Pre wedding plans-romantic escape

From waking up to pine-scented air to discovering each other at historic getaways, here’s a list of curated destinations for two.

You’ve made it official–and it’s time to unwind. Wedding planning, while exciting, can be a major source of stress–and your honeymoon is likely going to be your first real chance to enjoy some quality time with your spouse. Travel bloggers Sandy and Vyjay zero down on some haute picks:

Resorts World Genting, Malaysia

It’s a beautiful version of intricate beauty. Resorts World Genting is a getaway 55 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur. With temperatures ranging between 14 to 22 degrees, the place is usually enveloped by mist, and the location is on top of the 1800-metre high Mount Ulu Kali. International restaurants, theme parks, casinos, trekking and other adventure activities make Resorts World Genting a complete honeymoon destination, where one can choose from a host of experiences.

Kausani, Uttarakhand

This is a beautiful mountain getaway which provides the ideal seclusion for honeymooners to discover each other in the lap of nature and pine scented air. Kausani has been called “the Switzerland of India”, and offers a ringside view of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Cambodia is well known for the grandeur of Angkor Wat and other temples of Siem Reap. However, there is so much more to Cambodia. One such lesser-known place is Sihanoukville. Sihanoukville is a seaside town with many exotic islands, including Koh Rang. Honeymooners can bask on the sun-drenched beaches or participate in water sports. They can also take a boat ride to nearby islands which offer some of the most pristine beaches, water sports including snorkelling and diving, and even the opportunity to see the fascinating phenomenon of Plankton.

Alappuzha, Kerala, India

Alappuzha or Alleppey is often referred to as the Venice of the East. This is because of the network of waterways that criss-cross the romantic backwaters of the region and connect to the Vembanad Lake, the longest lake in India. Alleppey is a perfect romantic honeymoon getaway. Nothing could be more enchanting than watching the sun go down while relaxing in the luxury of your own houseboat. Apart from cruising the waters in a self-contained houseboat, honeymooners also get to watch birds from the Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

Seychelles

Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives are on top of most lists. Mauritius has a large resident Indian origin population and offers a lot for its small size, for all budgets. The Maldives is known for the resort islands, each more luxurious than the other. The resorts offer a taste of the high life, the snorkelling experiences are splendid and the beaches are gorgeous - best for long walks at sunset with your better half. Seychelles provides the best of both the worlds. Natural beauty, beaches and spas, what better way to relax?

Ladakh

Keeping Leh as your base, day trips can be made to Pangong, Zanskar and the various monasteries around the city, especially around sunrise when one can catch the morning prayers. One may head to what is the last remaining Aryan village in Dah Hanu, supposedly tracing back their roots to Alexander the Great. Visit one of the northernmost villages open for tourists at Turtuk, part of the Baltistan region, and best known for its apricots. Stay at the beautiful cold desert of the Nubra Valley as you watch the shadows playing across the golden mountains at sunset. Despite the high number of tourists, it’s easy to find your own secluded corner to stare at the changing colours of the mountains, sitting on the banks of the beautiful lakes or even across a bonfire gazing at possibly the cleanest view of the milky way.

BOX: Travel bloggers Rishabh and Nirali’s take

On honeymoon: “Honeymoon is a special time for any relationship. It was especially so for us given that ours was an arranged marriage with only a few official dates before we decided to spend our lives together. So, the honeymoon was really the first time we actually got to spend time with each other and we’re sure that’s the case for several others like us. We chose an active trip with a lot of experiences as part of the itinerary, though some couples might prefer a relaxed honeymoon, much required after the big fat weddings that we usually have in India.”

South Africa

Rishabh and Nirali’s honeymoon destination recommendation has everything you can ask for in a trip: mountains, beaches, caves, wildlife, adventure sports, urban experiences and casinos. The cities are safe, the people very helpful and the food, even for vegetarians - delicious. There’s a lot to do for lovers of adventure sports, the bliss of Tsitsikamma Park, bungee jumping at Bloukrans bridge, the jungle lodge experience at Kruger National Park. There’s also whale watching in Hermanus or Plettenberg bay and ostrich farms & cango caves near Knysna. If a relaxed itinerary is more your thing, then the luxurious Sun City will possibly tick all your checkboxes and so will the wine destinations Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

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