Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Coco Tangalla, Galle and South Coast, Sri Lanka
Facts in brief
Location Near the edge of Weligama, on the south coast of Sri Lanka, under an hour from Galle.
Closest airport Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport
Distance from airport Around 2.5 hours’ drive
Hotel facilities and services
Concierge Service, Infinity Pool, Restaurant, Bar, Terrace, Reading Lounge/Library, Spa, Yoga, Garden Courtyards, Complementary Beach Shuttle Services, Binocular Hire, Telescope Hire, Bicycle Hire, Excursions (Whale Watching, Leopards at Yala National Park, Elephants at Uduwalawe National Park, Golfing), Visits and Tours (Galle Fort Tour, Virgin White Tea Plantation, Cinnamon Tour at Top House, Homegrown Vegetable Garden Tour, Village Temple), Safari (Madu River, Koggola Lagoon), and Activities (Interactive Tree Trail, Traditional Cooking Experience, Wetland Birdwatching Treks, Guided Countryside Cycling).
Out and about nearby
Close by, in the Matara District, is the beautiful Weligama Bay. Whale watching near Mirissa Beach is possible, as well as visits to Yala National Park and Uduwalawe National Park. Likewise, Madu River and Koggola Lagoon can be enjoyed via safari. Guests may also want to tour and explore Galle Fort, the Virgin White Tea Plantation, or the cinnamon plantation at Top House.
Sports nearby
Golf
Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.Mrs H, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing an Ocean View Pool Villa
From about
Holiday Code EXH46771
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Coco Tangalla, Galle and South Coast, Sri Lanka
Malabar Hill is a beautiful boutique hotel with 12 villas in Weligama, near Sri Lanka’s southern coast. This hotel has a focus on craftsmanship and is designed to be both Sri Lankan in style and natural in atmosphere, making the most of sustainable materials from the local area. Each of its villas is acutely designed and has an infinity plunge pool and marvellous views of the Indian Ocean or Wetland Sanctuary. The menu showcases organic ingredients from the local area and both Sri Lankan and Mediterranean cuisine, and guests can enjoy perusing the sommelier’s wine list. The Bar has expansive views of the jungle and ocean, and the Terrace offers fresh air and blue skies, as well as cocktails and sharing platters. The hotel is a wonderful place to relax - nestle down with a good book in the library, enjoy the spa, or unwind with yoga. For those in more adventurous moods, explore the area with a hired bicycle, or venture outside with a pair of binoculars in the day or with a telescope once the stars come out. The concierge service provides personalised aid to guests, whether that be providing picnic hampers or curating a romantic dinner. The hotel also arranges a number of activities for its guests, such as whale watching, national park excursions, safaris, cooking experiences, birdwatching treks, and more.
Room descriptions
Malabar Hill has 12 villas. Villas have infinity plunge pool, private patio with area for al fresco dining, mini bar, snacks, locally grown teas and French press coffee, yoga mats, complimentary sarongs, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, laptop size safe, bathroom with rain shower and terrace access, hairdryer, natural toiletries.
Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.Mrs H, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing an Ocean View Pool Villa
From about
Holiday Code EXH46771
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Coco Tangalla, Galle and South Coast, Sri Lanka
The journey and how you get there
Most of the stays at Malabar Hill are part of a longer touring itinerary in Sri-Lanka, accompanied by driver-guide but a stay here could be combined with another hotel in this region or another to make a two-centre holiday.
Absolutely loved it. Bespoke sense of the trip is very good. Very pleasant and efficient service.Mrs H, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing an Ocean View Pool Villa
From about
Holiday Code EXH46771
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to Coco Tangalla, Galle and South Coast, Sri Lanka
About Galle and south coast
A stay in Galle and southern Sri Lanka uncovers a world of historic Dutch forts, beautiful beaches and fishermen fishing on stilts, where sleepy villages lie hidden in palms behind the wide sandy bays and sheltered coves. The further east you go, the less populated and the more naturally wild and remote the landscapes become. The lush inland forest reserves in the south-west contrast sharply with the arid south-eastern national parks of Yala, Uda Walave and Bundala, where wild elephants and migratory birds flock around the water ‘tanks’ and where leopards and sloth bear have been known to roam. Between December and April, the south coast is popular for whale and dolphin watching, in the waters off Weligama Bay. Galle, on the south-west tip of Sri Lanka, is a reminder of the Dutch presence on the island. The new town may have the usual urban bustle, but the Dutch Fort, built in 1663, retains a timeless air. Constructed by the Dutch East Indian Company as a fortified town, Galle Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site which is still intact with a thriving community living and working within its walls. You can walk along part of the ramparts with views out to sea on one side and the famous Galle cricket ground on the other. The region around Galle is fascinating and incredibly beautiful with its rainforest reserves and indigenous wildlife, as well as fishing villages and palm-fringed, sandy coves. We have selected hotels in Galle and along the South Coast which are ideally located to visit the many places of interest in the area. These hotels include Jetwing Lighthouse, a classy hotel designed by Geoffrey Bawa; The Fortress, an outstanding deluxe resort hotel; Amangalla, a splendid colonial-style hotel; Kahanda Kanda, a small and elegant countryside hotel; and Taprobane Island, a private island retreat.
