Quick answer
A Sri Lanka honeymoon of 12 nights costs, per couple and before international flights, roughly US$1,000 to US$1,500 at a simple guesthouse level, roughly US$2,500 to US$5,000 at a comfortable boutique level with a private driver, and from roughly US$6,500 at a luxury level. Accommodation is the largest cost, followed by the car and driver, then entrance fees and safaris. Travelling over Christmas and New Year, or choosing private pool villas throughout, can double the total.
Key takeaways
- A comfortable 12-night honeymoon for two costs roughly US$2,500 to US$5,000 before flights.
- Accommodation typically accounts for half to two thirds of the total.
- A private car and driver adds roughly US$50 to US$90 a day.
- Foreign visitor fees at Sigiriya and the national parks are a noticeable cost for two people.
- Rates from about 20 December to 10 January can be double those of early December.
Three levels of honeymoon budget
Honeymoon budgets in Sri Lanka fall into three broad levels. At the simple level, a couple uses trains and buses, stays in good guesthouses and eats locally, spending roughly US$80 to US$120 a day between them. Twelve nights come to roughly US$1,000 to US$1,500.
At the comfortable level, boutique hotels, a private driver, a private safari and a few special dinners bring the daily figure to roughly US$200 to US$400 for two. At the luxury level, tented camps, butler-served bungalows and pool villas start at roughly US$500 a day and rise steeply.
- →Simple: roughly US$1,000 to US$1,500 for 12 nights.
- →Comfortable: roughly US$2,500 to US$5,000.
- →Luxury: from roughly US$6,500, often US$10,000 or more.
Rooms: the largest cost
Rooms are the largest cost on any honeymoon and the one with the widest range. A clean guesthouse double costs roughly US$25 to US$60. A boutique hotel with a pool runs from about US$100 to US$250. A private pool suite, a tea bungalow with full board or a luxury tent can cost US$400 to US$1,000 or more.
Not every night needs the best room. Sigiriya and Kandy are busy stops where a mid-range hotel is fine. Spend on the tea country and the beach, where you are in the room for whole days. Two or three splurge nights lift the whole trip.
Transport, safaris and entrance fees
Transport is the second cost. A car with driver at roughly US$50 to US$90 a day covers fuel, tolls and the driver's expenses. Over 12 days that is roughly US$600 to US$1,100. Trains are almost free by comparison, though reserved seats are scarce.
Activities add up. Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and the national parks charge foreign visitors far more than residents. A private jeep, park fees and a tracker for a Yala safari, a whale-watching trip, a balloon flight and a few spa treatments can together reach several hundred US dollars per couple.
- →Car and driver: roughly US$600 to US$1,100 for 12 days.
- →Safari, whales and site tickets: several hundred US dollars for two.
- →Balloon flight: roughly US$200 to US$260 per person.
Food, drink and extras
Food is inexpensive outside hotels. A rice and curry lunch at a local restaurant costs a few US dollars, and a good dinner for two at an independent restaurant roughly US$20 to US$40. Hotel dining is two or three times that, and private dinners cost roughly US$60 to US$200.
Alcohol is the surprise. Imported wine and spirits are heavily taxed, and a bottle of wine in a hotel can cost more than the meal. Local beer and arrack are reasonable. Budget also for tips, laundry, a SIM card and the electronic travel authorisation.
Where to save and where to spend
Saving on a honeymoon is best done through timing and structure. Travel outside the festive fortnight. Consider the shoulder months. Reduce the number of bases, which trims driver days and avoids paying for rooms you barely use. Use the train for the hill section.
Spend where it shows. Lankan Stays & Trails usually advises putting any spare budget into the final beach stay and the tea bungalow, and quotes each honeymoon at two levels so that couples can see what the difference buys.
- →Save: dates, fewer bases, mid-range rooms at busy stops.
- →Spend: tea bungalow, beach room, one private safari.
- →Avoid: festive supplements unless the dates are fixed.
Frequently asked questions
How much should we budget for a honeymoon in Sri Lanka?
Budget roughly US$2,500 to US$5,000 per couple for a comfortable 12-night honeymoon with boutique hotels and a private driver, before international flights. A simple version costs roughly US$1,000 to US$1,500, and a luxury one starts at roughly US$6,500.
Is Sri Lanka cheaper than the Maldives for a honeymoon?
Yes, considerably. A week in a Maldivian resort commonly costs more than two weeks of touring Sri Lanka at a boutique level. Meals, activities and transfers are also much cheaper in Sri Lanka. The Maldives offers overwater villas and lagoons that Sri Lanka does not.
What is the biggest expense on a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
Accommodation is the biggest expense, usually half to two thirds of the total. The car and driver comes second. International flights, which are not included in the figures above, can exceed both for couples travelling from Europe, North America or Australia.
Is it cheaper to book a honeymoon package or plan it ourselves?
Planning independently can be slightly cheaper at the simple level. At the boutique and luxury levels, a local operator often obtains contract rates and honeymoon extras that individuals cannot, and saves many hours of work. Compare a quote against your own costing.
How much spending money do we need per day?
If hotels, breakfasts and transport are prepaid, allow roughly US$40 to US$80 a day for two for lunches, dinners, drinks, tips and small purchases. Allow more if you plan to dine in hotels each night or drink imported wine regularly.
When is the cheapest time for a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
May, June, September, October and November are the cheapest months, with hotel rates often a third or more below January. The most expensive period is roughly 20 December to 10 January, followed by the rest of January, February and August on the east coast.