The best part of a wedding is without doubt the honeymoon. Whether you’re desperate for a different take on relaxation or keen to jump into an adventurous honeymoon. The experts at Rickshaw Travel have put together a handy guide on why Sri Lanka is a top spot for newlyweds looking for a honeymoon with a meaningful twist.
The wildlife
Beaches
Most honeymooners look for a destination with idyllic beaches for some much-needed relaxation. Being an island, Sri Lanka naturally has no shortage of glorious coastlines.
For those seeking the sea more than the beach, the crystal clear calm waters of Trincomalee’s palm fringed beaches are perfect for swimming.
Head to the southern tip of the island and you’ll find the quiet beaches of Tangalle. You won’t find the same buzz of restaurants and bars here, instead you’re likely to share your beach space with the local fishermen reeling in the nets from their boats on the shore.
Wildlife
Sri Lanka is a great spot for wildlife lovers. The island may be small, but the animals are big. Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to see elephants in the wild, with more than 5,800 Asian elephants roaming its green national parks.
Rickshaw can arrange visits to the Elephant Transit Home, one of the more responsible places to see rehabilitated elephants at a healthy distance, as part of its Yala bite-sized trip.
Rare amphibians live in Sri Lanka’s rainforests, such as red slender Loris, Purple-faced Langur and a cacophony of exotic birdlife, including several species that can only be found on the island.
Rickshaw Travel always strive to ensure that you encounter wildlife responsibly in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Hopper
Sri Lanka has great food by the plateful. One of its dishes not to be missed is the Sri Lankan Hopper, a thin, crepe-like batter infused with coconut milk and spices that is then formed into a bowl shape to hold fried eggs. It can be served as breakfast, a midday snack or even a hangover cure.
If you are looking for a more gourmet treat, the ‘Ministry of Crab’ restaurant in Colombo is a must. It serves sweet, succulent and spicy Sri Lankan crab and was recently voted one of Asia’s top 50 restaurants.
Tea
Did you know tea is Sri Lanka’s largest export? The island is the fourth largest exporter of tea in the world and marked its 150th anniversary of tea exportation in February 2017.
Ceylon Tea, which Sri Lanka is most known for, is considered by the cleanest tea in the world by the ISO (with the least pesticide residue quantities). With Rickshaw you can see where the tea-magic happens on your honeymoon adventure, before staying in a romantic colonial style hotel surrounded by green hills.
Sacred Mountains
Adam’s Peak is the most sacred mountain in the country. Steeped in legend and religious theories, Adam’s Peak (or Sri Pada) sees pilgrims from all over the world climb to its peak by candlelight to stand in the famous footprint left there.
Christians and Muslims in Sri Lanka believe that this was the footprint of, Adam as he was exiled from Eden (some believing that Sri Lanka was Eden itself).
Railway journeys
With such beautiful scenery and characterful cities, travel in Sri Lanka is always a pleasure and never a chore. Sri Lanka is particularly famous for its breathtaking railway journeys and is heralded by railway enthusiasts as one of best places in the world to catch the train.
One of the must-do railway journeys is the trip from Nuwara Elyia to Ella, which weaves through the rolling green tea hills of Sri Lanka’s southern hill country, in and out of mountain tunnels and through low lying clouds before descending to Ella.
Sustainable travel
Thanks to Sri Lanka’s waterfalls and rivers, the majority of the power for the country is generated by Hydropower. More than 50% of the island was powered by water in 2014 – so you know you’re travelling in a more sustainable way!
History and values
Sri Lanka’s national flag is one of the oldest flags in the world.
A golden lion flag was said to have been brought with the first king of Sri Lanka (Vijaya) from India. The golden lion remained part of the flag until 1815 when Sri Lanka became British Ceylon, where the Union flag of British Ceylon replaced it. The golden lion holding its sword was re-introduced in 1948 after independence was achieved in the same year.
The four Bo leaves in the corners replaced spearheads in 1972 and represent the four values of the nation; loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity & happiness – which is reflected by the people who live there.
Great weather
Sri Lanka generally enjoys a sunny and dry climate and temperatures are fairly constant year-round, with coastal regions hitting temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands typically reaching 15-18°C.
The only exceptions are the two monsoon seasons, which bring rain to the west and south-west coasts from May to September and showers the north east from late October to December.
Cricket in Galle
If you’re missing a piece of home, Sleepy Galle is a haven for grown-up backpackers and is the best spot to catch an international cricket match or have a knock about near an old fort.
For further information on Rickshaw Travel’s Sri Lanka holidays, visit https://www.rickshawtravel.co.uk/asia/sri-lanka/
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