Entire home
Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.
Villa with private pool, near Unawatuna Beach
Photo gallery for Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.





Reviews
9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 11220 sq m
Popular amenities
Explore the area

- Place, Unawatuna Beach
- Place, Dalawella Beach
- Place, Jungle Beach
Rooms & beds
4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)
Bedroom 2
1 King Bed
Lower Garden Suite
1 Double Futon and 1 King Bed
Master Bedroom
1 King Bed, 1 Single Bed and 1 Crib
Upper Garden Suite
1 Double Futon and 1 King Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom
Toilet · Shower only
Lower Garden en-suite
Toilet · Shower only
Master en-suite
Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only
Upper Garden en-suite
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Exceptional staff. Gorgeous sea view from amongst trees, 5 min from beach.
The Space
‘Unakanda' (a shortening of the location Unawatuna Kanda; “kanda” = hill), is the creative passion project of an Australian architect. Four bedrooms and four bathrooms are spread between two unique buildings either side of an infinity pool. Laid back, fresh spaces celebrate amazing sea views, climate, gardens and wildlife. Unakanda is a short walk above Unawatuna beach and less than 15 minutes from Galle Fort by tuktuk. A mix of mature trees give the sloping site a jungle garden feel which wraps around an old stone quarry, full of water, fish and turtles. It is a magnet for bird life and playground for monkeys and squirrels.
The "White House", originally a modest villager’s home, contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living space opens onto the pool terrace and a cantilevered, polished concrete dining pavilion.
Opposite is a two-level contemporary building nestled into the slope and trees. On each level is a generous suite with king size bed, sitting area and bathroom. The Lower Garden Suite has a small private terrace shaded by passionfruit vine with plunge pool and garden outlook. The Upper has a balcony overlooking Unawatuna bay. There is also a delightful roof terrace accessible to all guests via an external staircase which has a tree house feel and a stunning 270 degree view.
Our greatest asset is Team Unakanda. From first contact we endeavor to provide local information, assist with travel arrangements and accommodate individual needs. We have hosted honeymooners, birthdays, family Christmas gatherings and a rooftop wedding. Manoj, Chi and Sujeeva care for the property and have been delighting guests with gentle attention and beautiful food since 2015. Vegan no problem. Our aim and pleasure are to create an inspiring, relaxed and beautiful setting for visitors to enjoy their Sri Lankan adventure.
Guest Access
Guests are provided with keys and have exclusive use of the entire property except staff area and facilities. Our staff are not resident, but live nearby and will keep a discrete eye on things and can be contacted for help should anything urgent arise after hours.
Interaction with Guests
While we will not be present during your stay, we do leave you in the very capable hands of our fabulous team. They are available to prepare meals, clean, provide information and to help facilitate a wonderful stay. Breakfast is included with each booking, and the guys will be happy to prepare an additional meal each day for the cost of the ingredients. Please discuss your requirements with them - they are a wealth of local knowledge and contacts and will be more than happy to assist with suggestions and arrangements for activities.
The Neighborhood
Unakanda offers peace and tranquility just minutes away from Unawatuna Beach, the restaurants and havens of Thalpe, and historic Galle Fort. It is located above the beach amongst local village houses. Within less than 20 mins of travelling you will find many casual and fine dining options, more beaches, turtle hatchery, antiques dealers, etc. We provide guests with a list of local eateries, attractions and other useful information.
Getting Around
Walk down the property, through the temple, over the road and you are on the beach. Local tuk-tuk will be able to take you to most of the places you might like to go. There is a bus and railway station at nearby Galle. Transit from Colombo International Airport to Unakanda takes between 2-3 hours depending on traffic. Airport pick -up and drop-off can be arranged.
Other Things to Note
Morrie is our resident dog. We ask that he is not permitted into the accommodation. If you prefer that Morrie is not onsite during your stay, he will be happy to have a sleepover at a friend's house.
‘Unakanda' (a shortening of the location Unawatuna Kanda; “kanda” = hill), is the creative passion project of an Australian architect. Four bedrooms and four bathrooms are spread between two unique buildings either side of an infinity pool. Laid back, fresh spaces celebrate amazing sea views, climate, gardens and wildlife. Unakanda is a short walk above Unawatuna beach and less than 15 minutes from Galle Fort by tuktuk. A mix of mature trees give the sloping site a jungle garden feel which wraps around an old stone quarry, full of water, fish and turtles. It is a magnet for bird life and playground for monkeys and squirrels.
The "White House", originally a modest villager’s home, contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living space opens onto the pool terrace and a cantilevered, polished concrete dining pavilion.
