Travel Kuoni

 Gal Oya Lodge 

Time to see unseen Sri Lanka

This is the holiday you shouldn’t miss in one of Sri Lanka’s most untouched places. Adventure, space and the possibility of watching elephants swimming.

This far-flung and off-grid escape, has the thrill of wildlife rather than Wi-Fi, and Monkey Mountain views instead of mobile signal. Get jammy on a boat safari* and you’ll see elephants swimming island-to-island using their trunks as snorkels (animals like to do their own thing in their own time, so no guarantees). The experiences don’t stop there. There are cooking lessons*, jungle drives* and walks with Vedda tribes*. Your safari-style bungalow, set in 20 acres of jungle and crafted from illuk grass, teak and mara wood, comes with a sitting room, outdoor shower and veranda. Best of all, the outdoor pool feels as wild and wonderful as your location on the fringes of Gal Oya National Park. The whole place is anchored by a main lodge where dinners involve freshly caught fish and farm-to-table treats. After sundowners in secret spots you crumple into a four-poster bed under a star-blanketed sky.

Why we love Gal Oya Lodge

  • Lodges are beautifully designed with post-safari relaxation in mind.

  • The Gal Oya boat safari is in a league of its own. A unique way of seeing birdlife, crocs and elephants in their undisturbed habitat.

  • The remoteness is pure magic. It’s a place to come when you’re tired of getting Whatsapp notifications as there is no Wi-Fi.

  • Some of the best holiday memories ever made will be here. From rare wildlife viewings on jungle drives to your guide becoming safari chef on riverside picnics.

4 stars
Colombo 10½ hours
On the western edge of Gal Oya Valley National Park
Approx. 6 hours’ transfer from Colombo airport
Boutique

Facilities

  • Restaurants & bars
  • Board
  • Activities
  • Sustainability

Looking out to the swimming pool and onwards to Monkey Mountain, the main lodge hosts the bar and restaurant. It’s the place for cocktails, post-safari chats and a menu packed with local ingredients. Herbs are plucked straight from the hotel’s organic garden, eggs come from their free range chickens and fish is sourced from local fishermen.

What's Included

Breakfast at the restaurant 
Half Board • Breakfast and dinner at restaurant
Full Board • Breakfast, lunch and dinner at restaurant 

Please note there is no WiFi at this accommodation

You’re firmly off the tourist trail, which means you get to watch wildlife without the crowds. There are once-in-a-lifetime boat safaris on the lake and jungle drives with resident naturalists. You can plunge into crystal clear waters on a riverside picnic, learn how to rustle up Sri Lankan curries with the hotel’s chef and take a walk through medicinal jungle with the Vedda tribe’s village chief.

Gal Oya Lodge is committed to getting as close to neutral as they can. Bungalows are crafted from local materials, furniture is made by local artisans, 75% of staff live within 10 kilometres of the hotel and the restaurant uses ingredients sourced no further than 20 kilometres. As much produce as possible is grown on-site and food waste is given to local farms. Their footprint is further minimised by filtering and purifying water from a bore well instead of the mains supply and using solar panels to heat the water.