Name: Sakara House
Address: Rasika 55/7, Vishudharama Mawatha, Ahangama, Ahangama, Ahangama, 80650, Sri Lanka
Rating: 9

Location

Koggala Airport

Mawella Lagoon Airport

Sakara House

We shared this house with some friends and we had an amazing stay! The house is beautiful both inside and out and the garden is amazing. Just sitting outside by the pool among palm trees listening to the birds was so relaxing. We were 8 people and a baby and it was really comfortable since all the rooms have their own bathrooms. Prabath, the chef, prepared amazing meals for us everyday and we discussed on a day to day basis what we wanted to eat – it was so nice! Not far away from the house one can go to yoga, take surf lessons, dine out or whatever one is up for. Everything is just a short tuk tuk ride away. The owner of the house, Carsten, can help you with anything you need. And you can always ask the chef or the couple tending to house and garden for help. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys life and having a great time with family and friends!

Our stay at Sakara house was without a doubt the highlight of our trip to Sri Lanka. The house is beautiful and serene amidst a peaceful buddhist village. Lindsay and Carsten (and all the team at Sakara house) have managed to create a place that truly feels like home. Highly recommended.

Sakara House is your ideal vacation house. 
It has it all:
Great location: away from the road and noise in a lush family neighbourhood
Great architecture and decoration: simplistic, elegant and functional thanks owners  Lindsay and Carsten's great taste. They run a home deco business in Galle that specialises in textile. Their home is filled with their creations.
Rooms: spacious, comfortable, nice bathrooms
Great team: guard, cleaning, gardening, cooking, it's all included! The staff is so kind and discrete. You will feel just at home!
Home chef Prabath is just amazing. He will cook extraordinary tasty meals morning, lunch and diner, if needed.
So much can be done from the house activities wise: surfing, nature tours (ocean and earth), yoga, etc.

Thank you Sakara House for an amazing vacation! We already long to return. A fantastic accommodation, secluded in the jungle, but at the same time near the beach, surf, sights and beautiful environments. We were so well taken care of Lindsey and Carsten and above all their wonderful staff. Prabath cooked every day a fantastic breakfast, Auntie cleaned our rooms so nice and Uncle showed us the wildlife on Sakara House and met us always with a smile. An extra big thank you to Kapila who along with his tuk-tuk made our vacation unforgettable. His kindness and dedication, we will never forget. We hope and believe that there will be more visits to Sakara House. Once again, many thanks!

I’m still elated from our eight night stay at Sakara House, in January 2017. Lindsay, Carsten and their amazing local team have created a tropical oasis that delivers on every level. 
The villa, pool and gardens are stunning and bursting with wildlife. Colourful songbirds, mongoose, langur monkeys, and squirrels deliver a remarkable Jungle Book soundtrack. Music to my ears. Coconut, banana and mahogany trees abound. Southern Sri Lanka is lushly green, pretty much everything delicious grows here. Expect to eat well.
Lindsay’s design is beautiful, Sakara House is a picture. Check out her store in Galle Fort, Tellentire House, we picked up some great pieces. tallentirehouse.com/

Our room was perfect, great, comfortable bed with huge mosquito net, not that there were that many mossies in January. Loved the outdoor bathroom, watching the monkeys leap between trees.
Carsten will book your airport transfers and hand you a mobile phone on arrival with the numbers of Kapila (legendary tuk-tuk driver, local guide and man about town) and Prabath (fantastic, friendly chef). Order a ride or a meal as an when you want it. 5 star service with a big smile. Uncle and Auntie are also on hand to help out around the house. I can’t speak highly enough of the Sri Lanka team, friendly and fun, friends by the end of the week. You don’t get that contact in a hotel. Prabath’s breakfast and lunches/dinners are excellent and delivered on request with a big smile. Lovely man. Kapila’s half-day tour of the local village and tea plantation in his tuk-tuk was a real highlight. I won’t give too much away, you have to experience it yourself. A real slice of Sri Lankan life.  His knowledge, and ability to spot local wildlife and plants is impressive. He can spot a chameleon at 20mph! Great fun.
Sakara House is perfectly situated, serenely quiet yet close to a huge variety of interesting places; paddy fields, picturesque villages, beaches, temples, restaurants,  bars, surf, national parks etc.
Be sure to borrow Sakara’s bicycles and ride through Ahangama village and paddy fields. It’s a tropical dream! We must have said hello to at least fifty smiling Sri Lankans in a single afternoon.

Ahangama

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Magic place

Fantastic place to stay

A visit to paradise

Tropical dream

Magic!

Our experience at this property was extremely disappointing and far from the luxurious stay promised in the listing. I feel compelled to share my feedback to ensure others are fully informed before booking.

Property Condition

The property was poorly maintained. Toilets were stained brown and black, mosquito nets were full of holes, and ceiling fans didn’t work equally across all rooms. Portable fans were dirty and rusted, and common areas had visible dirt and cobwebs that had accumulated over days. The kitchen contained expired food, including insect-infested rice, which we later discovered was used in meals prepared for us—completely unacceptable and a serious health concern.

Safety Concerns

Safety was a significant issue throughout our stay:
•	A broken wooden step in the living room caused our child to fall and hurt himself. Thankfully, the injury wasn’t serious, but it could have been. I also nearly rolled my ankle on the same step.
•	There was no fire extinguisher or first aid kit. When our 1-year-old cut himself on a broken glass, we were left scrambling for supplies.
•	The indoor fountain had an unmarked two-foot drop-off into a water pump, and we were only warned by staff after getting too close.
•	Wildlife, including snakes, scorpions, and centipedes, was frequently found both inside and outside the property. While encountering some wildlife is expected in Sri Lanka, it was surprising to see so much activity in a property marketed as “luxury.” These creatures were likely drawn to the house due to its wet, damp, and dirty conditions. The poorly maintained common areas, with visible dirt and cobwebs, created an ideal environment for pests and wildlife, which should have been better managed for guest safety.

Amenities and Misleading Features

The listing was filled with inaccurate claims:
•	“Beachfront access” was misleading, as the nearest beach was a 10-minute walk away.
•	There was no 32-inch TV as advertised.
•	Gym equipment was inadequate, forcing one of our guests, a professional gym instructor, to find an external gym.
•	There was no air conditioning, which we believe was included in the listing at the time of booking. In Sri Lanka’s climate, AC is essential, especially for a property marketed as “luxury.”

Family and Privacy Issues

We were traveling with four small children, including a 1-year-old, and the property was far from family-friendly. Sentimental and fragile items, such as a door stopper and a broken vase used as a candle holder, were left within reach of the children. Despite knowing children would be staying, the owner did not remove these items and even left them in place during unannounced visits to the property, disrupting our privacy.

Staff and Service

While the staff were polite and friendly, they were poorly trained and often unavailable to assist with basic needs. This added to the frustration of our stay and did not match the service level expected for a property at this price point.

Overall Experience

This property fell drastically short of what was advertised. We paid a significant amount expecting a luxurious experience, but instead encountered numerous safety, cleanliness, and service issues. As a frequent visitor to Sri Lanka—having stayed in everything from budget guesthouses to high-end villas—I can confidently say this was one of the worst accommodations I’ve experienced.

Future guests, particularly families, should be cautious when considering this property. The listing’s description is misleading, and the property does not reflect the level of quality, safety, or service promised.

Also, the host takes no ownership of these issues. But instead attend to blame guest for the issues instead of fixing the problems. You can see in his customer responses. Likely in this one as well.

Sakara House

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