Let's Go - Sri Lanka

If you are dreaming of honeymoons and escaping this chilly weather then we have got some fabulous inspiration for you today in our next honeymoon guide in association with Mr & Mrs Smith and their Wanderlist. Today we are heading off to the beautiful Sri-Lanka. This tiny island state is famous for its cinnamon-scented tea so grab yourself a cuppa and read on. With beautiful beaches and Buddhist ruins, rainforests and tea fields, cities and citadels, national parks and palm trees, there is something to keep everyone happy.

The Top 5

Jungle rafting - Go whitewater rafting in the jungle

Surf’s up - Learn to surf at Hikkaduwa, near Galle

Wildlife safaris - Go on safari in Bundala, Udawalawe or Yalla

Jiminy cricket - Catch a cricket match in Colombo

Spicy street-food - Nibble on hoppers or roti from a roadside stall

Where to stay

Relive the Raj at Ceylon Tea Trails’ boutique villas where guests can feast on tea-inspired cuisine and rustic views before exploring the surrounding estates. For beach thrills, start at the impeccable Reef Villa & Spa in Wadduwa, then head to palatial Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, followed by relaxed The River House in Balapitiya. Sri Lanka’s colourful, wildlife-rich countryside is dazzling: don’t miss architecturally astounding Kalundewa Retreat or Living Heritage Koslanda, or colonial-chic Clingendael in Kandy.

PIN THE PLACES

Ceylon Tea Trails

Peaceful plantation Don’t miss Organic food including tantalising tea-inspired cuisine, from tea-smoked fish to cinnamon tea brulée

Reef Villa & Spa

Dutch-flavoured find Don’t miss croquet on the lawn

Paradise Road

Beloved by the bigwigs Don’t miss the hotel’s delicious desserts

The River House

Books, butlers and balconies Don’t miss arrack-and-ginger beer cocktails

Kalundewa Retreat

Agricultural revelation Don’t miss diving into the ulpatha (spring)

Living Heritage

Cinnamon-scented serenity Don’t miss the visiting elephants

Clingendael

Antique-stuffed stay Don’t miss teeing off on Sri Lanka’s best course

Something to write home about

Bring your binoculars: you’ll share the Pearl of the Indian Ocean with an eye-boggling array of winged, finned and four-legged friends, including leviathan whales, jumbo elephants, psychedelic fish, jewel-bright birds, rapacious dolphins and stealthy leopards.

When to go

Thanks to two separate monsoon seasons, there’s always good weather somewhere on the island (it’s knowing where that counts). The west and south coasts and the Hill Country are best in December and March; hit the east coast between April and September.

What To Pack

The varied landscape means you need to be clever with your packing to ensure you are ready for everything from poolside lounging to jungle trekking. Clothes-wise it’s all about practicality. Take some loose shorts that look casual enough to pull on over a swimsuit in the day for lunch but which can be dressed up at night with a pair of heels and a camisole or grandad shirt. A couple of little shift dresses will come in handy too. A loose fitting shirt is also a great staple for visits to temples or exploring the surroundings. You'll need some lightweight walking boots for the jungle and decent socks. Avoid filling your case with accessories that you won't need. A stylish canvas backpack will come in really handy plus a smaller shoulder bag for evenings or day trips. Add in a pretty necklace and a few bangles to complete your evening look.

Beauty Looks

You want looks that will take you from day to evening with minimum fuss. There is too much to see and do to be worrying about hours spent doing hair and makeup. Plus the heat and humidity of the jungle means you need to go for looks that last. If you have long hair pack copious amounts of hairbands to tie it up. Go for a simple ponytail for the day and then add some texturising spray and root lift to go straight to a laid back evening look. For a casual dinner you'll want to try our super simple Beachy Boho waves. Easy to recreate using the 5 minute tutorial we shared over on Rock My Style and you can use the same texturising spray and root lift as above so less packing required! Sun protection spray is an essential to keep your hair in tip top condition. For your makeup keep it minimal with a great waterproof mascara for the day that will see you through plunges in the pool or visits to the temple. Add a hint of colour with the Benefit Hydrating tinted lip balm with SPF to give a little glow to your pout. For the evening add a slick of Laura Mercier brow gel and some Chanel black eyeliner. A touch of Mac mineralize shimmer powder on the cheeks will help highlight your sun kissed skin. You can see our super natural glowy makeup tutorial here.

Special Offer

If you needed any further incentive, Mr & Mrs Smith are thoroughly spoiling their customers by giving away a free Nespresso coffee machine (worth £199) with every seven-night stay booked by 29th February 2016.

You can find more inspiration in our Mr & Mrs Smith Honeymoon pages

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