Where to Go for a Thrill-seeking Adventure Honeymoon

Costa Rica may be the optimal destination for adventurous lovers. Not only does the small country offer a plethora of exciting activities, but it also gives back to the environment in a big way: The small nation runs nearly entirely on renewable energy so you can feel good about your travel carbon footprint. One of the country’s main attractions is its gorgeous tropical rainforest. Get high amongst the trees and hang like the country’s sloths by ziplining through the canopy above the forest. Plan a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park where Tipi Canopy Tour will take you through the maze of trees, past some toucans and even a few monkeys.

You just took one leap, now it’s time to take another together by jumping off a bridge. Take your new marriage to new highs and new lows all in one trip by heading to New Zealand to experience not only the beautiful weather, friendly people, and gorgeous landscapes, but to also try one of the country’s most famous attractions: The Auckland Harbor Bridge Bungy. The 131-foot jump will let you nearly splash down into the Waitemata Harbour. But don’t worry, the company’s exclusive bridge walk out and specially constructed Bungy pod will keep you safe and sound as you plummet toward the water below.

The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia may be one of the most sought-after adventure destinations. You and your new life partner can experience one of the seven wonders of the world together as you snorkel or scuba dive in an incredibly ecologically diverse destination. ABC Scuba Diving company can take you on that journey. The privately guided tours only take up to 12 passengers per trip to the outer reef ensuring a very exclusive, individual and private reef experience.

If you’ve got time while planning your wedding why not throw in a little altitude training too. Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania isn’t for the faint of heart, but it will most certainly bring your new marriage even closer together and literally take your breath away. Book your climb with Ultimate Kilimanjaro, which leads more than 150 climbs per year. The service, which bills itself as the number one trekking company in the area, will take care of your every need from gear to food and even private toilets along the way. The best times to climb, according to the company, are the region’s warmest and driest months: January, February, and September.

While the cherry blossoms are spectacular in the early spring, Japan may be even better to visit in the winter thanks to its world-class skiing and snowboarding at Niseko ski resort in Hokkaido.

Upon arrival, you can hit the slopes then snuggle with your snow bunny husband or wife while sipping cocoa by the fire. Niseko ski resort is also the perfect mountain for every ability level and averages 45 feet, yes feet, of snow per season. There’s even a few backcountry options for those looking to add a bit more adventure to their slopeside honeymoon.

Sure, Hawaii is the quintessential honeymoon destination, but there’s more to these islands than pristine beaches and pina coladas. For visitors looking for a big island adventure, head to Hawaii Island (the Big Island) and to hike any number of the trails available at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Or, get an even better view by taking an aerial tour with Discover Hawaii tours and see from above where the Earth literally bubbles to the surface.

The Grand Canyon, a classic honeymoon destination, is making a huge comeback for travelers within the United States. The stunning national park offers adventurers several levels to pick from. First, honeymooners can simply walk up to the edge of the canyon and watch the sunset below the breathtaking landscape. Second, if you’re feeling a little more brave, you and your sweetheart can take a hike down into many different parts of the canyon. Make sure to look out for climbing goats along the way. But, for those seeking the ultimate canyon experience, travelers can rent a donkey for a ride all the way to the bottom where they will also camp overnight at Phantom Ranch with Grand Canyon National Park Lodges. In the morning, riders will saddle up once again to make the journey all the way back to the top. Or, if you feel like you need something a bit more punishing, try hiking the nearly 20-mile rim-to-rim trek on your own two feet.

Tahiti has become one of the “it” destinations for honeymoons. In fact, the small cluster of islands hosted more than 128,000 tourists in 2016 alone. But don’t let the crowds scare you off, it’s still wildly worth the trip, and you may even learn something new along the way. For honeymooners looking to experience the islands from the water and test out a new skill, try learning to catch a few waves at the Aloha Surf School and hang 10 with your hunny. The warm waters and gentle waters make it the ideal destination to hone both your surfing skills and your beach-ready tan.

