Villa Nilaya Habaraduwa

Villa Nilaya sits on a quiet, uncrowded stretch of Habaraduwa Beach on Sri Lanka’s south coast, a short drive from the cafés of Unawatuna and the old streets of Galle Fort. It is a relaxed, characterful home rather than a showpiece, with ochre walls, louvred timber doors and an open-plan ground floor that flows out to the garden and the sea. With two matching king bedrooms, it suits two couples travelling together or a young family looking for an easy, peaceful beach stay.

Outside, a ten-metre private pool sits just in front of the house, with sunloungers on the lawn and the ocean beyond. A gate leads from the garden straight onto the sand, where guests often find they have the beach almost to themselves for morning walks and evening sunsets. There is a gazebo by the water, an upstairs balcony looking out to sea, and a turtle hatchery next door that young guests tend to love.

Indoors, the open living room is kept cool by ceiling fans and wide openings to the garden, with a swing seat, plenty of cushioned seating and a dining table beside a fully equipped kitchen and bar counter. Both bedrooms have king beds, air conditioning, large windows and en-suite bathrooms. Daily housekeeping is provided and an in-house chef cooks Sri Lankan and Western dishes, with meals charged at the cost of groceries.