Yala National Park Tours & Trips
4.5 stars on(8,092 reviews)- Choose from 50+ Yala National Park tours
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Table of contents
- The best Yala National Park tour packages
- What people love about Yala National Park Tours
- Travel Yala National Park your way
- Best tour companies for Yala National Park tours
- Yala National Park tours for every type of group
- Top Yala National Park travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Yala National Park
- Contact our Yala National Park travel experts
- What our customers ask about Yala National Park Tours & Trips
The best Yala National Park tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaYala National Park travel expert at TourRadar
Discover Sri Lanka
142 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Such a fantastic and diverse holiday, encompassing many of the highlights of the country and smiley faces wherever we went.”
Simon, traveled in October
Yala National Park holds one of the world's highest leopard concentrations. Game drives reveal elephants, crocodiles and diverse birdlife, with Mandara Rosen lodge providing comfortable accommodation. Prime viewing occurs between February-July or December-January.
Duration 15 days Destinations Colombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Girithale, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Kitulgala, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains National Park, BandarawelaSee all destinations Age Range 16 to 99 year olds Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $4,829
14% Off- NZ$4,170You save $659
Splendour Of Sri Lanka (7 Days) Free Upgrade to Private Tour Available
91 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Excellent with a couple of gripes.”
Sherrell, traveled in January
Sri Lanka's premier wildlife sanctuary awaits with 4x4 jeep safaris, where leopards and elephants roam along the Indian Ocean coast. The Wild Heaven hotel in Tissamaharama provides a perfect base, combining safari adventures with comfortable amenities.
Duration 7 days Destinations Colombo, Negombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala National Park, Tissamaharama, MirissaSee all destinations Age Range 10 to 80 year olds Operator Beauty Lanka Travels From
14% Off- NZ$775
Yala National Park spans 1260 square kilometers of wildlife treasures, revealed by expert naturalist guides during jeep safaris. Sri Lanka's largest national park harbors leopards, elephants, sloth bears and countless bird species.
Duration 11 days Destinations Colombo, Habarana, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Tissamaharama, Beruwala Age Range 2 to 90 year olds Operator Wanderful Holidays LLC From $4,332
10% Off- NZ$3,899You save $433
Sri Lanka Itinerary 12 Days
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Our guide, Susil, was truly outstanding. His professionalism, courtesy, deep knowledge,”
4x4 safari drives in Yala National Park reveal diverse wildlife during afternoon or early morning excursions. Leopards, endemic birds, and various species appear while guests rest in nearby comfortable accommodation. Katharagama Temple's evening ceremonies offer optional cultural visits.
Duration 12 days Destinations Colombo, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Kataragama, Galle, Bentota Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator Holiday Lanka Tours From $1,563
15% Off- NZ$1,329You save $234
Sri Lanka 7 Days Tour Package
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything was perfectly organized, and the hotels were fantastic, offering a great balance of comfort and local charm.”
Wayne, traveled in November
Yala National Park teems with wildlife, offering prime leopard spotting opportunities during jeep safaris. Tissamaharama's ancient temple beckons visitors, while the park's diverse ecosystems harbor elephants, deer, and peacocks in their natural habitat.
Duration 7 days Destinations Colombo, Negombo, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala National Park, Tissamaharama, Mirissa, Galle Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Operator Holiday Lanka Tours From $875
15% Off- NZ$744You save $131
What people love about Yala National Park Tours
- Discover Sri Lanka
Absolutely wonderful, one of the best trips I have ever taken, and certainly the best organised one.
- Splendour Of Sri Lanka (7 Days) Free Upgrade to Private Tour Available
Overall a very fine tour. Being in the off-season, I had a personal tour , not the advertised"Maximum of 6 "Van tour. First 3-4 days were excellent. My tour guide was superb. The best tour attractions of heritage and culture / natures. As I did not have resources to pay for pricey safari tour (& the lack of whales in the boat excursion!) the last day or so were less fulfilling. Beauty Lanka Travels were most assiduous with my needs and comfort. Congratulations!
Sri Lanka - a country filled with friendly, optimistic people, a wonderful unique culture, and so many interesting historic sights that rival the amazing Angkor Wat (among others). Only a few years after the devastating Boxing Day tsunami and the end of the war, I can see that it is getting busier and busier with tourism. GET THERE SOON! Cycling through Sri Lanka was a fantastic way to see the country. As far as possible, the tour sticks to the back roads, so really gets into the heart of the countryside and avoids an overly touristy experience. The bikes provided are great, the hotels of a surprisingly high standard. I LOVED IT! I am not at all a cyclist but am reasonably fit. The cycling was challenging but manageable. Overcoming saddle-soreness was my biggest problem. I didn't ride the big hill day and instead caught to train, that was also a fabulous experience. You may read about Suresh, the tour leader on this tour....words cannot describe just what a fantastic tour leader he is. I've traveled far and wide on many tours. Suresh stands alone in being the most service-orientated, friendly and knowledgeable tour leader I have every met. He really goes out of his way to ensure that every single client is enjoying the trip as much as they can.
