Your love story deserves a landscape equal to it.
Sri Lanka is Europe's fastest-rising honeymoon destination — and for reasons that go far beyond its beaches. This is an island where you can watch a leopard cross a dusty track at dawn, then be in a hilltop infinity pool above a tea valley by afternoon, then eat dinner by candlelight on a private beach as the Indian Ocean moves quietly in the dark.
It is the variety that makes Sri Lanka extraordinary for a honeymoon. The Maldives is beautiful. Sri Lanka is alive. Wildlife, ancient kingdoms, misty highlands, colonial forts, jungle safaris, and an ocean coast that stretches for four hundred kilometres — all within ten days, all without ever feeling rushed, and all delivered with the honeymoon-specific details that Zelenso has refined over fifteen years of planning Sri Lanka's most romantic journeys.
Hot air balloon at Sigiriya. Rose petal baths at the hill country hotel. A private candlelit dinner on the Bentota beach. A leopard at ten metres in Yala's golden morning light.
Your honeymoon. Sri Lanka's finest. Entirely yours.
Why This Honeymoon Exists
Sri Lanka has become the Indian Ocean's most exciting honeymoon alternative to the Maldives — and for good reason. While the Maldives offers beauty, Sri Lanka offers beauty plus depth: the wildlife, the culture, the food, the landscape variety, and the human warmth of a country that has been welcoming visitors with genuine hospitality for two thousand years.
The practical case is equally strong. Sri Lanka is served by direct flights from London Heathrow on SriLankan Airlines in under eleven hours. It is significantly less expensive than the Maldives at equivalent quality levels. And it offers the option — which Zelenso specifically recommends — of combining both: ten days in Sri Lanka followed by four nights in the Maldives for a twin-centre honeymoon of extraordinary range and value. See HM-02 for the combined package.
This package — Romance in Sri Lanka — is the classic ten-day honeymoon route that Zelenso has refined over fifteen years. It is, by bookings, our most popular honeymoon itinerary. Every detail has been calibrated for couples: the hotel room selections, the activity pacing, the private moments built into each day, the honeymoon additions arranged at every property.
Honeymoon Exclusives
The Wallawwa, Colombo
Rose petal room, welcome fruit, sparkling wine, honeymoon card
Aliya Resort, Sigiriya
Champagne arrival, daily rose petal turndown
Balloon flight
Champagne poured at altitude over Lion Rock
98 Acres, Ella
Lipton's Seat champagne picnic, rose petal turndown
Chena Huts, Yala
Couples arrival champagne, private dune dinner, Ayurveda couples massage
Bentota villa
Villa flower preparation, swan towels, rosé, 7-course private chef beach dinner
All properties
Zelenso honeymoon notification — all staff briefed on honeymoon status
Full Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrive Colombo
The Wallawwa — Honeymoon Arrival
Your Zelenso honeymoon concierge meets you at Bandaranaike International Airport. Your room has been prepared with rose petals on the bed, a welcome fruit platter, and a card from your Zelenso team. Dinner in The Wallawwa garden. Candlelight. The frangipani. The beginning.
Colombo → Sigiriya
Aliya Resort — Pool Villa with Lion Rock Views
Your arrival at Aliya Resort is a private pool villa facing Lion Rock. The late afternoon is your own — the pool, the view, room service dinner on your private terrace as the rock changes colour in the failing light.
Sigiriya
Hot Air Balloon at Dawn & Lion Rock
A 4.45am departure to the balloon launch field. The hot air balloon rises as the sun clears the jungle horizon — a twenty-minute flight over the Cultural Triangle. The champagne is poured at altitude. Breakfast in a paddy field. Afternoon: Sigiriya Rock ascent — the pre-tourist-hour climb arranged by Zelenso gives you the summit largely to yourselves.
Sigiriya → Kandy
Dambulla Caves & the Sacred City
Morning drive south stops at Dambulla Cave Temple. The evening puja ceremony at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is arranged with forward access by Zelenso. A romantic dinner at a lakeside restaurant — the Kandy Lake reflecting the temple lights below your table.
Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella
Scenic Train & the Hill Country
The Kandy-to-Ella train through the Sri Lankan highlands. Zelenso reserves first-class observation seats for both of you. Ella arrives in the late afternoon. 98 Acres Resort — a hundred-acre tea estate with the finest infinity pool in Sri Lanka.
Ella
Nine Arch Bridge, Lipton's Seat & the Valley
Morning: the Nine Arch Bridge at golden hour from Zelenso's private viewing spot. Midday: Lipton's Seat — a private champagne picnic arranged at the top. Afternoon: the 98 Acres infinity pool. Evening: dinner on the 98 Acres terrace.
