Destination
Are you looking for a luxury getaway at one of Sri Lanka’s beach resorts?
So, imagine a sleepy cozy town in southeast Sri Lanka, perfect for doing nothing. With the white sandy beaches that stretch out as long as your eyes can see. This is Tangalle, in southeast Sri Lanka. We landed here en route to Galle and Colombo as part of our Sri Lanka 10-day road trip itinerary.
The coastline has many tranquil bays with beautiful rugged beaches. Tourism here has not developed as much as the southwest coast. If you are looking for a vacation on unspoiled beaches and are on a luxury budget, Tangalle doesn’t disappoint.
Tangalle also gives access to some of the major wildlife reserves of Sri Lanka – Yala National Park is about 1.5 hours away, Uda Walawe National Park is about 1 hour away and Bundala National Park only 40 Minutes away. The beaches of Rekawa and Kahandamodara are ideal to experience sea turtles coming ashore at night to lay their eggs (only January – July).
Amanwella – part of the luxury chain Aman – with its private strip of the beach makes for a perfect hideaway.
Stay at Amanwella Resort
There are only suites at this property – that too, just 27. All suites are spacious, have contemporary furnishings and feature floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors on both sides. One side opens to an entrance courtyard with a private plunge pool, the other to an expansive terrace with views of the coconut grove, beach and ocean.
You can choose between Garden Pool Suite, Ocean Hill Pool Suite (high up on a hillock with lofty views of treetops and ocean) and the Ocean Pool Suite (much closer to the beach).
We had booked the Garden Pool Suite, with its own private courtyard, plunge pool and a terrace with deck chairs that looked over lush gardens. My 2-year-old couldn’t get enough of splashing about in the villa pool.
Food at Amanwella Resort
The main Restaurant looks over the palm fringed bay and the private beach of the resort. The setting with sweeping views across the pool is lovely for breakfast, a meal during the day or a sundowner. The cuisine is Asian and Mediterranean with an emphasis on seafood from the Indian Ocean.
Adjacent to the Restaurant, the Lounge and Bar offers a tipple for every taste, plus a full cigar menu.
The second restaurant, Beach Club is a short walk from the resort; it serves fresh seafood caught by the local fishermen, fresh salads and light meals perfect for daytime. It also does private dinners on request, amidst secluded spots on the beach.
Activities in and around Amanwella Resort
The resort can organize several activities ranging from surfing, snorkeling to whale watching and fishing in the Indian Ocean.
You can take a pottery class in the workshop of a master potter in the village of Palapotta. Or visit a plantation with a guide arranged by Amanwella, and learn about the island’s history of tea cultivation.
Having a sundowner with a gorgeous sunset for the company is the classic activity, that my husband and I perfected over our 2-day visit at the resort.
The resort offers a variety of Ayurvedic spa treatments, all in the privacy of your own suite.
What puts a smile ☺
The hospitality of Amanwella is great, as expected from an Aman resort. Though my daughter was the only kid in the resort at the time we visited, they made sure she was comfortable during meals at the restaurant, dished out the pasta and other food items of her choice, and kept her entertained while I was browsing at the hotel store for linens.
Contact
Website: Amanwella Tangalle
Email: amanwella@aman.com
Tel: +94 47 224 1333
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Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. We paid for our stay at Amanwella in full. As always, all opinions are my own.
Which is your favourite beach resort in Asia?
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GREAT hotel i would like to recommend hotel coming to srilanka most popular safari destination in yala national park from tangalle to yala tour duration is one any half hour win to free safari jeep tour for travel bloggers
I visited Yala National Park, a pity that I did not find my way to Tangalle because it looks a very pretty place. If you add to those beautiful beaches good food, a great treat by the hotel’s staff and terrific sunsets like the one on the picture,then I am sold! Very good finding
Indeed it was. How was the Yala experience for you? Beautuful jungle, but we didn’t spot any leopard. I enjoyed Kaudulla national park and the large herds of elephants there more.
My most favourite beach in Asia is the one in Leyte, it is unspoiled, virgin and so serene. When you’re lucky and visit on off season, you can have the island all by yourself! This, tho amanwella is a good place, as I and my partner are looking into a nice accommodation in our trip to Sri Lanka next year, this is such a good timing!
Cathy, also check out my Sri Lanka itinerary on the blog – you will get info and stay recommendations in other parts of the country.
Tangalle sounds like my ultimate destination – we love finding hidden gems that have not been affected by tourism, still very authentic and unspoiled. And we would be traveling to Sri Lanka for the wildlife experiences, so Amanwella Resort sounds like a good central base for the national parks.
The suites and villas sound incredible, and as a wildlife fan it’s awesome that you have monitor lizards right there on the resort beach club! Sounds like there are a lot of cool activities too. Thanks for the feature!
Check out Cinnamon Wild too, we stayed there for the experience at Yala national park.
This resort looks AMAZING! I really wanted to sty here during my trip to Sri Lanka but my wallet couldn’t stretch to it. Did you go whale-watching?
No Rosie, it wasn’t the season. I have heard good things about whale watching near Mirissa. And Sri Lanka has so much to offer beside luxury properties. You would enjoy your stay, whatever be your budget.
Amanwella Resort looks amazing! And there are exactly those activities I love: snorkeling, hiking, sunbathing. I must stay there, too, once I go to Sri Lanka!
If you enjoy hiking, you should check out Sigiriya and Adam’s Peak – whenever you do plan to go to Sri Lanka.
Looks a beautiful resort and the food sounds really tasty and fresh. Sri Lanka was on our wishlist for 2017 but unfortunately we didn’t get there. We really hope to change that in 2018.
It is a great destination for fresh seafood, nice beaches, warm people, great wildlife esp elephants and cultural sites. Hope you make it in 2018!
South East Coast of Sri Lanka is gorgeous. You add the Aman’s luxury hospitality to that you have a perfect holiday combination. To be able to have the massage in your own suite is the pampering you can gift yourself.
I agree Anuradha. Loved the south east coast of Sri Lanka. We drove from Tangalle to Galle, and further to Colombo and the coastline and villages are stunning.
Ah, when I went to the website to see what the rooms actually looked like, I see this is an Aman resort. The brand is known for a being one of the top luxury brands, so knowing that alone has me sold. I’d definitely opt for the ocean suites, since I love being just steps away from the water.
I’d also definitely be interested in visiting the local market with the chef. I think markets give such insight to the culture and food. And I’d probably spend the majority of my visit snorkeling on the reef.
Luxe Trvlr: I will add this is an Aman resort upfront in the blog. (I just assumed that since I was talking about Amanwella, everyone would know this automatically. But that assumption may not be correct.) Ocean Suite would be awesome.
Wow, first off, that sunset is spectacular! The Amanwella looks like my ideal beach resort. The beach is stunning, and it appeared that you practically had it all to yourselves. I also like that it’s centrally located near National Parks, although I’d have to admit that leaving the property would be difficult. Visiting Sri Lanka has been on my wishlist for a long time, and I’ll be sure to add Amanwella to the itinerary when I do visit. Already envisioning myself there perfecting the sundowner 😉
Sri Lanka does offer some stunning sunsets. Tangalle should definitely be on your itinerary for unspoilt beaches.
A place perfect for doing nothing? I could use some of that right now. 😀
I was amazed to read that suites have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors on both sides. The scenery around looks really beautiful and it’s probably incredible to be able to glance outside every now and then. Sounds like a dreamy destination. 🙂
Totally perfect. You are paying top dollar for those suites. 800 acres and 27 suites – you get the idea!