After you’ve planned every major and minute detail of the wedding celebrations, it is time to figure out your dream honeymoon. Be it an exotic beach vacation, a trip in the Amazonian rainforests, a luxurious staycation at a plush city hotel or a jaunt at a place lined with snow-capped mountains, your post-wedding getaway is the right opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with your beloved.
While you might zeroed down on that dream destination, it is the little things that will take your holiday to the next level. Your honeymoon should be a trip of a lifetime, so it’s only right to mix things up as you avoid generic activities and look for extraordinary experiences to add to your bucket list. If you like to do things a differently, we are sure you will have your heart set on something more one-of-a-kind than the done-to-death options. Imagine a trip where you walk inside a glacier together or stand arm in arm above cotton-like clouds, it truly can’t get any better. Pick out activities that you both enjoy or one that you feel your partner should try at least once in their lifetime.
Like the wedding, the romantic getaway will require thoughtful research, as well as advance bookings of key destinations and experiences, so that you can travel stress-free without having to scramble during your trip. Fret not! With our in-depth guide for when and what to plan for your honeymoon, there’s no need to scout through the internet, although we strongly suggest you get started sooner than later. Read on to find out some of the most unique experiences you can book. From classics like riding a hot air balloon to more unexpected like a dip in Icelandic glaciers, follow our recommendations to ease the overall honeymoon planning process.
Opt For A Hot Air Balloon Ride
Cappadocia in Turkey is romantic and visually breath-taking. Enjoy a lavish breakfast spread with your loved one as you watch the sunrise hue sky filled with hot air balloons, or fly past its fairytale scenery, cave dwellings, remarkable rock formations. This is truly an experience you will remember for a lifetime, the mesmerizing views almost always draw you in. The historic cave dwellings of Goreme Town with over 100 other balloons at sunrise is a fairytale-like scene.
Go Snorkelling
If you both love the beach and water, making a trip to The Great Barrier Reef is non-negotiable. While you can enjoy the scintillating sunsets, beaches and mimosas, amp up the adventure as you meet life underwater. Swim with the fish, and discover life in the ocean in a way you never imagined. The tickling feeling of the fish swimming beside you or the beauty of the corals found in the sea will make this experience one you will cherish forever.
A Trip to the Niagara Falls
The horseshoe waterfall is a sight worth seeing, and the falls from the Canadian side will leave you in awe. Get up close and hear the gushing sound of the falls as you take a tour on Maid of The Mist or walk behind the waterfalls inside a cave. Discover natural beauty as you see two gorgeous rainbows at Niagara falls.
Go Wine Tasting
Are you both connoisseurs of fine wine? Then your honeymoon is incomplete without a visit to Napa Valley. Learn about the different kinds of wine and how to sip them right, but the visit will be more than just that, it’s an experience. Stunning landscapes and authentic four-course meals with memorable winery tours will make this adventurous and romantic.
Helicopter Ride
The chaos of a fast-paced life is met with the beauty of nature in Las Vegas. If serene landscapes and picturesque views are what you’re after, planning a helicopter ride over The Grand Canyon with your partner is the ideal adventure.
Seeing The Northern Lights
Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of witnessing the Northern Lights, and it is something you’ll want to share with your special someone. Curl up under a blanket together for nature’s most spectacular light show as the green ribbons ripple across the sky.
Bathe in Icelandic Geothermal Pools
Iceland is known to be a favourite for adventurous honeymooners, thanks to its waterfalls, black volcanic beaches and electric blue glaciers. An experience not to miss is a dip in the luxurious warmth of the Blue Lagoon thermal waters. What’s a better way to spend time with your special one than enjoying a relaxing and rejuvenating time in the thermal waters?
Watch the Great Migration
Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or not, watching the Great Migration at Masai Mara in Kenya is an unmissable experience. Imagine watching over a million of wildebeest, zebra, and other herbivores such as gazelles making its way across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. July- October is the best time for a 2024 Maasai Mara wildebeest migration safari. If you want to witness a sea of pink, you can also visit Lake Nakuru at the Nakuru National Park to spot flocks of flamingos. Book a five-star glamping property to make it more luxurious.
Stay in a real-life palace
The Maharajas of India’s glorious past were proud owner of magnificent palaces, which were their homes. Today, a number of erstwhile castles are transformed into opulent hotels. A stay at one of these palace-turned-hotel will be the fairy-tale beginning of your new life together. You can consider Jehan Numa Palace in Bhopal, which has a neoclassical style and a 19th-century exterior. Originally a summer pleasure palace for Mewar royalty in the 1740s, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, which is so plush that was also the backdrop of the 1983 James Bond flick ‘Octopussy’. Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, Taj Usha Kiran Palace in Gwalior, Rambagh Palace in Jaipur and Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur are other great recommendations.
Driving the Amalfi Coast in Positano, Italy
Italy has been a firm honeymoon favourite. And it’s easy to see why. Pizzas to gelatos, Italy has a plethora of gems you’d want to dabble into. While Rome, Venice and Milan might be on your list, but the vibrant Positano village is one you cannot miss. There’s nothing more spectacular than a drive through the stretches of Amalfi Coast and the striking village of Positano is perhaps the region’s shining star. You can rent a car or hop on a local bus for an exquisite experience.
Float in the Dead Sea
Shared between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is arguably the most historically, geographically, and culturally significant body of water on earth. The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water on the planet. Given its high salinity, no life can sustain in the lake, which is how it gets the “dead” name too. Make your via the Jordan side—the two-hour drive from Petra is just as spectacular, with luxury hotels lined on the way. Slop the sludgy black mineral-rich mud all over your body. After it dries up, dive into the Dead Sea. With water that’s ten times more than usual seas, you’ll end up floating in it.
Swimming with the Sharks
Whether deep sea diving to spot sharks or cage diving, swimming with the sharks is a thrilling experience for adventure seeking couples. There are plenty of spots across the world that should be on every adrenaline junkie’s list. Maaya Thila in Maldives is one of the best spots to swim alongside hammerhead sharks, reef sharks and white tips that circle the dive site in large groups. Beqa Lagoon in Fiji is home to the world’s most shark-infested stretches of water, with eight species of sharks that swim here. The epic great white shark cage diving is accessible in Gansbaai, South Africa.
Stay on Over-Water Villas
Made up of hundreds of idyllic atolls scattered across an endless expanse of Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a tropical paradise right out of a book. You can expect snow-white sand beaches, azure waters alongside lush verdancy. The archipelago is also home to dozens of uber-luxury resorts that boast over-water villas that are outfitted with modern comforts and island interior design. Some of our favourites include The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands; Six Senses Kanuhura; Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.
Visit the Party Capital of the World
If painting the town red is your idea of a perfect holiday with your spouse, then a trip to Ibiza in Spain is a must. With its picturesque landscapes, vibrant nightlife and an electrifying music festivals scene, this destination has gained attention for being one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Whether the techno, boho, or rock’n’roll vibe appeals to you, there’s a party for you on Ibiza.
Cruise on the No-Man Island
Considered one of Earth’s greatest national parks, the Galápagos Archipelago is a destination like no other. Darwin’s living laboratory, it is home to an abundance of wildlife and isolated from the mainland for millions of years. Book an expedition cruise to Galápagos means you can expect encounters with giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, penguins, and sharks—and a deeper understanding of where we all came from.
