Villa Alba Ahangama

Five-Suite Villa on the Paddy Fields near the Sri Lankan Surf City of Ahangama

A five-bedroom private villa, available in full or as individual, stand-alone suites, this tranquil tropical getaway is nestled into the lush landscaping above the vivid paddy fields of Thiththagalla village. A contemporary retreat designed by Tectonic Architects, the property is named for its Scottish owners ("Alba" is the word for Scotland in Gaelic).

Defined by a breezy common area that captures the essence of the property’s leafy tropical location, the palm and plant surrounded main house consists of a generous open-plan living area with a breakfast bar and refined dining area, sofa seating and a well-stocked library. The entire common area opens to the pool deck via operable, floor-to-ceiling glass panels, the oversized swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers and parasols, the paddy fields just beyond. Each of the private suites, extending on either side of the pool, have en-suite bathrooms and furnished balconies.

Layout

Premier Suite A clean-lined, glass-enclosed suite with a panoramic balcony, this king suite has a writing desk/workstation and a private outdoor bathroom with a shower. With oversized windows wrapping around the bed space (equipped with draperies and darkening curtains), this makes for a luxurious tropical observation “deck.”

King Suites (2) Set at the property’s highest vantage point, each of these rooms offers big views over the paddy fields. En-suite bathrooms are modern, with walk-in showers, and there’s a writing desk tucked behind the bed that floats at the center of each room.

Garden Suites (2) A pair of rooms that share a ground-level garden green, these suites are ideal for spotting wildlife both in bed and outdoors on the balcony, from playful monkeys in the jackfruit tree to storks out in the paddies. Showers are generous walk-in spaces, and there are in-room writing desks.

Experiences

The property includes an on-site restaurant, and breakfast is served daily. A pool snack menu of small plates joins a more extensive all-day dining menu, with many ingredients sourced from the roof garden or local farms.

Experiences include in-room spa treatments and massage, an on-site yoga instructor, a tea rolling course in which you learn to roll, ferment and dry your own tea, tea pairings and tastings. And the property is primarily solar-powered.

Bicycles are available for guest use.

Additional information

Individual rooms can be booked on their own here. A 13% tax/fee is charged (10% service charge, 3% tax). Two additional beds are available for $40 per bed per night.

Around

Famed for its cinnamon, Thiththagalla is a village on a paddy peninsula near the larger communities of Ahangama and Kathaluwa and only about 30 minutes from both Galle and Mirissa on Sri Lanka’s south coast. The suites’ balconies overlook the garden and paddies, where peacocks parade, langurs swing and egrets swoop. The area is rich with natural wildlife and flora, including palm civets and wild boar, endangered purple-faced langur monkeys and mongoose, and a wide variety of birds, from sea eagles and kingfisher to kites and flycatchers.

Sri Lanka’s south coast is known for its golden beaches and a thriving surf and wellness scene. Nearby Ahangama features a town center packed with wellness studios, hip cafes, surf shops and lively beach bars. This Sri Lankan spot is home to over 10 world-class surf breaks, catering to all skill levels from beginners to barrel chasers, and the wide sands at Weligama Bay are an ideal spot for beginners, with dozens of instructors and guides on hand. Beyond surfing, watersports in the area include both diving and snorkeling Sri Lanka’s coral reefs and underwater caves.

The area is also known for its whale-watching migrations, and several of the beaches have protected reefs that are home to sea turtles. Koggala Lake is the country’s largest freshwater site, connected to the sea at its southern shore. Sport fishing on the lake is popular, with barracuda, shad, snapper and brackish fish varieties all available if you can catch them! Touring the lake by boat reveals a wealth of bird life, and beware the crocs, who love to come out at dawn. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort is about half an hour from the property, and Udawalawe National Park and Yala National Park (both about two hours away) make for great daytrips where open jeep safaris encounter elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and leopards, in addition to hundreds of bird species.

Location

Thiththagalla, Ahangama, Sri Lanka. Nearest airport: Koggala (10 miles)

Best time to visit

November to April is dry season.