Hilton Yala Resort recognised as Best Luxury Safari Experience in Sri Lanka and Best Luxury Sustainable Resort in Asia 

Hilton Yala Resort has been recognised at the LUXE Global Awards, receiving two distinguished accolades: Best Luxury Safari Experience in Sri Lanka and Best Luxury Sustainable Resort in Asia. The recognition celebrates the resort’s distinctive approach to luxury hospitality, bringing together immersive wildlife experiences, thoughtful design and a deep connection to one of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable natural environments. 

Set against the wilderness bordering the renowned Yala National Park, Hilton Yala Resort offers travellers an opportunity to discover the extraordinary biodiversity and landscapes of Sri Lanka’s southern region while experiencing the comfort and service of a contemporary luxury retreat. Its location provides a natural gateway to safari adventures and meaningful encounters with the destination’s wildlife and ecosystems. 

The resort’s connection with its surroundings extends throughout the guest journey. Architecture and design draw inspiration from the colours, textures and character of Yala, while spacious accommodation, private outdoor areas, curated dining experiences, wellness offerings and nature-led activities allow guests to experience the destination beyond the traditional safari. 

The recognition as Best Luxury Safari Experience in Sri Lanka reflects an experience shaped not only by the wilderness itself, but by the people who interpret it for guests. Hilton Yala Resort’s resident ranger team includes guides qualified through the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and CyberTracker, bringing internationally recognised field-guiding and tracking expertise into the resort’s wildlife experiences. 

The resort’s ranger team and experiential activities are led by Sajith Withanage, Head Ranger at Hilton Yala Resort, whose approach places interpretation, responsible wildlife viewing and a deeper understanding of Yala’s ecosystems at the heart of the guest experience. From tracking and safari interpretation to nature-led activities within and around the resort, the team encourages guests to look beyond individual wildlife sightings and understand the wider landscape and its natural rhythms. 

Sustainability is equally integral to the resort’s philosophy. The title of Best Luxury Sustainable Resort in Asia acknowledges its commitment to a more considered approach to hospitality — one that seeks to deliver memorable guest experiences while respecting the environment and destination in which it operates. 

Commenting on the recognition, Sanoj Perera, Director of Marketing & Communication at Hilton Yala Resort, said: 

“For me, what makes these recognitions particularly special is that they celebrate two things that are inseparable from who we are at Hilton Yala Resort — our wilderness and the responsibility we have towards it. Yala gives us an extraordinary stage, but it is the knowledge and passion of our team, particularly our rangers, that transforms a wildlife encounter into something guests can genuinely learn from and remember. Being recognised for both our safari experience in Sri Lanka and sustainable luxury across Asia encourages us to continue raising the bar, not only for Hilton Yala, but for how Sri Lanka’s wildlife experiences can be presented to the world.” 

Together, the two accolades reinforce Hilton Yala Resort’s positioning as a destination where luxury and wilderness exist in harmony. From setting out into Yala in search of its remarkable wildlife to returning to the tranquillity of the resort, the experience is designed to offer travellers a deeper and more considered way to discover Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. 

The LUXE Global Awards celebrate outstanding hotels, resorts, spas and restaurants around the world, recognising excellence across the luxury hospitality sector. Winners are determined through an annual public voting process, complemented by independent evaluation and international recognition for selected major award categories. 

Looking ahead, Hilton Yala Resort is working towards the Field Guides Association of Sri Lanka (FGASL), an initiative intended to contribute to the continued development and professionalisation of field guiding within Sri Lanka. 

Building on the international knowledge and qualifications already represented within Hilton Yala Resort’s ranger team through FGASA and CyberTracker, the initiative reflects a broader ambition to support knowledge sharing, professional development and high standards of nature interpretation within Sri Lanka. 

For future guests, this continued investment in guiding expertise will translate into increasingly immersive and educational ways to experience Yala — experiences that go beyond observing wildlife to understanding animal behaviour, tracking, habitats, conservation and the interconnected ecosystems that make the region so extraordinary. 

For Hilton Yala Resort, the latest honours therefore represent more than recognition of what has already been achieved. They provide further momentum for what comes next: deepening the resort’s wildlife expertise, investing in its people and helping create experiences that inspire travellers to understand, appreciate and protect Sri Lanka’s remarkable natural heritage.