Sergeant House Boutique Villa is proud to announce the latest addition to the luxury property, the Gate House, which towers behind the main gate overlooking the villa’s private beach. Constructed to be the future residence of the owner, and decorated with treasures he collected over a lifetime all around the world, it is now available for rent. The Gate House matches the Tuscan villa style of Sergeant House with added amenities. The chef can cook a meal for you in your own kitchen, and take it to the rooftop for a candlelight dinner at sunset. Depending on your mood, you can kick back on the balcony off the bedroom overlooking the lush courtyard, the well where fish and turtles live, and the Giacometti-style sculptures. Or you can swallow in the splash pool after sunbathing on the rooftop. The Gate House sleeps four, with two in the master bedroom and two single beds that the staff can set up in the evening and put back in storage during the day. The Gate House is a romantic getaway for honeymooners or fun for the whole family. Our staff are well trained and will take good care of you, should you need to reach me, am usually at the villa 8am - 6pm or just a phone call away Unawatuna and the surrounding area have many attractions, worth visiting, Heritage sites, Wild life parks, rainforests, co tours etc. It will take you just a few minutes to read through what you can do during your stay with us. Please do not hesitate to inform us if you require any additional information or wish for any of the below to organized. Tour of Galle Fort The Galle Fort is changing rapidly! Over the last 3-4 years, houses and buildings have been bought mainly by foreigners who have lovingly spent their time and energy on trying to bring back the houses to their former glory. Those that have not been restored to the typical Dutch period have been given a variety of ‘makeovers’ with interesting design features. Take a stroll along the small streets and you will still have the impression that time has stood still. Buildings worth mentioning are the Dutch Reform Church just newly restored the Dutch Museum, the Barracks just inside the old gate and the law courts. Have a walk around the Ramparts to the old Light House. Shopping you can do at: Barefoot, Pedlar St., has a signature style of gorgeous vivid and bright colors. As well as their own range of sarongs, beach wraps, clothing, bags, hand woven cloth, Barefoot stocks an extensive range of products by Spa Ceylon. KK Galley has collection of fabrics, candles, house and giftware inspired by Kahanda Kanda. The Fort Gallery, church St., has a selection of giftware, jewelry and house ware items. Laksana, Hospital St., has a large selection of contemporary jewelry and gems. Mimimango, Leyn Baan St., has a beautiful of ethnic culture and accessories from India. MM Ibrahim, 47 Church St., has a selection of contemporary jewelry and gems. Exotic Roots, church St., has a collection of giftware, paintings and art. Casual Edge has a fashion and designer clothing, men’s, ladies and kids wear. Souk 58, 58 church Street, Souk hosts a beautiful range of local and imported home ware and gifts. There is also an onsite tailor. Mansion Crafts, 23 Church Street. Mansion House is a large showroom for local crafts and clothes produced locally and in store. Orchid House, 28A Hospital Street, a wonderful collection of local gift items and handicrafts. Beaches Unawatuna Sergeant House is located directly across the coastal road from the water’s edge. Less than 50 meters along the road is the entry to the southern end of the famous crescent shaped Unawatuna Beach. The beach is considered to be the best safe swimming beach in Sri Lanka. The golden white sands of the beach are fringed with tall swaying coconut palms, cafes, restaurants and other village shops. The entry gates to Sergeant House open to reveal the waves breaking on the shore opposite and glimpses of the water are possible between the trees from both the Grand suite and Poolside Pavilion Wijaya Beach is a 5 minutes by a tuk tuk from sergeant House, and has a protected reef, popular with tourists and expats living in Galle. The Waijaya Beach Bar & Restaurant is renowned to host lively weekend parties, and maintains a relaxed atmosphere, cool drinks and food throughout the week. Mirissa remains a bit more un-spoilt and has a beautiful bay for body surfing and swimming, whilst Weligama, Ahangama and Hikkaduwa are popular destinations for water sports such as surfing. Boat Trip Take a boat trip on Koggala Lake for approximately two hours, visiting Talathuduwa