The Last House is a unique five-bedroom hotel or private villa on one of southern Sri Lanka’s most secluded castaway beaches. As the architectural swansong of Geoffrey Bawa, this two-storey seaside villa is a magical haven for a relaxing boutique beach stay. Day beds stylishly furnish pillared verandas, and doors and windows frame views of the exotic garden and the ocean beyond.

There are two bedrooms on the upper floor of the main building and a further three located in an adjacent building beside a courtyard swimming pool. Space flows seamlessly between indoor and outdoor areas offering up plenty of places to relax privately or dine. The two upstairs balcony-wrapped bedrooms – a double and a twin – are booked on an exclusive basis only – perfect for couples and families alike. The hotel can also be booked as a private villa and sleeps 12 max.

The staff are efficient, discreet and accommodating. The in-house chef serves up some of the region’s best Asian-fusion cuisine. Mawella – the two-kilometre beach – is another rarity as it feels barely touched by tourism and is now just one hour from historic Galle Fort and a couple of hours drive from Colombo Airport thanks to the new highway extension.