The Well House

The Well House is a calm, whitewashed colonial-style home set in palm-filled tropical gardens on the edge of Galle, with the beach around three minutes away on foot and the old ramparts of Galle Fort a five-minute drive away. Pale stone floors, arched doorways and classic dark-wood furniture give it a cool, gallery-like feel, and four bedrooms make it an easy fit for families and small groups of friends who want to mix beach days with sightseeing.

Outside, a private rectangular pool sits in a bright lawn, framed by a timber deck with sun loungers and umbrellas. A long, column-lined veranda runs along the main house with cushioned sofas, wooden chairs and an alfresco dining set-up, and a second shaded veranda fronts the poolside wing. The garden backs onto green forest, where guests have spotted families of monkeys moving through the trees at a safe distance.

Indoors, an enclosed lounge with a TV and a dedicated dining room with a long table open easily onto the shaded terraces. All four bedrooms are air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, wardrobes and four-poster beds draped in mosquito nets, with two in the main house and two in a separate poolside wing linked by an interconnecting door. A chef prepares fresh meals from a menu, and daily housekeeping and security keep everything running smoothly.