Villa Amma Erna

Villa Amma Erna sits in green, hilly country on the outskirts of Galle, close enough for an easy tuk-tuk ride to the fort’s cafés and ramparts yet far enough out that mornings bring birdsong, monkeys in the trees and peacocks in the jungle beyond the garden. The house itself is a striking piece of modern architecture in concrete, glass and timber, with only three bedrooms, which makes it a calm, design-led base for couples travelling together or a small family wanting quiet days between trips to the south coast beaches.

Outdoors, a stone-paved courtyard wraps around a long swimming pool that looks out over the treetops, with sun loungers on the terracotta deck, a hammock and daybeds for slow afternoons. A raised garden deck set with bean bags makes a lovely spot to watch the sun go down over the forest, and there is a barbecue for evenings at home. The terrace has comfortable furniture for meals in the open air.

Inside, the open living area has a long sectional sofa framed by tall windows, and a generous wooden dining table sits beside an open kitchen fitted with modern appliances. Each of the three bedrooms has a king bed draped in a mosquito net, its own bathroom and a television, and one has a freestanding bathtub set against floor-to-ceiling glass looking into the greenery. The rooms are fan-cooled, and the staff look after daily housekeeping, with breakfast included and an in-house chef cooking other meals on request.