Nirbana Colonial Villa is nestled on Thalduwa Island, near Ahangama on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It is totally surrounded by a depth of nature, wildlife, jungle, and unique mangrove lined river waterway that allow you to truly escape. With river views from the tropical garden and our private 25-meter swimming pool, time to rest, restore and feel totally blessed every night in one of our 10 luxury rooms.
Nirbana’s board room is home to over 40 stand-up paddle boards which you will have access to throughout the week.
Nirbana’s board room is home to over 40 stand-up paddle boards which you will have access to throughout the week.
Dates available:
November 26th - December 3rd 2022
December 20th - 27th 2022
January 14th - 21st 2023
November 26th - December 3rd 2022
December 20th - 27th 2022
January 14th - 21st 2023
Luxury River Rooms
These gorgeous rooms with your own private sitting area with day bed and outdoor dining table for two. The rooms have comfortable twin beds that can be transformed into a double. The gorgeous bathrooms have Balinese inspired floor tiles and walk-in rain dance shower.
All our rooms are designed with contemporary art and our colour tones that embrace the natural surroundings of the river and jungle which you can view from the veranda sitting area.
The rooms come with full amenities; full length mirrors, hairdryer, Wi-Fi, spa amenities, air-conditioning, safe & complimentary water.
All our rooms are designed with contemporary art and our colour tones that embrace the natural surroundings of the river and jungle which you can view from the veranda sitting area.
The rooms come with full amenities; full length mirrors, hairdryer, Wi-Fi, spa amenities, air-conditioning, safe & complimentary water.
November 26th - December 3rd 2022
£2300 based on two people sharing
£1930 single occupancy
December 20th - 27th 2022
£2470 based on two people sharing
£2100 single occupancy
January 14th - 21st 2023
£2300 based on two people sharing
£1930 single occupancy
£2300 based on two people sharing
£1930 single occupancy
December 20th - 27th 2022
£2470 based on two people sharing
£2100 single occupancy
January 14th - 21st 2023
£2300 based on two people sharing
£1930 single occupancy
Jungle Shala Rooms
These rooms have a private balcony with views of lush green tranquil jungle, have comfortable twin beds that can be transformed into a double. The gorgeous bathrooms have Balinese inspired floor tiles and walk-in rain dance shower. All our rooms are designed with contemporary art and our colour tones that embrace the natural surroundings of the jungle.
The rooms come with full amenities; full length mirror, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, spa amenities, air-conditioning, safe & complimentary water.
The rooms come with full amenities; full length mirror, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, spa amenities, air-conditioning, safe & complimentary water.
November 26th - December 3rd 2022
£2180 based on two people sharing
£1815 single occupancy
December 20th - 27th 2022
£2350 based on two people sharing
£1985 single occupancy
January 14th - 21st 2023
£2180 based on two people sharing
£1815 single occupancy
£2180 based on two people sharing
£1815 single occupancy
December 20th - 27th 2022
£2350 based on two people sharing
£1985 single occupancy
January 14th - 21st 2023
£2180 based on two people sharing
£1815 single occupancy
Luxury Poolside Rooms
Luxury Poolside Rooms have comfortable twin beds that can be transformed into a double. The gorgeous bathrooms have Balinese inspired floor tiles and walk-in rain dance shower. All our rooms are designed with contemporary art and our colour tones that embrace the natural surroundings of the river and jungle which you can view from the veranda sitting area.
The rooms come with full amenities; full length mirror, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, spa amenities, air-conditioning, safe & complimentary water.
The rooms come with full amenities; full length mirror, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, spa amenities, air-conditioning, safe & complimentary water.
November 26th - December 3rd 2022
£2060 based on two people sharing
£1695 single occupancy
December 20th - 27th 2022
£2235 based on two people sharing
£1870 single occupancy
January 14th - 21st 2023
£2060 based on two people sharing
£1695 single occupancy
£2060 based on two people sharing
£1695 single occupancy
December 20th - 27th 2022
£2235 based on two people sharing
£1870 single occupancy
January 14th - 21st 2023
£2060 based on two people sharing
£1695 single occupancy
Food
Every meal at Nirbana is special. Our head chef Indika is extremely talented in Sri Lankan and Western cuisine (his passion-fruit cheesecake is ridiculously good!). Ingredients are always fresh and locally sourced.
We eat together in the open air pavilion overlooking the pool, river & jungle.
Complimentary water, coffee and tea facilities are available in the communal area by the pool.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are always available, please contact us to discuss.
Every meal at Nirbana is special. Our head chef Indika is extremely talented in Sri Lankan and Western cuisine (his passion-fruit cheesecake is ridiculously good!). Ingredients are always fresh and locally sourced.
We eat together in the open air pavilion overlooking the pool, river & jungle.