Like Tahiti, Peru has experienced a tourism boom in the last few years. While experiencing Machu Picchu is a must for any couple visiting the South American country, the real adventure is how you get there.

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu offered by the Mountain Lodges of Peru is a 7-day lodge-to-lodge trekking adventure along the historic Inca trail. The journey will take honeymooners through 15 different eco-systems and traverse a mountain pass over 15,000 feet. Following each day’s hike couples can relax with a hot shower in a cozy lodge, experience a Peruvian massage or take a dip in an outdoor jacuzzi, followed by a gourmet meal with select local wines.

Perhaps the best way to celebrate your brand new union is by catching your first dinner together. Alaska Fishing and Raft Adventures can offer you that and more with their solar powered, pre-heated and insulated ice fishing cabins, mobile chanties, and professional fishing guides. On the company’s “fish and cook” adventure, travelers will escape to the clear-ice lake in Fairbanks where they will catch their own dinner that is then expertly prepared and cooked fresh by a guide in their ice fishing cabin over 4ft of ice on a wood stove. Note, these adventures are only offered November-April.

The colorful, romantic, and old-school streets of Morocco make it a superb destination for any couple looking to experience something totally unique. After walking in the markets of Marrakesh, head into the Sahara Desert with Dunes & Desert Morocco. There, visitors can take half-day or day excursions through the gorgeous landscapes of Marrakech, Essaouira, Agadir, Merzouga, Chegaga Zagora, M’Hamid, Ouarzazate, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat and Dakhla. Pick from various adventures including mountain biking, camel riding through sand dunes, explore from above in a hot air balloon, and of course see the vast wilderness of Southern Morocco in a buggy. For something even more special, stay overnight and sleep under the stars in the desert oasis.

St. Lucia already has it all when it comes to honeymoon destinations: warm weather, beautiful beaches, and the chance to cruise through 600 acres of rugged terrain on a mountain bike with your brand-new spouse.

Bike St. Lucia will take riders through custom trails on the gorgeous island, designed for both novice and experienced riders. First, try brushing up on your biking techniques with the company’s private skills area, then heading to its intermediate level single-track trails, which were designed to have a roller coaster feel, taking riders through lush vegetation on the specially-made tracks. Along the way, riders can spot 18th-century French Colonial ruins, the beautiful hilltop site of an old estate, and even see the island’s 2 million gallon reservoir.

You and your new spouse can try and join a pride of lions on a wild safari through the open lands in Namibia via the &Beyond tour company. Along the privately guided Namibian safari, adventurous honeymooners will learn about the wildlife in the area including, gemsboks, zebras, bat-eared foxes, jackals, lions, and of course elephants, as well as spend time with the locals in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. On this journey, honeymooners will even have the chance to step off land and into the sea to spot a few dolphins in the Walvis Bay.

Take a deep breath, calm your mind, and stretch deeply into your new life together by taking a relaxing, but just as action-packed, yoga trip to Bali. The Yoga Barn, a yoga studio and holistic healing retreat located among the area’s famous terraced rice paddy fields, offers more than 100 different classes per week and workshops in Yin, Acro, Classical Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Iyengar, Anusara Inspired, Tai Chi, and more. The facility also has 6 yoga studios, a 10 room guest house, a healing center with cleansing and colonics, an ayurvedic massage and treatment center, an outdoor amphitheater and a juice bar to fulfill all your yoga adventure needs.

Take your honeymoon adventures from day to night by bravely hopping into a kayak in St. Thomas after dark to take on the pirates of the Mangrove Lagoon.

Along the 90-minute journey through the protected Mangrove Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary and Marine Preserve, Virgin Islands Eco Tours will share spooky stories about shipwrecks, ghosts, pirates and more, and help you look for stingrays, tarpon, and other marine life lurking in the dark waters below your kayak.