5 unforgettable adventure holidays for couples
Adventure holidays are best enjoyed with your loved one by your side, allowing you to share romantic moments as you embrace going off the beaten path, getting up close to wildlife and trying active experiences without the crowds.
Whatever your adventure travel style, whether it's escaping to the far north of Europe to be surrounded by snow or hitting South America's desert to sleep under the stars, you'll adore these unusual holiday ideas for couples looking for an alternative getaway...
1. Traverse the fascinating Silk Road
This ancient network of trading routes connected east with west, facilitating the lucrative export of silk from China across Asia, the Middle East and into Africa and southern Europe.
Many places along the captivating route contain a wealth of cultural treasures that are waiting to be explored. Uzbekistan, for example, is home to vast desert fortresses that have survived over centuries and its cities like Samarkand contain glittering, intricately decorated mosques. Winding alleyways filled with traders in silks, garments and delicious food top off this romantic, timeless destination.
BOOK IT Try Good Housekeeping's 11-day Wonders of the Silk Road holiday for an adventure like no other
2. Meet wonderful wildlife in Borneo
Make like Kate and William in 2012 and visit the island of Borneo, home to an amazing array of wildlife, from beautiful coloured butterflies to graceful orangutans. It's home to rainforests, numerous national parks and pristine beaches, with miles of rivers to cruise down and wilderness to explore.
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Nearby islands, such as the uninhabited Pulau Tiga, are equally beautiful, and provide plentiful opportunities for snorkelling – with mind-blowingly kaleidoscopic coral reefs stretching out from their shores. Meanwhile, Borneo’s Malaysian cities are really worth visiting. Bustling Kuching, for example, offers delicious street-food and lively bars in its centre, which is a charming mix of elegant colonial architecture and more modern buildings.
BOOK IT Try Explore's 11-day Borneo Wildlife Highlights for a nature-filled getaway to remember
3. Stay in the glittering Icehotel
There can be few more romantic places to stay that this shimmering ice structure, located in the frozen wilderness of Swedish Lapland – 200 km into the Arctic Circle. A world away from the stresses and demands of everyday life, you’ll drift away in a bedroom sculpted of ice, kept cosy by a sumptuous sleeping bag atop a thick mattress covered with reindeer furs.
This incredible hotel is entirely hand-crafted by specially selected artists and is rebuilt every year from the frozen water of the Torne River. During your stay at the world's most unusual hotel, you can experience snowmobiling, gazing at the Northern Lights and enjoying husky sledding.
BOOK IT Try Good Housekeeping's four-day winter escape to the Icehotel for a dream trip to Sweden
4. Go stargazing in Chile
Northern Chile's Atacama Desert is an arid yet serenely beautiful landscape known as the driest desert in the world and makes for a unique holiday destination you can explore by bike. There are small towns dotted across the region, such as San Pedro de Atacama, which are home to luxurious hotels, where you can take a dip in languid outdoor pools.
The Atacama is also considered one of the greatest places in the world to observe the stars. Heading south, you’ll find the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Andes surrounding tranquil desert lakes.
BOOK IT Try Exodus' 15-day Discover Chile to visit the country's highlights, including romantic and secluded Patagonia, or get active by cycling Chile and Argentina
5. Be wowed by beautiful Bhutan
Tucked between Tibet to the east and north and India to its west, this independent kingdom is renowned for its rural beauty, colourful customs and fabulous festivals. Its verdant, tropical plains in the southern regions and the epic Himalayas in the north mean you can experience adventurous trekking or relaxation, romance and culture – or a combination of them all.
Visit in spring and autumn for the best hiking weather, when the skies are clear and temperatures around the mid-twenties depending on region, or in the more humid summer months if you’re hoping for heat. Don't miss Bhutanese cuisine which takes influence from the traditions of nearby countries, with dumplings, rice dishes and spicy curries all featuring.
BOOK IT Try Mr & Mrs Smith for the most romantic hotels in Bhutan
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