22 of the best honeymoon destinations around the world

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Tourhub can combine Rio with a host of destinations in Brazil and South America, including Iguazu Falls

Viator’s range of day trips to the Iguazu Falls include crossing over into Argentina

2. Hawaii

Best for spa glamour

Of all the US states, the 50th ranks among the highest for a honeymoon. Sure, Hawaii is a long flight from the UK, maybe via San Francisco, Los Angeles or Vancouver — but you could build in a couple of nights in one of those hubs to stretch out the adventure. Island-hopping is a must on this remote Pacific archipelago: start on Oahu, the best-connected and most-familiar island, to be thrown back to Hawaii’s 1960s heyday on Waikiki beach, heading out for glam dinners and bonding over surfing lessons. Then move on to Hawaii, better known as Big Island, flying over active volcanoes in a helicopter and exploring rainforests and waterfalls. End up on horizontally chilled Maui or Kauai, where the most luxurious and peaceful spa resorts are the stuff of honeymoon dreams.

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Virgin Atlantic Holidays can organise a flight and hotel package for Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa on Waikiki beach

British Airways Holidays will take you to Maui’s Fairmont Kea Lani for spa treatments, serene sunsets and ocean breezes

3. Sri Lanka

Best for easy adventure

The beauty of a honeymoon on this Indian Ocean island is the sheer variety on offer. There are plenty of luxurious resorts on beautiful beaches if you’re after pure relaxation, but you can also mix it up with easy excursions to national parks to see leopards and elephants; hilltop plantations for tea-tastings; and temples and historic towns for your culture fix. Plus, the food in Sri Lanka is exceptional — you’ll be talking about the meals you enjoyed here together decades after your visit.

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Asia specialist Wendy Wu Tours has a highlights package calling at Yala National Park plus cultural hotspots Galle and Kandy.

• Best hotels in Sri Lanka

4. Fiji

Best for island life

When you dream of paradise, it’s likely that images of Fiji will have helped form big parts of it. The nation in the South Pacific has over 300 tropical islands, their white-sand beaches lapped by warm, turquoise waters. You could spend your entire honeymoon at a world-class resort, doing nothing more taxing than finding a palm tree to laze under all day, but this is a great place to try scuba diving too, with blue lagoons and offshore reefs to explore; or you could try snorkelling with manta rays or even reef sharks.

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Expedia can arrange a package including flights, accommodation and activities

5. Kenya

Best for safari

There’s a reason why safaris feature on so many bucket lists — they create memories to last a lifetime. Kenya offers numerous national reserves and parks to choose from, and the Maasai Mara savannah plains and vast Amboseli ecosystem are good places to start. In each, days might start with a sunrise hot-air balloon ride and a champagne breakfast; continue with a 4×4 drive in search of lion prides and elephant herds; and end with a sunset G&T and fine dining at a luxury camp. You’ll never forget nights spent under canvas here, falling asleep as the nocturnal creatures of the African wilderness start to wake.

Make it happen

Tourhub covers all the best destinations in Kenya, with itineraries to suit most budgets

• Best Kenya safaris

6. The Caribbean

Best for being spoilt for choice

With dozens of nations and territories to choose from and thousands of islands between them, you’re guaranteed to find an outcrop offering everything you want for your honeymoon in the Caribbean. If you favour all-inclusive resorts, with world-class dining and luxury suites overlooking the sea, go for St Lucia, Antigua or Aruba. Hanker after a lively cultural scene? Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad will fit the bill. Want hiking and wildlife? Try Dominica and St Kitts. Wherever you land, expect good music, decent rum, the finest grilled seafood and the warmest Caribbean welcome.

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British Airways Holidays can arrange a package on numerous islands throughout the Caribbean

• Best Caribbean holidays

7. Amalfi coast

Best for the good life

La dolce vita is calling on the Amalfi coast in southern Italy. The idyllic stretch of coastline is dotted with pastel-coloured villages and lemon groves that cling to the cliffs rising up from a glistening sea. The region retains a sense of Sixties glamour, recalling the days when Brigitte Bardot filmed hit movies and Jackie Onassis used to holiday here. Many pursuits are still the same: sipping an Aperol spritz on a restaurant terrace, stopping for coffee or gelato on the square of a staggeringly beautiful town; and reclining on a sunlounger watching the sun sparkle on the Mediterranean. But there’s also plenty to see and do, from sunset concerts at stately villas to architecture and food tours — not to mention hotspots such as Pompeii and Capri lying within easy reach.

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Tourhub has plenty of tours, excursions and activities covering the Amalfi coast

Try Headwater’s self-guided walking tour along the Amalfi coast for a honeymoon with a difference

headwater.com

• Best hotels on the Amalfi coast

8. The Seychelles

Best for beaches

You’re spoilt for choice in the Seychelles, an archipelago nation of 115 tropical islands with arcs of white-sand, clear turquoise waters and plenty of memorable accommodation. Expect some of the best beaches in the world — you could even spend your entire honeymoon on one, taking a sunset horse ride through the shallows, eating net-fresh seafood and Creole dishes on the shore, or simply sunbathing. There’s life beyond them too, with jungle trails to hike, dive sites to explore and all those islands to sail to.

