How to plan a flawless Sri Lanka honeymoon itinerary

Sri Lanka honeymoon itinerary

If you are looking to celebrate the joy of your marriage in a tropical paradise that is not overwhelmed by heaps of tourists, Sri Lanka is perfect for you. The charming island nation is blessed with nature, wildlife, and rich culture.

It is a bit of a complex task, planning an itinerary for a Sri Lanka tour, but do not worry. This week's Travellers Isle article will guide you to plan a flawless itinerary for your Sri Lanka honeymoon.

Pro tips - The best time for a honeymoon in Sri Lanka is from mid-December to mid-April. The second-best time for a honeymoon in Sri Lanka is from July to September.

Step 1 - Choose an itinerary according to the month you travel

Sri Lanka honeymoon itinerary

I have seen many bloggers posting itineraries from their Sri Lankan honeymoons. Some of them are well thought out, some not so much. The big problem with all of them is that they all fail to specify for which months those itineraries are suitable.

Sri Lanka experiences two annual monsoons which result complex weather patterns. An itinerary that is good for one month can be bad in another. If you refer to someone else’s itinerary, make sure your tour months are the same months as theirs. If not, keep an open mind on weather expectations.

Choosing one of the itineraries below that matches the month and the duration of your trip will significantly improve your chances of having nice weather during your honeymoon.

Honeymoon tour itineraries for Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr

If you are travelling during the period from November to April, the following would be the most sensible sequence of locations for your Sri Lanka honeymoon. If you do not have much time, you may omit Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, Yala and Galle from this itinerary.

Note – November is a bit unpredictable in terms of weather. If possible, try to avoid November when choosing dates for your honeymoon in Sri Lanka.

  • BIA (Katunayake airport)
  • Negombo (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Dambulla / Habarana / Sigiriya (2 nights to 4 nights)
  • Kandy (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Nuwara Eliya (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Ella (2 night to 3 nights)
  • Yala (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Galle (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Bentota (minimum 2 nights)
  • BIA (Katunayake airport)

Honeymoon itinerary (Nov )

Honeymoon tour itineraries for May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct

There are two types of itineraries that we recommend for the travel period from May to October based on the duration someone has planned for their Sri Lanka honeymoon. The options are as follows.

If you have 12 days or more to stay

This is ideal for a honeymoon tour during the period from May to October. The main benefit of this itinerary is the nicer beach weather.

Note - If you want to visit fewer locations, you may omit Yala and Nuwara Eliya from this itinerary.

  • BIA (Katunayake airport)
  • Galle (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Yala (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Ella (2 nights to 3 nights)
  • Nuwara Eliya (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Kandy (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Dambulla / Habarana / Sigiriya (2 nights to 4 nights)
  • Trincomalee / Pasikudah (minimum 3 nights)
  • Anuradhapura (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Negombo (1 night to 2 nights)
  • BIA (Katunayake airport)

Honeymoon itinerary (May - Oct)

If you have fewer than 12 days to travel

From May to October, the southern beaches are not suitable for swimming due to strong waves and undertow. In May and June these beaches can also be rainy.

Option 1 – If you have only few days to travel (between May and October) and want to have a nice beach stay, you will have to skip the hill country and travel to the east coast. This itinerary is ideal for that type of tour:

  • BIA (Katunayake airport)
  • Negombo (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Dambulla / Habarana / Sigiriya (2 nights to 3 nights)
  • Trincomalee / Pasikudah (minimum 3 nights)
  • Kandy (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Colombo (1 night to 2 nights)
  • BIA (Katunayake airport)

SL short honeymoon itinerary (May - Oct)

Option 2 – If swimming in the ocean is not a high priority for you, and you are looking for a short tour in the May to October time frame, this itinerary is a great choice for you:

Note – You may omit Yala from this itinerary to shorten the tour.

  • BIA (Katunayake airport)
  • Negombo (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Kandy (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Ella (2 night to 3 nights)
  • Yala (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Unawatuna (minimum 2 nights)
  • BIA (Katunayake airport)

SL short summer itinerary

Sri Lanka and Maldives combined honeymoon itinerary

You may easily combine Maldives to your Sri Lanka honeymoon tour. We will discuss about this in detail in a future article. Meanwhile, you may use the itinerary below for a Sri Lanka and Maldives combined tour.

Note - If you do not have much time, you can omit Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya and Yala from this itinerary.

  • BIA (Katunayake airport)
  • Negombo (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Dambulla / Habarana / Sigiriya (2 nights to 4 nights)
  • Kandy (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Nuwara Eliya (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Ella (2 night to 3 nights)
  • Yala (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Galle (1 night to 2 nights)
  • Fly to Maldives from Katunayake airport (minimum 3 nights in Maldives)

Step 2 - Choose excursions for the honeymoon tour

Below are the most popular excursions among the honeymooners that visit Sri Lanka. When you plan the excursions for the tour, make sure not to overpack the itinerary. In order to achieve this, you need to have a good understanding of the travel times and the time needed for each activity of the tour.

