Fleewinter

This handsome home commands spectacular sea views and has been brought back to life by its current American owner. Ideal for barefoot living by the sea; finishing touches include cooling polished cement floors, high timber roofs, and a spacious verandah that skirts around the villa.

Interiors are tastefully infused with colour and decorated with art from Sri Lanka and overseas. In the house there are two double rooms opening on to the verandah with sea views. The third is a twin room (which can be made into a double) that opens onto a small courtyard. Bedrooms have air conditioning and overhead fans and are comfortably furnished with four poster beds fitted with mosquito netting. En-suite bathrooms have hot water showers.

The spacious living room opens onto the verandah and the gardens and is equipped with cable TV, DVD player, iPod dock, Bose sound system and board games.


 Cove House is ideal for 'chilled living' - spend your days with a good book and a cup of tea on the verandah or relax in the sun by the infinity pool. A relaxing Ayurvedic massage can also be arranged with prior notice. For the more active, there is surfing, scuba diving and whale and dolphin spotting excursions on offer nearby.

The home, which is only available as an exclusive private rental, is fully staffed with a cook who will go to the morning market for you and whip up a delicious array of local and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can choose to dine on the verandah or by the poolside. Guests are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages.

For parties up to 10 people, there is the option to rent Little Cove House, the garden house that is right next. The two properties share the same garden and grounds although both are still very private. For more information on Little Cove House: www.fleewinter.com/sri-lanka/accommodation/Little_Cove

The villa is in a great location for day trips - we can arrange excursions to both Yala and Bundala National Parks as well as to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, which is 40 minutes away and the Unesco-listed Galle Fort, which is just 1.5 hours away. The house also has its very own 3 wheel tuk-tuk, which can be used for local journeys. However, car and van transport is also available.

Cove House is located only 5 minutes from Dikwella, which is about half-way between Tangalle and Matara. You can also get to the villa by a daily sea plane from Colombo, which lands at the Mawella Lagoon, just 15 minutes from the house.

The sea immediately in front of the villa is safe for swimming and snorkelling during the season from December to April. Cove House can accommodate up to ten guests and is booked on a villa only basis.