The Teak House, Sri Lanka

Nestled on a hilltop in the midst of a lush, tropical garden, The Teak House is one of Sri Lanka's South Coast’s most romantic and serene villa hideaways. If you are seeking complete privacy or even solitude within moments of an unspoilt Indian Ocean beach, The Teak House offers luxury and privacy for your Sri Lanka holiday.

The Teak House is situated two miles west of Tangalle, on a palm-strewn hillside which runs down to the beautiful and largely deserted beach of Seenimodera (Sugar Bay). Renowned as one of the Sri Lanka’s most picturesque and unspoilt sandy beaches, Seenimodera offers safe swimming all year round and incomparable body boarding and walking. Stroll across to neighbouring Mahawella beach, a horseshoe shaped bay of over 3 km. Tangalle is one of the most picturesque spots in the deep south, about one and a half hours from Galle and a further two and a half hours to Yala.

From its elevated position overlooking Seenimodera beach, the villa’s vast bedrooms and open plan living benefit from the constant breezes coming from the Indian Ocean below. Hidden from view, the villa, constructed entirely of teak - one of Sri Lanka’s sustainable hardwoods - is relaxed and comfortable. Lying in one of the seven foot, four poster beds you can see and hear the constant rhythm of the Indian Ocean. High ceilings and open shutters maximise the breeze flowing from the Indian Ocean below. Each room has an ensuite shower room complete with polished cement walls and hot water. Additional single beds and mosquito nets are available for extra guests or children.

The two bedrooms are separated with an open-plan sitting, dining and kitchen area, which looks down through a small forest of coconut trees and brilliantly colourful tropical garden to the Seenimodera coastline beyond. Roshan, the house boy, will do all your shopping and cooking. An accomplished chef, he will prepare the most delicious Sri Lankan curries and a wide range of Thai and international dishes. Fresh fish is delivered every day, straight from the beach, and fresh mussels are plucked from the outlying rocks by The Teak House’s very own boat.

Planted with an exotic collection of wonderful tropical flora, The Teak House garden has become a haven for a stunning collection of tropical birds. Woodpecker, peacocks, birds of paradise, kingfisher and the busy ‘chit chat’ birds luxuriate in its lush profusion. Sea eagles hover above and, as dusk falls and a dark tropical night descends, fireflies light up the sky.