A big trip away is par for the course after a wedding — but who says you have to stop at the honeymoon? What better way to mark an important wedding anniversary than with an equally memorable trip? Here are five unforgettable ways to celebrate.
Silver – a Silversea Indian Ocean cruise
Silversea’s Silver Discoverer offers an itinerary out of Male in the Maldives, with four stops across the islands, spotting turtles and manta rays on the corals of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, before arriving at the Lakshadweep Islands off India, with their brightly coloured fish and unspoilt reefs. You can visit Cochin, rich in Jewish history, as well as tracing ancient trade routes around Kerala, where traditional dhow boat-building continues.
Relax on white-sand beaches along the way, finishing in Galle and Colombo on Sri Lanka, where you will see both colonial cities and Buddhist temples.
Complimentary expedition gear and transport into town are offered at most ports, while the on-board team features experts in marine biology, ornithology, history and more — not to mention a butler for your suite, plus drinks and gratuities included.
The 11-day cruise costs £7,800 per person for an Explorer Suite, based on two sharing, departing Male on January 24, 2018.
Pearl – explore the South Pacific
Black pearls are found in the waters of the South Pacific, along with classic creamy white pearls, so a pearl anniversary is the perfect excuse to book a trip to French Polynesia.
The trickiest part of the trip is deciding which of the picture-postcard-perfect islands to choose; so one way round this is to skip the dilemma with a luxury island hop.
A 30-minute catamaran ride from Tahiti itself (or a 10-minute flight), brings you to Moorea. A former volcano, the island’s lush green slopes stretch down to a blue lagoon. Explore in a 4x4, enjoy the views and spend time on the Polynesian beach.
Then head to the pearl of the islands, Taha’a, which produces world-class black pearls in the farms of the lagoon — despite the name, these include shimmering bronze, pink, blue and green shades.
Taha’a is also known as the “vanilla island” and while you are here you can tour a vanilla plantation to discover the world’s second most expensive spice, with a choice of romantic resorts and “barefoot luxury” hotels.
Or visit the honeymoon haven of Bora Bora, well-known as a romantic retreat. Relax by the turquoise waters and swim with rays, while overwater bungalows let you make the most of the stunning natural surroundings.
Turquoise Holidays, which has recently launched a celebration division, has a 10-day island hop visiting all three, costing from £4,525 per person, based on two sharing. This includes three nights at Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa in a Deluxe Garden Pool Bungalow, three nights at Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa in an overwater suite and four nights at St Regis Bora Bora Resort in an overwater bungalow, plus flights via Los Angeles.
Ruby – Cramim Resort & Spa, Israel
Be inspired by the ruby red of the wine made in one of Israel’s most exclusive five-star resorts. Part of the Isrotel Exclusive Collection, the Cramim resort is about 15 minutes outside Jerusalem, surrounded by boutique wineries and the scenic wine region of the Judean Hills. Along with its own private vineyard, where Cabernet and Gewurztraminer grapes are grown, the hotel has a wine boutique and cellar carved into the mountain, with tastings, lectures and workshops for guests.
Even the treatments in the spa take their cue from the area’s vines, with vinotherapy based on the natural properties of grapes. Further relaxation can be done beside the indoor or outdoor pool.
Kosher meals are available in the Shiraz restaurant and there is an on-site synagogue, Shabbat lift, Shabbat clocks and Shabbat-friendly minibars (meals and clocks must be booked before you come).
A four-night mid-week package costs from £925 per person, including flights and private transfers, through Holiday Designers.
This includes a vista room with a surrounding balcony, a complimentary bottle of red wine and one complimentary spa treatment per room from a selected list.
Gold – Australia’s Gold Coast
Enjoy the golden sunshine of Queensland, taking in some of Australia’s greatest natural treasures, luxurious islands, the golden sandy beaches of the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast itself.
Try a private self-drive tour, so you can move around at your own pace — start in Cairns, where you can head to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling, diving and kayaking, as well as exploring the surrounding mountains and rainforests, before travelling south past national parks and the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium. Discover the Whitsunday Islands, with their pristine white sand beaches, pass the start of the Great Barrier Reef and continue to Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island and home to wildlife, rainforest, a freshwater lake and the temptingly named 75 Mile Beach.
Finish with the sights of Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, ranging from museums and galleries to restaurants and nightlife, along with the long sandy surf beaches of Gold Coast, an hour south. A two-week self-drive tour costs from £1,149 per person including car hire and accommodation but excluding international flights with Australian Sky. Tailor-made versions are also available, to extend or upgrade the itinerary.
Diamond - South Africa
Uncover some of the jewels of South Africa — both literal and figurative — on a trip across the country, including a safari, luxury rail journey and a stop in Kimberley, site of perhaps the world’s most famous diamond rush.
Start at the Marakele national park, where expert field guides can help you discover the wildlife of this dramatic area, including leopards and rare aardwolves and ground pangolins.
Relax in a spectacular tented suite overlooking the national park, with guided walks and star- gazing on offer, as well as two daily game drives.
Then begin your journey across the country to Cape Town on the luxurious Rovos Rail, with two nights in one of the train’s suites, where you could imagine yourself transported back to a more glamorous era of travel, including a semi-formal dress code for dinner.
Along the way, the train stops in Kimberley, home to The Big Hole where diamonds were mined, as well as the Diamond Museum, which has the largest uncut diamond in the world — the 616, named after its carat size.
The train’s final destination, Cape Town, is the perfect place to put this new diamond expertise into practice, with jewellery shops around the Waterfront area selling the precious stones.
There are equally beautiful views from Table Mountain, the city’s beaches and eye-catchingly bright Bo Kaap district.
A trip with Rainbow Tours costs from £4,785 per person based on two adults sharing, including direct flights, transfers and eight nights’ accommodation — this consists of four nights at Marataba Safari Lodge in Marakele National Park, two nights on board Rovos Rail and two nights at the Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town.
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