Sri Lanka: Southern Coast & Yala Safari — 7 Days

Thalpe beach stay, Yala National Park game drives, and Galle Fort — 7 days along Sri Lanka's southern shore

This seven-day itinerary is structured around three distinct zones of Sri Lanka's southern coast: the quiet beachfront at Thalpe, the dry-zone wildlife corridors of Yala National Park, and the colonial-era streets and waterways around Galle and Koggala. The first three nights are spent at Apa Villa in Thalpe, a property positioned directly on the coast roughly two and a half hours south of Colombo's international airport. The fourth day marks a shift inland to Yala, where a tented camp serves as the base for an evening and early-morning game drive — Yala holds one of the highest leopard densities of any protected area in the world, alongside resident elephant herds, sloth bears, and both mugger and saltwater crocodiles. The final two nights move to Ahangama at Villa Mayurana, from which the itinerary reaches Galle Fort — the UNESCO-listed Dutch colonial fortification dating from the seventeenth century — and Koggala Lake, a low-lying freshwater lake set amid mangrove islets and known for its bird populations. Accommodation across the trip spans a suite at Apa Villa, a premium tented camp at Ruhunu Safari Camping, and a grand suite at Villa Mayurana, all on half-board or all-inclusive arrangements.

Highlights

Evening and early-morning game drives in Yala National Park, targeting leopard, elephant herds, sloth bear, and wild buffalo
Boat ride on Koggala Lake, a freshwater lake set among mangrove-fringed rocky islets near Galle
Walking the ramparts and lanes of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Dutch in the seventeenth century
Four nights at Apa Villa, Thalpe — a coastal property approximately two and a half hours south of Colombo
Overnight stay in a premium tent at Ruhunu Safari Camping inside the Yala buffer zone, with BBQ dinner included
Two candlelit dinners with champagne service — one at Apa Villa, one at Villa Mayurana in Ahangama

Day by day

1Arrival in Colombo & Transfer to ThalpeColombo Bandaranaike International Airport · Apa Villa · Colombo to Thalpe

Meet our representative at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer south to Thalpe—a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Settle into Apa Villa for dinner and your first night.

2Thalpe: Beach Rest at Apa VillaApa Villa

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day relaxing by the beach. Dinner and overnight at Apa Villa.

3Thalpe: Second Beach Day with Candlelit DinnerApa Villa

A further day of rest at Apa Villa, again centered on the beach. The evening features a candlelit dinner with champagne service, followed by a third overnight at the property.

4Transfer to Yala National Park: Afternoon & Evening Game DriveYala National Park · Thalpe to Yala National Park · Yala Junction · Ruhunu Safari Camping

After breakfast, the group transfers from Thalpe to Yala National Park. Guests meet the camp crew at Yala Junction at noon before being driven into Ruhunu Safari Camping for lunch. Yala supports one of the highest concentrations of leopards found anywhere in Sri Lanka, and the park's open terrain and scattered reservoirs make wildlife sightings more consistent here than in many of the island's other protected areas. Elephant herds gather at small-scale tanks such as Butuwe and Mahaseelawa during dry periods, while the Uraniya area is noted for aquatic birdlife, wild buffalo, and both mugger and saltwater crocodiles. The black sloth bear, largely nocturnal and solitary, is harder to spot and sightings tend to be seasonal. An evening game drive follows the midday arrival. The night concludes with a BBQ dinner at the camp, with accommodation in a premium tent.

5Yala Game Drive and Transfer to AhangamaYala · camp · Villa Mayurana · camp to Ahangama

Early-morning game drive when wildlife is most active. Breakfast at camp, then transfer to Ahangama. Rest at Villa Mayurana. Dinner and overnight.

6Galle Fort, Koggala Lake Boat Ride & Candlelit Dinner at AhangamaKoggala Lake · Villa Mayurana in Ahangama

The day is divided between two nearby sites. Galle Fort, the capital of the Southern Province, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains the most intact Dutch colonial fortification in Asia — its walls, warehouses, and administrative buildings date to the seventeenth century, with very little high-rise construction within the perimeter. The beach at Unawatuna lies six kilometres southeast of the fort's main gate. Later in the day, a boat ride on Koggala Lake offers a close look at the lake's mangrove-lined islets, rocky outcrops, and the bird species — including several migratory varieties — that use the islands as habitat. The lake sits a short distance from Galle and is known among naturalists for its accessible biodiversity. The evening returns to Villa Mayurana in Ahangama for a candlelit dinner with champagne service, with overnight at the property.

7Ahangama to Colombo Airport: DepartureAhangama

After breakfast, the group transfers to the airport — approximately a twenty-minute drive — for onward departure.

Where you go

Map: Sri Lanka: Southern Coast & Yala Safari — 7 Days route — Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

1Yala National Park
2Yala

Included

Accommodation in mentioned hotels
Meals as per mentioned meal plans
Air conditioned transfers with an English speaking chauffeur guide
All mentioned activities and park entrance fees
Prices may vary plus/minus depending on the season
Accommodation and meals (For 2 Adults)
4 nights in Suite at Apa Villa on Half Board Basis
1 night in Premium tent at Ruhunu Safari Camping on all inclusive basis
2 nights in Grand Suite at Villa Mayurana on Half Board basis