Va va vroom

Buckle up for an unforgettable honeymoon of total freedom and unexpected adventures. If each other’s steering (or navigating) doesn’t drive you crazy, then wind down the windows, get that playlist on and hit the open road on a self-drive made for two.

Wilderness and wildlife action in British Columbia

For couples who crave the great outdoors, it doesn’t get much greater than British Columbia with its untouched coastlines, ancient forests and mountain playgrounds. Every day here is a wildlife-watching opportunity, even if it’s by complete chance – like stopping the car so bears can cross the road, or spotting sea lions from your balcony as you sip your morning coffee.

Road tripping through BC is full-on fun. One day you’re cycling the seawall in Vancouver, then you’re hiking in Whistler. Then you’re scouting out whales. Then you’re trying to surf. Having a car doesn’t limit you – you’ll still get to whoosh up the mountains on the Peak 2 Peak gondola from Whistler to Blackcomb, fly in a floatplane to The Butchart Gardens and whizz around the inlets of the Sunshine Coast on a Zodiac boat. And if you want to add touches of traditional romance, take afternoon tea at a posh hotel in Victoria or pack a picnic and drive to one of Tofino’s deserted beaches.

TO HELP STEER YOU: Follow our 14-day Best of British Columbia Road Trip, which takes you on a string of adventures from Vancouver to Whistler, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island.

South Africa’s Garden Route and The Big Six

In South Africa, you’ll find the kind of wonders you’d never expect from one country, let alone one holiday. Driving is the easiest way to get around (bonus: you drive on the same side as in the UK). Start in Cape Town, a waterfront city with an urban edge that’s stunning from sea to sky thanks to its colour-pop neighbourhoods, iconic flat-top Table Mountain and glossy beaches – including one where tiny penguins waddle.

The rolling vineyards and gourmet food spots of the Cape Winelands are just an hour from Cape Town – park up at your hotel so you ➤ can hop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram to glug your way around gorgeous wine estates. Or, go straight for it and hit the easy-going Garden Route, loaded with nature and dotted with relaxed seaside towns like Hermanus, where you can spot whales from your hotel room. The excitement definitely doesn’t dwindle once you reach the end of the Garden Route. On the Eastern Cape, things take a wild turn: malariafree game reserves give you the chance to go on game drives to spot lions and elephants, walk with giraffes and impala, and sip G&Ts out in the bush at sunset.

TO HELP STEER YOU: On our 11-day Classic Garden Route Self-Drive , you can soak up the sights in Cape Town, spot whales in Hermanus, take an oyster cruise in Knysna and go on a Big Five safari at Kariega Game Reserve.

Navigate New Zealand’s epic natural beauty Get behind the wheel to explore one of the most enchanting places on the planet. New Zealand is where the natural and spiritual worlds meet. One minute you’re cruising through sky-high-sided fiords or watching steaming geysers explode and mud pots bubble, the next you’re listening to ancient Māori tales that have been passed down through generations.

The scenery here is out of this world. No really, it’s otherworldly. You’ll probably recognise some of it from The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings movies. Take wild walks through national parks, along deserted beaches, up craters and on glaciers. Get out on the water – even the ferry journey from the north to the south island is jaw-dropping. Spot tiny penguins, dusky dolphins and kiwis (the bird). Sky dive. Do a lot of wine tasting. Life on the road here is all about the unhurried pace, with near-empty roads and stunning views at every turn. You’ll quickly find that the lines between the journey and the destination are totally blurred, in the best possible way.

TO HELP STEER YOU: Drive our 15-day New Zealand Highlights or if you’ve got more time, go for the 22-day Best of New Zealand Self-Drive

Consider hiring a motorhome – there are plenty of campsites, you can park almost anywhere and you’ll be driving on the left like in the UK.

Wildlife-watch your way around Australia

Australia is the kind of place where travelling under your own steam gives you those unexpected holiday highlights. Sometimes with people, often with wildlife. Like the ka-plosh of a kangaroo hopping through the water as you pull up for a lakeside picnic. Or a friendly wombat plodding over to see if you have anything for it to munch on. Or a cute quokka getting in on your selfie snaps.

