From Nuwara Eliya to Yala – A Luxury and Wildlife Experience
If you’ve read the first part of our 3-week Sri Lanka trip, you know I’ve been smitten by this charming island in the Indian Ocean by now. In this post, we will discuss the next leg of our journey: from Nuwara Eliya to Yala.
We left our story at the point where we were getting off the train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (I cannot help but add once again that this is the most beautiful train ride you’ll ever experience) and finding a vehicle to get to our new hotel.
Let me share what happened next.
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Table of Contents
- Nuwara Eliya to Yala
- Where to stay in Nuwara Eliya
- What and where to eat in Nuwara Eliya
- What to do in Nuwara Eliya
- Getting from Nuwara Eliya to Yala National Park
- Where to stay in Yala
Nuwara Eliya to Yala
Before anything else, let us discuss the potential accommodation options in Nuwara Eliya.
Where to stay in Nuwara Eliya
Our accommodation experience was not good, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the hotel we stayed in. But you could try the Jetwing St. Andrew’s hotel, which I find to be very charming and torn from an English movie.
Check out availability and prices here!
Another option from the Jetwing hotel is the small and cozy Cottage by Jetwing, a contemporary colonial house in the heart of Sri Lanka. Guests staying here loved the food and the old-school vibe of this property.
If you choose to stay in one of the true colonial houses, you will enjoy your stay in Little England, as they call Nuwara Eliya, to the fullest.
Check availability and prices here!
The last option I would choose is Villa Tea Fields. It is a charming, affordable option with tea plantations outside your window. Just imagine taking a bath in that tub with tea as far as the eyes can see!
Check availability and prices here!
What and where to eat in Nuwara Eliya
This was also a soft spot since this village is really small and in the mountains (1868 m). There weren’t any (or at least we did not find any) restaurants per se, only the ones linked to hotels.
As you might imagine, there was only the traditional kind of food. This was the only location in our Sri Lanka trip itinerary where we had this kind of issue, mainly because the city is so small.
And if you really love traditional Sri Lankan food (or Indian food, because to me they are much the same), you won’t have any problems here.
Of course, there was also the restaurant at Araliya Green City Hotel where you could find some international food, apart from Sri Lankan or Indian food, but I am talking here about kebabs and other oriental food.
The one thing we did not find (anywhere, not even in supermarkets) was alcohol, but maybe we did not look hard enough, and that wasn’t such a huge problem or deal-breaker.
What to do in Nuwara Eliya
In the village? Nothing much. We chose to stay here because of its location and the things to do around Nuwara Eliya, which offer easy access to the tea plantations, tea factories, waterfalls, mountains, Horton Plains, and others.
Tea factory
We allocated one day for visiting a Tea Factory (we’ve been to Blue Field and stopped only to buy some tea from Mlesna Tea Castle, which also offered an incredible view of St Claire waterfall, making it the perfect spot to stop by for lunch).
Since the area is well known for its tea, there are plenty of options and tea plantations from which one can choose.
Our actual visit to the Tea Factory cost nothing (we only had to leave a tip for the guide, and it is good to know that this is expected of you), and we got to see the whole production process and machines.
At the end of the tour, we understood it was also possible to ask for a visit to the plantation, which we did. We were invited to the tea house and offered a free cup of delicious tea.
Of course, we had the chance to buy different kinds of tea directly from the main source. I can only say they were all nicely packed, perfect for gifts to bring back home, and they had an incredible aroma that you don’t get with the tea you buy back home.
You can book a day tour of Ramboda Falls and the Tea Factory online and forget about the hassle!
Ramboda Falls
A trip to the Ramboda Waterfall followed the stop at the tea factory. The view here is amazing, and you truly feel part of nature, the only thing to have in mind is that:
1) you will have to pay for access to the falls (50 rupees/person) and
2) you will need to climb a lot of stairs to get to the top – we encountered many unprepared visitors along the way
But it will all be worth it, and you will understand why as soon as you get to the top. Once we got to the top and saw the pool you could bath in, my future husband took off his clothes and jumped right in.
Amazed by the beautiful setting, we started to take pictures and forgot that we were in a wild setting and anything could happen (which, of course, did).
While we were contemplating nature and weren’t paying attention to our surroundings, a pack of monkeys attacked! And I’m not joking, haha. One of them actually took a bag we had left on the rocks and tried to steal it. Little did I know Alex’s phone was in the bag!
Luckily, we weren’t the only tourists around, and someone faster than us managed to recuperate the bag (and the phone) from the monkey. But as soon as the panic passed, we observed that monkeys surrounded us! They were everywhere!
The moral of the story is: remember you are in the wild; after all, it’s their home, not yours. And keep all your precious belongings with you at all times.
Book your trip to Rambota Waterfall here!
Rafting on the Kelani River
Another activity worth trying if you have some time to do it, and it is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Nuwara Eliya, is rafting on the Kelani River.
Even though it is a bit expensive, the whole experience is worthwhile, especially if it is your first rafting.
I have to admit I was pretty nervous and even wanted to give up the morning we left for the river. That was topped by the fact that our girlfriend did not know how to swim, and you can find the perfect recipe for success, haha.
In the end, my boyfriend was stronger than us and convinced us to give it a try. And we are so happy to have done that! It is a very cool experience; you don’t even know when time flies by. Moreover, at the end of the adventure, you get the chance to swim in the tranquil river.
What to have in mind if you are thinking about adding rafting to your Sri Lanka Trip Itinerary:
- it is an experience suitable also for non-swimmers
- they will provide you with the vests and helmets
- you will have to bring towels and clothing for changing afterward
- make sure to put on sunscreen
- HAVE FUN!
