Anantara Peace Haven in Tangalle is dramatically set on a rocky outcrop above the ocean, where striking natural surroundings shape each guest’s experience from the moment of arrival.
Words Jennifer Paldano Goonewardane.
From arrival, Anantara Peace Haven radiates warmth and care. Its architecture, inspired by Sri Lankan royal palaces, boasts soaring roofs, tranquil ponds, and wide corridors—creating a welcoming, liberating sense of space suited to making guests feel at home.
A thoughtfully crafted welcome ritual complements the island-inspired design. Smiling faces greet guests with the Ayubowan gesture, wishing long life and well-being—a fitting start to a holiday. The resonant call of the conch shell and the beat of the rabana, played by women singing welcome verses, add ceremonial grandeur rooted in royal tradition. From refined timber accents to the pleasure of king coconut water served in its natural shell, Anantara Peace Haven defines luxury through its surroundings. It celebrates Sri Lankan hospitality alongside the global service of Minor Hotels.
Anantara Peace Haven operates with a quiet rhythm of thoughtful service and seamless hospitality. Stewards move purposefully throughout the resort, refining details and welcoming guests with warmth and care. Every team member is guest-focused, creating genuine warmth and attentiveness. This seamless flow of service fulfills the promise of a true peace haven—where each detail is designed for guest comfort.
Set on a 22-acre former coconut estate, Anantara Peace Haven reflects its Sanskrit name—Anantara, meaning “endless.” The resort features 120 rooms in five low-rise buildings and 32 villas, each situated in intimate clusters, offering access to the ocean or gardens. Even at capacity, the design ensures space, privacy, and tranquility.
The resort feels suspended between two worlds. At the front, the ocean energizes with its rhythmic power. Step inside, and calm prevails—rustling leaves and birdsong replace waves, and peacocks perch freely, highlighting harmony between people and nature.
This vast setting allows guests to enjoy both sun, sand, and surf, as well as the luxury of quiet and reflection. The sheer size of the property reinforces the “endless” ethos.
Distinctive topography allows for elegant, graded landscaping, shaped by a simple and refined design philosophy. Soft beige walls, open extensions, and glass façades offer contemporary sophistication that seamlessly merges with nature. Beyond a resort, the property is a curated landscape featuring dramatic cliff-top ocean views, a mangrove-edged waterway, and its own rice field—an immersive setting that balances luxury and nature.
Children’s laughter in the pool enhances the carefree atmosphere. Guests seem at home. The Olympic-length pool, situated on two levels, prevents crowding and offers distinct views—an upper infinity outlook and a lower level that opens onto gardens and the beach.
Mangroves thread through the property, forming natural curtains that provide privacy and a gentle sense of seclusion. These living screens help guests enjoy the openness and intimacy of nature in harmony.
The resort’s culinary program is a 24-hour journey, featuring diverse dining options across various venues: Journeys, an all-day restaurant; Il Mare, serving Italian cuisine; Verala, offering specialty dishes; and Mama’s Kitchen, an immersive experience. At Mama’s Kitchen, village women prepare traditional dishes using resort-grown produce and locally sourced seafood, sharing stories as they cook. Its popularity has made it a much-loved daily experience among guests. Equally engaging is the Spice Spoons concept, where chefs lead guests through nearby markets to select fresh ingredients, then return for interactive cooking sessions. Throughout, storytelling takes center stage, weaving culture and cuisine at every touchpoint.
The resort’s commitment to wellness is both inspiring and integral to its “haven” philosophy. Every element is designed to guide guests toward a deeply restorative and holistic wellness escape, making the spa experience a natural extension of the property’s tranquil spirit. Anantara Peace Haven is home to three resident Ayurveda physicians and six highly skilled therapists—three international specialists from Thailand and Indonesia, and three local practitioners—who together deliver treatments across eight serene therapy rooms, each with dedicated pre and post-treatment relaxation areas. Complimentary Ayurveda consultations are offered to all guests, ensuring personalized wellness journeys. The spa seamlessly blends time-honored cultural therapies with contemporary wellness practices to nurture both body and mind.
