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8 bucket-list honeymoons that won’t break the bank

A once-in-a-lifetime experience doesn’t have to be out of your reach with our guide to affordable epic adventures

September 24th, 2018 at 8:00 am

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While arriving by private jet and having a butler to attend to your every whim would undeniably be rather nice, the good news is that you don’t have to be a millionaire to have extraordinary experiences on honeymoon. Many of the world’s most incredible sights and locations are within reach of more modest budgets. If you thought the temples of Angkor Wat, the ruins of Machu Picchu, the beaches of the Maldives or the plains of Africa were out of bounds, think again. You might not be able to stay in the penthouse suite of a top-class hotel or eat Michelin-starred food every night, but with some clever planning (such as staying fewer nights, sharing safari vehicles and booking all-inclusive accommodation) you can still get the chance to cross your dream destination off your bucket list. We’ve rounded up the best envy-inducing honeymoons, and they’re all for less than £3000 per person – where will your bucket list take you?

1. Bucket-list moment: Visiting the temples of Angkor Wat — 1. Bucket-list moment: Visiting the temples of Angkor Wat – It’s one of the world’s most impressive sights, and the sort of place your friends and family will actually want to see photos of once you get back. Angkor Wat, a complex of over 1000 temples, has to be seen to be believed. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to cost the earth to lay your eyes on it, even complete with a guide and an indulgent stay in a luxury hotel. The icing on the cake of this bucket-list beauty is that it’s located in Cambodia, just a short plane ride away from the honeymoon-worthy beaches, five-star hotels and stylish restaurants of Thailand’s Koh Samui. Go there Ten nights incl. four at Navutu Dreams Resort & Wellness Retreat and six at the Belmond Napasai on a B&B basis, transfers, international flights and privately guided touring, from £1995pp*, turquoiseholidays.co.uk *Price accurate at time of publishing Image: Getty Images

2. Bucket-list moment: Seeing the Northern Lights — 2. Bucket-list moment: Seeing the Northern Lights – Standing hand-in-hand staring up at a cloudless sky alive with green and purple flashes as the aurora borealis puts on its incredible show has to be one of the most romantic experiences a couple can have. Iceland, home to this natural marvel, is well-known for being a seriously expensive destination once again (especially for booze), so getting to see the northern lights can be a budget-busting option. But if you hop in a hire car and reduce the trip to six days, the sky’s the limit. Iceland Beyond’s bespoke trip includes a northern lights hunt in a super jeep and other bucket-list fulfilling experiences like snowmobiling and a helicopter ride over Reykjavík. Go there Six days on a B&B basis, incl. flights and car hire, from £2990pp, icelandbeyond.com Image: Getty Images

3. Bucket-list moment: Whale-watching in Canada — 3. Bucket-list moment: Whale-watching in Canada – In the waters around Vancouver Island you’re almost guaranteed to see these graceful giants of the ocean – and as the huge tails of killer, humpback, grey and minke whales break the surface of the water, you won’t believe how close you can get to them. Keep an eye out for grizzly bears and eagles, too. When you’re not in adventure mode, Vancouver is an exciting urban destination, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Go there Nine days incl. flights, accommodation, car hire and whale watching and bear-watching tours, from £2995pp, hayesandjarvis.co.uk Image: Getty Images

4. Bucket-list moment: Seeing wild safari animals on the South African plains — 4. Bucket-list moment: Seeing wild safari animals on the South African plains – If awesome wildlife is top of your honeymoon list, then you can’t go wrong with a classic safari. Covering park permits, guided drives and transfers to get you into the middle of the savannah can be a pricey option, but choosing the time of year carefully can bring an African adventure within reach. Avoid the great migration and travel in low season (when there are still hundreds of animals to see). Garonga Safari Camp in South Africa is a great place to start your experience. Tag beach time on the end at Constance Belle Mare Plage in idyllic Mauritius. Go there A 13-day tour incl. accommodation, flights, transfers, three-night all-inclusive safari, and seven nights B&B in Mauritius, from £2845pp, rainbowtours.co.uk

5. Bucket-list moment: Seeing Komodo Dragons in the wild — 5. Bucket-list moment: Seeing Komodo Dragons in the wild – It might not be the first destination you think of when someone asks where you would most like to visit in the world, but for the already well-travelled or lovers of off-the-beaten-track holidays, the Komodo Islands are an exquisite destination. You can combine these unique islands with a classic honeymoon experience in beautiful Bali, before boarding your yacht (yes, we did say yacht!) and cruising around the magical Komodo National Park. Stop off to get a glimpse of the legendary dragons and the most incredible scenery. Go there From £2995pp incl. international and domestic flights, all transfers, accommodation and three-day, two- night Komodo cruise incl. all meals, turquoiseholidays.co.uk

6. Bucket-list moment: Sunbathing on a Maldivian beach — 6. Bucket-list moment: Sunbathing on a Maldivian beach – Pure white sand, swaying palms, and the world’s brightest blue waters… the Maldives are the classic honeymoon destination that most people dream of visiting. Well, many of these idyllic islands are accessible to those of us without the Richard Branson-sized budgets. One of our favourite affordable five-stars is Velassaru, which has all the stylish restaurants and gorgeous rooms you could hope for in this paradisiacal part of the world, so put this destination on your list! Go there Ten nights on a B&B basis in a deluxe bungalow from £1999pp, kuoni.co.uk Image: Getty Images

7. Bucket-list moment: Exploring one of the seven wonders of the modern world — 7. Bucket-list moment: Exploring one of the seven wonders of the modern world – When you stand above Machu Picchu and gaze down on the almost unbelievable sight, you’ll feel like you’ve won the lottery. But your numbers don’t have to come up to enjoy such a fabulous moment! Spend seven days on this Peruvian adventure and you will be able to see this man-made marvel complete with a guide and more (visits to the former Inca capital of Cusco and a rail journey through the Urubamba River), for a much more budget-friendly sum. Go there Seven-day itinerary incl. all transport within Latin America, accommodation and excursions from £1187pp, journeylatinamerica.co.uk Image: Getty Images

8. Bucket-list moment: Seeking out rare tigers in the wilds of India — 8. Bucket-list moment: Seeking out rare tigers in the wilds of India – There aren’t many people who can say they’ve seen Bengal tigers in their natural habitat, so in terms of out-of-this-world experiences, it doesn’t get much better than this. And it’s not all keeping your eyes peeled for these majestic cats in the rugged Ranthambore National Park. You can couple this bucket-list moment with a tour of the buzzing capital of Delhi and the cultural gems in India’s Golden Triangle. Go there Ten-night tailor-made itinerary incl. flights, accommodation, car and guide and entry fees, from £3100pp, imaginetravel.com Image: Getty Images

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