How to Get to Yala National Park: One Day Safari Tour from Tissamaharama , Mirissa or Ella(2025)
One of the big highlights of my trip to Sri Lanka was definitely visiting Yala National Park. I’d never done any kind of safari before, and getting up close to elephants and even spotting a leopard was incredible.
Yala National Park is in the southeast of Sri Lanka, and getting there is actually pretty straightforward. But I remember being confused myself when I was planning it, because in most cases, you’re not actually staying in Yala. You’re based in one of the nearby towns, like Tissamaharama, and then heading in early for a safari.
So in this quick guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to get to Yala National Park and how to plan your one-day safari, based on my experience and what I’d do again.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Yala National Park
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wild Coast Tented Lodge – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Tribe Yala – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️ Yakaduru Yala – Click here for rates & availability



How to Get to Yala National Park (My Quick Answer)
Alright, my quick answer is, just book a tour. The easiest way to visit Yala National Park is to book a guided safari that includes transfers. No hassle, no logistics to figure out, just show up and enjoy the experience.
When I did my Yala safari, I stayed in Tissamaharama. That’s one of the closest towns to the park, along with Kataragama. I booked my tour online through GetYourGuide, the jeep picked me up at my hotel super early in the morning, and we were inside the park right at sunrise.
But you don’t have to be staying right next to Yala. You can also book tours that depart from further away, like Ella, Mirissa, and even Hiriketiya. All of them arrange transport and everything for you.
Here are a few options depending on where you’re based:
- Yala Safari from Tissamaharama: Click here to check the tour
- Yala Safari from Ella: Click here to check the tour
- Yala Safari from Mirissa or Hiriketiya: Click here to check the tour
Where Is Yala National Park & What’s the Best Base to Visit From?
Yala National Park is located in the southeast of Sri Lanka, right along the Indian Ocean. It’s a massive park made up of several blocks, but most safaris happen in Block 1, which is closest to the coast and known for its leopard sightings.
The two most popular towns to base yourself in are Tissamaharama (often just called “Tissa”) and Kataragama.
I stayed in Tissa when I visited, and I personally thought it was the perfect base. It’s got plenty of accommodation, a few decent restaurants, and it’s only about 30–40 minutes from the main park entrance.
Kataragama is another nearby town some travelers stay in, though it’s a bit smaller and more quiet compared to Tissa. Now looking back, maybe I would’ve preferred to stay in Kataragama actually.
If you’re not staying nearby, then there are also full-day safari tours to Yala from further out.
Places like Ella, Mirissa, and even Hiriketiya offer early morning departures with roundtrip transfers included. It’s a longer drive (around 3–4 hours each way), but still totally doable if you’re short on time.
Want a Fully Private Yala National Park Experience? Check out This Tour:
My Experience Visiting Yala (And Why I’d Recommend a Tour)
Alright, just so you get a better idea of how Yala actually works, and why I’m recommending what I am, here’s a quick rundown of my own experience to put it all together.
First things first: no matter what you read online, just book a fully guided safari tour. That’s what you need, that’s what will make your life way easier, and that’s exactly what I did too.
I was picked up by my tour operator and safari guide super early, around 4 AM, in the classic open-air jeep with benches in the back. We reached the park entrance just before sunrise, and we were one of the first jeeps in line. That matters because the queue gets insane. I’m not exaggerating, there was a line of jeeps behind us so long we couldn’t even see the end of it.
Once you’re inside the park, it’s a bit of a chaotic dance. All the jeeps scatter and head off in different directions, trying to track wildlife. We got lucky and spotted our first elephant within 15 minutes, just casually strolling across the road in front of us. It was amazing.
All the guides stay in contact with each other via phone, so whenever someone spots something, like a leopard or a bear, everyone else heads that way fast. (Same thing happens in African safaris too, by the way.)
We saw elephants, a leopard, tons of birds, and all kinds of wildlife. Our guide was amazing, super knowledgeable, really enthusiastic, and constantly pointing things out that I definitely wouldn’t have noticed on my own. We got dropped off back at our hotel in Tissa in the late afternoon, and I immediately passed out. Totally worth the early start.
If I were you, I’d do exactly what I did: stay overnight in Tissamaharama or Kataragama and book the tour I’m linking below. My experience was super smooth, everything was taken care of, and I honestly wouldn’t change a thing.
Join Here: One of the best Yala National Park Safaris I did!




