Honeymoon Sri Lanka: Summer

Along the seaward side of Galle Face Green runs a promenade lashed by churning waves – the perfect place for a blustery stroll in the late afternoon, when Colombo’s residents come here to munch tasty street food snacks. Try the more-ish 'isso wadai' (spicy lentil cakes stuffed with prawns), or a plate of cuttlefish curry at Nana’s.

For a more substantial seafood supper, we recommend a table at the award-winning ‘Ministry of Crab’ restaurant, over in the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, where an enclave of handsomely converted 17th-century buildings, complete with teak beams and colonnaded courtyards, house trendy boutiques, bars and cafés.

Highlights of our city tour include a visit to the National Museum, famed for its collection of priceless stone Buddhas and a jewel-encrusted throne. From there you’ll continue to the lavishly decorated Gangarayama Temple, the most important shrine in the city, whose intricate woodcarvings form a backdrop to the annual Navam Perahera festival, held every February and featuring fifty elephants.

Next on your tour is walk around Pettah – a bustling, predominantly Tamil market district, where you will find hawkers and traders plying their wares in a grid of jam-packed streets.

The remainder of the day will be at leisure to discover Colombo at your own pace, with or without your guide, as desired. Consider a stroll around Beira Lake to the Seema Malaka temple, a meditation centre designed by the country’s best known architect, Geoffrey Bawa. A graceful assemblage of wood and stone, the shrine juts serenely into the water. Look out for the flocks of pelicans and storks who live on the algae-filled lake, at the heart of the metropolis.

For a sundowner, we recommend the veranda of the elegant Galle Face Hotel, which boasts the best sea views in the city.

Anuradhapura, the vast Sinhalese capital founded in 377 BC, remains a sacred city simply because it was Buddhism’s initial home on the island. Today, the site retains great appeal for both tourists and pilgrims. The scale of its dagobas, or stupas, is what most impresses. While Sri Lanka is dotted with these typically bell-shaped and whitewashed memorials, the largest and most impressive are found here.

One of Anuradhapura’s stupas, the Jethawanarama, was at the time of its construction in the late-3rd century AD almost as tall as the two great pyramids at Giza! The most revered monument on the site, however, is of more modest proportions. Enclosed within tiers of gold railings, the Sri Maha Bodi, or ‘Sacred Bodhi Tree’, is believed to have been grown from a cutting taken from the one under which the historical Buddha achieved enlightenment. A local priest gives blessings near the ancient tree.

The great rock of Sigiriya is a striking sight, and one that’s all the more remarkable for the presence on its summit of a 5th-century fortress-palace. A series of celebrated frescoes depicting celestial nymphs, or ‘cloud maidens’, adorn the stepped approach, cut through the solid rock. Exhilarating stairs and catwalks complete the final haul to the summit, which is rewarded with marvellous views across the surrounding countryside.

The most compelling of all the island’s ruined cities, Polonnaruwa stands alongside a vast artificial lake a little over an hour’s drive east of Sigiriya. A succession of kings ruled from here between the 11th and 13th centuries, leaving a legacy of finely sculpted statues, frescoes, colossal Buddha images and immense stupas. The site is particularly magical in the late afternoon when the shadows lengthen and the stonework is bathed in soft sunset colours.

Passikudah breathtaking arc of pristine golden sand and warm, turquoise water will be your reward for a half day’s drive from the Cultural Triangle region. When you see it, we’re confident you’ll agree the journey was well worth the effort. The hotel you’ll be staying in is a dreamy five-star resort facing the sea.

You can sidestep the holiday scene altogether at Kalkudah, a short walk around the headland from Passikudah. The local reefs are great for snorkelling and there are quality kayaks and sailboards for hire. Sunset cruises by catamaran are an added attraction.

To the north of Trinco stretch some of Sri Lanka’s emptiest and most idyllic beaches, among them Nilaveli which, at around 5 miles (8km), is among the longest on the island.

On your last night, treat yourself to a private candle-lit dinner at a table dug into the sand on the hotel terrace – an unforgettable experience!

This might be a good time to enjoy a spa session or evening walk in the jungle around the resort, which is set in beautiful tropical greenery.

Yala plays host to around 215 different species of bird, six of which are endemic to the region. The park also has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world.  Sloth bears can often be seen foraging through the forests and elephants are also abundant.

At this time of year, the sea off the south coast is too rough for swimming, but you’ll be able to enjoy the churning waves from the hotel’s infinity pool. Delightful ocean views also extend from the private terrace of your honeymoon chalet.

Galle is a great place for souvenir and gift shopping. Many of its historic buildings nowadays house artisans’ workshops where you can pick up beautiful designer jewellery, clothes and crafts. Foodies will also enjoy its ever expanding crop of hip little restaurants, serving stylish Sri Lankan Fusion cuisine.