Following an exciting three days exploring Colombo, Kandy and Sigiriya we were finally ready for the relaxing portion of our vacation! Enter Amanwella – a slice of Indian ocean heaven!

Positioned on a stretch of pristine white sand beach along the Southern coast of Sri Lanka, Tangalle – 190km from Colombo – Amanwella is one of the two Aman properties in Sri Lanka. Renown for its tranquil simplicity and understated luxury, Aman is (in my opinion!) the top luxury hotel brand in the world – they operate in 21 countries and have 33 properties.

The Grounds

Inspired by the work of Sri Lanka’s most prominent architect – Geoffrey Bawa, Amanwella is a reflection of Asia’s clear-angle Tropical modernist movement.

Nestled beneath towering coconut palm trees, the resort’s open-air architecture can be experienced throughout the entire property allowing you to feel closer to nature and the surrounding environment.

The main pool at the resort is in itself an incredible experience – a 150 foot infinity pool on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the palm-adorned bay. It delivered a breathtaking sunset every night while we were there and of course, made for the perfect sunset cocktail spot!

Amanwella is a car-free resort, so if you want to be driven around the property grounds you are offered complimentary rides in the hotel’s tuk-tuks.

I must admit I am completely obsessed with the tuk-tuk as a form of transportation, and I really wish I could ride around the mean streets of London in one 😀

The Villa

The resort has 30 contemporary stand-alone villas, each with a very good-sized private plunge pool and large terrace overlooking the beach, ocean and surrounding coconut grove.

Bawa’s trademark mix of Corbusian minimalism and indigenous natural materials is a fantastic fit for Aman’s reputation for understated luxury.

The villas feature floor-to-ceiling windows with sliding doors on both sides, allowing for the fresh air to flow freely and bring in the sea breeze and sounds of nature. Speaking of nature, I have to say that mosquito spray is absolutely essential unless you wish to become delicious human bait for the local insects 😀

We like to indulge in a good massage whenever possible, so we got some divine in-room treatments on our villa patio overlooking the beach. Serenity at its best!

The Beach

The contemporary beach retreat is located along a pristine white powder sand beach and was absolutely perfect for relaxation, snorkelling, surfing and even whale watching (December through March). Chilling under the palm trees and drinking a piña colada was hardly an unpleasant experience 😀

created by dji camera

created by dji camera

I am not usually one to get in the ocean because I am just too lazy and don’t want to deal with all the sand involved, but I have to say that even I couldn’t resist the turquoise waters of the Indian ocean.

I swam and snorkelled and floated on a body board every day we went to the beach. A couple of our friends who had joined us on this trip took some surfing lessons and were quite thrilled with the experience.

Let’s be honest – who would ever want to leave this place… I mean, really 🙂

The Food

The property has a full service restaurant specialising in Sri Lankan and Mediterranean cuisine, which is open to the public. The menu relies on locally-grown produce, fresh seafood delivered from the local fishermen, and traditional spices. The view of the bay is breathtaking and the service was always fantastic.

In addition to the restaurant, the resort has a beach club which serves lunch and dinner, located right next to the water. It was such a beautiful and romantic setting and we enjoyed a candlelit dinner with our bare feet in the powdery white sand.

On the last evening of our stay at Amanwella, we were treated to, by far, the most memorable dining experience of the trip. We were driven to a local villagers’ house in Tangalle which Aman has converted into a traditional open kitchen.

We were greeted by a local family and taken to a homey dining area with a live fire, fresh seafood and local spices. Sri Lankans really are the kindest and most welcoming people.

We watched our chef prepare a selection of traditional food using ingredients from the local market and freshly caught seafood. I can say with absolute certainty this was my favourite meal while on the island.

The dish that stood out the most (for me) was a spicy tuna curry. I had never tried one before and I cannot wait to go back for some more 😉

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See you soon Amanwella! Next time we visit will be to say “I do!” 🙂 Yay!