Honeymoons In Paradise: Where To Go In May

Image via Traveller

If you are looking to honeymoon in May, the European continent is warming up nicely. South East Asia is beautiful this time of the year, as is Australia. For couples looking for an exotic experience, Pantanal in Brazil is brimming with wildlife and lush vegetation – definitely a few special places to visit!

1. Koh Kood, Thailand
Billed as Thailand’s last unspoilt island, Koh Kood is a remote island near the borders of Cambodia. Home to rainforests, sleepy villages and fewer than 2,000 people, the island’s main drawcard is its relative remoteness. Getting there requires a fight from Bangkok, followed by an hour’s ferry ride from the main island.

Where to Stay
Soneva Kiri makes the list as one of Asia’s most exclusive resorts, and it’s not hard to see why. The resort’s 29 oversized pool villas set along the white sand beachfront or hillside with outstanding views into the sea are heavenly!

Image via Soneva Kiri

What to Do
Follow in the footsteps of His Majesty King Rama VI and hike through the ancient rainforests of Koh Kood, resting at the famous Klong Chao waterfall. The waterfall flows throughout the year and it is a nice swimming spot to take refuge from the searing mid-day heat. Dive into the deep blue and discover magnificent marine life and vivid corals at Bang Bao Bay. Koh Kood Divers offers snorkelling lessons as well as diving trips. Take a short trip to their office to check out their very own coral nursery and learn about their coral conservation project.

2. Seychelles
These stunning Indian Ocean islands constantly top the list of the most beautiful islands in the world, and if the Hawkbill turtles feel so comfortable that they come ashore to lay eggs in broad daylight, it is good enough for us!

Where to Stay
Six Senses Zil Pasyon is a luxury boutique beach resort in the Seychelles, located on the private island of Félicité. Featuring just 30 villas and 17 private residences on a private island, you can make full use of your villa’s private wine cellar and butler service for the ultimate luxury experience. If you are seeking for a luxury experience on the main island, Maia Luxury Resort, overlooking the Anse Louis beach, is your Indian Ocean hideaway. The thatched villas with bay views are the perfect spot to unwind.

Image via Maia Luxury Resort

What to Do
The quintessential Indian Ocean dream of swaying palm trees, white powdery beaches and rippling waves all come true at the Seychelles and it’s best to just embrace them all at your beach getaway, whether you’re sipping cocktails or working on a glowing tan.

If you are staying in Six Senses Zil Pasyon on the private island of Félicité, spend a morning along the walking trail – the dramatic granitic island is around one-square mile in size and is characterised by its large granite boulders and picture-perfect beaches. The forested centre of the island rises up to a peak of 213 metres and its remoteness provides the perfect environment for exceptional flora – keep an eye out for wild vanilla orchids, coconut palms, wild mango, bananas and oranges amongst many others.

Image via Six Senses Zil Pasyon

3. Flinders Ranges, South Australia
May is a great time to visit the Flinders Ranges and our very own Outback. Although the chill is starting to set in, there are still many beautiful Autumn days and there is no better time to appreciate the rugged Australian landscape.

Where to Stay
Arkaba Homestead is an archetypal Australian homestead with a touch of luxury – and is especially good for viewing wildlife, exploring the unique Flinders Ranges and taking in the amazing sunsets. Arkaba has four guest rooms within the homestead and one guest cottage. Each is air-conditioned and traditionally and elegantly furnished. All the guest rooms have access to the homestead’s verandah while the cottage has its own private living area and outdoor space. Traditional hotel amenities such as mini bars, televisions and telephones are not found at Arkaba, which is anything but a typical hotel.

Image via Arkaba Homestead

What to Do
Hundreds of millions of years of geological activity have sculpted the Flinders Ranges and created some of Australia’s most spectacular outback scenery. Take a scenic flight over the rock ramparts of Wilpena Pound to appreciate this extraordinary geological formation. Explore the gorges and valleys of the Flinders Ranges on a 4WD guided tour and spot some of the wildlife – red kangaroos, emus, euros and yellow-footed rock wallabies.

Ever eaten emu egg omelette, kangaroo tail soup or how about a dessert of warm Quandong pie with fresh cream? Pull up at the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna and you’ll find a delicious menu combining bush tucker with European and Asian style cuisines. Memories of this beautiful rugged land will stay for you forever.

Image via Arkaba Homestead

4. Punakha, Bhutan
The last great Himalayan Kingdom of mountains and monasteries is shrouded in mystery. This tiny mountainous region has never been colonised which means the Bhutanese state has developed its own rich and vibrant national identity built on Buddhism. Notable for pioneering the concept of “gross national happiness,” you are sure to return from your journey rejuvenated with a new perspective on life.

Where to Stay
Uma Punakha by Como is a stunning luxury boutique lodge overlooking the Punakha Valley in Bhutan. The resort provides fantastic accommodation for guests wanting to experience this less-visited area of Bhutan in style. Perched on a hillside overlooking the Mo Chu River, about a 20 minute drive to Punakha Dzong, all rooms have dramatic views overlooking the valley, lush-green paddy fields and the rolling forested mountains beyond. In many ways, it has the best views of any luxury lodge in Bhutan.

Image via Uma Punakha

What to Do
A short walk across the rice paddies takes us to Chimi Lhakhang, a fertility temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint known popularly as the Divine Madman. The temple sits atop a picturesque hill surrounded by rice fields. Built in the 14th century, it has long been a pilgrimage site for couples hoping to start a family.

Take a stroll down the main streets in Bhutan and you are bound to meet a monk as young as the age of six. Ten per cent of Bhutan’s population are monks and their stories of getting up each day before first-light for prayers and their daily routines are sure to inspire.

Image via Make My Trip

5. Pantanal, Brazil
Located in the heart of South America, Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland, about twenty times the size of the famed Everglades in Florida. The open marshes are home to an immense variety of life including everything from jaguars and jabiru storks, so if you like to see animals in their natural environment, the Pantanal is an unmissable destination.

Where to Stay
Caiman Ecological Refuge combines conservation with eco-tourism and a working cattle ranch. Located in the southern region of the Pantanal, Caiman consists of a two independent lodges offering a similar level of comfort. The lodges all have swimming pools, air-conditioned rooms and private bathrooms.

Image via Caiman Ecological Refuge

What to Do
Take a relaxing canoe ride to discover the surrounding riverside forest. Silently glide along the river banks for your best chance to see wildlife along the way. The canoe ride is also the best way to spot the majestic but elusive jaguar. Take a guided tour to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site teeming with ‘out of this world’ plants and the lush greenery of Amazonia.