Unawatuna · Galle · Sri Lanka
Where art meets history — a Dutch Colonial villa between Bonavista Bay and the Rumassala jungle. A private pool, a 140-year-old freshwater well, and four bedrooms of living history in Unawatuna.
About the Villa
Nestled between the rocky jungle sanctuary of Rumassala and beautiful Bonavista Bay is the tropical home of ex-pat Scandinavian artists — a Dutch Colonial villa where art meets history.
You are invited to join the queue at the Well House gate and experience a piece of Galle's history. Enclosed within the traditional architecture of the Dutch Colonial time is a secret only known to the local village: deep in the earth below your feet lies a freshwater well that has never run dry or developed a salt content — the only such well in the local area.
Over a century of Well House hospitality began with the creation of that well. The merchant whose coconut oil factory became one of the largest in Galle built the timeless villa that grew as his family grew. A tradition of welcoming strangers from abroad — traders, merchants, diplomats and dignitaries — has been part of Well House life for more than 140 years.
Today, the Well House is a place to pause, ponder, dream and drink — a place where the story of Galle whispers by the well. Join the locals and an ex-pat community of artists, actors, musicians, singers and internationally acclaimed architects who wrote the story.
Bonavista Bay
A Dutch Colonial villa between Bonavista Bay and the Rumassala jungle.
Rooms & Suites
Each unique room offers a personal experience as you connect with its story.
Each suite is unique in design and character, retaining the character it adopted over the past century and a half. Spacious rooms feature their own bathrooms and simple clean lines, with air-conditioned comfort and commissioned art throughout.
Named for the Chinese influence: Admiral Zheng He and the ancient White Tea Agreement between Sri Lanka and the Ming Dynasty.
Its Arabic name recalls the Moorish traders whose influence came home with the merchant.
Simple colonial furnishings often seen in Tamil homes — bedrooms that once slept whole families.
The villa's flexible family room, with twin beds and its own ensuite bathroom.
Amenities
Dining
A culinary journey spanning 2,000 years. The select guests welcomed by the villa staff team are invited to join a journey through the blended diets of Chinese, Arabic, Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and English traders who ruled and traded with locals. Five menu styles, cooked by the chef-in-residence from fresh local produce — fresh fish, eggs, chicken, spices and plant-based meals.
Per the Airbnb listing: breakfast USD 10, lunch USD 15, dinner USD 20 per person; self-use of the kitchen USD 50 extra (gas etc.); no outside food. A USD 100 damage charge applies (Airbnb listing).
Experiences
A guided tour through the ancient ramparts of Galle Fort, a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Elephant watching in Sri Lanka's wildlife-filled national parks.
Visit the local hatchery to learn about the five endangered species commonly found in Sri Lanka.
Nearby points of interest, within easy reach of the villa.
The villa's private beach area on the bay, below the Rumassala headland.
Map unavailable · Address
Well House Villa
Wellhouse Villa, Rumassala Road,
Unawatuna 80600, Sri Lanka
Location
Between Bonavista Bay and the Rumassala Sanjeevani Mountain nature reserve.
Guest Reviews
The property is beautifully green and well-kept, full of palms and flowering trees, with a large pool at its centre. The colonial style of the buildings adds a touch of quiet elegance — you almost feel like an old-world planter enjoying your private retreat.
The staff were truly outstanding. They were attentive, thoughtful and almost invisible at the same time. Towels appeared by the pool before we could ask, mosquito coils were lit the moment we sat outside, and they helped with everything from groceries to keeping the place spotless.
We left feeling rested, cared for and genuinely impressed. If you're looking for a private, green and soulful place to stay with family or friends — this is one of those rare gems that feels both luxurious and home-like.
Gallery
Tap any photograph to view it full-screen.
Good to Know
Reservations
Enquire directly with the villa — Well House Villa, Unawatuna, Galle.
Rates: no price is published on the villa's own site. Ministry of Villas showed US $373 (was US $415) at the time of research — a third-party listing rate, not the villa's own price. Confirm current rates when booking. The villa is also listed on Airbnb, Booking.com and Ministry of Villas.