Quick answer
A Sri Lanka honeymoon in December follows the classic route and ends on the south coast, which is dry and calm from early in the month. Plan Negombo one night, Sigiriya two, Kandy one, a tea bungalow two, Yala two and four nights at Tangalle, Mirissa and Galle Fort. The Cultural Triangle has rain from the north-east monsoon in December, so keep Sigiriya mornings flexible. Travel before about 20 December for lower prices, or book six to nine months ahead for Christmas and New Year.
Key takeaways
- The south and west coasts are in season from early December, with calm sea and long dry spells.
- December is one of the wetter months at Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and on the east coast.
- Festive rates, compulsory gala dinners and minimum stays of three to seven nights are common from about 20 December to 10 January.
- The first three weeks of December often offer high-season weather at shoulder-season prices.
- The pilgrimage season on Adam's Peak begins at the December full moon.
Is December good for a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
December is a good month for a Sri Lanka honeymoon, and its first three weeks are among the best value of the whole dry season. The beaches are ready, the hills are clearing and hotels are not yet full.
The festive fortnight is a different proposition. The weather is excellent and the atmosphere is celebratory, with decorated hotels and fireworks on the beach at midnight. Everything costs more, and the popular places are crowded. It suits couples who enjoy a party and have booked very early.
- →Best for: beach weather, whales, festive atmosphere.
- →Watch for: rain around Sigiriya and peak pricing after the 20th.
- →Avoid: the east coast, which is in its monsoon.
The December honeymoon route
The December honeymoon route is the classic one. Because the Cultural Triangle is showery, give Sigiriya two nights so that the climb has two possible mornings, and use a wet spell for the painted caves at Dambulla. Kandy and the tea country are drier, particularly later in the month.
Yala is green and scenic in December, with migrant birds on the lagoons. Leopards are seen, though less easily than in the dry months. The south coast then delivers what the honeymoon has been heading for: four nights of sun, with Galle Fort lit up for the season on the final evening.
- →Days 1 to 4: Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy.
- →Days 5 to 8: tea country, then Yala.
- →Days 9 to 13: the beach and Galle Fort.
Honeymooning over Christmas and New Year
Christmas and New Year change the rules for a honeymoon. Many hotels require stays of three to seven nights spanning 24 or 31 December, and add a compulsory gala dinner charge per person. Private dinners are harder to arrange on those two nights because every kitchen is stretched.
The sensible design is to be on the beach for both dates and do the touring before or after. Spend Christmas at one hotel and stay through New Year if the minimum stay demands it. Roads on the south coast are slow on 31 December, so do not plan a transfer.
- →Ask for the festive supplement in writing before you pay.
- →Be settled, not travelling, on 24, 25 and 31 December.
- →Book restaurant tables in Galle Fort weeks ahead.
The case for early December
Early December suits honeymooners better than its reputation suggests. From the 1st to about the 18th, the south coast usually has high-season weather, while rates sit a third or more below the festive level. Hotels are fully staffed, freshly painted and half empty.
Whale watching is under way, the Mirissa and Unawatuna bays are swimmable and Galle's restaurants have tables. An autumn wedding followed by a honeymoon in the first half of December is one of the smartest timings available.
Booking a December honeymoon
Booking a December honeymoon depends on which half you want. For the first three weeks, three to four months ahead is ample. For Christmas and New Year, small villas and tea bungalows are often reserved six to nine months in advance, and flights rise steeply.
Lankan Stays & Trails advises fixing the festive nights before anything else and building the rest of the route around the minimum stays they impose, since those are the least flexible part of a December plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good month for a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
December is a good month. The south and west coasts are dry with calm sea, and whale watching is in season. Sigiriya and the east are wetter. Travel before about 20 December for value, or book well ahead and expect peak prices over Christmas and New Year.
How far ahead should we book a Christmas honeymoon in Sri Lanka?
Book six to nine months ahead for a honeymoon over Christmas or New Year. The best small hotels on the south coast and in the hills are often full by June. Minimum stays apply, so choose the festive hotel first and plan the other nights around it.
Does it rain at Sigiriya in December?
Sigiriya receives a fair amount of rain in December from the north-east monsoon, mostly in showers. The rock stays open and is often dry in the early morning. Two nights there give a choice of mornings. The steps can be slippery after rain.
What is a gala dinner supplement?
A gala dinner supplement is a compulsory charge that many hotels add for dinner on 24 and 31 December. It is charged per person and can be substantial at luxury properties. Ask about it when booking, because it is not always included in the quoted room rate.
Is the sea calm in December?
The sea on the south and west coasts is generally calm from early December, and reliably so by the middle of the month. Mirissa, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa and Bentota are all swimmable on most days. The east coast is rough and wet.
Is Sri Lanka crowded over New Year?
Sri Lanka is at its most crowded between about 24 December and 5 January. Mirissa, Unawatuna, Ella and Galle Fort are especially busy. Tangalle and the villas between the main towns are quieter. Staying put and avoiding transfers on 31 December makes the period easier.