Temple Island, followed by a Spice Garden. Then back in the boat and on to a small island where you will meet a couple who harvest cinnamon. Finally in the boat you circle a Bird Sanctuary before returning across the Lake for the tuk tuk ride back to the hotel. Bike Ride Explore the area on bicycles, and experience the real Sri Lanka. Either do on your own, or go on an escorted bike ride down to the coast, via paddy fields, finishing up at Wijaya for a swim and a cocktail. Cookery Class For those interested in learning more about Sri Lankan Rice and Curry, our Chef will be happy to conduct a cookery class. Using recipes that have been handed down from generation, this is a truly fascinating experience. Scuba Diving For beginners, Weligama Bay is a great place to learn to surf and there are some good instructors. For the more experienced, there are plenty of other beaches in the area, renowned for their surf. Sea Turtle Farm and Hatchery in Habaraduwa The Sea Turtle Farm Hatchery is n non – profitable organization which is maintained for the survival of Sea Turtles for the next generation. The “Turtle Farm” is situated in Habaraduwa near to the beautiful beach. That is 5m from Galle – Matara main road. The center was started in 1986 and have released more than 500,000 sea turtles to the ocean. Massages A massage room has been built to allow Sergeant House guests to enjoy a relaxing massage soothing their aches and tensions away or, a cleansing. Sri Lanka is renowned for its Ayurvedic approach to health and well-being. Book a therapist and experience an Ayurvedic massage using oils infused from the bouquet of plants that has made Sri Lanka renown since the 16th century or a more traditional massage tailored to suit your particular needs. Please let us know 2 hours in advance to arrange a massage for you. (See price list) Yoga We have lots of lovely spots to do yoga and you can decide a perfect location for an early morning yoga session. We have mats and blocks, and we can arrange for a local instructor to guide you. Village Life The villages of rural Sri Lanka have changed little with time and most of the communities lead a simple and traditional life. While the main road from Galle to Matara can be noisy and busy, only minutes away from the traffic, the landscape unfolds to reveal beautiful trofical sights of rice paddies and coconut islands as far as the eye can see. Time seems to slow and stand still. Temples There are many wonderful temples here on this blessed island. Fifteen minutes away from Sergeant House are Yatagala and Rumassala. At the top of the 120 steps, the 1,200 year old Yatagala Temple is one of the oldest in the region, and is set in a beautiful valley of rice paddies and jungle hills. One of the most serene spots on the island, Yatagala is a rock temple with a beautiful image room, a 1,000 year old Bo tree and a wonderful meditation cave. Rumassala is a brand new temple, built by the Japanese on the magical headland across the bay from the Fort. The location has breathtaking views back to Galle and the stupa is one of beautiful Zen simplicity on a huge scale. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the temples. On a poya day (full moon) visitors can join the locals in their puja, offerings of fresh flower blooms and incense, in the late afternoon. Tea Trail Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea, and 35 minutes south of Galle is the Handunugoda Tea Plantation. In addition to the rolling hills of the tea estate, Handunugoda features rubber and cinnamon plantations. Guests are invited to the verandah of the planters Bungalow for tea and cakes with the planter himself. After a tour of the old workings of the factory, visitors are taken to the tasting room to try a myriad of teas. The ideal way to conclude the visit is to enjoy a cup of tea from the plantation, including the unique “White Tea” that Handunugoda produces. Rainforests The stunning Hiyare rainforest is 30 minutes’ drive to the north of Galle. A wildlife guide from the reserve accompanies guests to a beautiful virgin rainforest that surrounds a 50 acre lake. Guests are invited to take in the many interesting species of animal and plants that are found there. A perfect breakfast picnic can be arranged on the bank of the lake. Hiyare has established its own tree nursery, and guests have the opportunity to plant a tree as a part of their carbon offset programme. Mirissa Whale and Dolphins Watching Mirissa whale and dolphin watching are exciting and unique activities for Mirissa Water Sports and is the first and