Apa Villa, Thalpe, Sri Lanka

Apa Villa sits in the coastal village of Thalpe, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, approximately 8 km from Galle. Spread across three individually named villas — Cinnamon, Cardamom and Saffron — the property offers seven suites in total, each styled with cool polished cement floors and elegant, comfortable furnishing. The villas can be rented individually or together as a group, making the retreat suitable for couples, families and larger parties alike.

Meals can be enjoyed on the veranda, cocktails sipped on the deck facing the beach and ocean, and guests are free to take long swims in the outdoor swimming pool. The setting balances quiet seclusion with easy access to Galle — roughly a 15-minute tuk ride away — while the drive from Colombo via the Colombo–Galle–Matara motorway takes approximately three and a half to four hours.

Cinnamon Villa

Cinnamon Villa houses three suites that are light and airy, each with a spacious lounge area opening onto an outdoor terrace facing the garden and the ocean. The suites include a large double bed with a mosquito net, an en-suite bathroom with a hot shower, a writing table cum dresser and ample wardrobe space, and all are air-conditioned. Cinnamon 1 connects with the neighbouring Cinnamon 2, forming a spacious apartment well suited to larger families, while Cinnamon 3 — the largest of the three — is a detached suite adjacent to the common lounge and library.

Cardamom Villa

The two Cardamom suites are separate yet adjacent to one another, each offering large rooms with en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioned bedrooms screened by door panels and a walk-in dressing area. A stunning view of the pool, ocean and beyond is a defining feature of both suites. Guests can relax along a long shared veranda of cool polished cement, complete with a dining table for breakfast in the morning breeze; romantic candlelit dinners are also accommodated here.

Saffron Villa

The two Saffron suites stand apart from the rest of the property. Each has its own private veranda overlooking the garden and the ocean, and the pair is separated by a fish-filled lily pond. Saffron 6 is considered the most spacious suite across the entire property, with doubled bedrooms adjoining a master bathroom whose separate doors lead onto the garden, living room and pool.