Top honeymoon destinations to hanker after this year

For a right royal honeymoon, celebrate stay in a Scottish castle. Glenapp Castle is a 17 bedroom Relais & Chateaux hotel, tucked away on the beautiful Ayrshire coast. Complete with fairy-tale turrets and a 36-acre estate, with good walks on the doorstep, local astronomy tours and top-notch food, it’s a good, all-encompassing option. From £295 per room per night. [Photo: Glenapp Castle]

How about combining California’s beaches and lakes in one trip? America As You Like It has a seven night package to Mammoth Lakes and Newport Beach from £1,085.00 per person based on two sharing, including return flights from London Gatwick to Los Angeles four nights room-only at Sierra Nevada Lodge and three nights room-only at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. [Photo: Flicrk/Richmond 9]

Tuscany is a favourite with honeymooners – and you can see why, with its stunning scenery, fantastic food and wine and culture in spades. La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort is tucked away in the hills, once a medieval village, and facilities include a world class golf course and wellness spa. From £147 per night. [Photo: Hilton]

Set in 30 acres of private parkland with the sound of waves breaking on the beach at Climping, Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa is perfect for a Great British honeymoon. Choose from 39 charming, individual rooms – for ultimate romance, try Baylies, which has a four poster bed, wood-burning stove and his and her baths. Spend your days on beach walks, at the spa or curling up by the fire before a three-course dinner. B&B rooms from £249 per night. [Photo: Bailiffscourt]

Total seclusion on the shores of a lake, daily yoga in a treetop studio, fine dining and cultural trips…Tri hotel has it all. The design hotel features 11 stunning suites, some of which have a private plunge pool. Lounge in the shade of an ancient Banyan Tree before pampering yourself in the spa or visiting a local temple or nearby beach. Room from £210 per night. [Photo: Tri]

As many activities as you can shake a stick at? Sounds good to us, and it’s all included in the price of a Neilson holiday, so you can wakeboard, play tennis, go mountain biking and practice yoga to your heart’s content. 11 nights at the adults-only Buca Beachclub start from £635pp, including flights transfers, daily breakfast and lunch, four a la carte evening meals and inclusive activities. [Photo: Neilson]

Ready to take the leap with your new wife or husband? For an action-packed, alternative honeymoon, head to the Pembrokeshire coast for coasteering, sea kayaking – and pristine beaches. Preseli Venture offer a range of activities for the more adventurous, including an Adrenaline Cocktail Weekend, which costs from £219 including two nights’ accommodation, all meals and transfers. [Photo: Preseli Venture]

Ideal for both winter and summer, the Swiss mountains will keep you active whether you’re skiing or hiking. Le Grand Bellevue is a great choice for couples looking to do more than laze on a beach on their honeymoon. After a bracing walk through the peaks, return to your suite, such as the Etoile Suite, which features a glass-roofed Jacuzzi. B&B from £305 per room per night. [Photo: Le Grand Bellevue]

Scuba diving, paragliding, cycling, windsurfing, rock climbing, off-road buggy driving and kayaking are all possible if you book into the Bohemia Suites & Spa, an adult-only 5* hotel on Gran Canaria. Nightly rates from £170. [Photo: Bohemia Suites & Spa]

Pedal across Japan on a honeymoon that will see you return home fitter than when you left off. Intrepid has a new, group 14-day trip for the adventurous that takes in everything from bustling Tokyo to the tranquil and beautiful coastal regions – with a few bullet train rides along the way. From £3,605pp. [Photot: Flickr/craig Cloutier]

Add a week working with elephants to your Thai honeymoon. The project with Volunteering Journeys will see you help the mahouts care for the elephants, preparing their food, feeding them, cleaning their living area, walking with the elephants and bathing them in the local river. From £649pp per week including all accommodation and local transfers. [Photo: Volunteering Journeys]

Newlyweds looking to spend a romantic honeymoon away from noise and pollution should head to the Galapagos, which is teeming with wildlife including iguanas, giant tortoises, sea lions, penguins and Darwin’s famous finches. Silversea’s Silver Galapagos departs from Baltra on a seven-day voyage to San Cristobal on August 12 2017. Fares start from £5,550pp. [Photo: Silversea]

