With miles of powdery golden beaches, incredible wildlife and plenty of secluded guest houses and beautiful boutique hotels, a honeymoon in Sri Lanka is sure to be packed full of memories to last a lifetime. We might be just one tiny island, but if you’re looking for a honeymoon bursting with adventure and culture, Sri Lanka is the place for you.

1. Breathtaking beaches

We’re lucky to have a coastline fringed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, filled with stretches of golden sand and swaying palm trees. If you’re short on time, sticking to the west coast beaches like Bentota offers calm lagoons and plenty of watersports, whilst being just a short drive from the capital city of Colombo and UNESCO World Heritage site Galle. The south coast is where you’ll find some of Sri Lanka’s most popular beaches, with Mirissa, Dikwella, and Weligama all renowned for their surf and whale watching offerings. Weligama offers the widest variety of surf breaks so is loved by beginners and seasoned surfers alike, and for couples wanting to return home with a new-found skill, Cape Weligama’s five-night surf experience ensures you’ll make the most of these legendary waves. On the east coast near Trincomalee and Batticaloa, you’ll find beaches like Uppuveli that are a little more off-the-beaten-track and offer the perfect opportunity for secluded sunset strolls.

2. Unique wildlife experiences

With 22 national parks to choose from, there’s no shortage of incredible wildlife experiences in Sri Lanka. In the south east you have Udawalawe National Park, home to around 500 wild elephants, and Yala National Park, where illusive leopards and sloth bears reside alongside elephants and a kaleidoscopic array of birdlife. Guests at Wild Coast Tented Lodge are sure to get an up close and personal wildlife experience in Yala, with friendly elephants and wild boar often roaming through the lodge to say hello. Heading north, you’ll see incredible birdlife in Horton Plains National Park, or at Wilpattu – Sri Lanka’s largest national park – you can spot remnants of the ancient city of Anuradhapura alongside magical wildlife. Down in the south at Mirissa and Weligama is where you’ll spot Sri Lanka’s other famed inhabitant – the blue whale. For an unforgettable honeymoon experience, head out on Cape Weligama’s private catamaran for a morning at sea where between November and April you’ll be able to spot blue whales and pods of dolphins. The cocoon pool suites at Wild Coast Lodge is considered one of the best honeymoon suites with private pools, as it is truly immersed in nature, and due to it’s unique design and location.

photo credits: Chitral Jayatilake

3. Plenty of history and heritage

Sri Lanka is steeped in incredible history and charm, with historic ruins, restored temples and crumbling ancient cities scattered across the country. For the ultimate cultural immersion, most will head to the Cultural Triangle to visit Sigirya Rock, the Dambulla Cave Temples and the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. In the central highlands you can learn more about Sri Lanka’s unique tea heritage. Couples at Ceylon Tea Trails, a collection of restored tea planters bungalows, can opt for a private tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory, learning more about the journey of tea from leaf to cup, and the story of the family behindDilmah Tea , who pioneered the concept of single origin Sri Lankan tea back in the 1980’s. A visit to Sri Lanka isn’t complete without seeing the ancient city of Galle Fort. Built by the Portuguese in 1541 and then fortified by the Dutch in the 17th Century, Galle Fort is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers – and today the addition of beautiful gemstone boutiques, cafes and guest houses means it’s not one to miss.

4. Food, glorious, food!

A visit to Sri Lanka truly is a feast for all the senses – not least the tastebuds. A rich melting pot of cultures and influences has meant our dishes are packed full of colourful spices and bursting with flavour. Ensure you don’t leave Sri Lanka without trying kottu roti, a typical Sri Lankan street food, dhal curry and egg hoppers – a breakfast favourite. You’ll find traditional spice markets all across the country to pick up some staples to take home with you – including turmeric, black pepper and of course, cinnamon (Sri Lanka produces 90% of the world’s cinnamon). For a truly unique experience,Cape Weligama’s head chef will take you to a local fish market to learn more about the traditional fishing culture in Sri Lanka, before returning to the hotel with the catch of the day for a traditional cooking class, meaning you can recreate the magical flavours of your honeymoon for your friends and family back at home. One of the other culinary experiences is the private floating breakfast which is offered at Cape Weligama, which is yet another reason it is considered one of the best honeymoon resorts with private pools. Cape Weligama also offers in-villa dining, which is a popular option amongst all guests visiting the resort.

5. Epic views

We might be biased, but we believe there really are no more spectacular views than those you’ll see in Sri Lanka. If you choose to travel around the country on our famed railways, you’ll be promised some truly Insta-worthy moments, zipping past tea plantations, waterfalls, small villages and ancient bridges. There are some incredible hiking opportunities in Sri Lanka, from Adam’s Peak to Pidurangala, which all offer breathtaking panoramic vistas. If you want to take this to the next level, there’s nothing like exploring the country in a seaplane. A favourite of ours is the journey from Ceylon Tea Trails to Wild Coast Tented Lodge , watching as the landscape changes from rolling hills to rich jungle to wide open plains within the space of just a few minutes – all the while keeping one eye out for elephants along the way. And the epic views needn’t stop there because there are plenty of romantic getaways with private pools in Sri Lanka that afford spectacular views – whether this be a night under the stars in a private jacuzzi at Ceylon Tea Trails overlooking the sparkling Castlereagh Reservoir, or a sunrise dip in the renowned Moon Pool at Cape Weligama, watching as the waves crash into the rugged cliffs below.