longest established whale watching operator on the South coast of Sri Lanka. MWS has had over 3 consecutive seasons of whale sightings all year round and most sightings occur 3 to 6 miles of Mirissa. The all year around sightings has put Sri Lanka, and the Mirissa area, on the worlds “Top Hot Spots” for Sperm and Blue Whale sightings. We are now cooperating with Sri Lanka’s leading marine mammal expert Anouk Illangakoon, who identifies the types of whales and their migrating habits. As part of their migration pattern, blue whales are seen frequently during the first quarter off the South and West coast of Sri Lanka. A Mirissa water sport keeps accurate logs of the sightings so that we can predict the arrival of the blue whales for future whale watching hours. January through April is peak season for dolphin watching. Please notify member of staff if you wish to go whale watching. Passports are needed and payment must be made in cash. The rates are 6500 rupees per person, children aged 10 – 16 and half price, and children under 10 are free of charge. Whale watching from a helicopter also be an interesting option. Yala National Park Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park covers 979 square kilometers (378 sq mi) Visit Yala Game Reserve, which has the highest population of leopard anywhere in the world. It is an early start, but well worth all the sightings of a large variety of wildlife. The park is usually closed from September 01 to 15, October yearly but this is subject to change. We have a fleet of well-maintained, air-conditioned vans with safe drivers who can speak English. Let us know if you require transport to or from Sergeant house and we would be happy to arrange. Our vehicles are also available for airport transfers, tours and excursions. Local travel is usually by tuk-tuk which we can book for you when needed. We can also arrange for the rental of scooters Unawatuna and the surrounding area have many attractions, worth visiting, Heritage sites, Wild life parks, rainforests, co tours etc. It will take you just a few minutes to read through what you can do during your stay with us. Please do not hesitate to inform us if you require any additional information or wish for any of the below to organized. Tour of Galle Fort The Galle Fort is changing rapidly! Over the last 3 – 4 years, houses and buildings have been bought mainly by foreigners who have lovingly spent their time and energy on trying to bring back the houses to their former glory. Those that have not been restored to the typical Dutch period have been given a variety of ‘makeovers’ with interesting design features. Take a stroll along the small streets and you will still have the impression that time has stood still. Buildings worth mentioning are the Dutch Reform Church just newly restored the Dutch Museum, the Barracks just inside the old gate and the law courts. Have a walk around the Ramparts to the old Light House Shopping you can do at: Barefoot, Pedlar St., has a signature style of gorgeous vivid and bright colors. As well as their own range of sarongs, beach wraps, clothing, bags, hand woven cloth, Barefoot stocks an extensive range of products by Spa Ceylon. KK Gallery has collection of fabrics, candles, house and giftware inspired by Kahanda Kanda. The Fort Gallery, Church St., has a selection of giftware, jewelry and house ware items. Laksana, Hospital St. has a large selection of contemporary jewelry and gems. Mimimango, Leyn Baan St., has a beautiful selection of ethnic culture and accessories from India. M M Ibrahim, 47 Church St., has a selection of contemporary jewelry and gems.Exotic Roots, Church St., has a collection of giftware, paintings and art. Casual Edge, has a fashion and designer clothing, men’s, ladies and kids wear. Souk 58, 58 Church Street, Souk hosts a beautiful range of local and imported home ware and gifts. There is also an on site tailor. Mansion Crafts, 23 Church Street. Mansion House is a large showroom for local crafts and clothes produced locally and in store. Orchid House, 28A Hospital Street, a wonderful collection of local gift items and handicrafts. Beaches Unawatuna Sergeant House is located directly across the coastal road from the water’s edge. Less than 50 metres along the road is the entry to the southern end of the famous crescent shaped Unawatuna Beach. The beach is considered to be the best safe swimming beach in Sri Lanka. The golden white sands of the beach are fringed with tall swaying coconut palms, cafes, restaurants and other village shops. The entry gates to Sergeant House