This Southeast Asian island nation, located just off the tip of India, has been the subject of much buzz in recent years, quickly becoming one of the world's most up-and-coming destinations. And with good reason: A Sri Lankanhoneymoon guarantees an epic journey because nowhere else in the world can you experience such a wide array of cultures and experiences in one compact destination. Everywhere you go leads to discovery: ancient temples in the Cultural Triangle, artist havens in Kandy, tea plantations in Ceylon, palm-lined beaches in Tangalle, colonial-era buildings in Galle, leopards on safari in Yala National Park, and metropolitan grandeur in Colombo. For years, the island nation was unsafe for western travelers due to decades-long civil war, but since peace was finally achieved in 2009 and political and economic climates have stabilized, Sri Lanka is once again booming. Couples can spend anywhere from 10 days to two weeks exploring all this island nation has to offer, but most of today's honeymooners pair a Sri Lankan itinerary with a stay in the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago famed for its luxe private-island resorts. No matter how much time you have, it's easy to pick and choose your perfect honeymoon using this overview as a starting point.
Know Before You Go
Given that tourism is still developing on Sri Lanka (intra-island flights and highway infrastructure are scarce), it's essential to enlist an expert travel advisor to help plan your honeymoon. No one knows Sri Lanka better than Jen Boyd, a Boulder, Colorado–based travel specialist at ATJ (Asia Transpacific Journeys). Boyd's skills are unmatched when it comes to crafting the perfect itinerary that highlights your specific interests (be it safari, history, food, et cetera), with seamless on-the-ground transportation and expert guides to boot. (Do yourselves a favor and ask for the ebullient Thushara, who has encyclopedic knowledge of the country.) Boyd will walk you through which regions are ideal for your honeymoon dates, but a word to the wise: steer clear of the south and west coasts during the heavy rains of monsoon season (May to August).
