Kayaam House

Where the jungle meets the tide, and wellness is quietly redefined

Set along a golden, wave-lapped stretch of Sri Lanka’s south coast, Kayaam House is an adults-only sanctuary for those seeking peace and tranquillity. Just a three-and-a-half-hour coastal drive from Colombo (or 50 minutes by air taxi), this intimate retreat in Rekawa, near Tangalle, blends tropical modernism with Sri Lankan heritage — a beach pad where design and nature exist in blissful harmony.

With only nine rooms and suites, the experience here is pared-back and personal. Ocean Rooms face west towards the horizon, ideal for sea-gazing and sunset worshipping. Ground floor rooms offer direct access to the lawn and frangipani-flanked pool, while upstairs, interconnecting options are perfect for couples travelling together. The Palm Suite and Palm Suite with Jacuzzi each offer added privacy, dusky views and generous balconies, while the Palm Residence — with its own lawn and mezzanine — is a rare find for those wanting space to truly unfurl.

Inside, the aesthetic is slow and considered: reclaimed woods, clean lines, handwoven textures and a gentle palette drawn from the surrounding landscape. Each space feels like an invitation to exhale.

At Kayaam House, the art of nourishment is taken seriously. Breakfast is included, but meals are anything but an afterthought. Chef Namal Surenda’s kitchen honours the island’s rich larder with hyperlocal produce, warm spices and fresh coastal flavours. Lunch might bring a tamarind-glazed jackfruit curry or grilled amberjack wrapped in banana leaf. Dinner, served beneath open skies, becomes a slow, sensory experience. High tea is available each afternoon — a civilised nod to Sri Lanka’s colonial past, reimagined with soul.

The Sama Spa offers a quiet counterpoint to the sea’s pull — two intimate treatment rooms, daily yoga in the beach-facing shala, and a menu of therapies rooted in ancient healing practices and local botanicals. For those drawn to movement, the 25-metre T-shaped infinity pool invites languid laps, while bicycles wait to be claimed for leisurely rides through village lanes and coastal roads.

Kayaam House is not just near the beach — it is on it. Just steps from the lawn, soft sands unfold to a stretch of protected coastline where sea turtles come ashore to nest. The nearest coastal town, Tangalle, is just 20 minutes away — a low-key local hub where you’ll find traditional markets, a lively fish auction at dawn, and a scattering of relaxed beach cafés and restaurants for those tempted to venture beyond.

Beyond the hotel, the region offers an unfiltered glimpse into Sri Lanka’s wilder side: sacred temples carved into rock at Mulkirigala, moonlit turtle safaris in Rekawa, kayaking through mangrove lagoons, and birding in the nearby Kalametiya Sanctuary. The blowhole at Hummanaya, rice paddies peppered with egrets, and the slow, swaying rhythm of rural life offer glimpses of a landscape untroubled by time.

Many of our guests travel to Sri Lanka as part of a wider journey, taking in multiple regions to experience the island’s extraordinary diversity. Kayaam House is often just one stop on a much broader tailor-made itinerary. To explore how this hotel might fit into your own bespoke journey, visit the ‘Tailor-Made Itineraries’ tab or get in touch — we’d be delighted to help you make the most of your time on this vast and varied island.