The Great Escape – Honeymoon Destinations
Your honeymoon is the first in a lifetime of adventures you will embark on as husband and wife. Make certain it is one to remember by going beyond the ordinary. We’ve searched every corner of the earth for the most awe-inspiring, once in a lifetime escapes. Pack your bags and leave the mundane at the airport!
Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Why go: For something completely different from anything else, Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert is an eco lodge made up of 35 gers (traditional Mongolian tents) authentic in design to the ones lived in by nomads. This escape wholeheartedly celebrates local customs and culture right down to the camel-hair blankets and wood burning stoves.
Highlight: Hike along the foothills of the mountains, see ancient petroglyphs, trek on horse or camel back to natural mountain springs, or really embrace it all and camp overnight surrounded by the wilderness!
Lombok, Indonesia
Why go: Bali has been a go-to tropical destination for decades, but its more than just Kuta Beach. Just 50km east of Bali lies the Indonesian island of Lombok. Like a step back in time, Lombok boasts untouched white sandy beaches, tropical jungles and even an active volcano.
Highlight: Known as the island of 1000 mosques, Lombok is ideal for culture-lovers and nature enthusiasts. If you’re seeking some serenity, you’ll be spoiled for choices; hike and camp along Mt Rinjani, swim in the thermally heated crater Lake Segara and unwind in bubbling hot springs that dapple the mountainside.
Vancouver Island, Canada
Why go: Inconspicuously sitting largely untouched off Canada’s Pacific Coastline, Vancouver Island is a nature-lover’s dream. Temperate rainforests cover alpine mountain ranges woven with glacial rivers and plunging waterfalls. Couples can paddleboard and kayak alongside wild porpoises, go whale watching, heli-fishing and explore tucked-away windswept beaches.
Highlight: We’re lusting after Eden-equivalent accommodations, Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort and Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. Nestled into the forest, these back-to-nature five-star sanctuaries take you off the beaten path without having to rough it .
Costa Rica
Why go: If you spent your childhood wishing you were part of the Swiss Family Robinson, then your dream honeymoon escape will be up in the canopy in one of Costa Rica’s treehouse resorts! Hidden 20 metres above the ground nestled in lush tropical rainforest are Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica Tree House and Lapa Rios Eco Lodge – three swoon-worthy luxe treehouse resorts to make your childhood dreams come true!
Highlight: The perfect marriage of rainforest and beach escapes, Costa Rica overflows with thrilling things to do. Go white water rafting, zipline through the jungle, swim in waterholes and under waterfalls, repel down canyons, nightwalk through the rainforest, kayak through mangroves and snorkel with dolphins!
Canyon Point, USA
Why go: Almost invisible from a distance, Amangiri Resort camouflages into the vast sandstone landscape of Southern Utah. Tones of pink, yellow and ochre tint the rugged desert. Built of white stone and natural timbers, Amangiri’s geometric design effortlessly harmonises with its surrounds and offers guests a blissfully serene experience.
Highlight: While the landscape looks barren, it’s bursting with adventurous opportunities. Majesty Rock offers a dramatic view of the valley for rock climbers or get a bird’s eye view from a hot air balloon. Uncover fossils and dinosaur tracks in prehistoric sites, kayak in Lake Powell and nearby secluded bays, or ride through desert trails on horseback.
Ko Phayam & Ko Kut, Thailand
Why go: Bangkok attracts 18 million tourists every year, making it the world’s most visited city. Which is why honeymooners looking for an escape from hustle and bustle should consider Thailand’s virtually uninhabited remote islands of Ko Phayam and Ko Kut.
Highlight: Ko Phayam, with an overall population of 500, is a laid-back island accessible only by a boat that runs just twice a day. This is the ultimate bungalow on the beach-style island and is still frequented by the nomadic Moken sea gypsies that live off the land and sea. If that sounds a little too rustic for you, Ko Kut is just as secluded but has modern luxury resorts and a friendly population of 2,000. Super soft white sands, gourmet cuisine and plenty of relaxing activities make it the perfect escape from everyone else’s vacation!
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Why go: Perched upon a hilltop against Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains teeters Berber-run lodge, Kasbah du Toubkal. The Kasbah, meaning ‘fortress’ looks out to Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain peak in North Africa, making this boutique retreat feel far away from everything down below. Steep paths up the hillside mean that following the 75-minute drive from Marrakech, the only way to access the lodge is by foot or mule.
Highlight: Curious minds will love the opportunity for adventure that the mountains provide; walks, hikes, village and market visits as well as camel excursions, trips to neighbouring cities and even a trek up Jbel Toubkal.
Easter Island, Chile
Why go: Rapa Nui is the most isolated island in the world. So, when looking for an escape-worthy destination, it’s impossible not to explore this Chilean outlier that sits at the southernmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. Made famous for its enormous monolithic moai, or stone statues, crafted between 1100-1680AD, a mysterious air still lingers, reminiscent of a prehistoric civilisation sanctified in myth and ruled by fearless Polynesian chiefs.
Highlight: Explora Resort at Rapa Nui offers 20 different explorations, allowing guests to experience and discover cultural and archeological wonders. Hike and bike your way around the island, witnessing 360° panoramic views, archaeological sites, cliffs, lagoons, caves, beaches and volcano cones.
Northern Territory, Australia
Why go: Honeymooners from the lucky country don’t have to travel far to feel remote. Longitude 131° is an isolated crescent of 15 luxury stilted tents artfully placed along red dunes in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Highlight:Dine under the stars, receive a relaxing treatment in the Red Ochre Spa, explore nearby gorges and sacred sites and celebrate the vastness of the area on a Harley Davidson, helicopter or on the back of a camel!
Now you’ve decided where to go – it’s time to pack your suitcase. Click here for 15 swimsuits to pack on your honeymoon.
Photographs courtesy of: Mongolia – Nomadic Expeditions, Canada – Jeremy Koreski, USA – Aman Resorts, Thailand – Honeymoon Planners, Morocco – Kasbah du Toubkal