The resort’s recreational offerings are thoughtfully curated to suit guests of all ages and interests. These include tennis and badminton courts, a dedicated kids’ club, billiards and table tennis facilities, and a serene yoga pavilion where an Indian yoga expert leads complimentary morning and evening sessions.
For a deeper spiritual connection, the resort offers meditation experiences led by local monks. Guided visits to nearby temples allow guests to immerse themselves in the region’s rich spiritual heritage. What further sets the resort apart is its strong commitment to community engagement. Guests are invited to enjoy cultural demonstrations by local artists. These include painters, coconut-shell craftsmen, wood carvers, and batik artisans. Traditional drummers, singers, and craftspeople are employed by the resort to bring Sri Lanka’s living heritage to life.
One memorable daily ritual features a skilled climber ascending the coconut palms to harvest fresh coconuts. These are then served to guests both around the resort and along the beach. It is an authentic and delightful connection to the land and its traditions.
The resort’s sustainability initiatives are comprehensive and have a significant impact. It holds Green Growth Platinum certification, as well as ISO 22000 and 14000 certifications. This reflects its commitment to environmental and operational excellence. Plastic use has been eliminated across the property. From 2017 to 2025, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle has successfully released more than 12,000 turtle hatchlings as part of its conservation efforts.
The resort also partners with local academic institutions, especially Ocean University in Tangalle. It provides materials for seagrass research and hosts student-led projects, fostering both conservation and education. The management also works closely with the Coast Conservation Department and NARA. They organize awareness sessions on coastal protection for senior police officers and schoolchildren.
The resort’s prime location offers access to Sri Lanka’s premier wildlife experiences. Yala National Park is just an hour away, where guests can encounter elephants and leopards. Mirissa is renowned for its whale watching, and Udawalawe is famous for its up-close elephant encounters.
Anantara Peace Haven embodies tranquil luxury, yet its location adds a truly distinctive dimension to the vacation experience. The resort is set along one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated southern beaches—Goyambokka Beach—which has earned a place among the world’s fifty most beautiful beaches. Naturally, the most captivating aspect of the Anantara experience is the ocean itself.
A profusion of rocks along the shore forms a protective cocoon around the beach. This creates shallow, safe waters for leisurely swimming. The true magic appears during Goyambokka’s peak season, from October to April. During this time, the waves settle into a rhythm that ranges from gentle to playful, allowing sea bathers to ride them toward shore. The rocks act as barriers, calming the waters and forming a serene cove for guests.
The resort itself offers breathtaking views of the ocean. From high points, one can see massive boulders, with some daring visitors climbing them. Over centuries, these boulders have been sculpted by the waves, forming natural pools and sometimes miniature waterfalls as water collects in the crevices.
One particularly spectacular spot is the “Titanic Viewpoint,” reminiscent of the iconic ship’s prow. Here, a railing allows guests to watch the waves surge and crash against the polished rock formations, where marine creatures navigate the tide and small pools capture the ebb and flow of the ocean. The Titanic Viewpoint is not only breathtaking but also an ideal location for an intimate dining experience, offering an unforgettable connection to the sea and the dramatic landscape.
At Anantara Peace Haven, every detail is designed to ensure a seamless holiday, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the getaway they envisioned. From start to finish, each team member goes above and beyond to deliver a world-class luxury experience, making every moment not just enjoyable but truly memorable.
Equally memorable is the resort’s departure ritual, where drummers perform the traditional Gajaga Wannama, and guests are presented with water glasses filled with flowers—a graceful gesture of goodwill. Every element of the guest experience is thoughtfully curated, ensuring that each visitor feels truly special and leaves Anantara Peace Haven with one of the most unforgettable stays on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
Anantara Peace Haven Resort
Goyambokka Estate,
Tangalle
+94 47 767 0700, +94 34 722 6060
tangalle@anantara.com