How to Get to Yala National Park from Popular Towns
From Tissamaharama to Yala (easiest)
This is where I stayed, and honestly, it’s the most convenient base for a Yala safari. You’re only about 30–45 minutes from the park entrance, depending on which gate your tour uses. Most safari operators pick you up directly from your hotel around 4am, so being close definitely helps when you’re half asleep. Tissa is small, quiet, and made for people doing safaris, nothing fancy, but it does the job.
Book your Yala safari from Tissa: Join Here
From Weligama or Mirissa to Yala National Park (longer day but possible)
Yes, you can do a Yala day trip from the south coast beach towns like Mirissa or Weligama, but just know it’s going to be a long one. The drive takes about 3.5 to 4 hours each way, so you’ll be leaving around 2am to make it for sunrise in the park. That said, if you’re short on time and don’t want to change hotels just for a safari, this is a decent option and you’ll be back by late afternoon or early evening.
Book your Yala safari from Mirissa/Weligama: Join Here
From Ella to Yala National Park
Ella is another good option if you’re already inland. The drive to Yala takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, and just like from the coast, it means a very early wake-up call. Still, I met a bunch of travelers who did it this way and loved it. It’s also a great option if you’re planning to go from Ella to the south coast anyway, you can actually book a one-way safari transfer that drops you in Hiriketiya or Mirissa after the tour, which is honestly such a smart way to break up the travel.
Book your Yala safari from Ella (with transfer to the coast): Join Here
Yala National Park Entrance Times & Safari Schedule
Yala is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but most people go on a morning safari that starts around 4:30–5:00 AM with hotel pickup, or an afternoon safari starting around 2:00 PM. Either way, you’re entering the park when it’s coolest and when animals are most active.
The actual safari time inside the park is usually around 3 to 4 hours.
Entrance isn’t included in most tour prices, and it’s not exactly cheap. Expect to pay around 13,000 LKR (roughly $40 USD) per person. This gets added on top of your tour cost and includes the mandatory park fee, vehicle charge, VAT, and the government’s eco-tax, so yeah, it adds up fast.
Still, for what you get out of it (especially if you’re lucky like I was), I thought it was totally worth it. Just double-check with your tour operator whether that’s included or if you’ll need to pay it separately in cash.
Where to stay in Yala National Park
If you’re up for a bit of a splurge, there are some stunning lodges either inside or right on the edge of the park.
Two that really are incredible are Wild Coast Tented Lodge, which is a luxury safari camp with incredible lodges with their own private swimming pool, and Tribe Yala, which has a more modern, earthy aesthetic but still feels super connected to nature. Both offer a completely different experience compared to staying in town and yeah, they’re pricey, but if it’s a special trip, they might be worth it.
Book Here: Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Book Here: Tribe Yala


Final Thoughts on How to get to Yala National Park
I honestly don’t think you need to stress about how to get to Yala National Park, since in most cases, your guided tour will include transport anyway. If you do want to get yourself to one of the nearby towns like Tissamaharama or Kataragama, it’s pretty easy.
There are loads of drivers who can take you from places like Hiriketiya or Ella, and there are also local buses running that route (though that’ll definitely take longer and be less comfortable).
That said, based on my experience, I really think booking a fully guided safari tour is the way to go. This isn’t one of those DIY adventures where you want to piece everything together, it’s such a unique, incredible experience and you want to be able to just enjoy it without stress. I saw so many elephants, and even leopards and couldn’t believe my luck and I was super happy with the tour I booked (which I’ve linked a few times above).
FAQs About How to Visit Yala National Park
How to get to Yala National Park from Colombo?
You could take a train down to Ella or Haputale, and then continue by private driver or bus from there. It’s a bit of a journey, but doable if you’re combining it with other stops along the way.
How to get to Yala National Park from Mirissa?
I’d personally recommend booking a guided tour that picks you up straight from Mirissa, it’s just easier. But you could also take a bus to Tissamaharama and join a safari tour from there.
How much is the Yala National Park entrance fee?
The entrance fee is around 13,000 LKR (roughly $40 USD) per person. Most tours don’t include this in the price, so you’ll usually need to pay it separately.
Where to stay in Yala National Park?
I’d suggest staying in Tissamaharama or Kataragama, both are popular bases for safaris. There are some luxury lodges inside or right near the park too, but those tend to be pricey.
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