The perfect couple(s): explore + relax moons

Dreaming of the beach life but only for a few days? Can’t agree on one stay-put place you both love? The beauty of a twin-centre or touring honeymoon is you can get under the skin of a destination – meet its people, learn about its culture and history – and take time just to chill, too.

Sightsee your way around Vietnam and the Temples of Angkor

Vietnam has glorious brochure-worthy beaches (you’ll find them in and around Nha Trang, Danang, Con Dao and Phu Quoc), but that’s not really what a trip to this fascinating country is about.

It’s a place that needs to be travelled. One day you’re in the hectic streets of Hanoi, where the smell of coffee mingles with the aromas from a thousand street-food carts (expect plate after plate of incredible food). Then you’re drifting on a colourful junk through the dreamlike limestone landscape of Halong Bay, openmouthed at the drama of it all.

Wander the ancient lantern-lit streets of UNESCO-listed Hoi An – a colourful riverside town and one of Vietnam’s most romantic spots – or float along the Perfume River in Hué to admire imperial palaces, pagodas and tombs. Meanwhile, the darker side of 20th-century events is movingly marked at Ho Chi Minh City’s War Remnants Museum and the immense Cu

Chi tunnels where Viet Cong soldiers hid out. While you’re close by, it’s a no-brainer to hop over the border to explore the mighty Temples of Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most amazing archaeological sites. Climb around crumbling temples half strangled by colossal tree roots, gaze up at ornate towers soaring above the jungle canopy, and smile back at the giant stone faces looking down on it all.

COUPLE UP:

14 DAYS HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM

Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hué, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City +

3 DAYS SIEM REAP

Temples of Angkor

Discover the artsy, adventurous and wellness sides of Bali

Bali is a honeymoon hotspot, and it’s easy to see why. The Island of the Gods is a one-stop shop for Instagrammable beaches, storybook jungle landscapes and bohemian villages. And (spoiler alert) it’s excellent value for money.

‘Feeling suitably zen, head on to hip Ubud to check out its stunning rice terraces, cool café culture and art galleries’.

You’re missing out if you don’t head beyond the big-name beach resorts. Consider one of the island’s quieter coastal spots to chill out by the sea without the noise. Fronting a volcanic black-sand beach in the traditional village of Tembok, you’ll find a wellness retreat where it’s all about mind, body and soul. A place where you can completely relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company. At adults-only Spa Village Resort Tembok there’s no TV in your room and you’re encouraged to forget all about your phone (in public areas at least). Daily activities – you can do as many or as few as you like – include stargazing from a floating platform in the pool, cookery classes to learn the secrets of the tasty local food you’re eating, and massages that will take all your stresses away.

Feeling suitably zen, head on to hip Ubud to check out its stunning rice terraces, cool café culture and art galleries. Surround yourself in nature at Sankara Suites & Villas, just a 10-minute shuttle ride north of Ubud. Days can begin with a session in the Yoga Pavilion as the morning breeze washes over the paddy fields, or with time lounging by the treetop infinity pool. It’s your honeymoon, so a floating breakfast in your villa’s private pool is a must. Then get out and explore – the hotel can arrange excursions for you to cycle through rice fields, visit royal temples, drive a jungle buggy and trek Mount Batur at sunrise.

COUPLE UP:

8 DAYS TEMBOK

Spa Village Resort Tembok

+

4 DAYS UBUD

Sankara Suites & Villas

See the real Sri Lanka with your own private driver/guide

Warm, tropical Sri Lanka is a cultural paradise. This small island just south of India has an impressive collection of rock temples and fortresses, historical ruins and colonial-age relics. Then there’s its spectacular interior, home to rolling tea plantations and wildlife-rich parks where elephants and leopards roam free. So you can go on safari in vast national parks, climb ancient Sigiriya Rock, visit sacred cave temples and go tea picking, all in one week.

‘Stay at a beachfront retreat like Cinnamon Bentota Beach, which is creating quite the stir on the hotel scene’.

The best way to honeymoon in Sri Lanka is in a private car with a local English-speaking driver/guide. You won’t be watching the road or a map; instead, you’ll be gazing out of the windows watching daily life in Sri Lanka pass by. Your driver can suggest places to go that don’t feature in any guidebook; there’s nothing quite like having someone who knows the island inside-out to show you around.

Then wave goodbye to your driver (and newfound friend) and see what the beach life is all about on the island’s tropical coast. The south-west is a popular choice for palm-fringed golden sands – stay at a beachfront retreat like Cinnamon Bentota Beach, which is creating quite the stir on the hotel scene after its huge renovation.

