After the massive build up to the wedding day, most couples will relish the chance to wind down in exotic surrounds, being waited on hand and foot. Or maybe an action-packed adventure in the wild or a culinary and cultural immersion is more on the cards.
While serenading and star gazing may not be to every honeymooner’s liking and transportation is unlikely to be in a pea green boat, there are many experiences that are guaranteed to get married life off to a good start and here are the special ones from luxury travel specialist Abercrombie & Kent.
Out of Africa
In the spirit of the achingly romantic ‘Out of Africa’, a safari is hard to beat for romance and adventure. Pick of the bunch for young romantics is Kenya where vast landscapes, magical safari camps and huge herds of game set hearts aflutter. This is Africa’s famed big game country and it’s where, at the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, you find Sanctuary Olonana on a stretch of the Mara river where the final scene of the movie was filmed. This luxurious safari camp has only 14 spacious tented pavilions all overlooking the mighty Mara River and furnished with fine timber pieces, graceful mosquito nets and woven floorcoverings. Honeymoon suites come with outdoor showers and a traditional Maasai blessing ceremony is arranged for all newlyweds.
For more information, check out A&K’s 11-day ‘Wildlife & Warriors’ journey from $13,545 per person.
Maldives
The Maldives is the archetypal honeymoon destination – impossibly blue seas, white sandy beaches, overwater bungalows and abundant marine life. There are many luxe lodgings to consider but one of A&K’s favourites is Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa in the far south of the island nation. All experiences here are bespoke, tailored to the guest with romantic dinners and couple’s spa treatments a feature for honeymooners. Consider a water villa positioned over the lagoon with overwater hammocks for lounging around in between dips in the crystal clear waters beneath.
Fore more information, check out A&K’s 8-day Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa package from US$3,370 per person.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a popular honeymoon destination for A&K with the people warmly welcoming and a high degree of comfort, service and indulgence provided in quality hotels and cruises. Spectacular scenery, World Heritage attractions, exquisite cuisine, colourful street markets and smiling faces enchant the discerning traveller. A&K gives guests little enhancements along the way like a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels with a veteran guide, a bike ride into a local village or a market tour and cooking class, there’s the opportunity to dine in private homes or meet a master monk in his pagoda.
After a good dose of culture and scenery, head to Vinh Hy Bay on the southeast coast where Amanoi is the ultimate honeymooner’s indulgence. Stylish accommodation in spacious pavilions provide privacy and breathtaking views and it has one of the finest spas in the country.
For more information, check out A&K’s 12-day ‘Highlights of Vietnam’ journey from $7,235 per person. A stay at Amanoi is additional.
Brazil
Brazil is a dazzling destination by anyone’s standards. Its culture is vibrant, its people spirited, its wildlife exotic and its landscapes magnificent. It also boasts world-class beaches with over 8,000 kilometres of Atlantic coastline. From the thundering cascades of Iguassu to Rio’s party scene, the cobbled streets and pastel coloured buildings of Salvador and the colonial riverside town of Cachoeira, Brazil is a world in one country. Stay in two of the country’s most iconic hotels – Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel on Rio’s famous beachfront and Belmond Hotel das Cataratas overlooking Iguassu Falls – for the perfect honeymoon escape.
For beaches, A&K loves beautiful Buzios north of Rio, with its distinctly Mediterranean feel and a choice of 26 beaches close by.
For more information, check out A&K’s 9-day ‘Best of Brazil’ itinerary from $6,995 per person. A stay in Buzios is additional.
Iceland
Adventurous honeymooners will relish the opportunity to explore northern Europe’s most talked about destination. No matter what season, Iceland has year-round appeal. In the summer months, newlyweds can marvel at the Midnight Sun while winter brings mulled wine and the extraordinary Northern Lights. Raw landscapes are what Iceland does best with dramatic fjords, thermal fields, mountains, volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls at every turn. The charming capital Reykjavik with its pastel coloured buildings is easy to explore on foot and boasts an incredible paddock to plate food scene while active travellers will be spoilt for choice with everything from ice walks and glacier hikes to riding Icelandic horses, quad biking, snow mobiling and whale watching.
For more information, check out A&K’s 7-day ‘Land of Fire & Ice’ journey from $10,595 per person for summer honeymoons.
For more information, check out A&K’s 8-day ‘Iceland & the Northern Lights’ journey from $10,375 per person for winter honeymoons.
Italy
Arguably the world’s most romantic destination and blessed with natural and designed beauty, Italy is a perennial honeymoon favourite. With so many extraordinary places to visit, it’s hard to select just one but Lombardy and the Italian Riviera is a good place to start. Romantic and glamorous, northern Italy offers the majestic Lake Como and Bellagio, snow-capped peaks, the fashion capital Milan, elegant villas and gardens plus the chic resort town of Portofino where A&K newlyweds will stay at the timeless Belmond Hotel Splendido. It’s a no-brainer for loved-up travellers and an idyllic honeymoon destination.
For more information, check out A&K’s 9-day ‘Lombardy and the Italian Riviera’ journey from $16,995 per person.
Mexico
Sip a margarita on the white sandy beaches of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, spice up your palate with a good dose of tamales and enchiladas or luxuriate with a Mayan-inspired spa treatment. These are just some of the attractions of a Mexican honeymoon. There are also, of course, incredible monuments, ancient ruins, colonial towns and villages, a vibrant handicraft tradition and glorious beaches. A perfect way to start married life.
For more information, check out A&K’s 14-day ‘Mexico Discovered’ journey from $13,450 per person. A stay at Hotel Esencia on the Riviera Maya is additional.
India
On a private A&K tailored journey to India, honeymooners can dine in one of the world’s most romantic settings – a pontoon floating on Lake Pichola in Udaipur with the illuminated City Palace as a backdrop. In the dreamy lake city, A&K recommends the world famous Taj Lake Palace with its Moghul architecture and superlative service. For a contrasting perspective there’s also a tented camp experience at the Oberoi Vanyavilas in Ranthambore National Park where tiger sightings are amongst the country’s best.
For more information, check out A&K’s 10-day private ‘Royal Rajasthan’ journey from $8,465 per person.