Arugam Bay → Yala → Ella
Last wave at sunrise, hill country by nightfall
Leaving the east coast for the hills? Travel inland through Yala National Park with a guided game drive built in, then finish the day in misty Ella — bags and all.
- Arugam Bay to Ella with a safari built in
- Guided 4×4 game drive in Yala
- Luggage carried the whole way
- One day instead of a wasted transfer day
- PickupArugam Bay
- En routeYala safari
- Drop-offElla
9-10 Hours
$144$72/ person
Free cancellation up to 24h · no booking fees
How the day runs
Your journey, hour by hour
One driver, one vehicle, your luggage with you — and a proper game drive in the middle of it.
02:00 – 02:30
Pickup in Arugam Bay
An early collection from your surf hotel with all your luggage.
~05:30
Arrive at Yala
Down the coast road and into the park for gate opening.
06:00 – 10:00
Yala game drive
Guided 4×4 game drive through leopard country.
Late morning
Breakfast & onward
Optional picnic breakfast, then the climb into the hills.
Afternoon
Arrive in Ella
Dropped at your Ella hotel — door to door wherever the lanes allow — with the evening free.
What’s included
- Guided 4×4 Yala game drive with a licensed tracker
- Air-conditioned van transfers (small-group, sharing basis) with luggage space
- Luggage carried with you the whole way — no storage, no backtracking
- Door-to-door hotel pickup & drop-off at both ends, where the roads allow
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Good to know
- National park entrance fees (≈$43pp — add at checkout or pay at the gate)
- Meals & drinks (picnic breakfast/lunch available at checkout)
- Personal expenses & gratuities
- Bumpy off-road terrain — not ideal for pregnant guests, back problems or wheelchair users
- Under-2s ride free; under-12s must travel with an adult
- Weather in Yala can be changeable — bring a light layer
10,000+ five-star reviews
Loved by travellers from every corner of the world
“Our tracker spotted a leopard within the first hour. He knew exactly where to wait — the whole jeep was speechless. Best morning of our Sri Lanka trip.”
“Picked us up in Ella, safari through the park, dropped at our beach hotel by evening. Zero stress and we saw dozens of elephants. Incredible value.”
“Comfortable jeep, flexible timing, and a guide who genuinely loves the wildlife. Booking was simple and the price was honest. Cannot recommend enough.”
Good questions
Route FAQs
Around 02:00–02:30 to reach Yala for the gate opening. There's a later departure option too if you'd rather do an afternoon game drive.
Roughly 9 to 10 hours door to door, including the game drive and the drive up to Ella.
Not at all — surfboards included. Tell us what you're carrying when you book and we'll send the right vehicle.
We drop door to door wherever the roads allow. Ella has a few places up steep, narrow lanes; if the vehicle can't safely reach yours we'll drop you at the nearest accessible point — usually only a short walk — and help you with your bags.
Our safari jeeps have rain covers, so a passing shower is no problem — Yala is often at its most active just after rain. If the weather turns too severe to safari safely, we'll reschedule your tour or give you a full refund.
Sunscreen, a cap and sunglasses, comfortable shoes and a refillable water bottle. If you're a Sri Lankan resident or from a SAARC country, bring your ID or passport for the reduced park rate. And if you haven't pre-paid your park tickets at checkout, bring cash for the entrance fee at the gate.
Yes — children of all ages are welcome. Under-2s ride free and under-12s travel with an adult. Let us know their ages when you book and we'll make sure the vehicle suits.
Other safari + transfer routes
Going somewhere else?
Every one of these turns a travel day into a safari day, with your luggage carried the whole way.
One day, two places, zero wasted miles
Arugam Bay to Ella, the wild way
Instant confirmation, luggage carried, free cancellation up to 24 hours before you travel.