Highlights of Galle and the south coast
Fascinating Galle has plenty to offer the visitor: Galle Fort – UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the few living fort cities in the world; Walk around the ramparts of Galle at dawn or at sunset; Arts & crafts shopping – jewellery, lace, rush & reed, home décor, furniture, antiques, batik and boutiques; The Dutch Reformed Church; Galle Literary Festival in January; National Museum; Maritime Museum in the Dutch warehouses of Galle Fort, just re-opened; Galle Markets; Galle Cricket Stadium; Hot-air balloon ride (December to April); River boat trip. A little way inland from Galle/Koggala: Hiyare Nature Reserve (volunteering possible); Kottawe Nature Reserve; Kanneliya Forest; Samakanda (organic farm, visit, walks and lunches available upon request); Village life bike rides; Handicrafts in the villages e.g. lace-making, rush & reed, woodcarving; Yatagala Temple. On the way from Galle to Yala you can enjoy: Stilt Fishermen; Cinnamon plantations; Unuwatuna beach; Martin Wickramasinghe’s house – museum (literary and 20th century life); Koggala Lake; Hinduangoda White tea factory and estate; Lace-making – Weligama, Dickwella; Surfing – popular surfing beaches from Unuwatuna to Mirissa; Weligama Bay; Coastal villages and fishing harbours; Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching (from Mirissa); Diving (from Mirissa); Deep-sea fishing trips (from Mirissa); Provincial town of Matara (Dutch heritage – fort and church); Dondra Head and Dondra Lighthouse; Kudawala Blow Hole; Mulkirigala Buddhist temple (inland); Uda Walawe National Park and Elephant Transit Home (inland); Sea Turtles laying their eggs on the beach, usually February to July (Rekawa Turtle Project); Kalametiya bird sanctuary; Bundala Nature Reserve (bird-watching mainly); Yala National Park; Kataragama – centre for Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim pilgrimages; Tissamaharama - ancient ‘tank’ and dagobas.
Cultural highlights of Galle and the south coast
There are many places to visit in Galle and the area along the south coast of Sri Lanka. In Galle itself, Galle Fort is home to a national museum housing Dutch and Singhalese exhibits of historical interest as well as a newly-opened Maritime Museum, a lighthouse and a 17th century Dutch Reform Church. The narrow streets within the Fort are fascinating for their architecture, lined with official buildings, shops and old town houses, some of which have been converted to stylish villas and boutique hotels. Outside the ramparts, Galle functions busily as a provincial town and port - brightly painted fishing boats line the shore and there is a lively market area with a whole pavilion dedicated to fish. Galle and the surrounding villages are full of artisans – lace makers, jewellers, woodcarvers, painters and people making things out of coir, rush and reed. The National Crafts Council has a centre by the old entrance to Galle Fort and there are plenty of small shops selling crafts, jewellery and antiques, as well as a few designer boutiques. Slightly further afield, there are numerous beautiful beaches and fishing villages including Thalpe, Unuwatuna, Matara, Koggala, Weligama Bay and Tangalle, as well as a number of National Parks with plenty of wildlife.
Festivals in Galle and the south coast
January: The Galle Literary Festival - this 4-day festival brings together Sri Lankan and international authors from around the world for writing workshops, talks, exhibitions and more at various locations in Galle. Past guests have included Vickram Seth and Gore Vidal. July: Unuwatuna Perahera - a 7-day festival commencing on full moon day. Matara/Dondra Perahera - with dedications to Lord Vishnu. Kataragama Esala Festival - a 10-day festival when pilgrims give penance to the Hindu war god, Skanda. July to September: Kite flying on the ramparts of Galle
Climate in Galle and the south coast
The average temperature on the South coast is 32° C with 65% humidity, though it is cooler and more humid in the west, getting progressively hotter and less humid the further east you go, especially the east of Tangalle. The evenings are a little cooler and the coasts enjoy sea breezes. Rainfall is experienced mainly during the south-west monsoon from May to August. The ‘calm’ season is December to April, when the seas are general calm and there is little rainfall. Whilst the sea appears calm out of the monsoons, there are still undercurrents and riptides.
