How the food is actually made
Coconut scraped by hand, curry powder roasted rather than bought, and a proper pol sambol. Indu teaches it at the table to your honest spice tolerance.
The reason to stay here first
A first week in Sri Lanka goes better when somebody teaches you the country
Most visitors lose their first two days to the same small problems: the wrong exchange rate, a tuk-tuk fare three times what it should be, a temple entered in the wrong clothes, or a train seat that needed booking a fortnight ago. None of it is dangerous. All of it is avoidable knowledge that a family holds and a hotel front desk does not.
Come here on your first two nights and the remaining twelve go better.
Where to go, and in what order
Mervin plans routes for a living now: which coast is dry this month, what is worth two days, and what you can safely skip.
What things cost, and how to move
Real tuk-tuk fares, the ride app locals use, why you book the hill country train weeks ahead, and where to change money.
How to behave, and why
Shoulders and knees, shoes off, never turn your back on the Buddha, and what a Poya day closes.
Enough Sinhala and Tamil to matter
Ayubowan, istuti, vanakkam, nandri. Four words, learned properly, that open the island up.
The birds outside the gate
Kingfishers, waterbirds, and migratory waders at the Kotte wetlands minutes from the gate.
Simple, transparent pricing
Choose your room, then let us shape the rest
Breakfast and warm local guidance are included. Rates are per person, per night.
Double Room
US$25
per person · per night
- Queen bed and air conditioning
- Private attached bathroom
- Indu’s home-cooked breakfast
Deluxe Double Room
US$30
per person · per night
- Larger room with garden aspect
- Air conditioning and private bathroom
- Breakfast and local route advice
Rates may vary for special arrangements. Tours, transfers, drivers and additional meals are quoted to suit your itinerary. Cash payment accepted in USD, EUR, GBP or LKR.
Your personalised quote
What do you love doing when you travel?
Tell Mervin what draws you in—wildlife, history, food, forests, beaches, mountains, or something entirely your own. He will plan your accommodation, meals, transport, airport transfers, tours, and route around your interests, dates, and pace.
From the city to the whole island
Close to home, then far beyond it
Begin among wetlands and city life around Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo. When you are ready, Mervin can connect the beaches, hills and heritage into one sensible route.
Kotte wetlands & Diyasaru Park
Boardwalks, butterflies and rich birdlife in a quiet urban wetland.
Galle Face & the city
Seafront sunsets, markets, museums, temples and the old Fort district.
Ocean
Beaches & whale watching
South-coast beach days and seasonal whale trips from Mirissa.
Adventure
Surfing
Arugam Bay and the south coast offer breaks for first rides and experienced surfers.
Upcountry
Mountains & waterfalls
Tea country, cool-air train rides, trails and dramatic cascades.
Heritage
Ancient ruins & wonders
Sigiriya, Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa reveal centuries of island history.
For wildlife lovers
One small island, five very different safari experiences
Sri Lanka holds extraordinary biodiversity in a compact landscape. The right park depends on what you hope to see, the season, and how much wilderness—or quiet—you want.
Yala
Best for: Leopards and sloth bears.
Dry forest, scrub and lagoons also shelter elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and abundant birds. A full-day safari or quieter park block can help avoid the busiest hours.
Udawalawe
Best for: Wild elephants.
Open grassland makes elephant sightings especially reliable. Pair a safari with the Elephant Transit Home, which rehabilitates orphaned calves for release.
Minneriya & Kaudulla
Best for: The Elephant Gathering.
During the dry season—often June to September or October—large herds gather around the reservoirs. Conditions decide which neighbouring park is best that day.
Wilpattu
Best for: A quieter jungle safari.
Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest national park is known for natural rainwater lakes, dense forest, leopards and sloth bears, with fewer vehicles than Yala.
Bundala & Kumana
Best for: Birdwatching.
Bundala welcomes migratory birds, while Kumana is renowned for its bird sanctuary and secluded eastern landscape.
Featured itineraries
Let Mervin build your journey, starting and ending right here
Colombo & the South
Ideal for short breaks or quick island getaways.
- Arrive, settle in with Indu’s cooking, and walk Galle Face Green.
- Explore Galle Fort and watch sunset on the coast.
- Mirissa or Unawatuna; optional whale watching.
- Return toward Colombo with custom stops.
- Breakfast, local market, and airport transfer.
Triangle, Hills & Coast
The definitive first-time Sri Lanka experience.
- Sigiriya at dawn and Dambulla cave temples.
- Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth.
- Highland train to Ella and Little Adam’s Peak.
- Yala safari, then the south coast.
- Galle and a scenic return to Colombo.
Full Island Loop
For travellers who want every side of the island.
- Anuradhapura and the Jaffna peninsula.
- Trincomalee and Nilaveli.
- Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya.
- Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Ella by train.
- Yala or Udawalawe, then a final night home.
Our partner stays around Sri Lanka
A trusted place to stay at every turn
Continue your journey beyond Colombo with partner properties on the west coast, east coast, deep south and beside Yala. Ask Mervin to connect them into your personalised route and quote.
Negombo · West coast
Coastal Cocoon Studio
A convenient coastal stay near Negombo—well placed for the airport and the beginning or end of an island journey.
View on Booking.com →
Nilaveli · East coast
Beach Haven Nilaveli
An east-coast base close to Nilaveli’s broad beach and the clear waters around Pigeon Island.
View on Booking.com →
Kataragama · Yala region
Mandara Rosen Yala Kataragama
A full-service resort base for sacred Kataragama and wildlife country around Yala.
Visit the hotel website →
Mirissa · South coast
Mandara Resort Mirissa
A lagoon-and-ocean resort for southern beaches, relaxed coastal days and seasonal whale watching.
Visit the hotel website →Prefer one plan? Tell Mervin your dates and interests. He can suggest the right combination of stays, transport and experiences.
Plan my partner-hotel routeYour hosts
Mervin books the driver. Indu feeds you first.
Host & trip planner
Mervin
Thirty years as an executive in global food processing. He can tell you a fair tuk-tuk fare, which road to take on a Poya day, and why the airport queue moves the way it does. He books trusted drivers, calls ahead so nobody overcharges you, and keeps the house to the standards of his old industry.
Host & kitchen
Indu
A trained baker with a serious command of Sri Lankan home cooking. Breakfast comes continental, vegetarian, or Asian: hoppers and sambol if you want the real thing. Lunch and dinner are arranged the same way, cooked to your spice tolerance, and she will teach you any of it if you ask a day ahead.
The house & rooms
Built as a home, not a hotel
High ceilings, sturdy wooden furniture, and light from every side. The garden wraps the house, full of fruit trees, birds, and squirrels.
Gallery photographs from the property’s official Booking.com listing. Each photograph is shown once.
Double Room
Attached bathroom, air conditioning.
Deluxe Double
The larger room with a garden aspect.
Budget Double
The simplest room in the house.
Deluxe with Extra Bed
Staff9.8
Facilities9.7
Cleanliness9.7
Comfort9.6
Value9.6
Location9.2
Check-in 12:00–20:00
Check-out 08:00–10:00
Amenities Free WiFi, covered parking, air conditioning, hot water.
Rules Cash only. No smoking, parties, or children. Adults 18+.
Destination photography: Diyasaru, Colombo, Mirissa whale, surf coast, Diyaluma Falls, elephants, and Sigiriya via Wikimedia Commons.