Forget Chocolates or Roses. Say it with a Holiday

Thursday, 8th February 2018

Will Gray

canada british columbia couple kayaking istk

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are seven of the most exciting, off-beat and far-flung places to hold hands, peck your loved one on the cheek, pop the question or say ‘Happy Anniversary’…

canada british columbia grizzly bear knight inlet

1. British Columbia

Love is: Escaping to a wilderness lodge and glimpsing your first ever grizzly bear or humpback whale.

Love it: Whales and Bears at Farewell Harbour Tucked away on a thickly forested Pacific Coast island, this idyllic lodge is perfectly located for tracking down the grizzly bears of Knight Inlet and the orcas and humpback whales of Johnstone Strait.

Perfect partner: Ultimate Pacific Coast Experience – a 10-night self-drive combining mainland BC and Vancouver Island.

sweden lapland icehotel sleeping bags db

2. Swedish Lapland

Love is: Snuggled up in a cosy double sleeping bag in the Icehotel, surrounded by exquisite ice sculptures.

Love it: Icehotel Break Experience the magic of one of the world’s iconic hotels high above the Arctic Circle.

new zealand canterbury ashburton couple at

3. New Zealand

Love is: Stepping out of a helicopter onto a glacier in the Southern Alps or hiking to a stunning viewpoint to find ‘Middle Earth’ spread below you.

Love it: Discover Aotearoa With three weeks to roam, this self-drive is packed with highlights and includes experiences such a cruise on Doubtful Sound.

4. Norway

Love is: Hopping in your hire car, driving through the heart-racing scenery of the Lofoten Islands and cosying up in a rorbuer (a traditional fisherman’s hut) for the night.

Love it: Around Lofoten With limited availability in summer, book now for this fabulous self-drive to Norway’s spectacular Lofoten Islands, driving one of Europe’s finest coastal routes.

5. Iceland

Love is: Slipping into a geothermal pool and gently poaching yourself at 38-40°C.

Love it: Reykjanes Explorer and Blue Lagoon Break Home to the world-famous Blue Lagoon, the Reykjanes Peninsula (an otherworldly landscape of black lava, geothermal fields and sea cliffs) is the dramatic setting for this self-drive holiday based at the cosy Northern Light Inn. Includes access to the brand new spa and wellness centre at Northern Light Inn.

6. Finland

Love is: Floating away into a pristine wilderness of lakes and forests in Central Finland.

Love it: Finland Houseboat Break On this gentle, self-guided cruise, you can enjoy midsummer light throughout the night, anchor off an island for a swim, try a spot of fishing and explore local villages.

australia queensland whitsundays heart reef floatplane ta

7. Australia

Love is: Snorkelling, goggle-eyed, above the coral-kaleidoscope of the Great Barrier Reef.

Love it: Join an expedition voyage in the company of a marine biologist, setting out from Cairns, cruising to the Ribbon Reefs for amazing snorkelling and diving and visiting Cooktown.