If you are looking for more adrenaline and feel fit, you can also choose to take a detour in the northern part of the island and hike at Pindurangala Rock.
Horton Plains
Go to the World’s End for the breathtaking views! The 9 km walk will take you around 3 hours to complete, but you won’t be disappointed.
Just make sure to arrive before 10 AM because the view gets covered by puffy clouds after this time. Also, avoid going on a Sunday or public holidays – that’s when it’s more likely to stumble into crowds.
You can choose to walk the trail yourself or book a tour that includes a visit to one of the tea plantations.
Ella and Little Adam’s Peak
It is true that this tour will take some time, but you won’t regret it. This is partly because it includes a visit to one of the most picturesque bridges in Sri Lanka: the 9 Arch Bridge.
We stopped in Ella for a quick bite, and I really loved the laid-back atmosphere and hippie vibes. There are colorful bars and lively music, and it‘s a perfect place to have fun in between trips.
Book a tour from Nuwara Eliya to Ella and Little Adam’s Peak and hike all the way to the Ella Gap from the top of both Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak.
Transport option for Nuwara Eliya
Throughout the four days and three nights we spent in the tea country, we experienced various means of transportation, but we had nothing planned beforehand, so I can easily say getting around Nuwara Eliya is quite easy.
When we got off the train taking us from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, we were supposed to be picked up by a driver booked by the hotel. Of course, this never happened, so we took one of the many taxis waiting at the train station.
It turned out that the guy was also a “guide” and managed more cars and drivers, so we arranged all our trips in the county with him for a fair price.
Getting around in Nuwara Eliya was done in an expected way: by rickshaw. It is cheap, it gets you from one place to the other, and you can negotiate the price.
Our next stop, after Nuwara Eliya, was Yala, mainly for the Yala National Park (we thought).
Getting from Nuwara Eliya to Yala National Park
After spending some beautiful days in the coldest part of Sri Lanka, we had to move on and go South to Yala National Park.
The travel agency arranged the whole trip. Thus, we traveled by car between Nuwara Eliya and Yala National Park, the whole trip taking us around 5 hours since we also stopped for lunch in Ella.
Hiring a driver in Sri Lanka is easy, and you can easily get there without having to plan the whole trip ahead of time.
If you prefer to book your transfer between Nuwara Eliya and Yala ahead of time, you would have 2 options to choose from:
- Doing it online here – the driver will pick you up from your hotel in Nuwara Eliya and drive you to your hotel in Yala
- Use 12go.asia and configure your own itinerary as you like. This great online platform covers a large part of Asia and offers the possibility of booking all sorts of transport. I suggest you look into it no matter if you are looking for a direct transfer or are open to splitting the trip into 2:
- take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
- book a private transfer from Ella to Nuwara Eliya.
Where to stay in Yala
One thing is sure: the hotel we stayed in Yala was the best I’ve ever been to, and I was blown away from the start. Jetwing Yala was amazing! It’s a dream hotel, even for a honeymoon in Sri Lanka!
I don’t even know what to start with (and no, we did not have any sponsored partnership with them; this is my opinion): their amazing pool (the largest I’ve ever seen in a hotel), the delicious and very varied food served at their buffet breakfast and dinner, the beautiful and remote beach where only hotel guests have access, the SPA where I experienced the greatest ayurvedic massage there is.
Check out availability and price here!
The best time of day was sunset. You lay on the sunbeds until the sun went down behind the small hills on the beach, sipping ginger ale and listening to the waves. What more could you wish for?
If you choose to include Jetwing Yala in your Sri Lanka trip itinerary, note that it is a remote hotel, and you will not have the chance to wander around outside of the resort (because you are literally in the wild). Thus, you will want to make sure to include dinner when booking your stay at the hotel (or any other hotel in that area).
Of course, if you are looking for a more authentic experience, you should know you can also choose to stay in a treehouse in the middle of the Yala National Park wilderness.
Glamping is another option worth considering. One of my friends said he had the most amazing experience in a glamping resort in Sri Lanka. Check out this or this place—I’m sure you will consider it!
Things to do in Yala
Guided Safari game drive and leopard-watching
The Yala National Park was the main reason for staying here for 3 nights.
Just bear in mind that if you want to visit, you must wake up early in the morning (departure from the hotel is at 5:30 AM). The park’s main attraction is the leopard, but he is not always friendly, and it might be really hard to see him/her.
We were very lucky (as always) to see a leopard, but I didn’t necessarily like the whole experience because the park can get really crowded, and the traffic gets really heavy.
I loved the stop for a snack on the seashore and the stop by the lake filled with lotuses.
Despite this, I would recommend the experience, especially if you haven’t been on a safari before. It is a great experience to see wild elephants wandering around and various other animals, not trapped in a cage.
Book your safari online and save on the price you could pay on location!
Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple
Located in Kalutara, this temple is one of Yala’s most important tourist attractions, apart from the National Park. Only 3.5 km outside of the national park, it is an oasis of tranquility.
Kalutara Bodhiya
Another Buddhist religious site, this sacred shrine, is set on the edge of a lake and is decorated with interesting paintings.
Go on a village cycling tour
Go local and paddle through the countryside and along the rice paddies. Discover rural life and see how the local fishermen live in these small neighboring fishing villages.
Read more and book your experience here!
This is awesome info! Thanks so much! We’re getting excited for our trip next Feb. Does Jetwing provide alacarte dinner options or only the set menu they mention on their site?
Yes, they do! They have also a lovely a la carte restaurant. You will totally love it there!