With warm temperatures all year round, as well as becoming one of the top spa destinations around the world, with extravagant retreats popping up all over the island, Sri Lanka makes a perfect honeymoon destination. There are romantic beach locations at your fingertips, intimate hideaways in a tropical paradise and an immersive culture waiting for your arrival. Read on for some top tips on ways you can spend your most intimate days in Sri Lanka.\n
\nThe best time to visit Sri Lanka varies depending which coast you choose to head to. From December to April the south and west coasts are ideal weather-wise, whereas the east coast is best from April to September, with a range of destinations and activities to suit every couple, no matter what the budget. Before entering the country make sure you apply for an
ETA visa.
Kandy to Ella Train Journey
This is considered one of the most beautiful journeys in the world - a tourist attraction in itself. At each station the cabins fill with traders selling freshly cut pineapple, corn with salty butter and even rice and curry. The journey is about 7 hours, but you'll get once-in-a-lifetime views of the tea plantations as you wind your way around the countryside.\n
Sigiriya Rock/Pidurangala Rock
Take a visit to the historical 5th century royal rock fortress and climb to the top of Lion Rock for some spectacular views. It's tiring, it's steep, but it's worth it. Climb early to avoid the crowds and the heat, plus you get the added value of watching the sunrise! If you don't want to pay the ticket price to climb Sigiriya Rock, pay a fraction of the price to climb Pidurangala Rock opposite - a better option in my opinion. You'll get some amazing views of Lion Rock and have saved yourself a bit of cash.\n
Community Tsunami Museum
Aimed at educating communities and preserving the memories of the 2004 Tsunami, this museum really is worth the visit. A humbling and thought-provoking place - be prepared with some tissues.\n
Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre Mahamodara
Get up close and personal at this sea turtle sanctuary, where the owners look after turtles harmed by fishermen's nets. They've released over 3000 turtles back into the wild, and their passion really comes across during their tours. Try to make your own way there if you can and offer a donation to the centre at the end of your trip, as taxi drivers charge the sanctuary a commission for bringing visitors there. Why not make a day of it and head into Galle afterwards for a spot of shopping!\n
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
A Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy located in the royal palace complex. The ancient relic is sacred in Sri Lanka, as it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, making the temple which houses it one of the holiest Buddhist temples in the world. Beautiful paintings, stunning colours and one of the top tourist areas to visit.\n
Nuwara Eliya - World's End
An amazing place to hike with two trails to choose from. Peaceful, and at times hot, so start early if you can - the views will be worth it.\n
Yala National Park
The second largest national park in Sri Lanka, and perfect for those wild at heart. Spot elephants, buffalos, monkeys, eagles and even leopards, if you're lucky, on a jeep safari. We definitely recommend going early morning or evening, as the tours can start getting busy during the day and chances of seeing leopards get pretty slim with 15 jeeps charging around together. Just remember, these are wild animals. Tour guides cannot guarantee what you will see, so don't take it out on them if the leopards don't want to be seen.\n
Dambulla Cave Temple
Also known as The Golden Temple, this is the largest and best-preserved cave monastery dating back 22 centuries. Make sure you are well covered before visiting this religious site.\n
Arugam Bay
Miles of sand and brilliant for surfing. Take a book and a picnic for a morning of relaxation and enjoy the fresh seafood for lunch.\n
\nMake sure you take plenty of bottled water wherever you go and pack in as much as you can during your stay.\nWhat are your favourite things to do in Sri Lanka? Let us know on our
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