Keen for a safari? Africa Albida Tourism has a range to choose from, including a Long Weekend Safari package which includes a stay in the luxurious Ngoma Safari Lodge with a private view of the Zebra Migration. The price of £1,327pp includes a guided tour of Victoria Falls, a sunset cruise and all road transfers. [Photo: Africa Albida Tourism]

Get your marriage off to a rewarding start by helping conserve and care for Costa Rica’s indigenous wildlife, including monkeys, macaws, sloths and peccaries. Sign up for Hands Up Holidays’ 10-day itinerary and you’ll spend time at a wildlife rescue centre, as well as white-water rafting in the Pacuare River and hiking up ancient volcanoes. From £5,374pp. [Photo: Flickr/Mathieu Schoutteten]

How about doing something truly worthwhile as newlyweds, such as turtle conservation? Set on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, Kosgoda is famous for its sea turtle conservation projects. On a programme with Volunteering Journeys, you’ll help collect data, safeguard hatching eggs and release baby turtles back into the sea. From £699pp per week or £849pp for two weeks, including all food, accommodation and transfers. [Photo: Volunteering Journeys]

Sani Resort on the Greek isle of Halkidiki is ideal for honeymooners with its white sand beaches, beautiful sea views, 5* accommodation and delicious cuisine. Honeymoons can be tailored to each couple, and newlyweds also receive a free room upgrade, as well as room decoration with flowers, and a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival. Nightly rates from £95 per room, half board. [Photo: Sani Resort]

How about escaping to your own private island on the Maldives with your love? Lonubo Island is 500 metres away from Maafushivaru, another island in this romantic, white sand paradise. Lonubo is yours from 4.30pm until 9.30am the following day, and rooms feature king-sized beds, rain showers and a terrace. Kuoni has seven nights full board at the 5* Maafushivaru from £2,323pp including flights. To book, quote IO0625. [Photo: Kuoni]

Want to wake up to this view? The Seychelles are heaven for beach lovers, and the Four Seasons Resort features luxury villas nestled in the hillside, each with a private infinity pool and access to the white sand beyond. From £760 per night. [Photo: Four Seasons Resort]

What could be more romantic than a honeymoon on the very island where Mamma Mia was filmed? There’s little wonder producers chose this location, with its guaranteed sun, tranquil beaches and crystal clear waters. Seven nights’ B&B at the 5* Skiathos Princess Hotel os from £894pp with Classic Collection Holidays, including Gatwick flights departing on May 12. [Photo: Classic Collection Holidays]

Dine on tapas in the Spanish foodie centre, Barcelona. Hotel Arts Barcelona is a luxury beach hotel with a culinary difference – it has the city’s only two Michelin star restaurant, Enoteca, with sea views to boot. Rooms from £248. [Photo: Hotel Arts Barcelona]

You’ll easily find food and drink to enjoy in Chianti. This Tuscan wine region, known for its Chianti Classico red, is also famed for its ripe fruit and veg, and ‘ribollita’, a kind of soup thickened with bread. La Riserva is a 16th century former farmhouse on its own wine estate, which you can hire with a private chef if you like. Seven nights with Quality Villas from £1,580. [Photo: La Riserva]

Hanoi’s old centre is arguably the best place to sample the mixture of salt, sweet and spice that makes up Vietnamese cuisine. Slurp pho, or try banh mi (a baguette filled with pate and cucumber). Audley Travel have a 14-day Culinary Tour of Vietnam from £4,785pp. [Photo: Audley Travel]

Peru boasts some of the planet’s most exciting cuisine, with Lima crowned the gastronomic capital of the Americas thanks to its world-class chefs, exceptional food festivals and imaginative restaurants. Aracari offers a 10-day itinerary taking in the foodie delights of Lima, Cusco, the Urubamba Valley and Machu Picchu from £4,099 (excludes flights). Highlights include learning to make classic ceviche, eating a traditional pachamanca lunch on an organic farm in the Sacred Valley and visiting local markets. [Photo: Flickr/Juan Felipe Rubio]

