Quick answer
A Sri Lanka honeymoon in June should avoid the south-west and finish on the east coast. A 12-night route is Negombo one night, Kandy two, Ella two, Sigiriya three and Trincomalee, Nilaveli or Pasikudah four. Ella lies on the drier eastern side of the hills and is a better June base than Nuwara Eliya, which is wet and windy. The east coast has calm sea, snorkelling at Pigeon Island and whale and dolphin trips. Prices are low and sites are quiet.
Key takeaways
- June is the wettest month on the south and west coasts and one of the driest on the east coast.
- Ella, on the eastern slopes of the hill country, receives much less rain in June than Nuwara Eliya or Hatton.
- Poson Poya in June commemorates the arrival of Buddhism and centres on Mihintale and Anuradhapura.
- Pigeon Island National Park, off Nilaveli, has its clearest water from roughly May to September.
- June falls before the European school holidays, so east coast hotels are quiet and well priced.
Is June good for a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
June is a good month for a Sri Lanka honeymoon if you want sun, space and value, and you are content with the east coast. The classic south coast finish does not work. The sea at Mirissa and Tangalle is rough, whale boats do not sail and many beach restaurants close.
What June offers instead is the island without a crowd. Sigiriya at seven in the morning may have a few dozen people on it. Polonnaruwa is almost empty. The east coast beaches are long, pale and quiet, and the weather there is close to guaranteed.
- →Best for: east coast beaches, the Cultural Triangle, low prices.
- →Watch for: wind and rain in the western hills.
- →Avoid: the south and west coasts.
Which hills to choose in June
The hill country in June is divided by its own ridge. Nuwara Eliya, Hatton and the western slopes face the monsoon and are often wrapped in cloud, with strong winds on Horton Plains. Ella, Haputale and Bandarawela lie in the rain shadow to the east and have far more dry days.
A June honeymoon should therefore take the train from Kandy all the way to Ella, six to seven hours, or drive part of the way and board at Nanu Oya for the best three hours. Two nights in Ella allow Little Adam's Peak, Nine Arch Bridge and a tea estate visit at Uva, whose best harvest comes in these windy months.
The June honeymoon route
The June honeymoon route links Kandy, Ella, Sigiriya and the east coast. The leg from Ella to Sigiriya is the long one, at roughly five to six hours through Mahiyanganaya, and is best broken with lunch. Some couples prefer to place Sigiriya before the hills and finish at Pasikudah or Arugam Bay, three to four and a half hours from Ella.
Three nights at Sigiriya give time for the rock, a bicycle ride through Polonnaruwa and an elephant drive at Minneriya or Kaudulla, where herds begin to gather as the dry season deepens. Trincomalee is two hours further on.
- →Option A: Kandy, Ella, Sigiriya, Trincomalee.
- →Option B: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Pasikudah.
- →Both: 12 nights, four main bases and one arrival night.
What to do on the east coast in June
The east coast in June gives a honeymoon more to do than a beach alone. From Nilaveli, boats cross to Pigeon Island National Park in 10 to 15 minutes for snorkelling among reef fish and, often, blacktip reef sharks. Whale and dolphin trips leave Trincomalee early in the morning.
On land, Koneswaram Temple stands on Swami Rock above the harbour, and the hot wells at Kanniya are a short drive inland. Pasikudah is quieter still, with little to do beyond the bay, which is what many honeymooners want from the final days.
- →Snorkelling at Pigeon Island, best before ten.
- →Sunset from Fort Frederick and Koneswaram Temple.
- →A lagoon boat trip at Pasikudah or Batticaloa.
Booking a June honeymoon
Booking a June honeymoon rarely needs more than two months' notice, and late offers are common. The exception is the Poson Poya weekend, when pilgrims travel to Anuradhapura and Mihintale and hotels in the Cultural Triangle fill.
Lankan Stays & Trails recommends June to couples who would otherwise wait until the busy weeks of August, since the weather on the east coast is much the same and the beaches are far emptier.
Frequently asked questions
Is June a good time for a honeymoon in Sri Lanka?
June is a good time for a honeymoon that ends on the east coast. Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Pasikudah are dry and calm, the Cultural Triangle is sunny and prices are low. It is a poor time for the south and west coasts, which are in the middle of the monsoon.
Is it monsoon season in Sri Lanka in June?
June is monsoon season in the south-west of Sri Lanka only. Colombo, Galle, Mirissa and the western hills are wet and windy. The north, the east coast and the Cultural Triangle are in their dry season, because the central mountains block the rain.
Can we go to Mirissa or Galle in June?
You can, and Galle Fort is still enjoyable for a night between showers, but neither suits beach days in June. The sea is rough, swimming is often unsafe and whale boats do not operate. Plan the beach part of a June honeymoon on the east coast.
Is Ella rainy in June?
Ella is relatively dry in June compared with the western hill country. It sits on the eastern side of the mountains, sheltered from the south-west monsoon. Expect wind, some cloud and occasional showers, with many clear mornings for walking.
What is Poson Poya?
Poson Poya is the June full moon, marking the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the third century BCE. Pilgrims dressed in white climb Mihintale, near Anuradhapura, in very large numbers. It is a public holiday and alcohol is not sold. Dates shift each year.
How do we get home from the east coast?
Trincomalee is roughly five to six hours from Bandaranaike International Airport by road, and Pasikudah six to seven. Book an evening or night flight, or break the journey with a last night in Negombo. Domestic flights operate on some routes; schedules change, so confirm before relying on one.