Make it happen

Tui can arrange your whole holiday, with hotels on several of the archipelago’s islands

• Best things to do in the Seychelles

9. Thailand

Best for city and beach

Thailand is a brilliant option for a two-centre honeymoon, allowing you to combine all the attractions of an Asian city that buzzes night and day with downtime on a tropical beach. Start in the capital Bangkok, dipping in and out of temples, taking leisurely boat trips down the city’s canals, and enjoying some of the world’s best street food. Then head south and to your pick of outcrops — the Phi Phi Islands are a great all-round option, offering fantastic scenery, beaches and luxury resorts.

Make it happen

Tui offers multi-destination holidays in Thailand that include Bangkok, Phi Phi and other islands

• Best hotels in Thailand

10. The Maldives

Best for a castaway experience

The Maldives is the sort of place that you don’t quite believe is real even when you’re there, with clear waters stretching to the horizon and beaches of the whitest, finest sand. This is where to book that overwater lodge you’ve fantasised about, with a private plunge pool and personal butler on hand to attend to your every whim. The islands have plenty of adults-only resorts that are well used to creating special moments for honeymooners, whether that’s a romantic dinner on an isolated sand bank or a sailing trip to watch the sun set.

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Mr & Mrs Smith has a choice of over 20 luxury hotels to book in the Maldives

• Best overwater villas in the Maldives

11. South Africa

Best for a bit of everything

You could spend months in South Africa ticking off the big five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and buffalo), fantastic beaches, outdoor activities, incredible food and drink, lively cities and spectacular scenery. For a little taste of everything, start in cosmopolitan Cape Town then venture out — first to the vine-laden Cape Winelands just beyond the city, then further east to drive the coastal Garden Route, accessing nature reserves and national parks along the way. For a real treat, leap aboard the Blue Train, a luxury heritage railway that runs for just under 1,000 miles between Cape Town and Pretoria in either direction.

Make it happen

Book a fly-drive holiday with British Airways, flying in and out of Cape Town

• Best South Africa itineraries

12. Bali

Best for a peaceful retreat

Bali is the perfect antidote if you’re feeling frazzled after the run-up to the wedding — this is a tropical Indonesian island with extra serenity built in. There are lively beach resorts here, too, but its real attractions lie away from the crowds — in the temple ceremonies that have remained unchanged for centuries, in exploring quiet villages flanked by emerald-green paddy fields, in swimming beneath waterfalls deep within the rainforest. Bali also brings great opportunities to learn a new skill together — perhaps cooking, batik printing, traditional dance or something more active like surfing.

Make it happen

Virgin Atlantic Holidays has a selection of Bali retreats ideal for honeymoon stays

• Best hotels in Bali

13. Iceland

Best for a proper adventure

Iceland is the perfect fit for your honeymoon if you want to mix out-of-this-world landscapes with some of Europe’s most unique activities — and there are plenty of exceptional hotels to choose from too. There’s the chance to climb glaciers, bathe in hot springs, dive in continental fissures, go whale-watching and clamber inside a volcano, and that’s just for starters. Visit between September and April and you might get to tick off another bucket-list experience — seeing the northern lights. A final advantage is that it’s only about a three-hour flight from the UK, so you’re not spending too much of your honeymoon in the air.

Make it happen

Tourhub has some impressive itineraries, including Intrepid Travel’s eight-day adventure to the country’s best bits

• Best Iceland tours

14. California

Best for a foodie road trip

The US provides some of the best road trips on the planet, and the Pacific Coast Highway is the pick of the bunch. Head out west to drive the section from San Francisco down to Los Angeles, which is a great option if you love food as much as you love each other. There are wineries, farm-to-table restaurants, delis and food markets to drop into all along the way. You’ll drink in some spectacular scenery en route, following a rugged coastline that drops down to the rolling Pacific, with sublime sunsets to round off each day. Be sure to book at least one special meal on your trip — San Francisco and Los Angeles share over 50 Michelin-starred restaurants between them.

Make it happen

Fly into San Francisco and out of LA on a fly-drive package with British Airways.

• Best things to do in California

15. Mauritius

Best for Indian Ocean variety

The writer Mark Twain noted some locals’ opinion that “heaven was copied after Mauritius”, and you’ll perhaps agree on your first sighting of the island group from above as you jet in. There are all the powdery white-sand beaches and sapphire blue waters you could possibly want, and these give way to an interior of jungle-clad mountains, plunging waterfalls and sleepy villages. You’ll find further heaven in the cuisine, with Indian, African, French and Chinese influences apparent in the various dishes. Those influences also come into play in the islands’ diverse culture, with a festival-heavy calendar sure to bring extra cause for celebration to your honeymoon.