Complimentary water, coffee and tea facilities are available in the communal area by the pool.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are always available, please contact us to discuss.
Itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival. Your room will be ready for you from midday. Kev & Ylva will be around to welcome you and show you your home for the week. Spend your first afternoon exploring local beaches, lunch spots or just lounging by the pool listening to the jungle sounds. Yin & Yang yoga before delicious dinner in the pavillion to meet your fellow SUP’ers for the week. |
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Day 2
The best time to get on the river is just before sunrise to view the day come alive. Our Duwa Island river sunrise paddle through the mangroves. Breakfast is served at 9.30am every day to fuel you for whatever adventure you plan for the day. In the afternoon we practice the fun and surprisingly easy aerial yoga suspended from the beams of our open air tropical shala. |
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Day 3
Wake up & roll right into an invigorating Vinyasa class. After breakfast we hop in the van to Dewata Bay, 25 minutes west. From there we paddle across to Jungle Beach for some snorkelling, a climb up the hill to visit the Japanese Peace Pagoda Temple and also to view a ship which was wrecked on the rocks a few years ago. Small shacks on the beach serve a surprisingly varied lunch menu as well as cold beers and cocktails. We’ll be back at the bay in time to see the sunset. |
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Day 4
SUP Surf lesson. Time to test your skills in the surf as we head to a local break to catch some waves. This session is the most affected by Mother Nature so we may change to another day or time depending on the surf and weather forecast. At sunset we'll be back on the river for a SUP Yoga experience. The change in the sights and sounds of the surrounding jungle are mesmerising. |
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Days 5 & 6
Gin Ganga Whitewater Camping Adventure: Meandering through The Kanneliya Rainforest with grade I/II rapids and jungle hills as the backdrop, the Gin Ganga is a true wild jungle river experience. *Please note, if you would like to join these two days, you must bring your own iSUP with you. See below or FAQ for details. |
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Day 5
Meet for a coffee and some fruit bright & early. From Nirbana it’s a two hour drive north into the hills to find our launch point on the Gin River. En-route we stop for a hearty local breakfast. We reach our arrival point around 9am, unload the van, pump up boards and prep for the day. The morning paddle has the highest concentration of rapids throughout the whole trip. All are optional with riverbank portages available and none exceed Grade II. At lunchtime we arrive at our wild campsite. The rest of the afternoon can be spent stringing up our hammocks, exploring the jungle, swimming or maybe heading out for more paddling. Fresh fish dinner is cooked over the campfire after the sun goes down. |
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Day 6
Sunrise wake up as the light creeps in your hammock and the birds start to chirp. Tea, coffee & breakfast is a mixture of local fare and fresh fruit. There are roughly 4 hours of paddling with multiple rapids and plenty of opportunities to stop, swim & explore. We’ll arrive back at Nirbana late evening in time to have a well earned hot shower and dinner. |
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Day 7
Feel free to lie in or join in Ylva's morning Hatha class. The day is yours until our final paddle of the week at 4pm. Starting on the Duwa River we will paddle out into the Indian Ocean to land on Devil's Island. A jungle covered rock that feels prehistoric. On the way back we’ll stop off at Mangalika’s house for a sunset coconut or cold beer. Duwa river sunsets boast glorious colours and the perfect place to witness huge fruit bats heading out to feed for the night. |
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Day 8
Morning Vinyasa and meditation followed by your final breakfast with us. Checkout from Nirbana is at 11am. We can organise a transfer back to the airport, wave you off to continue your further Sri Lankan adventures or enquire with us to extend your stay. You may never want to leave. |
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What's included:
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What's not included:
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Our itinerary has plenty to keep you occupied, but we always like to give our guests free time to do whatever you like. After all, it's your holiday. Sleeping & lounging by the pool reading a book are always very good options. But if you’re feeling the itch to get out and about, here are our pick of local activities...
- A cookery class. Head to the local market with our favourite Sri Lankan Mama to buy some fresh vegetables and spices. Then head back to her kitchen where she’ll show you the secrets to a really good rice and curry!
- Galle Fort. Stroll around the walled remains of a fortress first developed by the Portugeuese in the 1500's and later adapted by the Dutch and British.
- Tea Plantation tour. Check out the family owned Handunugoda Tea Estate just inland from Ahangama.
- Beach hopping. There are literally dozens just in the local area! Some tiny and very hidden. If that’s what you’d like to do, we’ll point you in the right direction.
- Scooter (or tuk-tuk) ride. Hiring a scooter and cruising inland around paddy fields and tea plantations gives you an awesome sense of freedom. Driving here isn't for the feint-hearted so you'll need to be a confident rider. We can arrange scooter hire (please research your country’s driving laws in Sri Lanka).
Feel free to send us a message if you'd like more information or to book any of these experiences.