COUPLE UP:

8 DAYS CULTURAL TRIANGLE & THE HILL COUNTRY (PRIVATE CAR & DRIVER)

Anuradhapura, Habarana, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya +

5 DAYS SRI LANKA BEACH

Cinnamon Bentota Beach

Go your own way and take a fascinating journey through Jordan

If the classic romance thing just isn’t for you, we’ve got you covered. Jordan is a gold mine of history, heritage and culture in the otherworldly North Arab Desert. It lies under the radar for many travellers, even though it has more than its fair share of UNESCO-listed historic relics and astonishing natural wonders.

‘Snorkel the vivid underwater world of the Red Sea and float your cares away in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth but a sure-fire honeymoon high’.

Experience the lunar-meets-Martian-like landscapes of Wadi Rum where you can hike through rust-coloured canyons or soar above the valleys in a hot-air balloon. The starry night skies here are incredible, so it’s a great place for stargazing. Snorkel the vivid underwater world of the Red Sea and float your cares away in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth but a sure-fire honeymoon high.

In Amman, the maze of hilly streets hides a host of wonderful surprises like buzzing souks, thought-provoking street art and relics from a bygone age. Sip mint tea in lively rooftop bars, share mouth-watering mezzes and try to resist the sweet-smelling pastry shops that seem to be open 24/7. And then there’s Petra, the remarkable rose red city. Visit at night and follow the thousands of candles that light the way to the Treasury. It hits different.

COUPLE UP:

8 DAYS JORDAN MULTICENTRE

Amman, Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum +

4 DAYS RED SEA

Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea

Add some Jurassic Park vibes to a mindblowing Mauritius honeymoon

Just a 45-minute flight away from Mauritius, dramatic La Réunion still has that off-thebeaten-track vibe that many couples crave. This volcanic paradise (and region of France) is not what you’d expect from an Indian Ocean island. It’s more like a glorious scaled-down Hawaii or an epic real-life Jurassic Park backdrop, where you can swoop through canyons on a helicopter flight, hike to a volcano at sunrise and explore an underground world of lava tunnels.

‘This soulful island has an adventurous spirit, with mountain hiking, wreck diving and waterfall chasing all on the agenda if you want it’. Most of Réunion’s top hotels are on the coast, so you can still wake up to glorious ocean views.

LUX★ Saint Gilles is the only luxury resort to have direct access to L’Hermitage beach with its calm coral-sheltered lagoon that’s safe for swimming. Expect fun extras if you stay here, like messages in a bottle and movie nights under the stars. If you’re honeymooning between June and October, you might also spot whales.

After your action-packed experiences, kick back on Mauritius’s picture-perfect shores, where you would be forgiven for doing little more than sun worshipping on the beach with a good book. However, this soulful island has an adventurous spirit, with mountain hiking, wreck diving and waterfall chasing all on the agenda if you want it. And then there’s the food. Tour the street food capital Port Louis for a taste of chilli-spiced pineapple or, to give you a real flavour of Mauritius, let us arrange for you to dine with a local family in their home. At LUX★ Le Morne, a stunning resort backed by the island’s most iconic mountain, you can immerse yourself in our crystal-clear lagoon with standup paddleboarding, or hike Le Morne Mountain for incredible panoramic views.

COUPLE UP:

4 DAYS LA RÉUNION

LUX★ Saint Gilles + 8 DAYS MAURITIUS

LUX★ Le Morne

Historic sights and coastal delights in Italy, the land of love

Italy is the romantic capital of the world. Energetic cities are rich in history, art and culture, little-explored towns cling to cliffsides and five-star spa hotels edge mountainbacked lakes.

Land in Rome for its epic ruins and fling yourself into some extraordinary sightseeing. It’s best to walk around to take it all in – and there’s a lot to take in. Step back in time at the Colosseum and Roman Forum, toss a coin over your left shoulder into the Trevi Fountains and visit the 2nd-Century Pantheon before crossing the river to see the masterpieces of the Vatican City. Stop and linger a while too. Sometimes the most memorable moments are sitting together in a pretty square while you eat gelato or making future plans over an unforgettable slice of pizza.

Then travel to Sorrento where hotels sit high above the glittering Mediterranean and a network of cobbled streets lead you to highend boutiques, charming churches and bars serving refreshing limoncellos. Take a drive along the breathtaking coastline – a coastal road runs from Sorrento to Ravello via Amalfi and Positano and it’s lined with charming fishing villages and scented lemon groves. Or skip the city life altogether and stick by the coast on a two-stop honeymoon to Sorrento and Ischia, Capri’s down-to-earth neighbour. This picturesque island made the perfect setting for those stunning Mediterranean vistas in The Talented Mr Ripley. Head to the beautiful ruins of Castello Aragonese in the Old Town, the lively seaside piazzetta at the heart of Ischia’s social hub and the pastel-hued fishing village of Sant’Angelo. Hike up to lush Mount Epomeo – the island’s highest point – for panoramic

COUPLE UP:

4 DAYS SORRENTO

Grand Hotel La Favorita +

4 DAYS ROME

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel OR

4 DAYS ISCHIA

Botania Relais & Spa