WHERE TO STAY IN YALA NATIONAL PARK

TISSAMAHARAMA (TISSA)

Just twenty minutes from Yala’s main gate, Tissa is the park’s traditional jumping-off point - a lakeside town of guesthouses, cafes, and a few hotels that make early safaris easy.

It’s practical, friendly, and ideal if you like a little civilisation with your wilderness.

KIRINDA & THE PAPATUPANA COAST

South towards the sea, Kirinda and Palatupana blur the line between jungle and ocean - a place where elephants sometimes wander the dunes.

This is where Yala’s eco-luxury lodges sit, offering barefoot design, surf, and cicadas after dark.

We recommend staying here.

INSIDE THE PARK

For full immersion, a few camps sit within Yala’s buffer zone.

Expect canvas tents, open-air dining, and dawn wake-up calls from peacocks instead of alarms. Prices are higher, but the experiences, such as lantern-lit dinners, wildlife crossing through camp, and the hum of the forest around you, is truly unforgettable.

These stays are for travellers who want to feel the park and get that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

KATAGAMUWA & KATARAGAMA

On Yala’s quieter northern edge, Katagamuwa offers a more cultural stay near the sacred city of Kataragama.

It’s for the intrepid: smaller local camps, slower safaris, and evenings spent alongside pilgrims instead of crowds.

Our insider hotel picks are below:

OUR TOP PICK | Jetwing Yala

BEST LUXURY STAY | Wild Coast Tented Lodge

BEST VALUE | Makini Bush Camp

BEST FAMILY OPTION | Cinnamon Wild

CLOSEST TO THE ACTION | Back of Beyond Yala