Hotels in Yala
Cinnamon Wild Yala
Cinnamon Wild Yala is a jungle resort on the border of Yala National Park, about 307 km or six hours from Bandaranaike International Airport. It is designed to (...)
EKHO Safari
EKHO Safari is a retreat-style hotel beside Tissa lake in Tissamaharama, with views over the water. It welcomes families and younger travellers, and its (...)
Jetwing Yala
Jetwing Yala is on 38 acres at the edge of Yala National Park, about five to six hours from Colombo. The grounds are home to many animals, and you may well see (...)
Oak Ray Lake Resort
Oak Ray Lake Resort is about four hours from Colombo, right next to the lake at Tissamaharama, so guests are greeted with views over the water, which is an (...)
Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa
Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa is on the southern coast, about four hours from Colombo by expressway. It spreads over 58 acres and is one of the (...)
Thaulle Resort
Thaulle Resort is in Tissamaharama, about four hours from Colombo, and welcomes families looking for a relaxed holiday close to Yala. It sits away from the (...)
Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Wild Coast Tented Lodge is a luxury camp at Yala, part of the Relais and Chateaux group. It is a place to take a break from busy lives, where nothing is (...)
Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Yala
Mahoora Tented Safari Camp is on the border of Yala National Park, the second largest national park in Sri Lanka, about 310 km from Bandaranaike International (...)
Leopard Trails Yala
Leopard Trails Yala is a tented safari camp on the border of Yala National Park, the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. A team of experienced (...)
Kithala Resort
Kithala Resort is a three star hotel in Tissamaharama, set among acres of green paddy fields and streams, with views over the fields from the rooms. It is a (...)
On the park boundary
Cinnamon Wild Yala is a five-star jungle resort with no boundary wall, so animals often walk through the grounds. Jetwing Yala is on 38 acres near the beach and the park. Wild Coast Tented Lodge is the most luxurious, with cocoon-shaped tented suites facing the sea.
Tented camps
Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Yala and Leopard Trails Yala offer luxury tented camps on the edge of the park, with guided drives included in most packages.
In Tissamaharama
About 30 to 40 minutes from the main gate, EKHO Safari and Oak Ray Lake Resort face Tissa lake, Thaulle Resort is a family-friendly four-star resort, and Kithala Resort is a three-star hotel among paddy fields. These are better value, and the town has more places to eat.
Further west
Shangri-La Hambantota is a golf resort about an hour and a half west of Yala, good if you want a resort holiday with one or two safaris.
At a glance
| Hotel | Area | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon Wild Yala / Jetwing Yala | Park boundary | Luxury |
| Wild Coast Tented Lodge | Park boundary | Luxury tented |
| Mahoora / Leopard Trails | Park edge | Tented camps |
| EKHO Safari / Oak Ray Lake Resort | Tissa lake | Mid-range |
| Thaulle Resort / Kithala Resort | Tissamaharama | Mid-range |
| Shangri-La Hambantota | Hambantota | Luxury golf resort |
Seasons
Block 1, the most visited part of the park, usually closes for a few weeks each year around September and October; in 2026 the closure ran from 14 September to 15 October. Check dates before booking.
Read about a Yala safari, see our Yala guide or things to do around Yala.