Luxury Hotel · Sri Lanka
Gal Oya Lodge
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Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
Gal Oya Lodge sits on the edge of Gal Oya National Park in eastern Sri Lanka, one of the least visited and most rewarding parts of the island. The park surrounds the Senanayake Samudraya Lake, Sri Lanka’s largest inland body of water.
Gal Oya offers a boat safari through a landscape where herds of elephants swim between forested islands, crocodiles line the banks and eagles circle overhead.
The lodge itself has nine rooms built from teak, mara wood and illuk grass roofing, and sits beneath Monkey Mountain.
Alfresco outdoor bathrooms open directly onto the vegetation, and the wildlife does not stop at the property boundary. Frogs, lizards and birds move freely through the grounds.
Beyond the lake, the lodge arranges visits to the Vedda, one of Sri Lanka’s last indigenous forest-dwelling communities, along with complimentary bird walks at dawn, guided night walks, bike tours and a hike up Monkey Mountain.
Highlights
- One of the most secluded parts of Sri Lanka
- Nine-room eco lodge on the edge of Gal Oya National Park in eastern Sri Lanka, built from local materials, alfresco bathrooms and an outdoor pool
- Visits to the Vedda community, river-baked fish dinners and guided wildlife walks with experienced naturalists
Accommodation
Lodge Bungalow
The Bungalows are 800 square feet and sit within the forest, each with floor-to-ceiling windows, a king-size bed, a separate living area and an alfresco outdoor bathroom.
A private veranda looks out into the surrounding vegetation. Ceiling fans keep the rooms cool at night.
Signature Bungalow
The Signature Bungalow follows the same layout as the standard Bungalow but has a skylight above the bed, bringing the night sky into the room. It has a king-size bed alongside a single bed and the same alfresco bathroom setup.
The Villa
The Two Bedroom Villa covers 150 square metres and has a king-size bed in the main bedroom and two single beds in the second, with a wraparound veranda looking out over the estate.
The open-plan living room connects both bedrooms and the outdoor space. It suits families or two guests travelling together who want more room to spread out
Further information
Food & Drink
The main lodge has a bar and restaurant serving Eastern and Western dishes throughout the day.
The kitchen works with locally sourced produce and the river-baked fish, cooked in banana leaf over an open fire, is a highlight worth requesting. Breakfast covers continental and cooked options.
The restaurant and bar are open to the surrounding forest, with most guests eating outside under the thatched roof.
Wellness
The outdoor pool is the main focal point for downtime between activities.
The lodge offers complimentary bird walks at dawn, guided night walks, bike tours through the surrounding terrain and a hike up Monkey Mountain for guests who want to take in the landscape from above.
The boat safari on Senanayake Samudraya Lake is the signature experience of a stay, with the chance to see herds of elephants swimming between the islands, crocodiles sunbathing on the banks and a range of resident and migratory birdlife.
Vedda community visits can be arranged on request.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a tear-shaped island sitting off the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean, separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait. It is small enough to cross by road in a few hours, yet varied enough to feel like several different countries within a single trip. The island has a population of around twenty-two million and a history of continuous civilization stretching back over two thousand years.
Our Experts
Sri Lanka is truly one of the most special places I've been lucky enough to visit. There's so much heritage and culture to discover on this small island nation - and the vistas are absolutely breathtaking.
Sri Lanka is the ideal place to pair with a trip to the Maldives, offering a dose of cultural stimulation following a sumptuous Maldivian escape. There's also a bounty of luxury properties in Sri Lanka.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.