Honeymoon destinations: ten places you’ve never thought of

Choosing the perfect honeymoon destination can be a tricky task. Do you go for the classic paradise beach escape in the Indian Ocean, or an exhilarating road trip in the USA? Should you opt for a twin-centre holiday so you can take in a city too? And is far-flung really the answer to your trip of a lifetime? We’ve searched high and low to bring you the best unique honeymoon destinations for 2015, complete with adventure, glorious scenery and unforgettable experiences – plus a few beaches along the way.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed minimoon in the UK or a fortnight soaking up the culture in a country you’ve never heard of, you will be spoilt for choice with our selection of amazing honeymoon ideas.

Have your friends recommended Mauritius? Well, we’ve found a lesser-known neighbouring island, where you can experience a helicopter ride over a volcano and witness some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the Indian Ocean, all while staying at the island’s trendiest hotel.

If you’re not interested in long-haul travel, there are plenty of options closer to home. One tiny island in the UK offers beaches that rival the Caribbean, and with no roads, just a handful of cottages and no noise allowed, it’s the ultimate location for a peaceful start to married life.

Over in one European country, there is a medieval land of fairy tale castles, horse and cart picnic rides and bear spotting awaiting newlyweds in one of the continent’s most unusual honeymoon locations. Meanwhile, those after a more exotic trip can experience floating markets, visit friendly hillside tribes and enjoy dinner by a lantern-lit river in Asia.

Take a look at our undiscovered honeymoon ideas, starting with a luxury cruise on the isolated part of the Amazon River.

Unusual honeymoons

• UK’s canals

  Britain’s 2,000-mile network of canals , cared for by the Canal River Trust, provides a unique and understated setting for a honeymoon at home. Newlyweds can enjoy a hotel boat trip, pottering along at a maximum speed of 4mph as someone else takes the strain of the driving and working the locks. You can spend days wildlife-spotting and reading, and stroll alongside the boat as it meanders onwards, or stop-off at a characterful canal-side pub along your route. A hotel boat break is ideal for those who are keen to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the waterways, without having to do any of the hard graft of working the locks and manoeuvring the boat. Couples can choose from a weekend or a full week of taking in the UK’s most interesting countryside and vibrant cities. Away4awhile offers hotel boat cruises, with a choice of starting points including Birmingham, Worcester, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick and Banbury.

• Iran

  
  With heightened interest in Iran over the last 12 months, more travellers are eager to explore the unusual holiday destination. On a honeymoon, you can travel in style on the Golden Eagle Danube Express, the first ever European private train permitted to cross into Iran. A honeymoon rail trip allows you to discover the mystical country, visit places that have been off the tourist map for many years and take in some of the oldest sites in the world. Visit Tehran and Yazd, one of the oldest cities in the world. Other experiences to add to your trip of a lifetime include a traditional Iranian lunch in Isfahan, the ruins of Persepolis and Necropolis, along with Iran’s oldest garden in Kashan, dating back to 1590, and a spectacular journey through the Zagros Mountains. Golden Eagle Luxury Trains has a new Heart of Persia tour for 2015, taking in the country over 12 days.

• Azores

  
  The archipelago of the Azores, located in the heart of the Atlantic isn’t often thought of as a honeymoon destination, but the islands, especially the valley of Furnas on Sao Miguel Island, delivers romance, relaxation and unusual outdoor experiences. Furnas valley, characterised by steaming fumaroles and unique volcanic features is located inside the crater of a ‘sleeping volcano’ and its quaint old village, subtropical gardens and volcanic experiences, allure couples looking to escape the hustle and bustle and ‘heat things up’. Terra Nostra Park, home to some of the most beautiful subtropical gardens in Europe, houses a thermal mineral pool. Heated by a volcano, it is the ideal location for newlyweds to cosy up, relax and take a swim before discovering the quaint old village and observing their dinner, the local Cozido das Furnas stew, being slow-cooked using the heat generated from the volcano. The romantic art deco Terra Nostra Garden hotel, located inside the subtropical gardens, provides the ideal base to explore the volcano crater by foot, bike, or taking a canoe out onto the crater lake surrounded by old churches and gardens.

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Romantic retreats for two

• Salkim Evi, Islamlar, Turkey

  
  The romantic Salkim Evi is a Thai-style villa for two, tucked away in the mountain village of Islamlar, around 20 minutes from Kalkan. Surrounded by forest with far-reaching views across the mountainside, the remote location makes a perfect escape for couples. Guests travel on foot for the last few hundred metres past forest and grape vines to reach the villa, which is enclosed by nature. The master bedroom has glass walls, affording stunning views even from the bed – over the pool in one direction and over the mountains in the other. Exclusive Escapes offers seven nights at Salkim Evi from £1,150 per person, including return flights from the private terminal at Stansted, Heathrow or Manchester, transfers, car hire, a Turkish bath and evening meal, daily cleaning, bread delivery and a welcome hamper.

• Fletch’s Cove, Little Harbour, Anguilla

  
  Beautifully designed and set on the shores of Little Harbour on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, Fletch’s Cove is a villa inspired by contemporary Mexican architecture with stunning views across the water to St Martin. The one-bedroom villa was designed with comfortable, casual living in mind. The Master Bedroom suite, with its solid oak floors, occupies the entire second level. French glass doors open onto a large balcony, ideal for lounging, sunbathing or, in the evening, taking in the lights of St Martin. Fletch’s Cove is set in quiet, private surroundings so the sound of surf, wind and the occasional zenaida (turtle dove) are likely to be your only disturbances. From $3,600 per week.

• Alpine hut at Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Bernina Suot, Switzerland

  
  Luxury hotel Grand Hotel Kronenhof, in Pontresina, invites romantic guests to go back to basics and spend the night in its Alpine hut in the mountains, around 10km from the hotel. The simple rustic chalet has no bathroom and is just big enough for two, with the only cold running water from the chalet’s private well. Surrounded by unspoilt wild pasture, the hut offers you the chance to get back to nature, discover wild flowers and breathe in the fresh mountain air. A butler will prepare a three-course evening meal, include traditional fondue, before retiring back to the hotel and leaving you alone to enjoy an Alpine evening kit of candles, torches, books of mountain tales, typical Swiss card game Jass and warm bed socks. The Alpine Hut Retreat package costs £560 per person and includes two nights at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof and one night in the Alpine hut.