Where the garden meets the sea

A pool resort on the quiet side of Trincomalee — twenty metres of still water, two wings of cool tiled rooms, and a kitchen that cooks for whoever is staying.

Built around a garden,
and a long blue pool

Aathi Resort sits just inland from Sampalthivu beach, on a lane where the noise stops at the gate. Two low wings of rooms face each other across a courtyard of palms; between them lies the pool, catching the morning sun and, after dark, the glow of the lamps in the trees.

Everything here is kept simple, and kept spotless. Rooms are cool and tiled. Breakfast arrives wherever you want it. In the evening the grill is lit and the courtyard fills up. Guests score us {{ rating }} out of 10, and nearly all of them mention the same two things — how clean it is, and how well they were looked after.

Nirushan

Resort Manager

Every room is air-conditioned, ensuite, and opens onto either the garden or the courtyard. Housekeeping daily, hot water always, and a kettle for the first tea of the morning. Cots and extra beds are no trouble — children are genuinely welcome here.

From first light to lamps in the palms

The days here are unhurried on purpose — and there is always someone around to sort out whatever you need. Most days fall into four parts.

Everything that's here

Trincomalee has the calmest water in Sri Lanka between May and October — reef, whales, and a two-thousand-year-old temple on a cliff. We arrange the tuk-tuk or the driver.