If you like me are looking forward to your next holiday, but not the crowds, then maybe you need to consider a more isolated location. You still want the facilities available but you don’t want to be sharing your space with thousands of other people. With that in mind, I’ve put together my top five locations for those of you looking for a secluded exotic retreat.
1. Go off grid in Greece
Greece is one of my favourite locations. Great food, beautiful turquoise seas and you can be there within 4 hours. My favourite memory is sitting listening to the Cicadas in the olive trees, drinking a glass of wine and eating olives; simple pleasures.
You can find many great locations for seclusion in Greece, but my favourite is Ithaca. An island off the western coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea, Ithaca is the legendary home of Odysseus. It is only approximately. 14 miles from top to bottom and 4 miles wide, so really easy to explore. Great for hiking and walking, you can explore the many villages and coves of the island. Unlike many Greek Islands, Ithaca is abundant with lush plants and flowers due to the high rain levels during the winter.
For a secluded beach take a 20 minute walk from the capital to Loutsa, one of the only sandy beaches on the island and in my opinion the prettiest. Beautiful views of the capital, a small bar and sunbeds. Watch the sun go down as you sip on a Mythos.
You can also island hop to Kefalonia from here if you want a two centre holiday.
Best time to travel is June to July as August gets busy with visitors from Athens.
2. Unwind in Ubud
Whilst the crowds head for the beach in Bali, head inland to Ubud instead. Surrounded by tropical jungles and the sound of monkeys, this is a true paradise. There are many boutique hotels situated with views over the tree top canopies or the rice fields offering stunning vistas.
One of the best in our opinion is the Puri Wulandari Boutique Resort. You can sit looking out at pure calm and tranquility across the treetops. Treat yourself to a traditional massage in the spa or a Balinese theatre performance in one of the local villages.
Whilst here, visit Ubud Monkey Forest and Taman Saraswati Temple (Water Palace). Enjoy panoramic views while walking through rice fields and local villages. If you are feeling adventurous take a swing ride over the forest.
Best time to visit is June-September when days are sunny and nights are a bit cooler and if you really want the beach then try a two centre.
3. Mellow out in the Maldives
A somewhat obvious choice, but the Maldives still has the pull for anyone wanting a secluded beach based holiday. Pay for an overwater bungalow and enjoy snorkelling straight from your accommodation whenever you want. Most resorts offer either over water or beach bungalows which allows you to truly get away from it all. Your own personal piece of paradise. You can even arrange for a waters edge dinner for two, just one of the reasons the Maldive is a firm favourite with couples.
If you love sand, swimming and watersports then the Maldives is for you. Some of our lucky customers swiped bargain rates at the amazing Filitheyo Island Resort earlier this month. The reef is bursting with aquatic life including fish, reef sharks and rays and the infinity-edge swimming pool adjacent to the sea, complete with a swim-up bar, is the perfect vantage point to relax.
As one of our most popular destinations for returning customers we often have deals advertised so keep a look out.
4. Big game in Botswana
This is definitely on our bucket list. If you can afford a private small group safari then we’d recommend doing this, however you can still have a great safari experience without a private tour, by picking the right location with the right facilities.
Tuli Lodge in The Northern Tuli Game Reserve is a real find. With only 11 elegant suites, nestled in amongst the shade of the properties trees, it is a perfect choice for a secluded safari holiday.
With 48 large mammal species incorporating approximately 20,000 animals on the reserve, you are guaranteed to see a wide variety of game. You are (almost) guaranteed sightings of elephants here. Either go out on an organised safari or hole up in one of the on property hides with your drinks and snacks for a more personal experience.
An experience of a lifetime we will definitely be booking for ourselves in the near future.
5. Chill out in Costa Rica
As an ethical agent, this is another of our bucket list locations. Costa Rica offers a great choice for those of you looking for eco friendly locations. Don’t forget to offset your flight using our offsetting tool on our website.
Costa Rica has some great beaches, but it’s the abundance of wildlife and scenery of the tropical rainforest that we recommend customers to experience. There are so many great eco friendly lodges that we couldn’t possibly pick one, but you can guarantee something that will suit every type of visitor. For complete seclusion then the Nicuesa Lodge, which is only accessible by boat or the community spirited Hotel La Quinta Sarapiqui where you can get involved in Eco friendly activities such as tree planting, a chocolate tour or visit a local school.
This is a soul cleansing experience you will never forget.
If you are interested in any of these holiday suggestions, please contact me on 02921 283143 or email paula@worldexplorerholidays.co.uk. Keep up to date on our blogs by liking and following us on Facebook. You can also follow us on Instagram @worldexplorerholiday and twitter @worldexplorerh1.
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I would put my hands up for all of them
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