Opposite is a two-level contemporary building nestled into the slope and trees. On each level is a generous suite with king size bed, sitting area and bathroom. The Lower Garden Suite has a small private terrace shaded by passionfruit vine with plunge pool and garden outlook. The Upper has a balcony overlooking Unawatuna bay. There is also a delightful roof terrace accessible to all guests via an external staircase which has a tree house feel and a stunning 270 degree view.
Our greatest asset is Team Unakanda. From first contact we endeavor to provide local information, assist with travel arrangements and accommodate individual needs. We have hosted honeymooners, birthdays, family Christmas gatherings and a rooftop wedding. Manoj, Chi and Sujeeva care for the property and have been delighting guests with gentle attention and beautiful food since 2015. Vegan no problem. Our aim and pleasure are to create an inspiring, relaxed and beautiful setting for visitors to enjoy their Sri Lankan adventure.
Guest Access
Guests are provided with keys and have exclusive use of the entire property except staff area and facilities. Our staff are not resident, but live nearby and will keep a discrete eye on things and can be contacted for help should anything urgent arise after hours.
Interaction with Guests
While we will not be present during your stay, we do leave you in the very capable hands of our fabulous team. They are available to prepare meals, clean, provide information and to help facilitate a wonderful stay. Breakfast is included with each booking, and the guys will be happy to prepare an additional meal each day for the cost of the ingredients. Please discuss your requirements with them - they are a wealth of local knowledge and contacts and will be more than happy to assist with suggestions and arrangements for activities.
The Neighborhood
Unakanda offers peace and tranquility just minutes away from Unawatuna Beach, the restaurants and havens of Thalpe, and historic Galle Fort. It is located above the beach amongst local village houses. Within less than 20 mins of travelling you will find many casual and fine dining options, more beaches, turtle hatchery, antiques dealers, etc. We provide guests with a list of local eateries, attractions and other useful information.
Getting Around
Walk down the property, through the temple, over the road and you are on the beach. Local tuk-tuk will be able to take you to most of the places you might like to go. There is a bus and railway station at nearby Galle. Transit from Colombo International Airport to Unakanda takes between 2-3 hours depending on traffic. Airport pick -up and drop-off can be arranged.
Other Things to Note
Morrie is our resident dog. We ask that he is not permitted into the accommodation. If you prefer that Morrie is not onsite during your stay, he will be happy to have a sleepover at a friend's house.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Pool
Breakfast included
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air conditioning
Ocean view
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House Rules
Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children welcome
Events
No events allowed
Pets
No pets allowed
Pets considered
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking only
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
We should mention
A car is not required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Unawatuna
Unawatuna is home to this villa. Unawatuna Beach and Dalawella Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include National Maritime Museum and Handunugoda Tea Estate. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Galle International Cricket Stadium or Galle Tennis Club. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Galle, SP
What's nearby
- Unawatuna Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
- Dalawella Beach - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
- Jungle Beach - 5 min drive - 3.7 km
- Galle Fort - 8 min drive - 6.9 km
- Mirissa Beach - 35 min drive - 34.2 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Una Tuna - 3 min drive
- Daffodil - 3 min drive
- Tartaruga restaurant - 4 min drive
- Steam Yard - 3 min drive
- The Hideout Unawatuna - 20 min walk
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Tim
Expat Aussie Family living and working in Dubai and living the dream in Sri Lanka (when we can get there!)
Why they chose this property
Unakanda is ideally located near Galle and the wonderful UNESCO world heritage listed Galle Fort with its fabulous architecture, quirky shops, galleries and cool cafes. The property is minutes from Unawatuna beach and has easy access to the lovely cafes, restaurants and hidden little beaches scattered along the coast between Unawatuna and Mirissa. Whale watching, turtle hatchery, cycle tours, diving, surfing, shopping, tea plantations, silk worm factory are all nearby.
Yet many of our guests shelve their plans to explore, opting instead to chill by the infinity pool or soak in the separate plunge pool, or laze on the tree shaded roof terrace with its 270 degree sea view, or just watch the endless parade of wildlife while sipping on fresh coconut juice.....
Yet many of our guests shelve their plans to explore, opting instead to chill by the infinity pool or soak in the separate plunge pool, or laze on the tree shaded roof terrace with its 270 degree sea view, or just watch the endless parade of wildlife while sipping on fresh coconut juice.....
What makes this property unique
Our team are special. Big smiles, excellent cooks and delighted to provide local information or help arrange outings and activities. Although it is unique, guests frequently tell us that Unakanda feels like home, which we feel is a huge complement and testament to the relaxing nature of our little piece of paradise.
Languages:
English, Italian
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