Luxury hotels in Yala

Hey! When I travel I love to stay at luxurious hotels - especially the kind of places that offer over the top extras and really spoil their guests with great service, nice spas, awesome restaurants and beautiful views. What more can you want? To save some time, I've put together this list of my favourite 5-star hotels and resorts in Yala. I hope you will like it!

• 1 Uga Chena Huts – All Inclusive Yala, Sri Lanka

  

  Resort. Located in the deep south of Sri Lanka, Chena Huts is just 5-minute away from Yala National Park. Featuring free WiFi, a spa centre and an outdoor pool, Chena Huts offers fine views of the wilderness and seascape. It is designed to echo the local architecture harmonizing with the jungle environment. All cabins are fully air-conditioned and comprise of living room, bedroom, en suite bathroom and shaded private built-in plunge pool. The luxurious bathroom boast of free standing bathtubs and twin vanity consoles. You will find a 24-hour front desk offering express check in/check out services. This area is popular for hiking. Free private parking is available on site. Transfers to and from the park entrance to resort can be arranged. Morning and evening game drives in a customized safari game viewing vehicle is included (vehicle on sharing basis and includes park entry fees). Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch & dinner (included in the rate) at the Basses restaurant, where urban dining is featured along with water, fruit juices and other soft drinks, teas and coffees, selected wines, beers and spirits at the bar. Kataragama is 19 km from Chena Huts, while Tissamaharama is 14 km away. Colombo International Airport is 6-hour drive away. Show full description Guest review score 9.6, rooms from around $1300.

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• 2 Wild Coast Tented Lodge All Inclusive Yala, Sri Lanka

  

  Resort. Wild Coast Tented Lodge All Inclusive is adjacent to the famous Yala National Park, renowned for its dense leopard population. This luxury tented camp is situated where the jungle meets a pristine beach, overlooking the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Wild Coast Lodge’s design uses arched fabric structures that allows the tents to take on the shape and colour of the rocks and boulders that lay scattered nearby, whilst a clever layout in the shape of a leopard’s paw print alludes to the area’s most famous resident. While the main buildings, made of bamboo, blend in with the distinctive rock formations of Yala, the air-conditioned tents offer state-of-the art amenities. The open-air bamboo-clad Ten Tuskers bar and Dining Pavilion wrap around the resort’s free-form swimming pool. Guests can enjoy creative daily-changing menus of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in the restaurant, as well as sundowner cocktails and picnics al fresco on the sand dunes, watching dusk settle over the Indian Ocean. Guests learn about the wildlife in the park and watch documentaries in the library. The property offers vehicles to tour the quietest corners of Yala National Park and expert naturalist guides talk guests through the incredible diversity. The Sanctuary Spa borders pristine ocean and dense bush and uses native Sri Lankan ingredients, Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon. Show full description Guest review score 9.6, rooms from around $734.

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• 3 Cinnamon Wild Yala Yala, Sri Lanka

  

  Resort. Only a 5-minute drive from the famous Yala National Park is Cinnamon Wild Yala. It boasts chalets with private balconies and free Wi-Fi. It features an outdoor pool and a restaurant. Nestled in the south of Sri Lanka, the property is a 6-hour drive from Bandaranaike International Airport. It is located in Kirinda, a village well-known for its wildlife. Chalets offer spectacular views of the beach or jungle. They are decorated with local artcrafts and feature air-conditioning, cable TV and a minibar. All chalets come with private bathroom facilities. Enjoying a prime location, Cinnamon Wild Yala's restaurant provides beautiful landscapes and serves Asian and Western dishes. Meals can also be enjoyed in the privacy of guests’ rooms. Show full description Guest review score 8.8, rooms from around $136.

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• 4 Jetwing Yala Yala, Sri Lanka

  

  Hotel. Spread across 38 acres of land, Jetwing Yala features an outdoor pool, a business centre and luxurious rooms located on the borders of Yala National Park. Operating a 24-hour front desk, it provides free parking and offers complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the property. Fitted with parquet flooring and four-poster beds, spacious air-conditioned rooms are furnished with a wardrobe, in-room safe, a flat-screen cable TV and sofa seating area. Iron, minibar and tea/coffee making facilities are also included. The large en suite bathroom comes equipped with a hairdryer and hot/cold shower. At Jetwing Yala, guests can indulge in a pampering massage at the spa or approach the tour desk for sightseeing and travel arrangements. Luggage storage, laundry and child care services are available for convenience. The property houses a restaurant, The Dining Room, serving delectable Sri Lankan and Asian cuisine. The Living Room bar and pool bar offers a variety of cocktails and drinks to choose from. Thamapanni is an Asian fusion fine dining restaurant. Room service option is also available. Jetwing Yala is within 35 km from the new Mattala International Airport. Colombo City is approximately a 4-hour drive away. Show full description Guest review score 8.7, rooms from around $185.

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• 5 Wild Trails Yala by Suri Yala, Sri Lanka

  Luxury tent. Situated less than 1 km from Situlpawwa, Wild Trails Yala by Suri features accommodation with a garden, a restaurant and room service for your convenience. There is a private bathroom with bidet in all units, along with free toiletries and a hairdryer. A à la carte, continental or Asian breakfast is available each morning at the property. Tissa Wewa is 34 km from the luxury tent, while Kataragama Temple is 17 km from the property. The nearest airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, 50 km from Wild Trails Yala by Suri. Show full description Guest review score 9.3, rooms from around $114.

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• 6 Leopard Trails Yala Yala, Sri Lanka

  

  Campsite. Nestled amidst forest and lake bordering the national park and close to the quieter Katagamuwa gate, Leopard Trails tented camp allows guests to experience the wilderness in comfortable air conditioned deluxe tents or in larger suites with plunge pools. Expert naturalists lead shared game drives, nature walks, give an introduction to stargazing, and also host guests for drinks around the campfire, before dining by candlelight! An approximate 4 hours’ drive from the Colombo city and the Bandaranaike International Airport, Leopard Trails is situated in the perfect location which is easily accessible from any point even from the Mattala Rajapakse International Airport just being 1 hr away from the camp. The spacious tents are all air conditioned with private bathroom facilities and seating area for each tent. Besides safari drives, guests can enjoy games and activities arranged by the property or relax in the lounge area with a cocktail or fine wine from the fully stocked bar. We have two types of tents at Leopard Trails Yala camp: The Leopard Trails Suites and Deluxe Tents. Show full description Guest review score 9.1, rooms from around $405.

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I try my best to keep this guide up to date and I last refreshed it in November 2022. Did I miss a luxury hotel that should be on this list? Send me an email and let me know!