Kayaam Wellness

Kayaam Wellness is a Resplendent Ceylon Ayurveda retreat on the beach at Rekawa, east of Tangalle, where resident doctors shape treatments and meals. With a Bawa-inspired 20-cover restaurant, an infinity pool beneath coconut palms and a yoga deck in the garden, it is run for rest, treatment and quiet rather than a busy resort scene.

What are the rooms like at Kayaam Wellness?

The rooms and suites are sold in five categories, ranging from compact garden rooms to a residence with its own garden and jacuzzi.

• Garden Terrace Room – two ground-floor, west-facing rooms of 40 square metres, with either a king-size bed or twin beds and a private terrace that opens straight onto the garden and the pool. They sleep two adults; there is no space for an extra bed.
• Ocean Room – also 40 square metres and west-facing, with a king-size bed and a balcony or terrace looking over the tropical garden and infinity pool to the Indian Ocean; the upper-floor rooms have the widest sea views. They sleep two adults, with no extra bed.
• Palm View Room – 55 square metres with a king-size bed, a separate living room, a large outdoor terrace and an outdoor bathtub, looking over the surrounding greenery. One roll-away bed can be added on request.
• Palm View Suite with Jacuzzi – a single suite of 66 square metres with a king-size bed, a separate living room and an oversized terrace with its own private jacuzzi. It sleeps up to three with a roll-away bed.
• Palm View Residence with Jacuzzi – 74 square metres set in its own private garden with an outdoor jacuzzi, a king bedroom, a separate living room and a large loft with four single beds, sleeping up to six.

To keep the house tranquil, Kayaam Wellness accepts only older teenagers and adults during normal operations; younger children can stay only when the whole property is booked out. There is no accommodation for drivers, but the team can suggest guest houses nearby.

What wellness programmes does Kayaam Wellness offer?

Every stay includes an introductory consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor. Guests who want more can join one of eight programmes running from 3 to 22 nights: Ayurveda Immersion, a three-night introduction; Detox and Cleanse; Inner Balance, for people recovering from illness, grief or stress; Ayurvedic Skincare and Self-healing; Digestive and Gut Health Recovery; Ease and Alignment, for chronic and acute pain; Remedy and Restoration; and Weight Loss and Vitality. Each combines personalised treatments such as abhyanga, sweda and panchakarma with herbal remedies, yoga, meditation and a diet planned around you.

What is the food like?

Meals are served in a small, Bawa-inspired restaurant and bar with only 20 covers. The kitchen cooks healthy, locally sourced dishes rooted in Sri Lankan coastal cooking, with fresh seafood and seasonal produce. You can order from the à la carte menu or have the resident doctor plan your meals, and gluten-free and other diets are catered for if you say so in advance. There is no formal dress code; guests tend to dress smart casual. A starlit barbecue of grilled seafood and meats is one of the resort's set experiences.

What is there to do at the resort?

Morning yoga takes place on the elevated yoga deck in the garden, and guided classes in asana, breathing and meditation are offered throughout the stay. Between treatments there is the long infinity pool, jacuzzis and koi ponds, and the beach for walks at sunset. Further afield the resort arranges surfing at Blue Beach for beginners and experienced surfers, a round of golf on a nearby course, private whale-watching trips at sea and an Ayurvedic cookery experience.

What is nearby?

Rekawa Beach is one of the island's main turtle-nesting beaches, and the Rekawa Turtle Observation Camp runs night-time watches. Behind the coast, Rekawa Lagoon can be explored by kayak. Inland, the cave temples of Mulkirigala climb a rock with views over the countryside, and the Wewurukannala Viharaya is known for its giant seated Buddha. Along the coast are the Hummanaya blowhole, the wetlands of Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and, further east, Bundala National Park. The beaches and restaurants of Tangalle are close by.

How do I get from the airport to Kayaam Wellness?

Resplendent Ceylon puts the resort about 210 kilometres and three hours by road from Bandaranaike International Airport, using the Southern Expressway and leaving at the Ranna or Tangalle exit; from Colombo it is about 190 kilometres, also around three hours. The simplest way to arrive is a private transfer from Colombo airport to Kayaam Wellness, which takes you to the door.

Who is Kayaam Wellness best suited to?

It suits adults who want a proper Ayurvedic programme, or simply a few quiet days of yoga, good food and a near-empty beach. The resort recommends three to four nights for a stay without a programme. It pairs well with its sister properties in the Resplendent Ceylon group: Cape Weligama, about an hour west; Wild Coast Tented Lodge at Yala, about an hour and a half east; and Ceylon Tea Trails in the hill country. For more choice nearby see our places to stay in Rekawa.