Lyon is where to try the best of French gastronomy, from cervelle de canut cheese to trip. Don’t miss the Les Halles food market, either. Stay in the Villa Florentine, where newlyweds will enjoy the peace, tranquility and 5* service. Rooms from £170 per night. [Photo: Flicrk/Net Circlion]

Filled with unexplored potential, Colombia blends golden beaches, colonial charm and exotic landscapes. A 16-day tour with Wild Frontiers takes in the bustling city of Bogota, remote Caribbean islands and the historic colonial city of Cartagena. You’ll try fine coffee and marvel at UNESCO treasures of one of the largest Spanish citadels in the Americas. From £3,995pp. [Photo: Wild Frontiers]

For a more unusual dose of culture, try Doha in Qatar where the new Museum of Islamic Art contains 14 centuries of the finest art and artefacts from across the Islamic World. You can also head to UNESCO World Heritage site Al Zubarah Fort and get a taste of traditional commerce at Souq Waqif, with its shops at spices. An idea choice for stopovers and longer breaks. [Photo: Visit Qatar]

Explore the highlights of Northern Vietnam together on a cruise with Pandaw. Drifting along the historic Red River delta from Halong Bay and the vibrant capital Hanoi, you’ll pass mountain villages and reach otherwise unreachable areas of the river. From £2,284pp, including the 10-night, full-board cruise (excludes flights). [Photo: Pandaw]

This slice of Cornwall is becoming a hotbed for culture thanks to the recently-reopened Tate St Ives, which houses constantly changing exhibitions as well as a remarkable permanent collection of art. After a dose of culture, head to the coast path for a romantic walk before returning to Trevose Harbour Hotel, where rooms start from £160 per night.

Cruise along the Rhone River and beyond on a two-week voyage with Tauck, which will take in romantic European cities such as Monte-Carlo, Provence, Lyon, Burgundy, and the city of Love, Paris. Off-boat activities include wine tasting, cycling and exploring Roman Ruins and cathedrals. From £4,360 for 14 days. [Photo: Tauck]

For those with a serious honeymoon budget and a sense of adventure, start off married life with a trip to one of the wildest places on earth, on a luxury cruise of the Antarctic peninsula. Optional activities include camping overnight on the ice, sea kayaking to get up close to polar wildlife and opportunities to have wedding vows blessed or renewed in the shadow of towering icebergs. Wildfoot has a 12-day itinerary from £8,329pp, based on two sharing a Porthole Suite, departing on January 5 2018. [Photo: Wildfoot]

Pair rainforest and beach on the east African island of Madagascar, home to lemurs and Anjajavy Lodge, Madagascar’s only Relais and Chateaux property. Activities include a boat trip to see a 1000-year-old baobab tree, guided walks within the reserve, exploring caves, mountain biking, fishing, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and kayaking. A 10-night honeymoon with Natural World Safaris costs from £4,880 per couple (excludes flights). [Photo: David Rogers]

Pack the ‘Island of Paradise’ and the Buddhist country into one trip. The journey with Butterfield takes in mighty volcanoes, lush terraced rice fields and pristine beaches in Bali, before moving to Bhutan, often compared to Switzerland for its green alpine meadows, chalet-style homes and snowy peaks. 12 days from £9,830pp. [Photo: Flickr/Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn)]

If it’s good enough for British tycoon Richard Branson, it’s good enough for us mere mortals. A week on his private island will set you back around £24,015 – a pretty penny, but just the ticket for newlyweds with a big budget. Famous guests include Beyonce and Britney Spears so keep your eyes peeled… [Photo: Necker Island]

A private beach, seawater swimming pool carved from wind-sculpted rocks and breath-taking views make The Pitrizza Hotel a good choice for a honeymoon. And with suites from £4,724 per night, it’s one to save up for. Each suite features a living room, dining area and terrace with panoramic views of the ocean. [Photo: Hotel Pitrizza]

For a sun-soaked getaway, escape to The Tides Lodge on Tanzania’s east coast. Each of the seven beach cottages has its own veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean and secluded sunbathing area. It’s the ideal base from which to explore the riches of Tanzania from vibrant Zanzibar to the Serengeti. Unwind with a massage, or snorkel above untouched reefs of Maziwe Island. Half-board from £136 per night. [Photo: Tides Lodge]