The wows after vows

So you want to be different from the others. No clichéd Mauritian or Maldivian honeymoon locations will do for you. Whether it's deep-sea diving that thrills you or long journeys by rail, we have put together a few adventurous honeymoon options for you.
 
Your honeymoon album will turn out to be very different from everyone else's as you get off the beaten track and on to a road less travelled.

1. Seek out prehistoric creatures on the Galapagos Islands: These islands were born out of volcanoes erupting underwater and they are constantly moving ever so slowly. The barren landscape of the islands is evocative and teeming with giant tortoises, sea lions, marine iguanas and plenty of bird species.

These islands are now listed as a World Heritage Site. National park certified naturalist tour guides accompany all visitors to the islands in an effort to protect the natural habitat. Visit www.discovergalapagos.com for details.

2. Sail away on an Antarctica cruise ship: Take a trip of a lifetime aboard the National Geographic Explorer around the spectacular Antarctic peninsula. Wake up to towering icebergs and whitewashed mountains, walk on penguin-filled beaches and kayak amid marine life looking for leopard seals. Visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com for details.

3. Dive into the beauty off the island of Zanzibar: This is a honeymoon destination list, so at least one beach destination certainly has to feature. Zanzibar, located in the Indian Ocean, is known for beautiful waters, and great diving and snorkelling sites. Zanzibar's Pemba reefs include the Emerald Reef, the Panza Wreck, the Mandela Wall and many more. There are amazing wrecks around Stone Town that attract divers and snorkellers too. Visit www.zanzibarquest.com for details.

4. Take a train ride: Hop on the Orient Express around Europe for a dash of old-time romance. The 1920s carriages carry history in their wood-and-glass Art Deco interiors. Visit www.orient-express.com for details. Get on-board the Palace on Wheels in India, no stranger to the list of the best train journeys of the world. Visit www.palaceonwheels.net for details. The Blue Train in South Africa offers its guests some of the world's most scenic journeys. Visit www.bluetrain.co.za for more information.

5. Go hot-air ballooning over Cappadocia, Turkey: Take off in the chilly dawn to float silently over the Cappadocian moonscape dotted with beautiful villages, vineyards and fruit orchards for an hour before landing in a farmer's field. End the unforgettable ride with a bubbly. This unique region is replete with exceptional natural wonders, particularly fairy chimneys that rise high above ground level. Visit www.cappadocia.travel for more information.

6. Trek around Cusco, Macchu Picchu and Peru: Visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and you will come away astounded by the beauty of Peru. It is a land of extremes. From the lush Andes Mountains to the rolling sand dunes of the Peruvian coast, this country is rich in pre-Columbian culture with its citizens still living and speaking the way their ancestors did centuries ago. Things to see would be the Inca Trail and Macchu Picchu, besides Lake Titicaca and the capital Lima. Peru is situated on the Pacific coast of South America between Ecuador and Bolivia. Visit www.lonelyplanet.com/peru for details.

7. Pedal together on a cycling holiday: Easy, cheap and ecofriendly, cycling holidays are often the best way to languidly explore a countryside. As you pass scenic landscapes and buzzing marketplaces, cycling tours enable you to go at your own pace. You can select from the easy to the more challenging cycling tours. Cycle around Denmark with its flat roads or take it to the next level in Jordan or Tasmania, Australia. Visit www.greatcycling.com for details

— Andrea Bailey is a UAE-based freelance writer