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Amanwella is Aman's beach resort on Sri Lanka's south coast, a low-slung retreat of stone, timber and glass set in a mature coconut grove above a crescent-shaped bay near Tangalle. Designed by the Australian architect Kerry Hill and opened in 2005, it follows the tropical modernism of Geoffrey Bawa: open pavilions, terracotta roofs and long views of the Indian Ocean. Every suite has its own plunge pool and terrace, and the golden beach below runs for about 800 metres.
The resort sits at Godellawela, on the coast just west of Tangalle, roughly ten minutes by car from the town centre. The suites are built into the hillside on several levels, so the path from the grove down to the sand passes through gardens and frangipani rather than a car park.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is north of Colombo, and the drive south takes around three hours, most of it on the Southern Expressway before the final stretch along the coast road. Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) is closer, about an hour away, and Amangalla in Galle is roughly two hours west, which makes it easy to combine the two Aman properties in one trip. A pre-booked private transfer with a driver who knows the resort is the simplest way to arrive after a long flight. Book the Colombo (CMB) Airport transfer to Amanwella.
All suites share the same calm design: loft-like ceilings, terrazzo floors, teak and sand-coloured furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto a terrace and a private plunge pool. Aman offers them as Garden Pool Suites, Ocean Hill Pool Suites, Ocean Pool Suites and Premium Ocean Pool Suites, the categories moving from the shade of the coconut grove to the most open views of the bay. Bathrooms are finished in the same pale stone and timber, with a freestanding bathtub.
The Restaurant sits above the bay and serves Sri Lankan and Asian dishes alongside Mediterranean cooking and fresh seafood from the local catch. The Lounge and Bar is the place for an evening drink, and meals are also served on the Pool Terrace. Down on the sand, the Beach Club hosts seafood barbecues, and a tuk-tuk shuttle carries guests between the suites and the shore.
The centrepiece is a 47-metre infinity pool that seems to run straight into the palms and the ocean. There is a library for quiet afternoons, a beach platform for morning yoga, and spa treatments given in the privacy of the suites or out in the gardens. Rather than a busy programme, the resort is designed for slow days: reading on the terrace, swimming in the bay when the sea is calm, and watching the light fade over the bay in the evening.
The resort arranges surfing lessons, snorkelling, mountain biking, cooking classes and birdwatching on Mawella Lagoon. Between December and April, whale and dolphin watching trips head out along the south coast. Turtles nest on the beaches of this coast, and the ancient rock temple of Mulkirigala lies inland from Tangalle. For wildlife safaris, Bundala National Park is about 75 minutes away, Udawalawe National Park about an hour and a half, and Yala National Park can be reached for a full day in the park.
Amanwella suits travellers who want privacy, architecture and an unhurried beach rather than nightlife or a large resort. It works well for couples, for honeymooners, and as the restful final stop of a tour through Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle, hill country and national parks. Pair it with a few nights inside Galle Fort at Amangalla for a contrast between a colonial town and a quiet stretch of southern coast.
I had dinner two nights at this hotel's restaurant, and it is perhaps the most beautiful restaurant I have ever been to: breathtaking view of the bay, luxurious and refined interiors, delicious food, and excellent service. An abso…
After one of the most exhausting travel days we've ever experienced, arriving at Amanwella completely changed everything. Due to poor arrangements by our tour operator, we spent over 10 hours travelling, missed two activities we…
We have stayed at many Aman Hotels. This one ranks among the worst. While overall the amenities are OK, there is unfortunately no gym and no spa. And our shower leaked water into the room (we were informed that nothing could be do…
Ratings and reviews provided by TripAdvisor for Amanwella.
Pre-book a private vehicle for arrival, departure, or onward travel.