Ella → Yala
Chena Huts — Luxury Safari Lodge
Chena Huts by Uga Escapes — stand-alone tented cabanas on a private dune system at the edge of Yala National Park, each with its own plunge pool. A sundowner on the beach as the sun drops into the ocean.
Yala
Leopard Dawn & the Safari
The jeep departs at 5.30am into Yala's Block 1. Your private jeep and expert tracker give you the highest possible probability of a significant encounter. The afternoon: an Ayurveda couples massage in the lodge spa. Evening: a private dinner arrangement on the dunes.
Yala → Bentota
Private Beachfront Villa & Candlelit Farewell
Your final night is a private beachfront villa on the Bentota coast. A late afternoon Madu River boat safari. At 7pm, your Zelenso private chef arrives and sets up a candlelit dinner table on the beachfront terrace. Seven courses of Sri Lanka's finest.
Bentota → Galle → Colombo → Departure
Final Morning & the Farewell
The drive north stops briefly in Galle Fort — a final walk through the 17th-century Dutch colonial streets. Zelenso's departure coordinator meets you at the terminal. Your farewell hamper: single-estate tea, Sri Lankan arrack, and a miniature Nine Arch Bridge.
Accommodation Summary
| Night(s) | Property | Location | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | The Wallawwa | Colombo | 5★ SLH Colonial Manor |
| Night 2–3 | Aliya Resort & Spa | Sigiriya | 5★ Private Pool Villa |
| Night 4 | Mahaweli Reach Hotel | Kandy | 5★ River Suite |
| Night 5–6 | 98 Acres Resort & Spa | Ella | 5★ Valley View Suite |
| Night 7–8 | Chena Huts by Uga Escapes | Yala | 5★ Beachside Cabana |
| Night 9 | Private Beachfront Villa | Bentota | 5★ Private Villa |
What's Included
accommodation
- 9 nights across 5 handpicked romantic properties (5★ throughout)
- Private pool villa at Sigiriya (Lion Rock views)
- Valley view suite at 98 Acres, Ella
- Beachside cabana at Chena Huts, Yala
- Private beachfront villa, Bentota (final night)
meals
- Daily breakfast at all properties
- Day 1: Dinner at The Wallawwa
- Day 2: Private terrace dinner, Sigiriya
- Day 3: Hot air balloon field breakfast
- Day 4: Lakeside dinner, Kandy
- Day 6: Lipton's Seat private picnic lunch
- Day 8: Private dune dinner (lanterns, 5-course seafood)
- Day 9: 7-course private chef beach dinner, Bentota villa
honeymoon
- Hot air balloon over Sigiriya (champagne at altitude)
- First-class scenic train: Kandy → Ella (Zelenso champagne)
- Lipton's Seat private champagne picnic
- Ayurveda couples massage at Chena Huts (90 minutes)
- Private dune dinner, Chena Huts
- 7-course private chef beach dinner, Bentota villa
- Rose petal and flower preparations at all properties
transport
- Dedicated private luxury vehicle and chauffeur-guide (full 10 days)
- All internal transfers between destinations
- Private airport transfer (arrival and departure)
- Fast-track check-in and VIP lounge access
Not Included
- International flights to/from Colombo
- Sri Lanka ETA visa
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at meals (except where noted)
- Personal shopping
Optional Add-Ons
Sri Lanka + Maldives extension
4 nights overwater villa in the Maldives after this package
Whale watching, Mirissa
Morning whale watching boat before Bentota
Private Galle Fort dinner
Rooftop dinner inside the fort with historian walk
Helicopter upgrade
Replace ground transfer on one leg with scenic helicopter
Couple's cooking class
Private Sri Lankan cooking class with a local family
Pricing
| Market | Price Per Couple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | From £5,200 | Total for 2 people |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | From €6,100 | Total for 2 people |
| 🇫🇷 France | From €6,100 | Total for 2 people |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | From A$10,500 | Total for 2 people |
Couples-only package · No single supplement applicable
Payment: 20% deposit to confirm, balance due 60 days before departure
Best Travel Months
November
South coast clears, transition month
December
Peak season, perfect all regions
January
Optimal conditions, whale watching peaks
February
Clearest skies, south coast at its finest
March
Excellent throughout, uncrowded
April
Good conditions, some showers late month
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sri Lanka a good honeymoon destination?
How much does a Sri Lanka honeymoon cost from the UK?
Can I add the Maldives to my Sri Lanka honeymoon?
What honeymoon arrangements does Zelenso make at each hotel?
Is the hot air balloon over Sigiriya safe?
How does this honeymoon compare with the Maldives?
Begin Your Sri Lanka Love Story
Your Zelenso honeymoon specialist has personally experienced every hotel and activity on this journey. Let us craft your perfect ten days.
Free consultation · No obligation · Expert honeymoon planning