Gal Oya Lodge

A super lodge with gorgeous food and wonderful staff. We were upgraded to a plunge pool which was super and unexpected. The main pool is lovely too. The guides speak good English and the jeep safari was excellent. The boat trip was ok but the diesel spillage from our boat into the lake did smell and we worried about pollution.

Amazing eco lodges. We had a plunge pool which was very welcome in the heat. The outside bathroom was great. Very attentive service and food delicious. Elephants safaris were worth the early starts and the walk with the Veddha tribesman was a unique experience. Would highly recommend

Hidden in the forest lies this beautiful haven of understated luxury which also cares deeply about the eco system it inhabits. The main buildings were constructed traditionally- airy, good to look at and spacious. As was our gorgeous lodge with our own little infinity pool. We enjoyed a walk with the Veddha leader - a magical experience- and a wonderful boat safari. Wild elephants bathing in the lake undisturbed, eagles, crocodiles, even a tiger sighting. We had engaging, knowledgeable guides too. In fact all the staff were professional and friendly and the food delicious. It was lovely to see how excited the staff were to show us a Sri Lankan Frog Owl on our last evening. As pleased as their guests! Highly recommended. Thank you Gal Oya!

A wonderful warm greeting and brilliant service. Great food and service Water safari and safari we great, even though we had a lot of rain for the safari Very knowledgeable guide who was a delight to walk with! Thank you all Georgina and Wayne England

Incredible eco-lodge that strikes the perfect balance between luxury and being immersed in nature. It feels homey and cosy while still offering thoughtful, high-quality touches. The thatched rooms are spacious, and the outdoor bathrooms are both private and truly special—small details like the elephant-shaped taps show how much care has gone into the design. Every member of staff was exceptional, from the general manager to the dining and reception teams. Even the night guards, who accompanied us safely to and from the lodge in the early mornings and evenings, were friendly and attentive. The level of care and hospitality really stood out. The lodge is beautifully set in the jungle on the edge of the national park, with stunning views toward Monkey Mountain. It’s a peaceful, unique location that feels completely removed from the outside world. My sister and I fully immersed ourselves in the activities on offer—boat safari, jeep safari, bike rides, a sunrise pontoon trip on the lake, and even the early morning climb up Monkey Mountain. The climb was challenging (especially on the way down), but the view at the top was absolutely worth it—and we had it entirely to ourselves. In fact, on every excursion, we felt like we had the national park to ourselves. We were lucky enough to see herds of elephants (including two males swimming), crocodiles, eagles, countless birds, lizards, deer, as well as snakes and monkeys. A special thank you to our naturalist, Nishan—his knowledge was incredible, and his passion for wildlife really came through. As big animal lovers, we had plenty of questions, and he made the experience even more enjoyable and insightful. We especially appreciated learning about the ongoing research and the work being done to educate and support local communities. The food was another highlight of our stay—honestly some of the best we’ve had in Sri Lanka. The variety of options was excellent, and the portions were generous. Breakfasts were a standout, especially the granola and curd, and the dinners were consistently delicious, finished off with equally impressive desserts. We stayed for three nights and genuinely wished we could have stayed longer. We will definitely be back.

Amazing location in Gal Oya on the East coadt with huge thatched chalets in grounds beneath Monkey Mountain and the nearby lake. Superb super friendly service. An array of activities on offer from an early morning hiking up Monkey Mountain to a boat safari on a large lake 45 minutes away to see the swimming elephants, crocodiles and a variety of bird life. One of our favourite lodges in our 3 week trip.

Truly blessed to have been lucky enough to stay here! We had 3 absolutely incredible nights here & would have loved to have stayed longer (wish we had more annual leave ;)) The service from start to finish was just exceptional, so thank you again to Poornmina, Lahriu, Sisria, Imran, Chaminda, Charith & super guide Lolitha. The food was to die for & thinking i will need to exercise a bit more following it ;) The accommodation is stunning & yes, you’ll need to be at ease with nature as the bathroom is open to the outside world (obviously still private though!). But seriously such a unique & beautiful place to stay - watching fire flies shimmering around whilst laying in a plunge pool enjoying a Lion Lager at night & listening to the birds wake you up in the morning (which we loved but if you don’t, then suggest ear plugs). The guided walks, boat & jeep safari with Lolitha & his extensive knowledge about plants, trees, birds & wildlife are something we won’t ever forget (Hammer & Banyan trees, Mimosa Pudica plant that closes when you touch it, Lemon Emigrant butterflies everywhere was so comforting, pepper & mango trees, Frogmouth Owl, Pied Kingfisher, Brown Headed Barbet & so much more!) So lucky to also see the elephants in their natural habitat & not surrounded by heaps of jeeps too. We didn’t have time to visit the Research Centre or go on any bike rides, but a lovely couple we met there did & they enjoyed these activities - perhaps if we get a chance to go back we will, as I would really love to visit this wonderland again. We may even give Monkey Mountain a go too, but I’ll need to lay off the starters at lunch & dinner ;) Thank you all so much again for such an amazing experience we will never forget X

Absolutely loved the wooden bungalows! So much detail and thought was put into the layout of it. Plenty of space (apparently families of 4 often share one). We had a lovely plunge pool infront of ours with an amazing infinity edge. If you are fit and like a challenge definitely give monkey mountain ago! Also really enjoyed the cooking class and night walk. All in all an excellent and unique experience. Made all the more perfect by the wonderful staff. Thank you!

Back again for my second stay in 2 years! And things just seem to get better! There are new plunge pools added to some of the bungalows which are great addition especially after a long day in the Jungle. Most of the staff were the same amazing people and the food was as good as I remembered. A new activity which they have added was a bike ride to new tank followed by a swim in the lake, which was magical. Will be back again next year!