Call us on 646-895-8368
Start Planning
A small motorboat moored in the lake at Gal Oya National Park

Luxury Gal Oya National Park Tours made for you

Experience the best of Gal Oya National Park with a private tour designed just for you

Sri Lanka's forgotten national park

Gal Oya National Park is something of a hidden gem, one of Sri Lanka’s least visited national parks due to its remoteness and dearth of accommodation (aside from the wonderful Gal Oya Lodge), yet it is a place of beautiful landscapes home to vibrant wildlife.

In the southeast of Sri Lanka, centred around the vast Senanayake Samudra reservoir, the park is covered in evergreen forest and swathes of savannah, while the lake itself is peppered with islands which were once hilltops. It is one of best places in the country to see elephants, who can sometimes be spotted swimming between the islets on boat safaris, following the routes of their traditional migration 60 years after the waters rose.

Other animals in the park include Sri Lankan leopard, langur, toque macaque, sloth bear, wild boar, mugger crocodile, water buffalo and deer, as well as some 150 bird species which can be seen in flocks numbering in the thousands by the water.

There is also a rich cultural aspect to the region, with the ancient Brahmi inscriptions in Henebedde Cave and sacred shrine at Dighavapi, said to have been sanctified by the Buddha during his third visit to Sri Lanka, as well as being home to the indigenous Vedda people.

  • A family in an open safari vehicle looking out to a grassy trail.

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Gal Oya specialists

Roam ithout the crowds

Explore evergreen forests, savannahs and lakes without the crowds

Visit Henebedde Cave and the Dighavapi shrine

Visit the ancient Brahmi inscriptions at Henebedde Cave and the sacred shrine at Dighavapi

Watch birds gather at the lake

Observe some 150 bird species which flock to the water in their thousands

A word from one of our experts

Gal Oya is very much below the radar for most visitors to Sri Lanka. It’s a long drive to get there and there’s no Wi-Fi or phone signal, but it’s an excellent place to avoid the crowds and enjoy some of the country’s best wildlife spotting – take a boat safari to view the numerous elephant families which congregate around the country’s largest lake.

Keith Jarman Senior Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Sri Lanka

There are many incredible places to stay in Gal Oya National Park and Sri Lanka. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

  • Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

  • Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

  • Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Trip inspiration

Get inspired with our Sri Lanka example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

15 days From $11,202

Classic Sri Lanka Circuit

Discover the breathtaking highlights of Sri Lanka on this luxury loop of the island. After a night just outside Colombo, head into the Cultural Triangle to exp…

Explore trip

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Gal Oya National Park tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start planning

Where to go

Meet your Indian Subcontinent team

When to visit

January to May is green season, with chance of afternoon and night time showers. The lake is at it’s fullest and it is an amazing time for birding as all the migratory species are in residence. June to December is the dry season which sees the lake subside over the year, exposing some of the lake floor where fresh grass grows and attracts large herds of elephant. This is the best time of year to do boat safaris.

January-May

Green season, best for birding

June - December

Boat safaris

June - December

Large herds of elephants

When Is the Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka travel guides

Plan your trip to Gal Oya National Park

Whatever you want from your adventure in Gal Oya National Park, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start planning

Don't take our word for it

“We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada…”

We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada and it surely won't be our last! Every detail and moment of our trip was perfectly planned. We were met every step of the way with courteous and knowledgeable drivers and guides. We really appreciated the local guides and the commitment they had to make every day special. Thank you Jacada for the…

Amy Schulz Trustpilot ★★★★★

“heavenly honeymoon”

My wife and I used Jacada to plan our honeymoon to French Polynesia. Working with the Jacada team was fantastic and effortless. Every question was quickly answered. Every hiccup was quickly addressed. We felt like we were in the hands of experts who are equally passionate about travel, and who were committed to helping us have the trip of a…

MJ Trustpilot ★★★★★

“Jacada Travel has been outstanding”

We enjoy traveling and we have used Jacada Travel for some wonderful trips over several years. We have never been disappointed. In 2024 we took a Safari in Botswana Africa and walked with the gorillas in Rwanda planned by Jacada and the itinerary was amazing. In 2025 we had planned a trip to Antartica ( with another company ) but…

Lisa Schrage Trustpilot ★★★★★

“Communication and organization were…”

Communication and organization were excellent. The Jacada team was helpful and genuinely interested in our experience. The guides were personable, knowledgeable, and clearly enjoy their work. Vehicles were spotless, timely, and coordinators managed our every need brilliantly. I will recommend Jacada to friends and family. The only way to travel!

Andrew Woodcock Trustpilot ★★★★★

“Iceland 8 Days”

We had a wonderful trip planned through Jacada. We enjoyed the venues and the excursions. This is a beautiful place we'd recommend to anyone who wants to go on a new adventure.

The Reynolds Trustpilot ★★★★★

Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

Find Out More