Sri Lanka Honeymoon Package

Welcome to Sri Lanka! On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, you will be picked up by your private driver guide and escorted to the hotel in the closer city of Negombo by a 30-minute drive. After check-in, the rest of the day is left for you to stroll around or refresh yourself for the following Sri Lanka tour.

► Suggestions on Money Exchanging
The Sri Lankan rupee is the official currency of Sri Lanka which cannot be exchanged outside of the country. One US dollar is about 290 Sri Lankan rupees. It is recommended to exchange money right in the airport after your arrival. Although the exchange rate may not be the best, the counters here are open 24 hours a day, which is more convenient and faster than other choices. VISA and MasterCard are available in most of Sri Lanka, but it is better not to pay by card as it may not be safe.

► Visa
You need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) on the official website in advance to enter the country, the fee of which is USD 50. Arrival Visa also requires an ETA and the fee is USD 60. The ETA is usually approved within 24 hours and you could keep the credentials for easier entry. The visa is for 30 days and if you want to stay longer, you can apply for an extension to 60 days.

► Free Time Recommendations in Negombo
Outside your hotel is Negombo Beach where you may take a leisure stroll and admire the sea view. Salt Restaurant (11/A St. Jude Lane Ettukala Rd, Negombo 11500), the top one seafood restaurant in the city, is a good choice for dinner. You may have a taste of the fresh-made seafood and local curry dishes. You can get there by a 5-minute taxi ride from the hotel. The cost per person is about USD 12.

Accommodation: Jetwing Sea Hotel, Negombo (4 stars)

On your first morning in Sri Lanka, we will drive you for about 2 hours to visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. There are only two Elephant Orphanages in the world, in Kenya and Sri Lanka. At Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, you will have a chance to get close to the elephants and learn the stories behind them, for example, how they split from their herd due to illness or injury and how they were rescued. You could also see the elephants taking a bath in the river around 10 o’clock. Near the orphanage there is a factory using elephant dung to make paper. Notebooks made of this paper have become popular gifts in Sri Lanka. Then, we will proceed to Kandy and make a stopover at a Spice Garden. Sri Lanka is one of the biggest spice exporters in Asia along with its neighboring country, India. Cinnamon, curry and other spice plants are not only used for flavoring food, but also used in cosmetics, health supplements and drug manufacturing. In the Spice Garden, you may get to know different spice plants and taste some special snacks with spices.

After arriving in Kandy, the guide will accompany you to visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa. Found in 1595, the temple enshrines one of the most precious national treasures - the tooth relic of the Buddha. It is said that in the 4th century AD, an Indian princess smuggled the relic in her hair to Sri Lanka to prevent it from falling into the enemy’s hands. Since then, those who possessed the relic have been the rightful rulers of the kingdom in Sri Lanka. Surrounded by a moat and facing Kandy Lake, the temple buildings feature white walls and golden roofs with delicate carvings. As you step into the main hall, you will be immersed in the splendid wood carvings, murals and elephant tusks. You may also see local people dressed in white clothes or saris offering lotus flowers in front of the Buddha. Please note that photos are allowed in the temple, but remember not to take photos with your back to the Buddha.

Next, you will get a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka’s culture and traditions through a Culture Dance Show. Kandyan Dance is a kind of folk dance. There is a ritual that the performance starts when a performer blows a conch shell. Appreciate the wonderful imitations of animals’ behaviors through the dancers’ expressive and vivid movements, for example, the imitation of an eagle expanding its wings to prey or a peacock spreading its tail. Not only that, you could also enjoy rhythmed Raban Natuma dance, enthusiastic tea-picking dance and harvest dance. After watching the show, your private driver guide will escort you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy (4 stars)

After breakfast, your private driver guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to visit Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. The gardens were once the imperial gardens of the King of Kandy. Housing more than 4,000 species of native and overseas plants, it’s now the second largest botanical garden in Asia. This tranquil oasis is surrounded on three sides by the Mahaweli Ganga River. There are over 20 different areas inside the gardens including Orchid House, Fernery, Royal Palm Avenue and Medicinal Garden. Lush plants make the environment here peaceful and relaxing. Strolling around the gardens, you might see locals dating, lively monkeys playing, and bats hanging upside-down from the trees.

Next, we will transfer you to Nuwara Eliya by a 2.5-hour drive and stop at Ramboda Falls on the way. It is one of the highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Take a short walk up the stairs to a nice viewpoint, where you can better admire the 100-meter-high (330 ft.) spectacular waterfall. You could take a swimsuit if you would like to swim in the pools below the fall, but it’s not recommended if it’s raining. If time permits, we will also take you to visit Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple in the midway. Admire this magnificent Hindu temple with golden walls and roofs. Located on a hill, the temple overlooks the surrounding mountains and valley.

