A Complete Guide To Transferring To Mirissa And Galle, Along With A Yala Safari Day Trip From Ella

Ella is a beautiful city in Sri Lanka and one of the most popular getaway destinations for locals and travelers alike. From winding up to Elle’s famous hilltop Nine Arches Bridge, to exploring the city’s abundance of tea plantations and waterfalls, Ella has something for everyone. But if you can tear yourself away from the cozy city, why not embark on a day trip outside of Ella to Mirissa and Galle, and finish off the day with a Yala Safari? To help you prepare for the perfect day trip from Ella, we have put together this complete guide that covers all your transportation, lodging, activities and more for this popular route.

How To Get To Mirissa and Galle From Ella

The most convenient way to get to Mirissa and Galle from Ella is by bus. There are direct buses running regularly from Ella Bus Station to Mirissa, located just 5KMs away, and Galle, situated some 110KMs away. Both routes provide beautiful scenic views along winding roads as you make your way to your destination.

The best option for a direct bus ride is to take the Blue Line express service, which run hourly between 6am and 8pm daily. This service is well-priced at 50 Rupees per person, and has fixed stops en-route. To get to Mirissa, the driver will pull over at Mirissa Station, located at around 0.7KMs from the beach. A tuk-tuk or bus ride from here will cost around Rs150-200 depending on your destination.

For those planning to go on to Galle, the same Blue Line connects to Elle to there as well – so no change of vehicle necessary. The estimated time for the whole trip from Ella to Galle is around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Accommodation For Your Trip

Mirissa has some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, so it’s no surprise that it is a popular destination for beach bums looking for the ideal getaway spot. If you’re partial to a fine stretch of sand, you’ll find plenty of inexpensive cabanas right on the beach. Most cabanas offer basic amenities such as attached bathrooms, linen and a cooking area. Prices per night vary between Rs300-800.

Apart from cabanas, Mirissa also boasts many luxury beach-front hotels such as Milano Beach Villa (https://www.millanobeachvilla.com/), Beach Bags Backpackers (https://www.beachbagsbackpackers.com/) and Garden Beach Hotel (https://www.gardenbeachhotel.com/) close by. These are slightly more expensive but offer more amenities such as swimming pools, spas and sophisticated menus.

If you plan on visiting Galle as well, there are numerous luxurious hotels located in its historic Galle Fort such as Fortaleza Boutique Hotel (https://www.fortaleza-srilanka.com/), Amangalla (https://www.aman.com/resorts/amangalla) or Sun House (https://www.thesunhouse.com/). These heritage hotels offer remarkable views of the deep blue Indian Ocean as pointed turrets reach thick walls that have long protected the charming old town inside its ramparts.

Yala Safari

No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without a safari experience in Yala National Park – one of the island’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries located 170KMs from Mirissa. As its name suggests, the park is mostly known for its large population of wild elephants along with sloth bears, jackals, crocodiles, monkeys and an abundance of other species of fauna endemic to Sri Lanka’s environment.

There are two safari options available depending on how much time you want to spend inside Yala National Park – a morning safari and an evening safari. The morning safari is the more popular option where visitors are taken into the park around 6am when the animals are more active. For those interested in staying longer, evening safaris begin around 3pm; visitors will be able to catch the elaborately beautiful Sri Lankan sunset during their journey back home.

Safari tours are very affordable with ecological transport ranging from open-top jeeps to closed-roof cars ranging in prices from Rs4500 – Rs7000 per car or drive depending on seasonality and availability. Drivers can be hired from local drivers located outside Yala National Park entrance or organized through an online travel provider – GetYourGuide (https://www.getyourguide.com/activity/-t408946?partner_id=UWJ1LS2) – offering pre-organised transport for a swift, safe and comfortable journey.

Conclusion

To sum up, a day trip from Ella to Mirissa/Galle and Yala Safari offers a unique chance to explore some of Sri Lanka’s most popular attractions in one go. From beautiful beaches in Mirissa and luxurious stays in Galle to an exciting safari experience in Yala National Park – this route ensures an enjoyable day out without feeling rushed or tired at the end of it all! With the spectrum of conveniently priced transportation services available today – be it buses or private rides – it’s easy to explore Sri Lanka while sticking to a designated budget! So if you have a day or two free in your travel schedule, grab the chance and embark on this trip of a lifetime! And why not book your transport with GetYourGuide for convenience and great service – click here for more info!