The Best Honeymoon Destinations in July

Our specialists say the Cook Islands are the most romantic destination for a honeymoon in July. So tiny you’d struggle to pick them out on a map, the 15 islands of the Cook Islands are like little droplets of heaven for a honeymoon in July. Rarotonga is an isle that looks like something out of Jurassic Park, its lush volcanic mountains making for a delightfully wild interior, while its charming locals give the Cooks incredible character. Elsewhere, Aitutaki offers that secluded beach escape you’ll be craving, with secret sands and azure lagoons so beautiful you’ll think you’ve been dropped in paradise.

Holiday type: Dream Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• It’s the dry season in the Cook Islands, so you’ll get fantastic weather.
• It’s not as hot and humid as the rainy season, so the weather will be cool enough to explore Rarotonga’s wild interior but warm enough to relax on the beach.
• Rarotonga will be looking its lush best after a full rainy season.

More about honeymooning in the Cook Islands.

When it comes to natural beauty, The Islands of Tahiti have got it nailed. This is the ultimate picture of paradise: moss-green mountains ringed by cotton-white sands and surrounded by cyan-tinted lagoons. It almost sounds too good to be true but, in fact, it's exactly what will greet you when you arrive. Here, Photoshop isn't needed – the colours are as vibrant and as vivid as your imagination.

Holiday type: Luxury Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• July sits right in the heart of Tahiti's dry season, serving up sunny skies and minimal rainfall.
• It's festival time in Tahiti, with Heiva a month-long colourful celebration of singing and dancing marked across all of its islands.
• Humpback whales first visit Tahiti's waters, making it the first chance of the year to spot these beautiful beasts.

More about honeymooning in The Islands of Tahiti.

Islands far bigger than Saint Lucia would be proud of the natural riches it boasts. There's everything from extinct volcanoes you can climb to thick jungle seeping with waterfalls you can hike to. Its lush landscape is speckled with banana and cocoa plantations, while its gorgeous jungle-clad bays hide a number of golden beaches. It's an island for those who want thrills and chills, where you can embrace your inner wild side and flop on a secluded beach.

Holiday type: Dream Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• You'll miss the majority of the crowds, who arrive during the winter peak season.
• This time of year represents far better value and even though it falls within the region's official hurricane season, the risk of tropical storms is small.
• July is also the culmination of the country's carnival in Castries. Prepare for your senses to be amazed by the calypso beats and colourful costumes on display. Let's party!

More about honeymooning in Saint Lucia.

If you want somewhere to unwind after your wedding, then the languid pace of life that St. Kitts & Nevis offers the perfect honeymoon destination in July. Its tropical scenery has been left untouched, its beautiful surroundings remaining as nature intended. The sheer remoteness of these two islands will leave you spellbound, especially when you take into account that it’s said there are more donkeys than people in St. Kitts!

Holiday type: Dream Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• Even though it’s hurricane season, the risk of tropical storms is very slim and there’ll still be plenty of sunshine hours to enjoy.
• The hurricane season means it’s low season in St. Kitts & Nevis, so you can take advantage of better value for money.
• It’s the Nevis Mango & Food Festival! There’s dining experiences, cooking classes and plenty of mango-infused creations to try. There’s 44 different varieties of mango grown on the island, after all!

More about honeymooning in St. Kitts & Nevis.

Comprising thousands of islands, Indonesia is an enthralling mix of culture, religion, landscapes and traditions. There’s the temple-studded vistas of Bali, remote escapism of Lombok, excellent diving and dragons in Komodo, white beaches of the Gili islands and orangutans in Kalimantan, Borneo. An island-hopping honeymoon in Indonesia is both essential and captivating, so every day is filled with mind-blowing moments.

Holiday type: Multi Destination Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• It’s the height of the dry season in Indonesia, with many of its islands experiencing blue skies filled with sunshine.
• The dry season is the best time to go snorkelling and diving off the coast of Komodo island.
• The lack of rain also makes it easier to spot orangutans in the jungles of Kalimantan, as they’re not sheltering from the tropical showers.

