A Sri Lanka honeymoon from India

Short flight, free visa, and a country small enough to pack mountains, a famous train ride and a beach villa into one week. It is the honeymoon Indian couples' Instagram feeds are quietly built from.

The 7 night route

1. Nights 1 to 2, Kandy or Sigiriya: a jungle view resort and the climb up Sigiriya at dawn.
2. Night 3, Nuwara Eliya: a tea planter's bungalow with a fireplace.
3. Day 4: the Ella train through tea country. Book reserved seats early.
4. Night 4, Ella: Nine Arches Bridge and Little Adam's Peak.
5. Nights 5 to 7, south coast: Galle Fort, Mirissa or Tangalle, a private villa and whale watching in season.

When to go

December to April for the west and south coasts. May to September, flip it: Trincomalee and Pasikudah on the east coast are at their best.

Budget

Mid range honeymoons usually land at ₹1.4 to 2.2 lakh for two including flights from South India; luxury villas push it higher. See our trip cost guide for every line.