Check our sample itineraries. By studying them, you will be able to get an idea of how each excursion fits into an itinerary. If you like to get a free tailor-made itinerary for your honeymoon tour, simply drop us a message explaining your requirements. We offer free itinerary consultation for our blog readers.

Photograph from Mr. Jason Crawford's tour (at Nanu Oya railway station)

1. Wildlife jeep safaris

This is a highlight of any honeymoon tour. It is truly a magical experience watching elephants, deer, peacocks, mongoose, water buffalos and wild boar freely roaming around in the jungle. The lucky ones will also see leopards and sloth bears.

You are not allowed to get out of the safari jeeps in Sri Lankan national parks. However, you can observe the wildlife closely, as the animals are accustomed to safari jeeps and will allow the jeeps to come close to them.

Safaris tours are best in the early mornings (6.00 am to 9.00 am) and in the evenings (3.00 pm to 6.00 pm). Since it is your honeymoon, I would recommend keeping the morning free and scheduling an evening safari.

 

The best national parks in Sri Lanka for a jeep safari

  • Minneriya - Minneriya National Park is most popular for viewing elephants. Sometimes the elephants herds that you find in Minneriya have hundreds of elephants. You may take this jeep safari while you are in Dambulla / Habarana / Sigiriya.

 

  • Yala – This national park is best known for watching leopards. Wildlife is very diverse in Yala. The cities of Yala, Tissamaharama, or Kirinda are all convenient to Yala National Park.

 

  • Wilpattuwa – Wilpattuwa is a very secluded national park in Sri Lanka, away from the usual tour routes. You will see a wide variety of animals. Anuradhapura is the closest city to the Wilpattuwa National Park.

 

  • Udawalawe – Small herds of elephants inhabit the Udawalawe national park. The scenery is exquisite.

 

Pro tips – There is no guarantee that you will be able to see leopards in  Yala or Wilpattu national parks. Leopards are elusive, and seeing them depends on your luck. Some guests have seen leopards multiple times within one safari, and others didn’t have any luck with leopards even after scheduling several  safaris. You will definitely see lots of other animals like deer, elephants, wild water buffalos, peacocks, sloth bears, crocodiles, wild boars, Toque macaques, junglefowl.  

Photograph from Ms. Christine Castola's tour

2. Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sigiriya is adventurous, fun and mesmerizing. Honeymooners love it. If you are spending time in Dambulla / Sigiriya area, you must visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

Sigiriya was the heart of King Kashyapa’s kingdom.  King Kashyapa was the second son of King Dhatusena. He acquired the throne by overthrowing his father and usurping Moggallana, his brother and rightful heir to the throne.

The king Kashyapa feared an attack from his brother. However, he did not have the support from the public to defend such attack. Under these circumstances he had to find a new more secure capital. That’s why he abandoned the traditional capital Anuradhapura and chose Sigiriya instead.

Sigiriya is a large rock rising from a plain. The king built his palace on top of the Sigiriya rock and built large ramparts and moats around the city. Fascinating gardens were built around the rock. It is inclusive of pools and water fountains. Water was supplied to them using a complex underwater irrigation system. The water fountains are still functioning showing the reliability of the technology used in the Sigiriya era.

If you are visiting Sigiriya, go there early in the morning to avoid the blazing sun and the crowds. Next best option is visiting there at around 4.00 pm.

Sigiriya lion entrance
Famous lion entrance of Sigiriya - photo credit goes to Ryan Kartzke

3. Train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella

This is undoubtedly one of the most scenic train rides in the entire world. Check the Instagram. Apparently, no one leaves Sri Lanka without having this amazing train ride.

The train ride fetures is not only great views, but it is a wonderful way to experience the local life. You will meet locals travelling for their daily business and vendors trying to make a living. If you two enjoy experiencing local life, you are going to absolutely love this.

Make sure you reserve seats 30 days prior to your journey day to get seats. Read our article “How to book train tickets in Sri Lanka” for more information.

Pro tips – If you like, you may take the train all the way from Kandy to Ella. However, it is not very recommended, as the full train ride is 7 hours. The most beautiful part of the train ride is from Nanu Oya to Ella, not Kandy to Nanu Oya.  Either hire a vehicle to Nanu Oya and take the train from there, or spend a night in Nuwara Eliya to break the journey.

Train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella
Train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella

4. Kandy Temple of the Tooth

Buddhists believe the tooth relic of Lord Buddha is kept in the Kandy Temple of the Tooth. For this reason, it has extreme importance in our lives. Many Sri Lankans pilgrim to Kandy Temple whenever they start something important.

