Sri Lanka · WELIGAMA TOURS
Good weligama tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Leave Ella for Yala National Park, search for leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds, and more in an open safari jeep, then continue by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel near Yala, Tangalle, Mirissa, Weligama, or Galle. Guides including Sasanka, Vishwa, and Tikiri lead the safari.
“Really good trip! Thoroughly enjoyed the safari and the guide Sasanka was informative, fun and helpful”
Meet an English-speaking Surf & Stay coach for a private 90-minute lesson in Weligama Bay. You’ll warm up on the beach, practice paddling and pop-ups, then work on small waves with direct feedback. Pickup by tuk tuk or scooter is included, with optional video analysis and breakfast.
“I had such a great experience learning to surf for the very first time with the team here. They felt like family and made sure I’d at least get a few successful surfs and were supportive no matter how uncoordinated I was. I wish I was here for a few extra days so I can get a few more lessons in but I hope to be back next time I’m here!”
Spend a full day at artisan Tharindu’s home in Kotapola, near Ahangama, learning traditional jewellery work. You’ll handle silver, shape and file your ring, and learn how stones are set. Materials, tools, guidance, a welcome drink, and your handmade jewellery are included. Gemstones cost extra.
“Detta var verkligen värt pengarna om man gillar smycken och vill göra sitt egna! Min ring blev exakt som jag tänkt mig, så helt perfekt☺️ Och väldigt roligt att se hur allt går till i ringtillverkning☺️”
Travel from Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle, or Hiriketiya to Ella with a Yala National Park game drive in the middle. Meet a local guide, ride a 4x4 jeep with individual seats, and look for elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birds. Guides include Dilan, Elian, and Sasanka.
“The company was great and very helpful. Everyone was great including our guide Elian. They were also helpful after the safari was over and helped me make arrangements”
Join Surf & Stay for a private 1 to 2 hour surf lesson near Mirissa and Weligama. Instructors including Banti, Dani, and Danny tailor coaching to your level, supply the board and safety gear, and can arrange tuk tuk or scooter pickup. Optional video analysis, photography, and healthy breakfast discounts add value.
“I had an awesome class with instructor Banti! He had me stand up on the board in 20m min and again and again! Had a blast!”
Travel from Ella to Matara, Mirissa, Weligama, Galle, Hikkaduwa, or nearby coastal towns, stopping for a three-hour Yala jeep safari. Guides such as Sasanka and Balu are praised for spotting leopards, elephants, bears, crocodiles, and small birds. Park fees cost extra.
“Sasanka was fantastic! He showed us all of the big animals we wanted to see- leopard with two cubs, bear, elephants, deer, crocodiles- and many many others, including mongoose, eagle, and many many other beautiful birds. He is extremely knowledgeable of the wildlife and has an incredible eye for spotting the most difficult to see creatures, from chameleons to small snakes. We had a magical experience and will definitely do it again!”
Leave Ella, Haputale, or Bandarawela in an air-conditioned car, trade it for an open safari jeep at Udawalawe, then continue to Mirissa, Galle, Hikkaduwa, and nearby south-coast towns. Drivers such as Pathum and Prasad have earned praise for careful timing and wildlife spotting.
“Unser Driver war den ganzen Tag darum bemüht, uns pünktlich zur Safari und danach in den Süden zu bringen. Er hat uns viel über die Kultur von Sri Lanka erzählt und wollte uns sogar Curd mit Honig offerieren. Sehr zu empfehlen. Für die Safari würde ich künftig eher einen Guide vor Ort in Udawalawe buchen, da unser Safariguide uns nicht sehr viele Informationen zu den Tieren und dem Park geben konnte. Insgesamt war es ein tolles Erlebnis.”
Leave your Galle or Mirissa hotel before dawn for Yala with guide Muthu or Janaka, then continue to Udawalawe after lunch and the Elephant Transit Home. You may see leopards, elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, jackals, and birds, but park fees cost extra and the day is long.
“It was a marvellous day. My main guide, Mr Janaka, appeared exactly on time and transferred me safely to my safari experience in the Yala Safari Park. I could enjoy some genuine natural beauty of Sri Lanka and see many animal specimen, either small or big, on the way to the park and inside of it. After a delicious local lunch I was smoothly and on time transferred for the next two attractions: a short visit of a local baby elephant orphanage and a safari tour in the nearby Usawalawe National Park where the elephant is the most iconic animal among all the other creatures like crocodiles, deer, monkeys or…”
Travel from Weligama to Udawalawe National Park in an air-conditioned vehicle, then spend about three hours in a 4x4 jeep looking for elephants, deer, buffalo, crocodiles, and birds. Your English-speaking guide, including park guide Batu when assigned, explains the wildlife and the Elephant Transit Home.
