Kayaam House
Tangalle

Kayaam House is a boutique sanctuary designed for rest, renewal and reconnection. With an emphasis on wellness and slow living, the retreat offers a calming blend of barefoot luxury, personalised care, and tranquil surroundings that invite guests to pause, breathe and simply be. Opened in February 2023, it was the inaugural property under Reverie, the new luxury brand from Resplendent Ceylon - the acclaimed collection behind Cape Weligama, Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Ceylon Tea Trails and, more recently, Ahu Bay. With just nine suites and a deeply serene atmosphere, Kayaam House is made for couples, friends or solo travellers in search of renewal on Sri Lanka’s southern shores.

Designed by celebrated Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte, Kayaam House is a considered masterclass in tropical modernism. Its nine rooms are divided into five categories; two Garden Terrace Rooms, four Ocean Rooms, one Palm View Room, a Palm View Suite with Jacuzzi and the crowning Palm View Residence with Jacuzzi. Each is framed by either soul-stirring sea views or lush palm gardens. Inside, the look is understated but elegant; reclaimed wood, local stone, antiques, soft Sri Lankan textiles and Buddhist motifs woven quietly into the scheme. Wide verandas invite slow mornings, indoor-outdoor bathrooms bring the tropical air inside, and every corner feels like a calm, comfortable and carefully curated sanctuary.

Wellness lies at the heart of the Kayaam House experience. Treatments at the intimate spa draw on traditional Sri Lankan therapies, while yoga and meditation are offered overlooking the ocean. Food is equally restorative, the kitchen leans into Sri Lanka’s bold culinary heritage, with fragrant curries, locally caught seafood and produce sourced from nearby village markets. For something special, private dining can be arranged under the stars, accompanied by the crash of waves and the flicker of lantern light.

Beyond the hotel, Kayaam House is a perfect base for discovering the quieter south. Just along the shoreline, Tangalle’s golden sands stretch for miles, while nearby Rekawa Beach is one of the best places in the country to see nesting sea turtles on guided night walks. Bird-watchers can drift through the lagoons of Kalametiya Sanctuary, spotting migratory flocks and rare endemics from a boat, while history-seekers can climb to the painted cave shrines of Mulkirigala Rock Temple, its views spilling down to the coast. Out at sea, sunrise brings the chance to encounter giants - Mirissa is among the world’s most reliable places for blue whale and sperm whale watching. And about ninety minutes north, Galle Fort offers a cultural counterpoint with cobbled streets, little cafés and centuries of Portuguese, Dutch and British history pressed into its honey-stone walls.

Since opening, Kayaam House has already caught the attention of the press, with Condé Nast Traveler including it in its 2023 Hot List for its intimate scale, architectural finesse, and quietly luxurious approach. Sustainability and sensitivity to its setting have also been praised, ensuring the hotel leaves a positive footprint on both guests and the environment.

A coastal drive of around three and a half hours from Colombo (or a fifty-minute hop by air taxi) brings you to Kayaam House, far enough for seclusion, yet perfectly placed for exploration. With its blend of contemporary design, attentive service, and a location on one of Sri Lanka’s most untouched stretches of coastline, Kayaam House is an inspired choice for a luxury Sri Lanka beach holiday, balancing deep relaxation with discovery.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran