living area has a TV, stereo and comfortable seating beside the dining table and a well-equipped kitchen. Each bedroom has a four-poster bed with mosquito netting, air conditioning, a TV and its own bathroom, some with open-to-the-sky garden walls. Daily housekeeping and 24-hour security are part of the stay, and a chef can cook lunch and dinner on request.