“Very fun! Saw elephants and a few other animals.”
Travel from Mirissa, Weligama, or nearby towns to Udawalawe National Park in an air-conditioned car or van. Guide Gimhana may lead the private 4x4 safari, helping you spot elephants, buffalo, deer, crocodiles, mongoose, and birds. Park entry is extra.
“we had the most amazing day trip to udawalawe elephant safari. We were picked up on time by our driver very early in the morning and transferred to our safari driver who's name was gimhana. Gimhana was the most lovely, kind and considerate person you can meet. The early morning pick up was so worth the beautiful sunrise drive into the park. Gimhana drove us to some beautiful and amazing stops to take photos, he was so knowledgeable telling us lots of wonderful facts and answering all our questions. Gimhana was an exceptional driver and took us to wonderful locations to get the most amazing elephant photos. Gimhana was so…”
Meet the host at Kumbalgama Railway Station for a private, family-run pottery class in Kotapola. You’ll learn how clay is prepared, try the wheel with patient English or French guidance, and finish with tea and Sri Lankan sweetmeats. Children can paint mini-pots.
“We had a great time at Pottery! A lovely way to spend the afternoon learning the local potter history, moulding clay on the spinning wheel, followed by tasty tea and snacks. Thank you again!”
Travel by private air-conditioned car with driver Ravi from Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, Matara, or Tangalle to Sinharaja. Guide Saman leads a jungle walk with wildlife spotting, endemic birds, butterflies, streams, and a waterfall where you may swim. The tour lasts 6 hours to one day.
“Everything was amazing. The driver was on time, he drove us quickly and safely. Guides in the Rainforest park were really professional and talkative, they spotted every single animal on our way and showed us how interesting and unique the nature of Sri Lanka is. They even let my child take millipede into hands. Both guides were patient and answered all of our questions. They took us to the waterfall and let us swim im here (helping with walking on slippery rocks) and showed my child how to swing on liane. We highly recommend the whole trip for everyone who's looking for adventure of their lifetime. After spending few exciting…”
You’ll leave your south-coast hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle, then switch to a safari jeep near Yala National Park. An English-speaking driver-guide searches for leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, and birds. The $77 price excludes the park’s roughly $40 entrance and service fee.
“De reis naar de safari toe duurde heel lang en de chauffeur reed onveilig. Doordat ze geen snelweg/tolweg pakten, waren we pas om 15.00 uur op de plek waar de jeeps stonden en om 15.30 pas in het Safaripark. Om 17.30 verlieten we het safaripark alweer. Ook de terugweg duurde erg lang. De mensen zeiden dat de safari 3 uur had geduurd maar hiervan hebben wij twee keer een half uur van en naar de drop off plek gereden. De safari zelf was wel leuk maar al met al weinig safari voor veel geld. En op de terugweg reed de chauffeur wederom niet veilig.”
Leave your hotel in Matara, Mirissa, Weligama, Unawatuna, Galle, Hikkaduwa, or nearby areas, then break the journey to Ella with an Udawalawe safari. Driver-guide Pathum leads the jeep portion, with elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, buffalo, and birds on the lookout list.
“Amazing trip. Driver was perfectly on time and very professional. The safari guide Pathum has been wonderful and we were alone in the jeep so the experience was really incredible. Loved it! Ps: I recommend choosing Udawalawe for your safari, it’s a truly authentic experience (while in Yala, for example, the jeeps queue all together and it’s a big mess).”
Travel by private car, van, or Jeep from Sri Lanka’s southern coast to Udawalawe National Park. Your English-speaking safari guide takes you into the park to look for Sri Lankan elephants, birds, and other mammals. Lunch, transfers, and hotel pickup are included, but park entry is extra.
“The tour was good. The transfer well organised and the safari driver and Jeep were fine. For us the tour was a bit to long for what you see, but it’s just a personal impression. The park is really nice and you see elephants in their natural surrounding. All in all would recommend to do the tour.”
Pick a park, a temple or a stretch of coast.
