5 Unexpected Luxury Honeymoon Destinations for the Adventurous and Well-Traveled Couple

While we adore classic honeymoon destinations like the Amalfi Coast and Santorini, they’re not really what we would call ground-breaking. If you’re a well-traveled couple looking for something out of the ordinary for your honeymoon, while those destinations are lovely, they won’t exactly fill your need to see more of the world. If you and your fiancé are adventurous by nature and are looking for a destination potentially no one in your group of friends has visited, consider one of these five unexpected luxury honeymoon destinations.

CAPE TOWN | SOUTH AFRICA

STAY Ellerman House is a private boutique hotel nestled along Cape Town’s lush Atlantic Seaboard. With only 13 individually-styled suites, attention to detail and unparalleled dedication to personalized service remain of the highest priority. The property features its own contemporary art gallery, a celebrated wine and champagne cellar, a brandy lounge, library, and a guest pantry full of snacks to fuel a day’s worth of exploring. Couples will enjoy many of the hotel’s amenities including wine tastings, room service, art tours and a sunset gin trolley you have to experience to understand.

SEE For the honeymoon couple that gets bored easily, Cape Town promises to keep you entertained from touchdown to takeoff. Between Table Top Mountain National Park, Lion’s Head point, and Cape Point Nature Reserve, you’ll never be looking for hiking spots in this mountainous region. If you’re hoping for something more low key, there’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, that features a lovely treetop canopy walkway perched high among the vegetation. Oh we didn’t mention the dozens of contemporary art museums, neon-splashed Bo-Kaap neighborhood, white shark cage diving tours, penguin colonies, lively dining scene and the rolling wine country just outside of the city. It might be tough to fit everything in one trip!

CARTAGENA | COLOMBIA

STAY Casa San Agustin This luxury boutique hotel bodes more than a plush place to sleep. The property has been “lovingly restored for a new generation of travelers.” Located in the historic center of Cartagena, the hotel was once a magnificently appointed private residence of three individual buildings. Today they welcome guests with reimagined contemporary Colombian style and classic Caribbean charm. Visitors will find the property still has the centuries-old wood-beamed ceilings in its guest rooms, and the original Library room accessible to guests. The property also features all modern conveniences guests appreciate on their honeymoon, like the quiet interior pool, breezy rooftop terrace, and the option for private excursions like a visit to the secluded Acasi Beach.

SEE An idyllic spot for honeymooners, Cartagena is tucked away within fort walls that once used to protect its inhabitants. Charming cobblestone streets line the old city, which is now speckled with balconies brimming with vibrant flowers hovering above the small clothing stores beneath them. Nightlife here extends well into dawn, but you’ll hardly notice the time between the expert mixologists and balmy open air bars that welcome you. The mainland beach is lovely on its own, but if you’re feeling the need for some change of scenery the Rosario Islands just off the coast are begging to be explored.

REYJAVIK | ICELAND

STAY The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Perhaps the most sophisticated hotel in all of Iceland, the property is an ideal home base to retreat back to after a day spent in nature. The hotel’s use of concrete, local wood and glass create minimalist lines that feel perfectly Icelandic, all which are anchored around one of the 25 wonders of the world. The Retreat’s “intrinsic respect for the earth can also be seen in the walkways that have been built into the lava fields surrounding Blue Lagoon. These paths allow guests to wander through the centuries-old moss, experiencing its esthetic vitality without damaging it.” The Retreat has been adorned with multiple awards from Condé Nast Traveler to SKIFT Design, and feels as exclusive as it does a natural extension of the earth.

SEE While Iceland has definitely soared in popularity within the last few years, it’s not often included in destination honeymoon planning. However, Iceland’s ethereal landscape is a dream trip for an adventurous couple. Iceland’s piercing black sand beaches and rocky volcanic formations are softened by lush vegetation and towering waterfalls. When you tire from trekking the landscape, you can retire to the charming towns sprinkled along the coast and enjoy the welcoming hospitality of the Icelandic people. A few spots not to miss are Skógafoss, the Jökulrárlón Glacier lagoon and diamond black sand beach. Also keep your eyes out for the striking wild horses that roam all across the country.

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ROVANIEMI | FINLAND

STAY Arctic Treehouse Hotel gives your childhood dream of sleeping in your backyard treehouse a sleek Scandinavian makeover. While truly breathtaking in the winter, the property is open year-round and makes the most of each season. The cosy, almost nest-like suites each have panoramic windows of the forest. In the winter months, the Northern Lights can often be visible directly from the suites, which were designed to feel as though you were sleeping among nature. They also offer Christmas experiences and private dining on site. But don’t think you’ll only be snuggled on property the entire time, the hotel has plenty of off-site activities from ice swimming to off-trail skiing to keep you occupied.

SEE The famous “midnight sun” is a sight in itself in the Arctic Circle during the summer months, where locals and tourists alike enjoy the nearly 24-hour daylight. Couples that like to be in nature will have plenty of opportunity to get outside by canoeing, swimming, fishing, and utilizing the areas many hiking and cycling trails. Rovaniemi is also known as the official home of Santa Claus, and the winter months are full of yuletide events. Avid skiers and winter-sport enthusiasts will appreciate the abundance of winter activities here, from skiing to ice-skating and may even take a shot at lit night-skiing. Your best chance of seeing the ethereal Northern Lights with your beloved are between September and March, when the sky is clear.

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SOUTH ISLAND | NEW ZEALAND

STAY Annandale For those looking for true seclusion consider staying “where the world can’t find you”. It doesn’t get much more luxurious, yet purposefully remote than the homes of Annandale. We recommend their Seascape Villa which was specifically designed for couples. This ultra-modern retreat is perched on a picturesque private bay and is only accessible by helicopter or by a transfer in a 4WD vehicle across cliff-top farm tracks. This dramatic contemporary accommodation sports stone walls and a sleek glass façade and feels discreetly and cozily hidden among the tall grass of the seaside. If you’re looking for additional creature comforts, a private chef is available for hire, or you can slip into the lull of rural New Zealand at its best.

SEE It’s difficult to summarize New Zealand’s South Island, for the simple reason that its activities and terrain vary so greatly for its size. The spectacular landscape of waterfalls, fjords, glaciers, and mountains can’t be truly experienced from just one place - so we recommend renting a car and taking the ultimate honeymoon road-trip. It won’t be a dull drive, with notable sights like the alps of Arthur’s Pass, Milford Sound fjord, the highest mountain in New Zealand, and the clear night skies of Wanaka, you’ll have plenty to stare at out the window. The truly adventurous (and properly trained) can make their attempt ice picking up Fox Glacier, and for those looking for something a bit closer to earth, trekking through the lupin fields of Lake Tepako is a stunning choice as well.