How to get from Mattala Airport to Yala?

It is better to grab an official airport taxi, or you can pre-arrange a private transfer through your Yala hotel, for the 45-minute trip from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) to Tissamaharama. Public transit from this particular airport is quite inconsistent, so it is not really advisable for international visitors.

Because the commercial flight numbers at Mattala are so low, do not count on casually waving someone down when you land. When you book your ride well ahead of time, you make sure a driver is there, right for your confirmed departure time, and not for “whenever”.