Skip to Content

Places to see

Gal Oya National Park, Kumana & Arugam Bay


Gal Oya National Park, Kumana & Arugam Bay

Where the island's wild eastern edge meets legend, elephants wade through ancient reservoirs while world-class surf breaks thunder onto empty beaches.

On Sri Lanka’s wilder eastern frontier, Gal Oya National Park, Kumana National Park, and Arugam Bay blend untouched natural beauty with wilder beaches. Delving into this region provides a deeper perspective of Sri Lanka and something more authentic and unspoiled. We are huge fans of  Gal Oya National Park, which is the only place in the country where boat safaris reveal elephants swimming between islands on the vast Senanayake Samudraya reservoir.  Here you'll also find the most amazing hiking, nature walks, cycling and even indigenous tribal people, known as the vedda community. Nearby,  Kumana’s wetlands and forests transform into a birdwatcher’s paradise during migration, with pelicans, painted storks, and rare black-necked storks filling the skies, along with elephants and even leopards. Nearby on the coastline, Arugam Bay offers world-class surfing. Let us know if you would like to include this wilder region into your private tailor-made itinerary with Red Dot. 

Unique places to visit in Gal Oya National Park, Kumana & Arugam Bay

Go explore

Private experiences in Gal Oya National Park, Kumana & Arugam Bay

Gal Oya Vedha

Explore our handpicked experiences that bring each destination to life — from local culture and cuisine to unforgettable adventures and hidden gems.

Gal Oya National Park, Sri Lanka

Guests have the rare opportunity to be guided by the village chief himself on a walk through the ancestral jungles of his tribe. As you explore the forest together, he’ll share generations of knowledge, from the use of medicinal plants to the location of ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings.

View all experiences

An address must be specified for a map to be embedded

Get inspired

Inspiring itineraries in Gal Oya National Park, Kumana & Arugam Bay

Feel it to believe it. Personalised to you, our itineraries are packed with experiences you won’t find in the guidebook, but they’ll fill pages of your journal.


Gal Oya Lodge

Gal Oya National Park, Sri Lanka

More info

Leopard Trails Kumana

Kumana National Park, Sri Lanka

More info

Meet our experts

Speak to our Sri Lanka experts to help you plan your trip


Want to see Sri Lanka through local eyes? Our specialists have spent years building relationships across the island and discovering places most visitors never find.


Make an enquiry Call (+44) 1937 228 844

Choose your adventure

Speak to one of our team to get started. After all, your travel journal won’t write itself.

  Let's get planning