Ella to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Galle Shuttle & Yala Safari
Description
This tour is unique because it combines adventure and relaxation in one seamless experience. It begins with a comfortable pick-up from Ella, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the countryside before heading to Yala National Park for an exhilarating safari. Expert guides help you spot iconic wildlife, such as elephants and leopards, in their natural habitat. Finally, the tour concludes with a stress-free drop-off in the charming coastal towns of Tangalle or Hiriketiyas, allowing you to unwind on pristine beaches.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up From Ella/Bandarawela Area
On your way from Ella, you can see the Rawana Water Fall on the road side. If you prefer, you can take around 20 minutes break there. If you get down from Wellawaya area, you will not get the opportunity to see the Ravana waterfall.
This is the first game drive of the day, one of the highlights of the journey. The duration is 2 hours. We are aiming to be in the YALA National Park at dawn in the Morning Safari or at dusk in the Afternoon Safari. These are the best times of the day, which is called "Golden Hours" and gives you the highest chance of spotting the elusive Sri Lankan leopards, which is a leopard subspecies native to Sri Lanka. YALA National Park boasts approximately a hundred individual leopards and has the highest leopard density in the world. There is also a possibility to encounter Sloth Bear, Elephants, Crocodiles, Monkeys, Spotted Dears, Mongoose, Birds and a plethora of other species. Our highest priority is your comfort and safety, so we use only the rugged Toyota Hilux 4X4 vehicles for the Game Drives.
At the end of the first game drive, you will be given a break to refresh yourself at the Patanangala beach inside the YALA National Park facing the Indian Ocean. You can enjoy your breakfast in the break. Breakfast is not included in this tour. Sri Lankan breakfast with Plain Hoppers, Egg Hoppers, Rotti, Coconut Sambol, Sini Sambol or Western Picnic Breakfast with Cheese and Tomato Sandwich, Boiled egg, Cake, Cookie, Jumbo Peanut and Sri Lankan fruits.
After the break, you start the 2nd game drive which is the second highlight of the day. Duration 1 hour. Marvel at the sight of majestic elephants, graceful spotted deer, and elusive sloth bears, among a plethora of other mesmerizing species. Your knowledgeable driver cum guide will regale you with insights into the behaviors and habitats of YALA's diverse wildlife, enriching your safari experience. With every moment promising an unforgettable encounter, YALA offers a sanctuary where the extraordinary becomes the norm.
After completing the 2nd game drive, you will come out of the YALA National Park and travel to Tissamaharama by the safari vehicle. You will get down from the safari vehicle and get into the airconditioned transfer vehicle.
In Tissamaharama at around 5.30 a.m., you will get down from the transfer vehicle and get on to the SHARED SAFARI VEHICLE. Your safety and comfort is our top priority, so we use only the rugged Toyota Hilux 4x4 vehicle for the safari, specially equipped to navigate the YALA National Park's diverse off-road conditions easily. Safari vehicles consist of 6 individual seats, which gives a 270 degree view to the guest. You can leave your luggage in the Taxi while you are going on the Safari. Here, there's 30 minutes break in Afternoon Safari for you to have lunch. (meals not included)
2-4 hours is going to take from Tissamaharama to Tangalle/Hiriketiya/Mirissa/Weligama/Ahangama/Unawatuna/Galle areas it would take less than that. These are going to be the places where we end the journey. Visit your hotel in Tangalle/Hiriketiyta/Mirissa/Weligama/Ahangama/Unawatuna/Galle area, as a person filled with memories of a lifetime and has a newfound appreciation for the wonders of one of the best spots in Sri Lanka's majestic wilderness. Hope we were able to paint a picture in your mind, on what the experience of the tour would be. We, at Ajith Safari Jeep Tours ready to serve you and we invite you to book this tour with us.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your driver will pick you up from the hotels in the defined area. Pick up vehicle will be an air-conditioned car or mini van with luggage space. The time will be slightly adjusted depending on the location of your hotel and the locations of other guests' hotels who are going to SHARE the safari with you. Sometimes, management of the hotels assign a location within the hotel premises other than the lobby area, for guests to be picked up by the drivers. Please communicate beforehand with the hotel staff and get to know the location, if not, the driver and you will be waiting for each other in two different locations. Be at the specific place on time and you will meet your driver.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please be informed that the Entrance and Sercice fees for the YALA National Park is not included in this package.
