Responsive image

Gal Oya Lodge

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Secluded location on edge of national park
- Very eco-friendly
- Great for wildlife spotting

Speak to someone who's been there

Start planning your tailor-made trip by calling one of our specialists on 0203 291 2907

Enquire

Overview

Situated right on the edge of the Gal Oya National Park, this secluded ecolodge is ideal for nature enthusiasts. It’s off the beaten track and tucked away in a part of the park that’s serene and undisturbed, yet at the same time bustling with wildlife. Designed to make guests feel at one with nature, the ecolodges are constructed from a range of natural materials and are set in a mountainous area that affords breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Guests stay in rustic wooden bungalows that are spread out across the lodge’s grounds. They’re designed to seamlessly blend in with the surrounding scenery and thanks to their floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, they allow guests to enjoy gorgeous views whenever they want. Each bungalow has a bedroom with a comfortable king size bed, as well as a private living area and a bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers, not to mention double sinks. The tables and chairs found in the bungalows have been handcrafted by local villagers using traditional techniques. As well as the bungalows, there’s a larger villa that’s aimed at families or couples wanting a bit more space to themselves. It sits on the highest point of the grounds and each of its two bedrooms has its own wraparound veranda.

Gal Oya National Park is the main catchment area for Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir, Senanayake Samudraya, and is known for its herd of elephants that can be seen throughout the year. It’s one of the least visited of Sri Lanka’s national parks and is among the best preserved. One of the park’s many highlights is the boat safari, which takes visitors among a number of small forested islands that are popular with birds and elephants, who can often be seen swimming in the surrounding waters. While staying at Gal Oya Lodge, there are lots of activities for guests to take advantage of, such as park hikes, riverside picnics, birdwatching walks, bicycle tours and jungle drives - all of these are led by knowledgeable guides who will tell guests all about the area and its many resident animals.

The ecolodge’s restaurant serves both Sri Lankan and western dishes, with meals freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients. Those interested in picking up some cooking tips can meet the chef for some cooking courses. As well as a restaurant, the ecolodge has a bar and an outdoor swimming pool that’s open year-round.

Those who are travelling with children should consider booking the villa as it’s more convenient and has more space. Because the ecolodge is set within a national park with wildlife roaming freely, it’s suggested that parents keep an eye on their young ones at all times. Children of all ages are welcome here.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

+
See more reviews

Decisions...

Stop searching and speak to someone who knows.

Enquire Now