REVIEW: Hilton Yala Resort - Hilton’s only hotel inside a national park is beyond stunning!

A Hilton Yala Resort’s villa with its own swimming pool (Source)

My wife and I recently had the privilege of visiting the brand-new Hilton Yala Resort in Sri Lanka.

Situated between the Indian Ocean and Yala National Park, a vast reserve teeming with leopards, sloth bears, and elephants, Hilton Yala Resort combines luxury with a sense of adventure.

The resort has been thoughtfully designed to blend with its natural surroundings. Guests enjoy 5-star safari-chic suites and villas with wildlife just a stone's throw away. Picture sipping your morning coffee as a peacock calls, or spotting a monkey swinging past the pool while you prepare for dinner.

Expert local rangers are available to guide guests through game drives, bush walks, and cultural excursions, ensuring both safety and comfort.

The resort offers premium pool villas with spacious outdoor areas overlooking the jungle. Dining here is an integral part of the experience, from beach bonfire canapés to unique twists on traditional Sri Lankan dishes.

Sri Lanka, one of my favorite destinations, offers rich and rewarding experiences in stunning settings, and Hilton Yala Resort exemplifies this perfectly.

The Rooms

The intimate retreat boasts just 42 stunning rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and local art, reflecting the environment. Each room includes private outdoor areas with a hot tub or swimming pool. Deluxe Rooms feature hot tubs on the balcony, while Premium Suites and Premium Pool Villas have private plunge pools.

Premium Pool Villa with its own plunge pool was heaven during the hot days!

We stayed in a Premium Pool Villa, which was one of the best hotel rooms I've ever experienced. From the moment I entered and the curtains automatically revealed a plunge pool and seating area overlooking the jungle, I felt immensely happy. The villa also had a walk-in wardrobe, a spacious bathroom with a deep bathtub, and luxurious amenities, including a Japanese toilet with a heated seat.

The Experiences

Hilton Yala offers a curated list of experiences allowing guests to safely immerse themselves in local wildlife and culture. Expert local rangers lead game safaris through Yala National Park, where we enjoyed a half-day drive with Head Ranger Sajith. His passion and knowledge about the wildlife, from dung beetles to Yala's 'Big 4' (elephants, sloth bears, water buffalos, and leopards), made the experience unforgettable.

After a successful safari trip at the Hilton Yala Resort

We also enjoyed bush hikes, sand dune walks, and temple visits. A sunrise visit to Sithulpawwa, an ancient rock temple, offered breathtaking views of Yala National Park and a rare sighting of a tusker elephant.

The Spa & Gym

Balancing adventure with relaxation, the resort's spa is a zen haven with outdoor relaxation areas and treatment rooms offering stunning views of the wilderness. My foot and head, neck, and shoulder massages, performed by an expert Balinese therapist, were a perfect way to unwind. I was surprised to find the massages not to be overly expensive - in fact, our 1 hour oil massage cost just around 70 USD, which I find more than fair.

Next to the spa, there is also a small fitness room (picture below). While it might not be big, it had all the essentials and was air-conditioned in a way that makes working out quite comfortable.

Gym room at the Hilton Yala Resort

The Food

Executive chef Jerome Tissera's menus at Hilton Yala feature contemporary Sri Lankan dishes and Asian classics. Dhira Restaurant offers all-day dining with panoramic views, Sandali specializes in grilled favorites, and Vanya offers unique cocktails like the Crouching Leopard. Main dishes come in at around 30 USD tax-included, while cocktails set you back around 15 USD each.

Breakfast a la carte dish at the Hilton Yala Resort

One of the many signature cocktails at the Hilton Yala Resort

The Service

The staff at Hilton Yala are exceptionally experienced, friendly, and attentive, making every detail of our stay perfect. Despite being a new resort, the service felt seamless, which is impressive given the remote location. The staff seemed to be aware of our schedule (e.g. when we had a safari coming up) and asked us about it afterwards, which felt really nice and personal.

Family-Friendly

Hilton Yala Resort welcomes families, with rooms accommodating foldaway beds and adjacent suites for larger groups. The resort is ideal for children aged 5 and above, offering a Junior Ranger Programme for ages 5 to 12. Children under 6 dine for free with a paying adult, and there are discounted rates for older children.

Overall, Hilton Yala Resort offers a luxurious and immersive experience in one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful settings, making it a top choice for both adventure and relaxation.

Booking the Hilton Yala Resort

Depending on when you want to visit the hotel, rates can range from as low as USD 300 per night to up to USD 1,200 per night for a base room. That’s why it’s best to check whether you can book the hotel through Hilton Honors points. Our stay would have cost USD 5,200 for 5 nights - instead, we bought points in one of the promotions for 0.5 cents per point and thus 320,000 points in total (80,000 points per night + fifth night free), saving us USD 3,600!

Hilton is still running it’s current promotion (the promotions are sometimes personalized, so check the link below and log in to your HHonors account to see whether you are eligible for the 100% extra points).

For a full review, watch our video review below - there, I am going more in-depth into what we spent and how we planned and scheduled everything: