Wild elephants and emerald lakes
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Gal Oya
Today you will leave the tourist trails behind and journey into the wild heart of Sri Lanka for an ultimate jungle experience in the unspoilt Gal Oya National Park. After a few hours in a car and a short jeep ride down the dusty track, you will reach your accommodation…
Your home for the next few days is a spacious, comfortable glamping tent made from locally sourced materials, designed to blend in with the natural surroundings. You’ll have all the essentials for a relaxing stay including air conditioning and private bathroom. There’s a swimming pool, and a 30-acre farm onsite, where many local villagers belonging to the indigenous population of the Veddahs work, and you can enjoy a farm-to-table dining experience.
Day 2 – Wildlife spotting boat trip and free time
This morning you will have some free time to explore the area or just laze around the pool. After lunch, the real adventure will begin! You’ll hop in a jeep whisking you through the jungle and right to the lake shore where the boat would be waiting. You will spend the next few hours gliding down the lake’s mirror surface, spotting wildlife from the water. Gal Oya is home to Asian elephants and you can sometimes see them bathing on the edge of the lake. If you are extremely lucky you may spot them swimming from island to island in search of food so keep your eyes peeled and camera at the ready!
After the boat trip, you will return to the glampsite. There are no other activities planned for today, but if you’re interested, you can take a walk around the farm with a naturalist or gardener to learn more about the crops grown on the farm.
Day 3 – Departure from Gal Oya
Today your family adventure in Gal Oya comes to an end. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise one more time, have a dip in the pool and after breakfast, your driver will be ready to whisk you off towards your next destination! If you would like to extend your stay, let your travel specialist know while planning your trip and we will add an extra night for you.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Wild elephants and emerald lakes - lodge accommodation
If you are looking for a little more luxury, we can arrange for you to stay in a beautiful eco-lodge. The lodges are built from natural materials in traditional Sri Lankan style, packed with character and rustic charm. With a swimming pool and misty mountains as a backdrop, it’s just the spot to unwind and enjoy the serenity of the jungle.
There are plenty of complimentary activities available at the lodge, including birdwatching walks, morning hikes, bicycle tours, jungle night walks and animal monitoring programs. You can arrange these with the lodge on arrival.