Take a few days to get your body clock on board in the sunny city of Perth. It might seem a long way from everywhere, but Perth is the closest gateway to the UK so it’s a great place to begin. For whale sharks (March to August), head to Ningaloo in Western Australia – the world’s largest fringing coral reef is home to these gentle giants and other marine species such as rays, sharks and humpbacks.

Then jump over to Kangaroo Island in South Australia, quite possibly the best wildlife spotting destination in the whole country.

Kangaroo Island has a lot of kangaroos, no surprise there. But there are also koalas, echidnas and sea lions that are very easy to spot on this rugged wildlife hangout. At the end of an epic trip, toast your wildlife-seeking successes among the grape vines of Australia’s most famous wine region, the Barossa Valley.

TO HELP STEER YOU: Our 13-day Australia’s Ultimate Wildlife Safari takes you to the country’s wildlife spots. Drive it or campervan it, add a few days, pick where you want to stay – let us know and we’ll tweak it all for you

Dramatic desert dunes and dark-sky reserves in Namibia

Namibia is vast, untamed and oh-so-quiet. Road trips here have an intrepid edge ➤

– you’re in for a series of adventures through otherworldly landscapes where, at night, the sky comes alive with some of the brightest stars you’ll ever see.

In Sossusvlei, watch the sun rise over a blazing desert of towering red dunes and see if you can scale Big Daddy, a whopping 280-metrehigh dune. From Big Daddy you’ll look out over Deadvlei; a salty-white moonscape-like clay pan with eerie blackened trees. Then there’s the candy-striped lighthouse at Germancolonial Swakopmund, shipwrecks on the wavebattered Skeleton Coast, and the prehistoric rock art and desert elephants of Damaraland. Just when things couldn’t seem to get any more epic, enter Etosha National Park; Namibia’s wildlife-viewing wonder and one of the oldest conservation sites in Africa, dominated by a salt pan so big it can be seen from space.

TO HELP STEER YOU: Explore Namibia in style on our 13-day Luxury Namibia Self-Drive , which features Windhoek, the Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Damaraland and a safari in Etosha National Park. Along the way, you’ll stay in deluxe mountain lodges, star-gazer desert suites and high-end tented safari camps.

Surf’s up, roof down, chill out in sunny California California, here we come. Expect sun, sand and star-studded scenes in sprawling Los Angeles. From Sunset Strip and The Hollywood Sign to the OC’s white-sand beaches and Santa Monica’s surf scene, LA is packed with enough attractions for a few days of all-out blow-out whether you’re a first-time-taster or a Cali-addict. There’s no better place to pick up a classic convertible and hit the open road. Instead of following the high-energy highway north to San Francisco, go south: the further south you travel down the coast of California, the more easy-going life becomes. So, once you reach the sun-soaked depths of San Diego, within touching distance of Mexico, it’s fair to say things are pretty chilled. Spend daytimes kicking back on the beach, then stroll around the Gaslamp District with its Victorian-era architecture, top foodie spots and party-hard nightlife scene.

A trip to this neck of the woods wouldn’t be complete without a jaunt to Palm Springs. Crank up the air-con and drive through the desert to this cacti-strewn landscape spiked with soothing hot springs, world-class golf courses and candy-coloured cafés.

TO HELP STEER YOU: Cruise from LA down the coast to San Diego and inland to Palm Springs in a classic convertible on our 9-day SoCal Road Trip.

Spain: Authentic inland charms before Marbs Spain is a bit of a dark horse. Beyond its golden shores and sunny climate, you’ll find fairytale old towns, rolling hills and underrated art scenes. Yes, you’ll be driving on the right (or wrong) side of the road, but it doesn’t take long to get to grips with the change.

Stick to the mainland for an authentic road trip through inland Andalucía, the beating heart of Spain. Seville is its sun-drenched, history-packed capital. If the gothic cathedral looks familiar, it’s because it doubled as the Water Gardens of Dorne on Game of Thrones. In enchanting Córdoba, admire the candycane-esque brick-and-stone-striped arches of the Mosque-Cathedral and cross the Roman Bridge at sunset to see the town bathed in the evening light. Watch a fiery flamenco performance in a cave house in Granada and book a guided tour of the colossal Alhambra. Finish up on the beach in Marbella. If all you want is the charming side, head to the Old Town where picturesque squares are draped in bougainvillea. Or, if you’re all cultured out, let your hair down and hit the good-time beach clubs.

