Gal Oya became a national park in 1954 and is found in the south-east of the island. One of the highlights of visiting this park is watching the resident elephant herd swimming between islands at sunset. Gal Oya is a utopia for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It offers a raw, rugged experience that is spread out across 63,000 hectares of land which is home to an array of diverse wildlife. Here, you will come across three precious herbs that are integral to the age-old Ayurvedic treatments. You will also have the opportunity to meet the Vedda community which lives here, a small population of Sri Lanka’s indigenous people who live an entirely separate existence from the other people on the island. The area is soothing and invigorating for those seeking to escape the stresses of daily urban life.