open to reveal the waves breaking on the shore opposite and glimpses of the water are possible between the trees from both the Sea View Pavilion and Poolside Pavilion. Wijaya Beach is a 5 minutes by a tuk tuk from Sergeant House, and has a protected reef, popular with tourists and expats living in Galle. The Wijaya Beach Bar & Restaurant is renowned to host lively weekend parties, and maintains a relaxed atmosphere, cool drinks and food throughout the week. Mirissa remains a bit more un-spoilt and has a beautiful bay for body surfing and swimming, whilst Weligama, Ahangama and Hikkaduwa are popular destinations for water sports such as surfing. Boat Trip Take a boat trip on Koggala Lake for approximately two hours, visiting Talathuduwa Temple Island, followed by a Spice Garden. Then back in the boat and on to a small island where you will meet a couple who harvest cinnamon. Finally in the boat you circle a Bird Sanctuary before returning across the Lake for the tuk tuk ride back to the hotel. Bike Ride Explore the area on bicycles, and experience the real Sri Lanka. Either do on your own, or go on an escorted bike ride down to the coast, via paddy fields, finishing up at Wijaya for a swim and a cocktail. Cookery Class For those interested in learning more about Sri Lankan Rice and Curry, our Chef will be happy to conduct a cookery class. Using recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, this is a truly fascinating experience Scuba Diving There is a diving centre in Unawatuna, and also at Hikkaduwa, where you can explore an old shipwreck. Best months for diving are December through to April. Surfing For beginners, Weligama Bay is a great place to learn to surf and there are some good instructors. For the more experienced, there are plenty of other beaches in the area, renowned for their surf. Sea Turtle Farm and Hatchery in Habaraduwa The Sea Turtle Farm and Hatchery is a non - profitable organization which is maintained for the survival of Sea Turtles for the next generation. The "Turtle Farm" is situated in Habaraduwa near to the beautiful beach. That is 5m from the Galle - Matara main road. The center was started in 1986 and have released more than 500,000 sea turtles to the ocean Massages. A massage room and steam room have been built to allow Sergeant House guests to enjoy a relaxing massage soothing their aches and tensions away or, a cleansing, invigorating steam. Sri Lanka is renowned for its Ayuverdic approach to health and well being. Book a therapist and experience an Ayuverdic massage using oils infused from the bouquet of plants that has made Sri Lanka renown since the 16th century or a more traditional massage tailored to suit your particular needs. Please let us know 4 hours in advance to arrange a massage for you. (See price list) Yoga We have lots of lovely spots to do yoga and you can decide a perfect location for an early morning yoga session. We have mats and blocks, and we can arrange for a local instructor to guide you. Hot Air Ballooning Galle Hot Air Ballooning trips are offered daily throughout the season from November to April when the winds are light and the sky is bluest. Each trip lasts approximately 2.5 – 3 hours. Please ask a member of staff for rates and availability and various package deals are available Village Life The villages of rural Sri Lanka have changed little with time and most of the communities lead a simple and traditional life. While the main road from Galle to Matara can be noisy and busy, only minutes away from the traffic, the landscape unfolds to reveal beautiful tropical sights of rice paddies and coconut islands as far as the eye can see. Time seems to slow and stand still. Temples There are many wonderful temples here on this blessed island. Fifteen minutes' away from Sergeant House are Yatagala and Rhummasala. At the top of the 120 steps, the 1,200 year old Yatagala Temple is one of the oldest in the region, and is set in a beautiful valley of rice paddies and jungle hills. One of the most serene spots on the island, Yatagala is a rock temple with a beautiful image room, a 1,000 year old Bo tree and a wonderful meditation cave. Rhummasala is a brand new temple, built by the Japanese on the magical headland across the bay from the Fort. The location has breathtaking views back to Galle and the stupa is one of beautiful Zen simplicity on a huge scale. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the temples. On a poya day (full moon) visitors can join the locals in their puja, offerings of fresh flower blooms and incense, in the late afternoon.