If you’re considering going on a new adventure with your partner and splashing out to celebrate an anniversary or promotion, consider exploring a natural landscape. There are hidden gems out there with gorgeous scenery to marvel at.
Whether you’re planning a honeymoon or a retirement holiday, these picks are some of the most romantic places in the world.
Lech Zürs, Austria
When choosing ski holidays in Austria, you can’t go wrong with Lech Zürs, one of Austria’s most celebrated resorts in the heart of Arlberg. It offers a total of 300km of piste, 130km for beginners and 50km for seasoned skiers in an area known for its snow reliability. Thanks to its microclimate, Lech Zürs experiences up to 11 metres of natural snow every year.
The main season runs from mid-December to the end of March and possibly into April, depending on conditions. January and February are usually your best bet for snow quality, but there are plenty of other activities to enjoy.
Lech is home to a 40km network of hiking trails, snowshoe walks, and ice skating, curling, and tobogganing opportunities. In town, you can enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride before a trip to a sauna and a gourmet restaurant.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Lofoten is a Norweigan archipelago known for its dramatic scenery. Due to its placing north of the Arctic Circle, the sun bathes the islands in golden light 24 hours a day from late May through mid-July.
After exploring its dramatic fjords and sheltered bays, you can visit the Lofotr Viking Museum to discover its Nordic history. You can also explore the islands via their many cycle routes, passing through colourful buildings in fishing villages like Henningsvær.
The archipelago is rich in wildlife, with elks, foxes, hares on the ground, whales in the sea, and many bird species. Migratory and wintering birds, including herons, swans, and ducks, fill the marshland and wetland areas, but perhaps the most impressive are the white-tailed eagles. With their two-metre wingspan, they make an impressive sight and an unforgettable bird-watching experience.
Saba, Caribbean
Saba is known as the “Unspoiled Queen” in the Caribbean for its lush rainforests, pristine diving spots, and lack of big tourist crowds. The five-square-mile island, which you can reach on the world’s shortest commercial runway, is a municipality of The Netherlands free from fast-food franchises and duty-free shopping malls.
Saba is unusual in that it lacks beaches except for the minuscule black-sand “disappearing beach” at Well’s Bay, which can only be seen from June through October. Instead of sun and sand, you and your partner can enjoy the island’s ecotourism. Saba offers exceptional climbing and hiking up Mount Scenery, the Netherlands’ highest point at 2,910 feet.
In the water, try diving among the reefs and seamounts created by underwater lava flows offshore. The Pinnacles, thin spires rising from the sea floor, are especially popular with divers, with the Eye of the Needle a favourite for peaking 90 feet below the surface.