Make it happen

Expedia has several tempting all-inclusive packages, so all you have to think about is packing

• Best beaches in Mauritius
• Mauritius honeymoon ideas

16. Cuba

Best for pure joy

Cuba is the destination for you if you want to be sociable rather than secluded on your honeymoon. This is a gregarious nation and you’ll be drawn into the daily celebration of life within hours of arriving. That’s not to say you can’t get romantic here — what could be more so than learning to salsa to a live band one balmy evening, or watching the sunset from an alfresco bar table, mojito in hand? Among many highlights forming your honeymoon memories are the faded elegance of capital Havana, the cobbled streets of Spanish colonial towns such as Trinidad and Sancti Spiritus, and the rural serenity of Viñales.

Make it happen

Tourhub has a wealth of ways to see Cuba, from cycling to beaches and homestays

• Best things to do in Cuba

17. Bora Bora

Best for luxury

You’d best impose a phone ban before you arrive on Bora Bora or you’ll spend your entire honeymoon taking photos. The island in French Polynesia is so beautiful you won’t be able to help yourself. Palm-fringed little islets dot a magnificent lagoon, with mountains rising up beyond. Book a resort on the lagoon — splash out on a stilted villa over the water, with its own plunge pool, your own private butler and direct access down into the warm tropical waters. You then need do nothing but relax, with the only appointment for the day a waterside dinner with a stunning Pacific Ocean sunset as your backdrop.

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Expedia has a plenty of tempting of hotels and resorts on Bora Bora, including the Four Seasons

• Most romantic hotels in the world
• Best luxury holiday destinations

18. Patagonia

Best for unforgettable landscapes

With some of the most incredible landscapes in the world, coupled with some of its most remarkable lodges, a honeymoon in Patagonia — a region that straddles Argentina and Chile — will form a suitably epic start to your marriage. In the latter, the Torres del Paine National Park makes an ideal centre for your trip — here, granite peaks rear up from perfectly turquoise lakes and glaciers, and there’s the chance to spot wildlife such as pumas, which lurk within the valleys. Luxury hotels and lodges will sort out all your activities and revive you with world-class cuisine and fine wines at the end of each day.

Make it happen

&Beyond offers stays at Explora Torres del Paine hotel, with a spa, incredible hot-tub river views and 50 hikes and horseback rides

andbeyond.com

19. Greece

Best for island-hopping

The beauty of a honeymoon in the Greek islands is the ease with which you can hop from one outcrop to the next over a couple of weeks, experiencing a different atmosphere on each. The Cyclades should be high on your wishlist — you get to enjoy the swish amenities and luxury hotels of islands such as Santorini and Mykonos, but can mix in the quieter charms of Paxos and Naxos too. However you decide to split your time, you’ll likely end each day toasting your marriage at an atmospheric waterside taverna.

Make it happen

For a multi-centre, island-hopping break, try Olympic Holidays

olympicholidays.com

• Best Greek islands
• Best Greek island cruises

20. The UK

Best for memorable stays

Why not use your honeymoon to get to know these ancient isles better? A special occasion is the perfect reason to book into some of the extraordinary and unique accommodation the UK has to offer. You might choose a luxury beach cabin on the Cornish coast, with a hot tub in which to enjoy the sunset together. Or a picture-perfect little cottage in the Cotswolds, where each day ends with a glass of wine in front of the fire. If you’re after a fairytale, there’s the chance to stay in a magical folly in Wales, with its own pool and sauna. Or a beautifully secluded converted mill on a Scottish loch. Even better, with easy travel you’ve got the perfect excuse to return for your wedding anniversary.

Make it happen

Unique Homestays has exceptional self-catering properties throughout Britain and Ireland

uniquehomestays.com

• Most romantic hotels in the UK

21. Mexico

Best for Latin American flair

For a winning combination of beach, culture, gastronomy and scenery, there are few better destinations than Mexico. This is a vast place and you’ll want to choose a small area of it rather than tackle the whole thing. Taking a direct flight to Cancun and focusing on the Yucatan Peninsula gives you the perfect base. There are ancient Mayan sites, striking Spanish colonial towns and cities, national parks and jungles that hide jaguars and crocodiles, and an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Caribbean beaches. If you want peace and quiet, head to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve — it’s harder to get to than other beach destinations in the Yucatan but it’s worth the effort to have those white sands all to yourself.

Make it happen

Trailfinders has private tours for couples in Mexico and the Yucatan

trailfinders.com

• Best hotels in Mexico

22. Morocco

Best for medina magic and desert tranquillity

A luxury riad in Marrakesh is the perfect place to recover from the whirl of a wedding — whether you opt for a modern five-star with all the amenities or a little family-run guesthouse, you’ll feel like you’re staying in a beautifully restored work of art. Immerse yourself in the Moroccan way of life, with trips around the maze-like medieval Medina, as well as visits to tiny villages high in the Atlas Mountains. There’s also the vast tranquillity of the desert, best explored on camel treks, or pretty coastal cities like Essaouira with its historic ramparts and stretches of Atlantic shoreline ideal for watersports.

Make it happen

Try Original Travel for a bespoke itinerary, including riad stays and time in the desert

originaltravel.co.uk

• Best villas in Morocco

Additional reporting by Lucy Thackray