Did you know SE4 is a hotbed for honeymoon fanatics? Fellow Brockley residents Al and Helen are the founders of Faraway, a travel company that specialises in giving busy people – especially newlyweds – bespoke and unforgettable honeymoons and escapes.
As a recently married couple in their thirties who love to travel, they get how important your honeymoon is. They also know that most of us don’t have the time to do all the research and legwork required to make it the extraordinary adventure we dream of (especially on top of organising a wedding!) – which is where Faraway comes in.
Helen and Al dropped in to the Patchwork studio for a cuppa earlier this week. Whilst they were here, they shared their top 5 honeymoon destinations for a unique honeymoon that is equal parts romance and adventure:
Colombia
If you’re dreaming of the sunshine and swaying palms of the Caribbean but with something a little “extra” (because, hey – it’s your honeymoon!), we suggest taking a look at Colombia.
Splash your way along the northern coastline, before going hiking or horse-riding into the coffee region, and getting off-grid in a remote jungle lodge deep in the Amazon rainforest. If you’re into cities, make time for Bogota, with its excellent museums and restaurant scene. Then the comeback city of Medellin, where you can hop in a cable car for less than a fiver and enjoy the best views of the city from high up in the hills. Finally, don’t miss the old town of Cartagena – where you’ll find beautiful hotels, cobbled streets and the perfect spot for sundowners up on the city walls.
With so much to see and do, Colombia definitely works on its own. But, our couples often head off on honeymoons of three weeks or so. Many choose to combine it with Ecuador’s volcanoes and cloudforests, or a tropical island or two off the coast of Panama.
Rwanda
For wildlife enthusiasts with the budget to splurge, there are few better options for a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon than Rwanda. Begin with a day or two exploring Kigali (Africa’s cleanest – and perhaps calmest – city). Spend an afternoon at the genocide museum, which pays tribute to the victims and shares uplifting stories of how the country has overcome an intensely painful period.
Then head to Volcanoes National Park, where local guides will take you trekking deep into the jungle for an up-close, wild encounter with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Rwanda is a leader in combining conservation and community tourism, so you’ll receive a big warm welcome in the local villages too.
If you can’t imagine a honeymoon without a bit of beach time, we’re with you! Rwanda is relatively small – so, you should have plenty of time to hop across to Tanzania for a barefoot Indian Ocean escape. Choose between Zanzibar, Mafia, Pemba or even Fanjove – depending on how remote you want to go.
Argentina
The ultimate destination for active couples who adore wine, steak and un-be-lieve-able landscapes. Go horse-riding and wine-tasting in the foothills of the Andes, ice-trek across the glaciers of Patagonia, and go whale-watching at the coast. Then, head over to Buenos Aires and tango the night away in San Telmo before catching a football game at La Bombonera (it’s all about compromise, right?).
Argentina is vast and packed with different experiences, so you can easily spend a few weeks there. Otherwise, you might like to combine it with one of its neighbours – choose between Chile’s deserts and lakes, Uruguay’s windswept beaches, or hop over into Brazil to see the majestic Iguazu Falls from both sides.
Sri Lanka
If you haven’t been to Sri Lanka, your honeymoon could be the perfect opportunity to visit this popular and stunning island, just southeast of India. The list of options to explore is almost endless: lush waterfalls, abundant wildlife, endless beaches, temples and tea. Add to this friendly locals, fantastic food and beautiful places to stay – from luxurious retreats to cute b&bs – and it’s a pretty irresistible choice.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry suffered a big blow with the terrorism attacks earlier this year. Now it’s beginning to bounce back, not only will you be showing your support to a destination that needs it, you may well find this gem without the crowds who had been flocking there in recent years (no promises, though!).
The Maldives are a relatively short hop away too – making them a popular add-on, if you’re dreaming about that quintessential honeymoon-villa-on-stilts experience.
Malawi
We’re particularly fond of helping couples discover places that encourage you to unplug and feel ‘far away’ from life at home together – and Malawi definitely ticks those boxes.
It might be an unusual choice for a honeymoon, but we think this landlocked African gem is pretty perfect for cool couples who are into sustainable luxury, friendly locals and an authentic, relaxed vibe. As a bonus, phone signal is almost non-existent so you can truly escape just the two of you. And what could be more romantic than that?
Combine a castaway island on shimmering Lake Malawi (as it’s your honeymoon – may we suggest Mumbo or Likoma) with a safari in an unspoilt wilderness reserve and some time exploring in the highlands. Time it right, and you can incorporate the award-winning Lake of Stars festival too.
Think you’d like some help with your honeymoon? At Faraway we create bespoke escapes you’ll never forget; so, you can enjoy your wedding celebrations knowing you have a life-changing honeymoon ahead of you.
We offer all couples a free call, so you can get to know us first.
Team Faraway x
