Gal Oya National Park

Gal Oya Lodge

Q: How much does it cost to stay at Gal Oya Lodge?

Stays at Gal Oya Lodge start from around US$390 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

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Gal Oya Lodge

About Gal Oya Lodge

Wild beauty and mountaintop vistas take centre stage at this hidden gem of a lodge.

If uninterrupted nature and boat safaris watching elephant swim between islands pique your interest, the secluded Gal Oya Lodge is calling your name. One of Sri Lanka's myriad nature reserves, Gal Oya National Park is the most secluded - just the place to avoid crowds as you roam through the quiet of the jungle with a member of the ancient Veddha tribe. Built in honey-coloured wood, the lodge blends in with its surrounds and takes care of them too with solar-heated showers and conservation projects. Tuck into breakfasts on the river bank, watching as kingfishers in their jewel-bright coats flit over the water, and trek through the trees as local guides share the area's history.

Gal Oya National Park , Sri Lanka

From $390 per person/per night

None

10 Rooms

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Property details

The property

Under a roof of illuk grass, the airy restaurant serves Sri Lankan cuisine (and a variety of worldly dishes) including the likes of fish baked in lemongrass and plated on a banana leaf. The large stone bar has a selection of beer, wine and spirits plus Sri Lanka's quintessential arrack sours. Just down the bank, you'll find a pool with blue loungers alongside and views of 'Monkey Mountain'. If you fancy it, the central lounge also has a collection of board games and guide books to bone up on your safari facts.

The rooms

Built in locally-sourced cajan and teak, the nine bungalows fit seamlessly into the landscape. Each comes decked out with a king-size canopy bed with elephant-print cushions, doors that open onto a spacious patio and tree trunk tables in the lounge. Decorated in hand-crafted furnishings and woven rugs, the rooms also come with fans and mozzie nets. The open-air bathrooms have large granite counters, a walk-in shower and bamboo spouts over brass basins. There is one family villa, which sits at the lodge's highest point and has a large, wrap-around verandah.

Activities

As the neighbourhood of one of the last remaining Veddha communities, it would be criminal to skip a forest walk with the village chief as he shares their history and traditions. Boat safaris are equally as epic thanks to the elephant that line the water's edge and birdlife of every colour. See Gal Oya by night as you trek in search of pangolin; join the lodge's conservation efforts by helping to set up camera traps and make the great ascent to the top of Monkey Mountain - the views are worth it. Back at the lodge, enjoy a foray into Sri Lankan cooking at the outdoor kitchen hut.

Why we love it

The boat safari is epic - the park's famous swimming elephants splash past you on their way to the islands peeking out from the water and soak at the lakeside.

Insiders Tip

As the park's only lodge, Gal Oya's appeal lies in its seclusion but this also means there's no wifi so be ready to shut off from the world.

Something to think about

Big game sightings can be few and far between so jeep drives are often about enjoying the solitude of the forest.

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How to book Gal Oya Lodge

How do I book Gal Oya Lodge?

Gal Oya Lodge can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Sri Lanka trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Sri Lanka trips featuring Gal Oya Lodge or get advice and suggestions from one of our Sri Lanka specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Gal Oya Lodge?

Stays at Gal Oya Lodge start from around $390 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park

Savour the sounds of silence and enjoy an uncrowded and unhurried safari in Sri Lanka’s least-visited park.