For an example first thing any newly elected president would do is honoring the tooth relic. Moms take their newborns to get the blessings of the Tooth Relic. It is also where newlyweds go to get blessings for their life together.

If you seek to fully immerse yourself in the Sri Lankan culture, do not miss this sacred place. Get some flowers as offerings to Lord Buddha, don the appropriate apparel, and join the locals in their pilgrimage.

Front view of Temple of the Tooth
Devotees walking to the Temple of the Tooth

5. Nine Arch Bridge

9 Arch Bridge connects two mountains near the Ella railway station. It was completed in 1921 under the British rule. The whole project was planned and executed by a Sri Lankan builder named P. K. Appuhami. He was able to build it at a fraction of the initially estimated cost, without using any metal. It is one of those romantic storybook settings that fully deserve a visit.

9 Arch Bridge
9 Arch Bridge

6. Little Adam’s Peak

Little Adam’s Peak is a small mountain top in Ella. It is a very easy hike that will only take about 2 hours to complete. The view on top of the mountain is absolutely breath taking. It is a perfect excursion for an outdoorsy honeymoon couple.

View from the Little Adam's Peak
View from the Little Adam's Peak

7. Camping and tree houses

If you both love nature, adventure, and do not mind roughing it for a night or two, this is something to be considered. Tree houses are most common around Dambulla area. Camping accommodation can also be found near many of the national parks. We recommend the campsites located in Udawalawe and Yala for honeymooners as they are generally better organized than the camping sites in other areas of the country.

Camping sites in Yala
My colleague Raveesha at Dune Camp Yala

8. Horton Plains

If you enjoy walking through nature, Horton Plains is the place to go. The Horton Plains national park is  located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Unlike other national parks of the island, you are allowed to explore Horton Plains on foot.

Due to the cold climate and the high altitude it has a very isolated ecosystem. In fact, most of the flora and fauna found in Horton Plains are unique to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan sambar deer are possibly the most noticeable species in the Horton Plains park. Horton Plains is the home to 24 species of mammals, 87 species of birds, 9 species of reptiles and 8 species of amphibians. However, it is easy to miss this wildlife to the untrained eye. Touring the park on foot provides the visitor with the best chance of witnessing all the many varieties of flora and fauna.

Be sure to enjoy the breath taking view at the World’s End view point in Horton Plains. This is a morning adventure. You should be there before 9.00 am to see its full glory, as the national park usually gets misty later on the day.

Horton Plains
Horton Plains in the morning

9. Galle Fort

Galle Fort is a must visit for those who enjoy the architecture of colonial era. The sunset at the fort alone is a good enough reason to visit it with your better half.

First built by the Portuguese in 1588, the Galle fort was extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. Many of the buildings inside the fortress are now serving as restaurants, art shops and hotels. Since it is a UNESCO listed world heritage site, all these establishments are committed to preserving the integrity and design of the original structures.  Visiting any of these places you will feel like you have gone back in time.

Restaurant inside Galle Fort
Restaurant inside Galle Fort - photo credit goes to Chathura indika

10. White water rafting in Kitulgala

Kitulgala is a small village that is located between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. If you are looking for a proper adrenaline rush during your honeymoon tour, look no further. A white water rafting tour in the picturesque Kelaniya river is ideal for that.

White water rafting in Kitulgala
White water rafting in Kitulgala

11. Pidurangala trekking

Pidurangala is a mountain near Sigiriya with more challenging trekking. For those honeymooners who are up for it, this would be an amazing choice. If possible, be at the summit of the Pidurangala mountain by 6.00 am to enjoy the amazing sunrise there.

Pidurangala mountain top
Pidurangala mountain top

12. Whale watching in Mirissa

The sea around Mirissa, Sri Lanka, is one of the very few places where you can see blue whales (the largest animal in the entire world). The whale watching season is only from November to April. If your honeymoon is during this period, take the full advantage of this opportunity. If you would  like more information on this, please read our article “whale watching in Sri Lanka

Whales in Mirissa
Whales in Mirissa

13. Enjoying the beaches

Sri Lanka has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you both love beaches, you are absolutely going to love your honeymoon in Sri Lanka.

Make sure to pick a beach that has good weather during the month that you are travelling. Read our article “weather in Sri Lanka month by month” to find out our recommendations for beach stays for each month of the year.

Arugambay Beach
Arugambay Beach

Summary

There is no argument, Sri Lanka is one of the finest honeymoon destinations in the world. It is essential to prepare a proper itinerary that reflects the weather patterns of Sri Lanka to have the most enjoyable time during your Sri Lanka honeymoon.

I hope this article will be a valuable resource for anyone planning to have their honeymoon in Sri Lanka. If you wish to have our assistance to plan your Sri Lanka honeymoon, please drop us a message. Travellers Isle team is looking forward to hearing from you.

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