Then, we will proceed to a Tea Plantation & Tea Factory. Ceylon black tea from Sri Lanka, along with Keemun black tea from China and Darjeeling black tea from India, is one of the top three high-fragrance black teas in the world. Using no chemical fertilizers and hand-picking, rather than machine-picking, both contribute to the outstanding quality of Ceylon tea, especially the tea produced in Nuwara Eliya. It’s praised as a “gift to the world”. You may get close to watch how tea leaves are processed in the factory and have a taste of the fresh black tea. It could be a memorable experience to pick tea leaves at the plantation with local tea-pickers. After that, we will drive you to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Blackpool Resort & Spa, Nuwara Eliya (4 stars)

If you enjoy hiking or getting in touch with nature, a trek in Horton Plains National Park will definitely not let you down. The plains are about 2,200 meters (7,220 ft.) above sea level, and the hiking route is 9.4 km (5.8 mi.) which takes approximately 4 hours to finish. Although it might be tired while trekking, you will be embraced by picturesque meadows, hills, forests, rivers and lakes. You may even encounter sambar deer, squirrels or birds in the early morning. The hiking route passes the World’s End which is a cliff with a drop of more than 800 meters (2,625 ft.), overlooking the valley and the nearby waterfall.

► Tips: Horton Plains are enveloped by fog and clouds at 10:00 every morning, so it’s better to start your hiking around 6:00 to enjoy the best scenery. Remember to bring plenty of drinking water with you and wear comfortable shoes for the long trek. Besides, bring a coat since it can be very cold in the morning.

Next, we will drive about 6 hours to Bentota. After check-in, you may relax yourself at the hotel, or step out to enjoy the view of the beautiful beach.

► Dinner Recommendation (at your own expense)
Bamboos Garden Restaurant is a seafood restaurant on Bentota Beach, serving Sri Lankan cuisines such as curry shrimps and curry chicken, and grilled seafood dishes. Facing the sea and next to the train tracks, the restaurant offers you a good view while having dinner. It’s a 5-minute ride from the hotel.
Average Cost per Person: USD 10
Address: Pitaramba Road, Bentota 80500

► If you want to stay one more day in Bentota to visit the scenic spots or take some water activities near the beach, please contact us in advance to extend your stay.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NH Bentota Ceysands Resort (4 stars)

Today, you will start your morning with the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in Bentota. There are only 7 species of sea turtles in the world and Sri Lanka is home to 5 of them. A lot of sea turtle conservation and hatchery centers have been set up to protect turtles that cannot survive in the wild due to physical disability or illness caused by human activities. You could see many rescued turtles, hatching eggs in the sand pools and newborn baby turtles.

Then, we will drive 1.5 hours to Colombo and take a city sightseeing. You will first visit Colombo National Museum which is located in an old Italian-style colonial building. As the biggest museum in Sri Lanka, it houses a large collection of the country’s important cultural relics, including ancient paintings, textiles, masks, statues, and Chinese porcelain and ornaments brought by Maritime Silk Road. Also don’t miss the throne and crown of the King of Kandy. Next, let’s head to Gangaramaya Temple. Located by Beira Lake, it is one of the most attractive temples in Colombo. Strolling in the temple, you might find it more like a Buddhist museum with a variety of antiques. Exquisitely sculpted reliefs, Buddha statues and fine murals could be seen throughout the temple. There are even old clocks, chinaware, a Rolls-Royce car and the hair relic of the Buddha. In the evening, spend a leisure time at Galle Face Green, which is the largest public space and the most popular seaside park in Colombo. There may be lots of local families enjoying picnic on the grass, children flying kites, or couples chatting and strolling by the seaside. You could try some local food like isso wade shrimp or fresh coconut sold by street vendors. As it’s getting dark, Galle Face Green will be lit up by the lively atmosphere. Enjoy your moment and experience the charm of the city. Finally, we will escort you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Colombo (4 stars)

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and now your 6 days Sri Lanka honeymoon package is coming to an end. We will transfer you to the airport and help you to board your flight loaded with happy memories of Sri Lanka.

► Recommendation for Late Departure
If you want to enjoy your last hours in the city before leaving, you may take a 5-minute taxi ride from the hotel to Spa Ceylon Urban Spa & Boutique (740 Galle Rd, Colombo 4). It is a chain of oil massage shops, serving Sri Lankan traditional foot massage, head massage, etc. The special herbal oil and coconut oil used in massage can help you relax and rejuvenate.

► If you want to extend your tour to southern Sri Lankan, such as feeling the European ambiance in Galle Dutch Fort or taking a jeep safari in Yala National Park, or if you want to explore more countries like India and Bangladesh, don’t hesitate to let us know and tailor a private tour itinerary for you.

Meals: Breakfast