Hilton Yala Resort Sri Lanka - travelling-through-the-world

Hilton Yala Resort Sri Lanka – a long-cherished dream

We were so looking forward to staying at the Hilton Yala Resort Sri Lanka! This hotel only opened recently, and we were so impressed by the pictures we saw on the website that we decided we absolutely had to come here as soon as we had the chance. And what can I say? Our rather high expectations were more than fulfilled in every respect.

When you leave the tarmac road, the first thing that awaits visitors is a long, potholed track that leads right through the middle of the national park. At the turn-off from the main road onto this track, there is a sign indicating how many wild animals living in the national park have been spotted on this road recently. These include elephants, leopards, deer and bears – yes, bears! Getting out of the car and walking to the hotel alone is therefore not advisable!

And finally, the sign appears: Hilton Yala Resort, and we reach a high wall of grey granite. Two employees await us in a large archway, welcoming us warmly and accompanying us to the lobby. Here, too, the walls are made of the same stone, which reminds me of the entrance to a castle complex.

However, when the door to the reception area opens, the impression changes from rather forbidding to wonderfully inviting: warm colours prevail and the area is very spacious, not least because of the enormous height of the room. Comfortable upholstered furniture invites us to linger, and there is a large bar opposite the entrance. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a sweeping view over the grounds to the Indian Ocean.

What makes this first glance so impressive is the fact that only a few flat roofs of the 28 individual buildings in the complex are visible. That means there are only 42 rooms and villas in total in the Hilton Yala Resort. To the left and right of the amorphous pool area, only dense, tree-high vegetation catches the eye, giving you the feeling of being in the middle of nature.

This feeling is reinforced when a ranger belonging to the hotel sits down at our table and explains that we should observe a few rules for our own safety. These include, for example, not leaving the hotel grounds without being accompanied by a ranger. If you want to go to the beach or take a hike through the dunes, for example, you must register for this activity in good time, and you will then be picked up from your house and accompanied by a professional guide.

It is also not advisable to go out alone at night, as the entrances from the park to the hotel area are open. For example, we can see a crocodile alive and well in the Bio Pond, a landscaped natural pond, practically from our balcony. Elephants are also sometimes found in the middle of the grounds, and the horde of monkeys is practically always around somewhere. That is why there is a permanently available service with golf carts to take you to any location within the hotel grounds.

In this way, we are then taken to our room on the upper floor of house number seven, enter our refuge and are initially overwhelmed by the sheer size of the room. The bathroom alone is larger than an entire normal hotel room and equipped with the finest details: a freestanding bathtub, a washlet – a toilet with a heated seat and a sophisticated washing and drying function – a huge floor-level shower, a double washbasin, a separate dressing table and many other gadgets that make life extremely pleasant.

In the area between the bathroom and the room with the bed and seating area, we find spacious cupboards and, opposite, two spaces for suitcases and, between them, a bar with a refrigerator and several drawers for glasses and crockery. On top, there is a state-of-the-art capsule coffee machine and plenty of fresh bottled water. The bar is otherwise well stocked, including white and red wine and spirits in large bottles.

The huge bed and the seating area with two armchairs and a sofa are excellent, and the rest of the room’s furnishings are simply wonderful. Here, too, the view outside is through floor-to-ceiling windows, whose curtains can be opened and closed completely at the touch of a button.

In addition, the rooms on the upper floor have a whirlpool on the balcony, which we use intensively every evening before going to bed, so that we can then listen to the night-time concert of the various animals from the comfortable seating area.

Incidentally, this Hilton Yala Resort is the only one in the world located in the middle of a national park. The outdoor facilities are designed accordingly. All walkways are on wooden footbridges, and you feel like you are walking through the middle of the jungle.

The extremely large pool also blends organically into the landscape, making it look more like a lake than an artificial body of water. However, unlike a natural pool, it is spotlessly clean; the lifeguards take great care of people and nature.

The changing rooms and sanitary facilities belonging to the pool are equipped with a steam bath and sauna for both sexes. There are also fully equipped showers and perfectly maintained washbasins with fresh towels. And listen to this: there is even a cool box with fresh water on ice!

As mentioned above, the area surrounding the Hilton Yala Resort, including the beach, can only be visited when accompanied by a ranger. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a visit. The ranger knows the answer to almost every question and is obviously delighted by our interest.

I almost forgot to mention the catering at the Hilton Yala Resort: in a word, it’s excellent! From breakfast – my recommendation: (S)Eggs on the Beach – to dinner, we were never disappointed, but rather pleasantly surprised. Try the Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand with your meal – sensational!

What really completes the experience at the Hilton Yala Resort and sets it apart from many other high-class destinations is the heartfelt kindness of all the staff. If I had to single out just a few of these thoroughly positive people, who represent everyone else without exception, the following immediately spring to mind:

Dlasha (or Dilasha?), who gave us an incredibly warm welcome and was always helpful throughout our stay.

Or Asela, one of the friendly drivers, who always made us laugh, even on the short journey from the restaurant to our room, lit the stairs for us at night with his torch and always waited until we were safely in our room.

Kasun, who kept our room spotlessly clean and surprised us several times with animals made from towels and fresh flowers.

In the restaurant, we were looked after by so many attentive people that I can only remember the names of Isuru and Divyanjali, to whom we owe unforgettable hours in the restaurant. Sunil also deserves a special mention here: With his phenomenal insight into human nature, he senses people’s moods and tries with angelic patience and dedication to transform bad moods back into joie de vivre. Thank you, Sunil!

And what would all these incredibly lovely people be without a mother who supervises and directs everything with a stern gaze? This is where the boss, Gitanjali, comes in, who is literally referred to as a mother by many of the staff. Her signature style is evident in the smallest details and makes the Hilton Yala Resort what it is and what it wants to be: a hotel of exquisite luxury where you can still feel completely at home.