What this is
Daro's Enclave is not a hotel and it is not a retreat programme. It is our family's ancestral home: 60 perches (about 1,500 m²) of old trees and garden in Kamburugamuwa, three kilometres from Mirissa and two from Madiha.
For a few months each year we offer the whole house to a small number of people who have serious work to do. There is no schedule, no cohort and no workshop. You get a private home, reliable internet and quiet. The rest is up to you.
Read the story of the house →
Who it's for
- Writers finishing a manuscript, a thesis, a script or a long essay, who need weeks of unbroken mornings.
- Researchers working in southern Sri Lanka in marine biology, mangrove and coastal ecology, archaeology, ethnography or public health, who need a stable base between field days.
- Remote workers and professionals on a posting or a sabbatical who want a home, not a serviced apartment.
- Anyone self-sufficient who prefers birdsong to bass lines and can shape their own day.
Who it's not for
We would rather say this now than disappoint you later.
- You need hotel-style service, daily housekeeping or a restaurant on site.
- You are staying less than a month. (Short stays are offered separately on the home page.)
- You want to be in the middle of Mirissa's nightlife.
- You want someone else to plan your days.
Length of stay: one to six months
Residencies run from one month up to six months.
- 1 month. Long enough to settle in and finish a defined piece of work: a draft, a chapter, a data-collection phase.
- 2–3 months. The most common length. Enough time for a full research season or a substantial piece of writing.
- 4–6 months. For a book, a field project across seasons, or a posting. Discussed case by case.
The south coast is driest and calmest from December to March. May to October brings the southwest monsoon: rougher seas, heavier rain, a greener garden and a much quieter village. Many residents prefer it for exactly that reason.
What you get
The house (whole-home, exclusive use)
- Two air-conditioned bedrooms with king-size beds, wardrobes and dressing tables. One can become a study.
- A living room with seating and a 43" Smart TV.
- A modern pantry (gas cooker, rice cooker, microwave, fridge, blender, toaster, kettle) and a traditional Sri Lankan kitchen.
- One bathroom with a hot-water shower. Towels and linens are provided.
- A washing machine, an iron and secure on-site parking.
For the work
- SLT fibre (Unlimited Home Plus): 200 Mbps down / 100 Mbps up package/plan speed, best-effort — not a measured speed-test figure. Wi-Fi across the house (included in the residency fee).
- Shaded garden spaces for reading and thinking. The trees are older than any of us.
- No shared walls and no other guests on the property.
The place
- Kamburugamuwa beach is a 600-metre walk. Madiha is 2 km and Mirissa 3 km.
- Galle is about 45 minutes away by road and Colombo 2–2.5 hours via the Southern Expressway.
- Matara, with its hospital, banks, university and rail links, is close by.
- The family is nearby and knows the area: tuk-tuk drivers, fishermen, temples, markets, and who to ask about permits or local contacts.
What it costs
Residencies are priced per month, not per night. The fee is US$575 per month, including utilities: fibre internet, gas for cooking, electricity and water. Confirm dates and any seasonal adjustment with the host when you enquire.
The rhythm of a day
There is no programme, but this is roughly how a residency day goes here.
- Dawn. Birds start before the light does. Koels, magpie robins and barbets in the canopy. A walk to Kamburugamuwa beach while the fishing boats come back in.
- Morning. The best working hours. The village is quiet and the garden is cool. Most residents protect this block for writing or analysis.
- Midday. It gets hot. Lunch, rice and curry from the kitchen or the village, then a rest or reading in the shade.
- Afternoon. Fieldwork, errands in Matara, interviews, or a second working session. Some people swim at Madiha, which is 2 km away.
- Evening. Sunset over the water, an early dinner, notes for tomorrow. The nights are dark and quiet here.
Mirissa's beaches, cafés and whale-watching boats are 3 km away when you want them. Most residents find they want them less than they expected.
Research around us
This coast is a working field site. Some of what is being studied within reach of the house:
All research notes · Everything we've written
How to enquire
We take a small number of residents each year, so we ask for a short note first rather than offering instant booking.
Please email us with:
- Who you are and what you're working on. A few lines is enough.
- Your preferred dates and length of stay (1–6 months).
- How many people will be staying.
- Anything we should know, such as fieldwork travel, vehicle needs, dietary needs or visa timing.
We reply personally, usually within a few days. If it seems like a good fit for both sides, we'll confirm the current fee, the dates and the practical details.
Visitors to Sri Lanka generally need an ETA or visa, and stays over 30 days usually need an extension. Check the official Department of Immigration & Emigration guidance for your nationality before you book flights.