- You must pay the fees at the entrance in cash in Sri Lankan Rupees (approx. $43 per person) or through a credit card. (There is no facility at present at the YALA National Park entrance to make cash payments in foreign currencies)
- The total duration of the Tour is around 10-12 hours. This includes 3 hours inside the YALA National Park, 3 hours and 30 min to Pick up and reach to the YALA National Park entrance and 4 hours to Drop off after the safari.
Reviews(13)
Booking somehow was doubled. That means the information was shared all around for safari providers. Payed double.
I slept through my alarm and missed my pick up but luckily enough the tour operator managed to get me on a safari the next day and I didn't loose my place which I was so happy about! My driver ishan done a amazing job, unfortunately we didn't spot a leopard but we saw everything else! The highlight if the trip was seeing a bear
The safari was very nice. The guide Ishan was great and very kind. He spoke explained us everything clearly. He showed us many animals and places. Thanks to him , we saw leopards which was amazing. Ishan knew where to go and helped us see everything
We booked and paid online for a transfer from Tangalle to Ella and the safari tour, but the experience was highly disappointing: - The vehicle that came in the morning, almost 45 minutes later than the mentioned time was already full of people leaving us to carry our big luggage in our arms and having one of us taking the front seat near the drive because no room left in the back. - Breakfast was prepaid, yet nothing was provided. Our requests on Whatsapp and via their contact form for a refund went unanswered. - We paid in advance online for the park tickets only to find out they actually charge more than the official price. - The safari began very late, due to repeated delays. The driver arrived 45 minutes late for pickup in the morning, then when he was close to the park entrance he got called that the jeeps are actually somewhere else and had to backtrack to take us to the jeeps. - Because of the late arrival, we waited nearly an hour at the park entrance behind many other vehicles, in order for the driver to buy the tickets. - The safari itself took only around 2-2.5 hours with chaotic driving back and forth on the same road. - After the safari ended, we were left waiting another hour for the transfer to the next car due to poor organization, "we are only 4 in the car instead of 6, and we have to go to Ella with a full car". Same as in the morning, a person was left to stay in front with the driver because no space for luggage. Overall, the service was chaotic, poorly managed, and far below expectations. I strongly advise others to avoid booking with this company.
From the start this tour failed to deliver. Thee car that picked me up didn't smell good, which was a shame. Once at the collecting area, we were allocated a 4x4 eventually. It then drove around swapping people from one 4x4 to another. This wasted time. The tour of the Yala park was fine. When we returned to their "office" it turned out hgat I had misunderstood the tick and wanted to return to where I had been collected from . It was dark, late and raining hard. They wouldn't arrange a return to my hotel unless I paid them $45 which was more than the original trip which included transport and a guide/driver. They had me over a barrel and they knew it. They paid the driver tgat took me back a lot less than $45. There are plenty of tours operating to Yala. Find an honest one that is much better organised and not out to fleece the customer.
There is good value in this tour because it gets you to Yala from Ella, then from Ella to the beach with a safari in-between (costs 13,000 for the safari). I recommend it!
Dilan was a great tour guide who tried his best to get us to all the locations where the different animals are. He also gave some fun facts about the animals. The shuttle option from Ella to the beach towns is very convenient.
Sasanka was an excellent driver!! He showed us all the animals and had lots of knowledge on each. Would highly recommend!!
We did an afternoon trip. It started slow, but right before sunset we found a big male leopard lying on a branch. Couldn’t believe our luck. The guide knew exactly where to go.
Very pleasant trip. The guide made sure we saw as many animals as possible, he even spotted a small chameleon in a tree during the ride. Interesting facts about the animals made the trip more interesting.
