Quick answer
On a Sri Lanka honeymoon, put the beach last in most cases, because ending with rest sends you home refreshed and the south coast is close to the airport. Put two or three beach nights first, at Bentota or Negombo, if the wedding was only a day or two before the flight. The best compromise is a split: two nights by the sea on arrival, the touring in the middle and three or four nights on the coast at the end.
Key takeaways
- Ending on the beach means the last memory of the honeymoon is rest, and Galle is only two and a half to three hours from the airport.
- Starting on the beach helps couples who fly within a day or two of the wedding.
- A split of two beach nights at the start and three or four at the end suits trips of 12 nights or more.
- Reversing the whole route leaves a drive of four to five hours from Sigiriya on departure day.
- Season can force the order: in summer the east coast beach lies at the far end of the route.
The case for the beach last
The beach last is the conventional order for good reasons. Sightseeing takes energy and curiosity, both of which fade over a long trip. Doing the active parts early and the passive part late matches the way people actually feel.
Ending by the sea also means arriving home rested. The final days of a honeymoon set its tone in memory, and four nights of late breakfasts and swimming are a better finale than a dawn safari and a long drive to the airport.
- →Energy is highest at the start, so use it for the rock and the hills.
- →The south coast is near the expressway and the airport.
- →Laundry, sunburn and souvenirs are all easier at the end.
The case for the beach first
The beach first makes sense when the couple is spent. Weddings in many cultures run for several days, and it is common to board the plane the morning after. Arriving in Sri Lanka in that condition and driving four to five hours to Sigiriya the next day is a hard start.
Two or three nights at Bentota, two hours from the airport, or at Negombo, 15 to 30 minutes away, give time to sleep, swim and talk about something other than seating plans. The touring that follows is then a pleasure and not an obligation.
- →Suits couples flying the day after the wedding.
- →Suits long-haul arrivals with heavy jet lag.
- →Costs little extra driving if the first beach is on the west coast.
The split: a little at each end
The split honeymoon gives the beach a place at both ends. Two nights on the west coast at the start act as a decompression chamber. The route then runs inland through Kandy, the tea country and Yala or Sigiriya, and finishes with three or four nights in the south.
On a 12-night trip the split takes one night from the Cultural Triangle or drops Kandy as an overnight. That is a fair price for arriving at Sigiriya rested. On trips of under ten nights, the split leaves too little time in the middle and is best avoided.
Reversing the whole route
Reversing the whole route, with the coast first and Sigiriya last, is sometimes suggested and rarely ideal. It ends the honeymoon with early starts and a drive of four to five hours to the airport. It also places the most demanding sightseeing at the point of greatest fatigue.
There are exceptions. In November, a reversed route can make sense in the opposite way, with the coast kept for the end as the weather improves. In summer, the east coast naturally comes last because it lies beyond Sigiriya. Flight times matter too: a dawn departure favours a final night near the airport whatever the order.
How to decide
Deciding between beach first and beach last comes down to three questions. How soon after the wedding do you fly? How long is the flight? How many nights do you have? A next-day departure, a long-haul flight and 12 nights or more all point to the split.
Lankan Stays & Trails asks every honeymoon couple for the wedding date as well as the travel dates, since the gap between them is the best guide to how the first three days should feel.
- →Flying next day, 12 nights or more: split.
- →Flying after a few days' rest: beach last.
- →Under ten nights: beach last, with an easy first day.
Frequently asked questions
Should a honeymoon start or end at the beach?
A honeymoon should usually end at the beach, so that the last days are restful and close to the airport. If you travel immediately after the wedding and have 12 nights or more, add two beach nights at the start as well and split the stay.
Where is the best beach to start a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
Bentota is the best beach to start with, at roughly two hours from the airport, with calm sea from November to April and comfortable resorts. Negombo is closer, at 15 to 30 minutes, and suits a single recovery night more than a proper beach stay.
Is it tiring to go straight to Sigiriya after landing?
It can be. Sigiriya is four to five hours from the airport, which is a long drive after an overnight flight. If you land before late morning it is manageable. Otherwise, spend the first night in Negombo and travel on after breakfast.
Can we do the Sri Lanka route in reverse?
You can, starting on the south coast and finishing at Sigiriya. The disadvantages are an active ending and a long drive to the airport on the last day. Most honeymooners are happier with the standard direction, perhaps with a short beach stay added first.
How many beach nights should a honeymoon have?
Aim for at least three or four beach nights on a honeymoon of ten to twelve nights, and five to seven on a longer trip. If you split the stay, two nights at the start and three or four at the end is a good balance.
Does the season change the order?
The season mainly changes which coast you use. From December to April the beach nights are on the south or west coast. From May to September they move to the east coast, which lies at the far end of the route and therefore comes last.