TO HELP STEER YOU: Check out our 15-day Andalucía & Marbella Self-Drive for sightseeing in Seville, Córdoba and Granada followed by time on the beach in Marbella. n

Culturemoon

This is your once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon and for some that means pure relaxation; for others, it’s an opportunity for something different, time to learn something new, explore new cultures and meet people with fascinating stories to tell. The insight you get in Sri Lanka during a car and driver itinerary is second to none; listen to your guide as wide golden beaches give way to lush forests, the hills of Nuwara Eliya, ancient cities and beautiful temples.

Vietnam has a fascinating history –see incredible cities, learn how to cook like a local, take a river cruise where early risers can try t’ai chi on deck. You could even end your adventure at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, where crumbling temples have been reclaimed by nature. India, Dubrovnik, Montenegro and Jordan are some other culture-rich destinations that we recommend.

Minimoon

If you’re limited by time, budget or have an extravaganza of a honeymoon planned in a few months time, you can still get away, just the two of you, straight after the excitement and celebrations of your wedding.

Cities like Rome, Venice, Dubai, Dubrovnik and New York spring to mind but if you’re after a relaxing luxury beach escape, you can’t go wrong with a few days in Greece, Cyprus or Spain. For a touch more adventure and discovery, we recommend spending a few days on a self-drive through Tuscany or Portugal.

Babymoon

Increasingly popular, babymoons need to be well-thought out too as it’s that final trip before two become more. You’ll want to find the perfect mix of cocktails, mocktails and relaxation. More often that not, couples opt for a second trimester break, post the initial excitement and while it’s still comfortable to travel and there’s no limit on how far you can go.

Dubai represents the perfect blend of sunshine, relaxation and luxury. Thailand and Bali have some exceptional resorts with wellbeing as a focus. Closer to home, the choice is almost limitless – Greece, Spain and Italy each offer cities, sun and luxury. Then there are the ever-popular Canary Islands: the perfect spot for some winter sun.

Familymoon

Honeymoons with children in tow may need a little more thought as you’ll have a range of ages and therefore interests to consider. The Maldives isn’t always the obvious choice for a family holiday, but Kuramathi Island ticks all the boxes when it comes to balancing romance and kid-friendly entertainment.

Going on South Africa safari with the family is an incredible experience – you’ll go on game drives together to look for some of the world’s most majestic animals in the wild. Alternatively, head to much-loved Costa Rica where you can all enjoy an unbeatable back-to-nature adventure. For all-inclusive all-round fun, Paradisus Playa del Carmen in Mexico is made for families.

Top ten honeymoons

Our top-ten picks for the best honeymoon hotels, resorts and experiences.

ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS

1 Kandolhu, Maldives

Make the most of the in-villa wine fridge

2 Kuramathi Maldives

Fill your days together with included activities

3 Zoetry Mallorca

Limitless dining and top-shelf drinks

4 Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel, Mauritius

All-in retreat in a unbeatable setting

5 STORY Seychelles

Romantic in-room dining included

6 Little Governors’ Camp, Kenya

Spot Africa’s wild icons on included game drives

7 Palm Island Resort & Spa, Grenadines

Private island vibes and exceptional dining

8 StolenTime by Rendezvouz

Premium drinks plus bottled wine at dinner

9 Fundu Lagoon, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Robinson Crusoe-esque, barefoot luxury

10 Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Mexico

Incredible all-included dining and drinking

Wellness Retreats

1 Kagi Maldives Spa Island

An immersive and soothing wellness retreat

2 Santani Wellness Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka

A sanctuary in the mist-cloaked hills

3 Banyan Tree Krabi, Thailand

Signature treatments at a legendary spa

4 Pimalai Resort & Spa, Thailand

Featuring a secluded village-style spa

5 BodyHoliday, Saint Lucia

Where spa treatments are included every day

6 Silversands Grenada

Try quartz bed therapies and free yoga

7 Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali

Coastal retreat focused on mind, body & soul

8 Fontsanta Thermal Spa & Wellness

Hotel, Mallorca

Soak in original 19th-Century thermal baths

9 Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, Italy

Innovative spa with grottos and pools

10 Mara Bushtops, Maasi Mara, Kenya

African treatments and wildlife views

Adventure Honeymoons

1 The Bush Camp by Elephant Hills, Thailand

Overnight safaris setting off from Chiang Mai

2 Borneo Rainforest Experience, Malaysia

Seek out Borneo’s iconic orangutans

3 Halong Bay Cruise, Vietnam

See jaw-dropping Halong Bay from the water

4 Culture of Sapa Experience, Vietnam

A mix of traditional culture and natural beauty

5 Luang Prabang Experience, Laos

Head to wonderfully charming Laos

6 Tortuga Lodge, Costa Rica

Wildlife-rich Tortuguero National Park awaits

7 Uga Chena Huts, Sri Lanka

Duneside retreat on the doorstep of Yala

8 Ziplining over Vic Falls, Zimbabwe

Whizz over the stunning Zambezi gorges

9 Makgadikgadi Salt Pan Sleepover, Botswana

Slumber under the stars on this vast salt pan

10 Longitude 131°, Australia

Wake to uninterrupted views of Uluru

Boutique Hotels

1 Vila Foz Hotel & Spa, Portugal Seafront mansion-house-turned-boutique hotel

2 argos in Cappadocia, Turkey Stone Age style with a sophisticated twist

3 Rocky’s Boutique Resort, Thailand

Atmospheric hideaway with a quiet setting

4 The Royal Santrian, Luxury Beach Villas, Bali

Home to 20 ridiculously photogenic pool villas

5 Makunudu Island, Maldives

Seclusion and simplicity on a castaway isle

6 Petite Anse, Grenada

Tucked-away gem, petite by name and nature

7 Secret Bay, Dominica

Clifftop hideaway with secret beaches

8 Milaidhoo Maldives

A small island that’s big on luxury and style

9 Grecotel Caramel, Boutique Resort, Crete

Eclectic and retro in design with pops of colour

10 The Silo, South Africa

Part art gallery, part hotel in a heritage building

For The Foodies

1 Rosselli AX Privilege, Malta

Michelin-starred restaurant for refined dinners

2 The Yeatman, Portugal

Fine wines, incredible food & great Porto views

3 Therasia Resort Sea & Spa, Aeolian Islands

Innovative, locally inspired tasting menus

4 Kuramathi Maldives

Sample diverse cuisine at a surfeit of venues

5 The Cliff Bay, Madeira

Home to a two Michelin-star restaurant

6 Atlantis The Royal, Dubai

Celebrity chef-led, Instagrammable outlets

7 Mumbai’s Top Street Food, India

Tour Mumbai’s Khau Gully or ‘food lane’

8 Fly and dine in the Cape Winelands, South Africa

Fly by helicopter to a vineyard gourmet lunch

9 Chiang Mai Street Food, Thailand

Discover Chiang Mai’s traditional dishes

10 Village Cooking Experience, Sri Lanka

Master the art of Sri Lankan cooking

ADD-ON EXPERIENCES

1 Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon, Turkey

Witness otherworldly landscapes from the air

2 Santorini Cruise, Wine & Sunset, Greece

Raise a glass to a legendary Santorini sunset

3 Castaway Island ‘Us Time’, Maldives (selected resorts)

Arrange just-us time on a secluded sandbank

4 Plant a Love Tree, Mauritius

Mark your honeymoon by planting a sapling

5 Venice Waterways By Gondola, Italy

An exclusive cruise along those famous canals

6 Treehouse Sleepout, South Africa

Fall asleep under the night sky at Tinga Lodge

7 Walking Safari, Tanzania

Join an on-foot safari at Tarangire Treetops

8 Sunrise at the Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal glows gold in the early hours

9 Sunset Champagne on the Rocks, Seychelles

Champagne + Indian Ocean sunsets = romance

10 Hong Islands by Private Boat, Thailand

Explore a tropical archipelago via long boat