More about honeymooning in Indonesia.

Turquoise lagoons, check. Powder-soft sands, check. Dreamy overwater bungalows, check. Coral reefs so vibrant you’ll discover colours you never knew existed? Check. Fiji ticks all the boxes when it comes to that ideal exotic honeymoon in July. Its friendly locals bring its postcard-perfect landscapes to life, their charming culture making you feel right at home as soon as you step on the sand. The perfect combination for an island paradise in the South Pacific.

Holiday type: Dream Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• It’s Fiji’s winter, so you’ll be welcomed with warm temperatures, minimal rainfall and low humidity.
• It’s the middle of manta ray season, when they head to the Yasawa Islands to feast in the plankton-rich waters.
• The waters are at their clearest, meaning it’s the best time to snorkel and dive among its pastel-hued reefs.

More about honeymooning in Fiji.

The ultimate in island seclusion, the Maldives expertly combines tropical views, luxury and that priceless getting-away-from-it-all feeling. For many, it's exoticism at its peak – whiter-than-white sands, lazily swaying palms and turquoise waters might be a classic combination but it's an irresistible one. Snorkel the coral reefs, kick band on the beaches and soak up Maldivian life in the middle of nowhere and without a care in the world.

Holiday type: Luxury Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• Is the Maldives good for a honeymoon in July?
  Visiting the Maldives in July represents fantastic value for money and is cheaper to holiday there than during the peak season.
• It's one of the best times of year to go swimming with whale sharks and manta rays at Hanifaru Bay, who flock here to feed on the plankton.
• Don't let the 'low season' tag put you off – the chance of rain is still minimal.

More about honeymooning in the Maldives.

From the fast-paced cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to the old-world wonder of Hoi An, rolling rice terraces to dramatic limestone karsts, Vietnam is a compelling patchwork of culture and landscapes. A thin sliver of a country, Vietnam will have you captivated on your honeymoon in July from top to bottom. But even it’s stacked with unforgettable moments, the cream-coloured beaches of Central Vietnam offer a paradisal spot for some romantic respite.

Holiday type: Multi Destination Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• Though the north and south of the country see rain, Central Vietnam experiences dry and sunny days.
• You can afford to spend more time in one place, delving deep into the time-honoured charms of Hoi An.
• Central Vietnam has the best of both worlds – the quaint town of Hoi An and a relaxing beach escape in the form of Ninh Van Bay.

More about honeymooning in Vietnam.

For an unspoilt island escape where it feels like you’ve been dropped in the middle of the ocean, look no further than the Seychelles. In fact, its 115 granitic and coralline islands are as pristine as the next, offering the perfect haven for a honeymoon in July. But they all have their own distinct character, whether it’s a languid pace of life, a wild interior worth exploring or fringed by talcum-soft beaches and they’re close enough to each other that you can combine a few for a honeymoon to truly remember.

Holiday type: Dream Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• It’s the dry season, so the days can be warm and dry, which is more pleasant compared to the hot and wet rainy season.
• It’s one of the best times for wildlife, with July falling in prime nesting season for many of its seabirds and it’s also the first month when whale sharks can be spotted off the shores of Mahé.
• The cooler weather makes it perfect for exploring the emerald interiors of the Seychelles’ islands and for lazing on its white sands.

More about honeymooning in the Seychelles.

From the emerald bowl of the Ngorongoro Crater, which has the highest density of lions in Africa, to the wildlife-rich Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania has many great options for a safari honeymoon. Its headline attraction, however, is Serengeti National Park, where at this time of year over one million wildebeest charge towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, across dusty savannah plains and through might rivers. It’s the greatest show on Earth!

Holiday type: Safari Honeymoon

Why visit in July?

• July is in Tanzania’s dry season following the ‘long rains’, which have left the country’s scenery an emerald green.
• It’s the time of the Great Migration! Watch on in awe as a million wildebeest thunder across the landscape towards the Masai Mara.
• It’s also great weather-wise in Zanzibar, which is a great place for relaxing after being on safari.

More about honeymooning in Tanzania.