Adventure Honeymoons: 10 Alternative Honeymoon Ideas

Looking for a honeymoon that's a little different?

Perhaps you'd rather explore than spend two weeks beside the same pool. Maybe you want wildlife, incredible landscapes, hiking and local experiences - but still want somewhere beautiful to relax at the end.

An adventure honeymoon can be as active or as relaxed as you want it to be.

We've travelled to many of the destinations below ourselves, and these are some of our favourite ideas for couples looking for a honeymoon with a little more adventure.

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1. Costa Rica - Wildlife, Rainforest & Adventure

Costa Rica is made for couples who want to experience something different every few days.

Explore tropical rainforest, walk around volcanic landscapes, soak in natural hot springs and look for monkeys, sloths and colourful birdlife. Add zip-lining, rafting or hiking if you want more adventure, before finishing with a few days on the coast.

Ideal for: Wildlife • Rainforest • Activities • Beach
How long: 10-14 days

2. New Zealand - The Ultimate Honeymoon Road Trip

If you love the freedom of exploring at your own pace, New Zealand makes an incredible honeymoon.

Travel by car or campervan through spectacular landscapes, hike amongst mountains and fjords, stargaze beneath wonderfully dark skies and, or try one of Queenstown's famous adrenaline-fuelled activities.

One of our own favourite experiences on the North Island was black-water rafting through the Waitomo Caves beneath thousands of glowworms - definitely not your average honeymoon experience!

Ideal for: Road trips • Hiking • Scenery • Outdoor adventure
How long: Ideally 3-4 weeks

3. Cambodia - Culture, Adventure & Beach

Cambodia works brilliantly if you want your honeymoon to combine exploration with somewhere beautiful to relax.

Start around Siem Reap exploring Angkor Wat and its extraordinary temples before travelling further into the country. Kayak on the Mekong, look for endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and experience a completely different side of Cambodia.

Then slow everything down with a few days on one of Cambodia's tropical islands.

We've travelled extensively in Cambodia ourselves, including kayaking on the Mekong - an experience that has stayed with us.

Ideal for: Culture • Temples • Local experiences • Beach
How long: 2 weeks+

4. Norway - An Adventure by Sea

For something completely different from a traditional tropical honeymoon, head north.

Sail along Norway's spectacular coastline, passing fjords, mountains and remote communities. Depending on your itinerary and season, days ashore could include hiking, kayaking and discovering Sámi culture.

Travel at the right time of year and you may even experience the Northern Lights.

Ideal for: Scenery • Cruising • Arctic experiences • Northern Lights

How long: 10-14 days+

Explore our Expedition Cruises →

5. Peru - Machu Picchu & the Amazon

Peru is a fantastic choice if you want your honeymoon to feel like a real journey.

Explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley before reaching Machu Picchu, either as part of a trek or with a less strenuous itinerary. You could also add the desert landscapes around Ica or spend time discovering Lima.

Then head into the Peruvian Amazon and stay at a rainforest lodge surrounded by wildlife and extraordinary night skies.

We've experienced the Peruvian Amazon ourselves, and the night sky there remains one of our favourite travel memories.

Ideal for: Culture • Hiking • Wildlife • Bucket-list experiences
How long: 2-3 weeks

6. Galápagos & Ecuador - Wildlife Honeymoon

For wildlife-loving couples, few honeymoons compare with the Galápagos Islands.

Explore by small expedition ship, travelling between islands and encountering some of the world's most remarkable wildlife on land and in the water.

After your Galápagos adventure, extend your honeymoon on mainland Ecuador - perhaps staying in the cloud forest surrounded by lush vegetation, hummingbirds and extraordinary biodiversity.

Ideal for: Wildlife • Expedition cruising • Snorkelling • Nature
How long: Around 2 weeks

Explore our Galápagos Expedition Cruises →

7. Iceland - An Epic Self-Drive Honeymoon

Hire a car and make the journey part of the adventure.

Iceland's waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches, geothermal landscapes and dramatic coastlines make it perfect for a honeymoon road trip.

Travelling independently also gives you the freedom to stop when somewhere catches your eye and build your days around the experiences you want.

Ideal for: Road trips • Landscapes • Hiking • Photography
How long: 10 days-3 weeks

8. Crete - Adventure Closer to Home

An adventurous honeymoon doesn't have to involve flying halfway around the world.

Stay in a beautiful hotel near the coast, hire a car and spend your days discovering mountain villages, traditional tavernas, caves, beaches and gorges.

For walkers, the spectacular Samaria Gorge can be one of the highlights.

Then head back to your hotel, find a waterfront taverna and enjoy a much slower evening.

Ideal for: Hiking • Food • Beaches • Independent exploring
How long: 7 days+

9. Kruger Safari & Mauritius - Adventure Then Relax

This is one of the classic honeymoon combinations for a reason.

Begin with the excitement of an African safari, heading out in search of incredible wildlife and experiencing the landscapes of Kruger National Park.

Then swap early-morning game drives for turquoise water and tropical beaches in Mauritius.

It's an excellent choice if one of you wants adventure and wildlife while the other is dreaming about some proper honeymoon relaxation.

Ideal for: Safari • Wildlife • Beach • Luxury
How long: 10-14 days+

10. Tenerife - Trekking, Tapas & the Ocean

Tenerife can be far more adventurous than you might expect.

Explore the volcanic landscapes surrounding Mount Teide, walk dramatic trails, kayak along the coast, go whale watching and discover traditional towns away from the main resorts.

And after a day exploring, there are plenty of opportunities for tapas, wine and time beside the ocean.

You don't necessarily need to hire a car either, making this one of the more accessible adventure honeymoon ideas closer to home.

Ideal for: Hiking • Whale watching • Food • Short-haul adventure
How long: 7-14 days

Looking for more honeymoon inspiration? Explore our Tailor-Made Honeymoons →

Which Adventure Honeymoon Is Right for You?

You don't have to choose between adventure and relaxation.

We can create a honeymoon combining the experiences you've always wanted with time to slow down together, whether that's safari and beach, culture and luxury, a road trip, expedition cruise or several destinations in one journey.

Not sure where to start? Tell us what you both love doing on holiday and we'll help you explore the possibilities.

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