Holiday rentals with lake access in Southern Province

We stayed at Madampe for Christmas, it was one of the best stays for all of us. The villa is prettier and bigger that in the pictures, pool was clean all the time, very beautiful trees and flowers. The hosts were amazing, very friendly and attentive, they also cooked us amazing dishes for a very good price. It was very peaceful and homey, the beach is literally 5 minute walk from villa and we saw the most amazing sunsets. One thing I would suggest is that if you’re planning to visit Madampe house make sure to bring mosquito repellant spray. Other than that everything was beyond our expectations!

Madu’s place was fantastic—peaceful, quiet, and perfect for a relaxing stay. The house is fully private, with its own kitchen and bathroom, offering great comfort and independence. The host, Madu, is incredibly communicative and helpful. Whether you have questions or need assistance, he’s always reachable, either in person or via phone. One thing to keep in mind: if you want to be close to the city center, it’s about a 20–30 minute walk, as the house is situated near the second river up north. However, this also means you get to enjoy a quiet, secluded space with almost no neighbours. (bonus: you get to see some fireflies at night) If you have a scooter, getting around won’t be an issue at all!

We spent a whole month in this house and were delighted! Spacious, cozy, with a lovely chill area by the river where you can relax and enjoy nature. I especially liked the rooftop – the perfect place to do yoga. The kitchen is fully equipped, so it was convenient to cook. The beds in the bedrooms are comfortable, slept great. The beach is only a 5-7 minute walk and the surf spot in Weligama is about 25 minutes away. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we are grateful to the hosts for their hospitality!

Such a beautiful and peaceful getaway place. Definitely recommend!

Lahiru and his family were amazing hosts and so kind to us! They moved over our bags from their other property (shady cottage) while we were away for the day and even came to help us when we ran out of gas on our bike. They were so friendly and we felt right at home. It’s a beautiful peaceful location that is still close to ahanagama and kabalana beach which has lots of restaurants, surfing, bars. You can rent a bike so you can get around easily. Thank you for everything you did for our stay! :)

We booked super last minute, but they still hosted us so beautifully and made everything feel effortless! So warm, welcoming, and accommodating truly grateful for the lovely experience. Highly recommend!

Am booked in for one week, only a five min walk to the beach. It’s ideally located and has a great open space garden area. You don’t hear any traffic only the sounds of mother nature. The room is spacious and the en suite bathroom has a nice shower. A kettle and basic crockery are provided. There’s ample storage space, plug sockets and space to hang your clothes. It’s very affordable and immaculately clean. The mattress is very comfortable and the ceiling fan keeps you cool throughout the night. There’s a washing machine on the property and the host is very accommodating and kind. The dogs greet you upon returning home. Chathura the host has expert knowledge of the surrounding area and is only too happy to assist you. He’s the consummate host, a well deserved five stars.

Very nice Villa! We enjoyed it very much!

This incredible property, which is absolutely as described and photographed, delighted us every day! Nishantha and his family are incredibly attentive and helpful, we are very excited to meet them, thank you for your hospitality. We had at our disposal a beautiful house with a private and well-maintained territory, a swimming pool overlooking the lake. A separate area for BBQ, in the evening beautiful lighting turns on, in the form of light bulbs, there was a feeling of some kind of holiday. The fauna in Sri Lanka, in general is very rich, and in this villa we saw lizards, a peacock came to visit, many chipmunks and beautiful birds. I am absolutely sure that by choosing this place - you will not regret anything.

Lovely and very responsive host. Very spacious studio in a quiet location.

Staying with Nalaka and his family was truly one of the best experiences we’ve had on our trip. From the very first moment, we didn’t just feel welcome, we felt like we were visiting old friends. They have such big hearts and were always there with a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand. The place itself was even more beautiful than the photos. Everything was super clean, peaceful, and surrounded by nature. But what made our stay unforgettable was the way Nalaka and his family treated us. We had so many lovely conversations, and it always felt like they genuinely cared about us and our experience. He also cooked for us a few times, and the food was honestly some of the best we had in Sri Lanka. So if you’re looking for a real, honest, and heartwarming Sri Lankan experience, not just a place to sleep, but a place to connect, then you should definitely book this Airbnb. We’ll always remember this stay, and we’re so grateful we got to meet Nalaka and his wonderful family.

The Harbour Vibe is a gorgeous place. The apartment itself has been set up immaculately, beautiful furniture, amazing aesthetics. It has everything you might need for an enjoyable, even extended stay - a four burner stove, blender, pots and pans. Of course it has amazing ocean views! You can swim or surf right from the house itself. Plus the fruit store is adjacent, you can buy dried and fresh fish a block away, and vegetables and bread are right there too. Hikkaduwa Beach with its busyness is 3 km away, tuktuks are easily available. Lakshitha is a stellar host - thoughtful, extremely responsive, and kind. He and his family were extremely kind to me, feeding me delicious food and making me feel very much at home, and special at the same time! I recommend Lakshitha's place very highly.

Our stay at Pramod's place with my family was fantastic! He is truly an incredible host, always attentive to our needs and ready to help with anything we required. His kindness and generosity exceeded all expectations, from assisting with our late check-in due to a delayed flight to helping us organize various trips around the area. The apartment is fantastic, always clean and located in a convenient area for any interest. I highly recommend staying with him so an unique experience !

Staying at Lakmali's place in Runakanda Forest is definitely one of my top 5 favorite places in Sri Lanka. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to stay there, especially with my mom, as it was her first time in Sri Lanka,and she absolutely loved every moment of it! The food was beyond incredible! Each meal was showcasing the rich and flavorful Sri Lankan cuisine. The peaceful and serene surroundings of the forest made it the perfect escape. It’s a truly tranquil place where we could relax, and the location was just ideal for enjoying authentic local experiences. We had the chance to pick tea just a short walk away from the cottage, a unique experience that we’ll never forget. We also had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people, and the warm hospitality made our stay feel special. My mom and I both agreed that it was a stay we’ll cherish forever. I can’t recommend Lakmali’s place highly enough for anyone looking for a peaceful, authentic, and unforgettable experience in SL !

Our stay was completely successful! Host was extremely polite and responsive at all times. If we needed anything, we could easily contact him via chat message – he usually responded immediately and quickly took care of our concerns. It is particularly noteworthy that he took us to the next accommodation at a fair price on the day of departure. The rooms were nicely decorated, the outdoor area lovingly and attractively designed. Overall a very pleasant atmosphere – we can clearly recommend this place!

An excellent place to stay for safari. Such friendly and attentive hosts, with delicious dinners and lunches, and took care to make sure we would get the right bus when leaving despite being early in the morning. Organised the whole safari for us which was amazing, highly recommend this! Thank you for a great stay