Sell a high-energy trip-of-a-lifetime to adventurous newlyweds, says Natalie Marsh
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1. Southern Africa
What better way to kick off life as a married couple than by sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Start your day by heading into the wilderness to try to spot the big five and end it by recounting your incredible wildlife sightings under a canopy of stars.
But the adventure doesn’t start and end with a safari. In Zambia, clients can explore Victoria Falls and share a dip in the Devil’s Pool, right on the cliff’s edge, and dive into the crystal-clear waters off Mozambique.
Book it: Abercrombie & Kent offers all of the above and more on its 17-night Iconic South Africa to Mozambique trip, which costs from £14,639, including flights, accommodation, guiding and transfers.
abercrombiekent.co.uk
2. Scotland
Your clients might be keen to explore somewhere a little closer to home, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be without their thrills. The Hebrides are adventurous by nature, with some of the most dramatic landscapes in the UK.
Couples on a private charter sailing holiday with Responsible Travel will be taken in crewed small yachts to explore some of the islands’ most remote areas, giving them the sense of exploring somewhere untouched. “Ask your clients what they want to experience, not just where they want to go,” says customer director Tim Williamson.
“Inspire them. Throw a few options into the mix. There might be something they’d never have considered but will love.”
Book it: Responsible Travel’s Scotland private charter holidays start from £7,188 for seven days, including all meals, aperitifs and wine with dinner. Longer and shorter trips are available.
responsibletravel.com
3. Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been on everyone’s hit lists over the past few years, and it’s not hard to see why. Verdant rainforests coat this biodiverse country, and underneath the canopies you’ll find a playground to be explored.
An escorted tour is a hassle-free way to see many of the country’s highlights in one go, with free time built into itineraries allowing newlyweds to capture moments as a couple. “Doing a honeymoon this way takes the stress out of organising a holiday, in an already busy period of life,” says Joanna Reeve, head of business development and partnerships at Intrepid Travel.
“We handle all the logistics and planning, so couples can relax beforehand and in the destination, where they’ll have a local leader.”
Book it: Intrepid Travel’s nine-day Premium Costa Rica tour costs from £2,880, including accommodation, transport, and selected meals and activities, but excluding international flights.
intrepidtravel.com
4. Iceland
“An adventure honeymoon does not have to mean throwing yourself out of a plane or going deep-sea diving,” says Best Served Scandinavia’s Sue McAlinden. Iceland’s wide open spaces and quiet roads make it a perfect destination for those who like to explore at their own pace.
The country offers a wide range of adventure options, from gentle hikes and moderate bike rides to exploring the surface of – or even venturing inside – the Langjökull glacier, the second largest in Iceland. Whatever adventure your newlywed clients are after, they’ll find it all here.
Book it: Best Served Scandinavia’s five-day tailor-made Hidden Delights of Western Iceland self-drive starts from £1,230, including flights, four days of economy car hire, an Into The Glacier excursion and four nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis.
best-served.co.uk
5. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s beautiful beaches are a huge draw, but newlyweds are unlikely to venture to this Indian Ocean destination without wanting to get stuck into some adventure too. Paddy fields, soaring mountains and friendly villages make for terrific trekking, while reefs and marine life provide world-class diving.
“We do lots of adventure tours, tea plantations, the cultural triangle, safari-style excursions, national parks and then maybe a Maldives combo as well, so there’s a bit of R&R,” says Rachel O’Reilly, director of communications at Kuoni, who added: “Even pre-Christmas, we’ve noticed that real thirst for adventure has come back.”
Book it: Kuoni offers a 10-night stay in Sri Lanka from £4,599, based on an August 7 departure from Heathrow with SriLankan Airlines. The price includes stays at five properties ranging from 3.5 stars to five stars and includes 10 days of car and driver.
kuoni.co.uk
6. Jordan
A four-wheel drive across the dunes of the Wadi Rum desert is sure to get the heart pumping, as you whizz across the striking pinky-red sand, past sandstone cliffs standing tall amid the incredible landscape. Even a romantic and relaxed day by the beach in Aqaba can incorporate a bit of adventure, with the Red Sea opening up a wondrous world of marine life.
And Jordan’s crown jewel, the Treasury at Petra, can be experienced in a different way when the sun sets, with stunning views of the illuminated monument soundtracked by Bedouin music.
Book it: Jordan in Style from Wild Frontiers Travel costs from £3,690, based on two people sharing for 10 days. The price includes accommodation, meals, transport and entrance fees but excludes flights.
wildfrontierstravel.com
Best of the rest
Asia multi-centre
If southeast Asia is of interest, a multi-centre trip is a great way to tick off many adventures in one go. Visit Angkor Wat at dawn, explore Luang Prabang by bike after a romantic breakfast by a waterfall and weave through Hanoi’s traffic on a Vespa. Inside Asia’s 14-night Indochina Honeymoon includes stays in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and costs from £3,363 excluding flights.
Saint Lucia
Doing something good for the environment is a great bonding experience. At Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain in Saint Lucia, couples can learn how to protect coral reefs with a holiday that focuses specifically on reef restoration. The Coral Kaleidoscope Package at Jade Mountain costs from $7,342, with seven nights’ stay and 12 beach or boat dives.
France
Put pedal to metal on an Ultimate Driving Tours itinerary through the French Riviera and Provence. Whizz through the stunning countryside, taking in the sights along the way. The operator’s French Self-Drive Tour starts from £4,990 per person per shared car, including four nights’ accommodation, and parking along a pre-planned route.
PICTURES: Shutterstock/BlueOrange Studio, Sotnikov Misha, trabantos; Little Grey Box
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