The coast → Udawalawe → Ella
Beach to hill country, with elephants on the way
Heading up from the south coast to Ella? Break the drive with an Udawalawe game drive — the surest elephant park in the country — and arrive in the hills the same evening with your luggage.
- Pickup anywhere from Galle down to Hambantota
- Near-guaranteed elephants at Udawalawe
- Luggage carried door to door
- Arrive in Ella the same day
- PickupSouth coast
- En routeUdawalawe safari
- Drop-offElla
6 - 8 Hours
$96$48/ 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.
Early morning
Coastal pickup
Collected from your hotel in Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Weligama, Unawatuna or Galle.
Mid-morning
Arrive at Udawalawe
Up from the coast to the elephant park.
Morning / midday
Udawalawe game drive
Herds, calves and tuskers around the great reservoir.
Afternoon
Onward to the hills
The scenic climb from the dry-zone plains up into tea country.
Evening
Arrive in Ella
Dropped at your Ella hotel with your luggage — door to door wherever the lanes allow.
We collect from
Anywhere on the south coast — Hambantota to Galle
Wherever you're staying along the southern coastline, we'll collect you from your hotel door at no extra charge.
- Hambantota
- Bundala
- Kalametiya
- Rekawa
- Ranna
- Kahandamodara
- Goyambokka
- Tangalle
- Marakolliya
- Dickwella
- Hiriketiya
- Talalla
- Matara
- Polhena
- Mirissa
- Weligama
- Midigama
- Ahangama
- Koggala
- Habaraduwa
- Thalpe
- Dalawella
- Unawatuna
- Galle
- Hikkaduwa
Staying somewhere not on the list — a villa down a back lane in Talalla, a surf camp at Midigama, a guesthouse in Kalametiya? Tell us the address when you book and we’ll get you there. We also serve Tissamaharama, Kirinda, Kataragama and Weerawila around the park itself. Spots well beyond the southern coast can be arranged too — just ask, as a small surcharge may apply.
What’s included
- Transport from the south coast to Ella
- Udawalawe game drive with a licensed guide
- Luggage carried with you the whole way
- Hotel pickup on the coast & drop-off in Ella
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Good to know
- Udawalawe park entrance fees (add at checkout or pay at the gate)
- Meals & drinks (picnic meals 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
Anywhere on the south coast between Hambantota and Galle — Hambantota, Bundala, Kalametiya, Rekawa, Ranna, Kahandamodara, Goyambokka, Tangalle, Marakolliya, Dickwella, Hiriketiya, Talalla, Matara, Polhena, Mirissa, Weligama, Midigama, Ahangama, Koggala, Habaraduwa, Thalpe, Dalawella, Unawatuna, Galle, Hikkaduwa and everywhere between.
Roughly 6 to 8 hours door to door including the game drive, depending on how far west your pickup is.
Yes — our south coast → Yala → Ella route does exactly that. Udawalawe is the better bet for guaranteed elephants; Yala for leopards.
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
South coast to Ella, the wild way
Instant confirmation, luggage carried, free cancellation up to 24 hours before you travel.