Cycle the Back Roads of Sri Lanka
Travel Yala National Park your way
Discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten paths with over 37 adventures available in Yala National Park.
Explore a wide diversity of partially guided tours through Yala National Park. We have 36 adventures that vary from 3 days to 14 days. With the greatest number of departures in April, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Select from our extensive range of 35 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Yala National Park with our expert guides leading the way.
Choose from over 18 cultural tours and explore historical sites, local traditions and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Yala National Park. Our cultural tours vary from 4 days to 14 days.
Best tour companies for Yala National Park tours
Yala National Park tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
47 tours in Yala National ParkExplore a wide diversity of group tours through Yala National Park. We have 47 adventures that vary from 3 days to 15 days. With the greatest number of departures in July, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Small Group
38 tours in Yala National ParkVisit Yala National Park with fewer travelers, ensuring more immersive activities.
Private / Personalized
25 tours in Yala National ParkEnjoy the exclusivity of our Private Yala National Park tours, tailored to your own group, preferences and pace with over 25 itineraries to choose from.
Top Yala National Park travel itineraries to fit your plans
TourRadar recommends visiting:
Colombo, Yala National Park
TourRadar recommends visiting:
Colombo, Chilaw, Trincomalee, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kataragama, Tissamaharama
TourRadar recommends visiting:
Colombo, Hatton, Weligama, Yala
Demographics
Discover unforgettable adventures designed for all ages! Whether you're young or young at heart, our adventures offer excitement and wonder for everyone.
Solo Travelers56 tours- Couples19 tours
- Seniors (50+)18 tours
Best time to visit Yala National Park
- Spring 2025
- popular 45 tours
- 45 tours
- Summer 2025
- 48 tours
- popular 51 tours
- 49 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
- popular 50 tours
- 49 tours
- 46 tours
- Winter 2025 / 2026
- popular 46 tours
- 33 tours
- 33 tours
Contact our Yala National Park travel experts
Nina
Expert in Yala National Park at TourRadar
Nina is one of our seasoned Yala National Park Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Yala National Park tours answered!
- Choose from 72+ Yala National Park tours
- 437 verified reviews by TourRadar customers
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Call us
+64 4888 0182What our customers ask about Yala National Park Tours & Trips
When is the best time to visit Yala National Park for wildlife viewing?
Yala National Park's prime wildlife viewing season runs from January to July with the dry season providing clear views of animals gathering at water holes. The weather conditions during these months create ideal opportunities to spot the park's famous leopards. Guests at properties like Hotel Chandrika regularly report successful sightings during this period. A recent TourRadar traveler with Stelaran Holidays reported "we saw bears leopards deer elephants and peacocks thoroughly enjoying this tour at Yala National Park" during their March visit.
How long are typical safari drives in Yala National Park?
Safari drives typically run 3-4 hours with both morning and evening options available. Early risers can join 5:30 AM departures offered by operators like Alkof Holidays which many visitors find ideal for wildlife spotting. Luxury accommodations such as Wild Coast Tented Lodge arrange multiple daily drives. According to visitor accounts "The park is beautiful and full of surprises. We had a long but rewarding full-day safari from 5 AM to 6 PM."
What wildlife can I expect to see in Yala National Park?
The park's diverse ecosystem supports Sri Lankan leopards Asian elephants sloth bears spotted deer and more than 215 bird species. Block 1 frequently yields sightings of wild boars water buffalo hanuman langurs and marsh crocodiles. One visitor documented an exceptional day: "We encountered around 200 Asian elephants in the park and were lucky enough to spot both a leopard and a sloth bear."
How long should I plan to spend at Yala National Park?
A 2-3 day stay allows visitors to experience multiple safari drives and increases chances of diverse wildlife encounters. Tour operators like Alkof Holidays structure their Wildlife Photography Tour over three days. A guest at Hotel Chandrika shared "Two full days gave us enough time to explore different sectors of the park and maximize our wildlife viewing opportunities."
What makes Yala National Park different from other wildlife parks in Sri Lanka?
Yala National Park holds the distinction of having the world's highest leopard density. The park blends coastal landscapes diverse ecosystems and ancient Buddhist ruins creating an experience distinct from parks like Wilpattu or Udawalawe. Guests at Mandara Rosen often explore both wildlife areas and historical sites. As noted by one visitor "Yala offers a unique combination of wildlife archaeology and stunning landscapes that we didn't find in other Sri Lankan parks."
What accommodation options are available near Yala National Park?
The park's surroundings feature accommodations for various preferences and budgets. Options range from the luxurious tented Wild Coast Lodge to the wildlife-focused Cinnamon Wild Yala and the comfortable Hotel Chandrika. A recent guest described their stay: "The Mandara Rosen had spacious rooms with earthy tones and Kandyan paintings plus a swimming pool with underwater music."