If you are seeking to experience the best of Sri Lanka in a day, then this Yala National Park Day Tour might be your answer. Imagine starting your day in a charming colonial coastal fort, observing a centuries-old fishing tradition, enjoying a hearty Sri Lankan lunch by a paddy field, and then taking a feral safari where leopards, elephants, and crocodiles roam free.
This day tour is perfect for those who have to pack adventure, culture, and nature into a single day of glory.
It begins with a morning tour of Galle Fort, the southern coast’s UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. Built by the Portuguese and fortified by the Dutch, it’s like traveling back in time.
Take a leisurely walk along cobblestone streets lined with old colonial houses on either side, drop into art galleries, shop at boutique boutiques, or simply soak up salty sea air from fort walls overlooking the sea. A serene and idyllic place to start your day—and yes, perfect for those Insta-perfect photographs too.
We take a short coastal drive from Galle to Koggala, where you will be able to view one of Sri Lanka’s most stunning landmarks—the Stilt Fishermen.
These fishermen precariously balance on slender poles planted in the shallow sea, casting their lines in the most idyllic and old-school way you’ve ever seen. It’s serene, it’s beautiful, and it’s a moment that gets you attuned to a simpler, unhurried way of life. Don’t miss your camera—you’ll want to capture this.
Having been impregnated in coastal loveliness, we cross to land for Tissamaharama, a peaceful town of lakes and emerald paddy fields. It is here that lunch awaits you at a local restaurant in the guise of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine.
Open-hearted hospitality and home cooking—rice and curry, hot sambols, crispy papadams, and fruit juices—are on the menu. It’s delicious, filling, and just what you want before setting off into the wild.
Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife park, and it’s easy to see why. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot leopards, not to mention elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species. You’ll hop into a safari jeep with an experienced guide who knows just where to go and how to spot the animals.
You’ll drive through dry forests, past lagoons, and across open grasslands, eyes peeled for wildlife. Seeing a leopard resting in the grass or an elephant cooling off in a pond—it’s a thrill that’s hard to describe until you’re there.
As the sun goes down over Yala, you’ll be back at your hotel or pick-up point, tired but with a richness of stories. You’ve seen history, culture, and wildlife—all in one day. It’s the kind of tour that stays with you long after it’s over.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off (Colombo, Galle, Mirissa, or Tissamaharama)
Visit to Galle Dutch Fort
Koggala Stilt Fishermen photo stop
Sri Lankan lunch at Tissamaharama
Yala National Park entrance tickets
Expert guide and safari jeep
Bottled water for the day
Comfortable clothing and shoes
Hat and sunglasses
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Camera or phone (you’ll be taking pictures!)
Light jacket or scarf (it can get breezy on safari)
Book in advance—Yala gets crowded, especially December through April.
Yala Safari Day Tour – Wildlife Adventure from Colombo Embark on an unforgettable adventure with Lanka Tour Host to the heart of Sri Lanka’s wilderness – Yala National Park. Renowned for its rich biodiversity and as a sanctuary for a plethora of wildlife, Yala National Park is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure […]
01 Day
Unlimited
