Maison Samara

Maison Samara sits in thick tropical greenery on the edge of Hikkaduwa, on Sri Lanka’s south-west coast, a cluster of low-slung buildings under clay-tile roofs set within a garden of around a thousand square metres. It feels calm and removed from the town’s surf-and-sunset buzz, yet Hikkaduwa Beach is only about 2.7 km away, with Galle Fort an easy day trip down the coast. With four bedrooms for up to eight guests, it suits families and groups of friends who want a quiet base with a proper team looking after them.

The house is arranged around its pool and garden, so shade, sun and a quiet corner are never more than a few steps away. The long pool, thirteen metres by four, is edged with stone paving and lined with timber loungers under big umbrellas, and it glows softly when the lights come on at dusk. Beyond the terrace the lawn runs out under tall trees, and there is a dedicated yoga space and a spa room for massages without leaving home.

Inside, the design leans breezy and open, with timber ceilings, polished floors and shaded, semi-open lounges built around deep built-in sofas, plus an upstairs veranda looking out over the trees. Three bedrooms have king four-poster beds draped in mosquito nets and the fourth has two singles that can be joined as a king, all with air conditioning and their own bathrooms, and several open onto balconies with leafy views. A staff of four, including a villa manager, provides daily housekeeping, breakfast is included, and a chef can be arranged for other meals.