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Accommodation

Karpaha Sands

Kalkudah, Sri Lanka

Destinations

Sri Lanka

Accommodation

Karpaha Sands

Karpaha Sands is a luxury glamping retreat nestled on the untouched golden shores of Kalkudah Beach, on Sri Lanka’s serene east coast.

Spread across a 12-acre estate, this boutique property offers 17 spacious tented suites, each designed with natural materials, such as reclaimed wood and stone, and blending seamlessly into the lush surroundings of a former coconut plantation. Each suite offers an earthy-toned sanctuary, thoughtfully designed with direct access to the beach and offering private tropical gardens and an outdoor shower.

Rooms are air-conditioned and have a ceiling fan, while the elegant four-poster beds ensure a restful night’s sleep. With seafood sourced directly from the local fishermen and other produce from nearby organic farms, the dining experiences here are feet-in-the-sand and excellent, varying between distinct Sri Lankan dishes and favourites from across the Mediterranean

What we love

We loved the saltwater infinity pool and Ayurvedic spa treatments here
The seven-mile stretch of untouched east coast beach at your doorstep is one of Sri Lanka’s finest, with safe swimming waters and sublime sunrises
Watching the local Tamil fishermen hauling their nets on the beach is a unique cultural insight
There is a rotational exhibition of local and international artists, sculptors and photographers on display both inside and around the grounds of the resort

Remote location and road conditions may limit opportunities to go out for meals and entertainment options nearby.

Seasonal litter on the beach may be a concern for some guests.

Limited number of rooms; early booking is advisable.

The resort is very family friendly with two spacious two-bedroom suites available, designed to sleep a larger family of six and additional beds also available across other room options. There is a separate children’s pool, games room and playground. Expansive beach and garden areas provide ample space for children to play. Cycling, kayaking, star gazing, private beach BBQs and open-air cinema nights all on offer as family entertainment.

The hotel is committed to the environment and sustainability, striving to have the lightest environmental footprint whilst boosting education and awareness of the area’s rich Tamil culture and heritage.

The hotel is a one-hour drive from Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka, and makes a perfect Tamil-infused beach stop if you’re exploring the cultural triangle.

What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.

Roy Wood (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.

Alie C (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace

Daisy Stanton (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!

Andrew S (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North East India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.

Martin Thomas (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference

Sandra Nicholson (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.

Jayant Banerji (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.

Phil Blair ( February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

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