Mountain honeymoon destinations

Glacier trains, chalets and lakes so blue they look painted. In summer or in snow.

Best Sep–Oct, Dec–Mar$3,020–$5,470 a week5–8 nights

Glacier Express panorama train · Matterhorn sunrise from Gornergrat · Fondue in a mountain chalet

A lake ringed by mountains, Pinot country next door and Milford Sound a day away.

Best Nov–Apr$2,450–$4,620 a week4–7 nights

Cruise through Milford Sound · Bungee jump at the Kawarau Bridge · Gondola dinner above the lake

Houseboats on Dal Lake, shikaras at dawn and snow on the meadows of Gulmarg.

Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Mar$560–$1,400 a week5–7 nights

Shikara ride to the floating market at dawn · A night on a Dal Lake houseboat · Gulmarg gondola to the snowline

Turquoise lakes, a castle hotel and the Rockies’ most beautiful road.

Best Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar$2,632–$4,592 a week4–7 nights

Canoe on Lake Louise · Soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs · Drive the Icefields Parkway

Colorado in both seasons: powder days and fireside après in winter, the Maroon Bells and golden aspens in summer and fall.

Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Mar$3,430–$6,860 a week4–6 nights

Sunrise at the Maroon Bells · A powder day on Aspen Mountain · Gondola to the top for a mountain lunch

The Annapurnas reflected in Phewa Lake, sunrise from Sarangkot, paragliding and short Himalayan treks.

Best Oct–Apr$525–$1,260 a week3–5 nights

Sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot · Tandem paragliding over Phewa Lake · Rowing to the Tal Barahi island temple

Cliffside monasteries, prayer flags and a kingdom that measures happiness.

Best Nov–Dec$2,380–$3,710 a week5–8 nights

Hike to Tiger’s Nest monastery · Traditional hot-stone bath · Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge

Castles, lochs and wild glens, with a whisky by the fire at the end of the day.

Best May–Jun (rated Good)$1,855–$3,325 a week5–8 nights

A night in a castle hotel · Whisky distillery tour · Jacobite steam train over the viaduct

Snow at Solang, apple orchards, riverside cafés in Old Manali and the mountains just through the Atal Tunnel.

Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Feb$455–$1,085 a week4–6 nights

A snow day at Solang Valley · Tandem paragliding over Solang · Hadimba Temple and the cedar forest

Rolling tea hills, mist in the valleys and cosy plantation bungalows in the Western Ghats.

Best Dec–Mar$455–$1,155 a week2–4 nights

A tea-estate walk at dawn · Sunrise over the clouds at Top Station · Nilgiri tahr in Eravikulam National Park

Sunrise on Kanchenjunga, a toy train through the clouds and tea on a colonial veranda.

Best Nov–Mar$420–$1,015 a week3–4 nights

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill · Toy train on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway · Tea tasting on a heritage estate

The Princess of Hill Stations: a star-shaped lake, misty pine forests, Coaker’s Walk and cliff-edge views over the plains.

Best Jan–Mar$420–$980 a week2–4 nights

Coaker’s Walk above the clouds · Cycling round Kodai Lake · A rowing boat on the lake

Monasteries and views of Kanchenjunga, the frozen lake at Tsomgo, and the rhododendron valleys of North Sikkim.

Best Feb, Oct–Dec$490–$1,155 a week4–6 nights

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tashi View Point · Tsomgo Lake and the road towards Nathu La · Rumtek Monastery

Rowing on a lake ringed by hills, the ropeway to Snow View, and quieter lakes at Bhimtal and Sattal just down the road.

Best Oct–May$420–$1,050 a week2–4 nights

A rowing boat on Naini Lake · Ropeway to Snow View Point · Sunrise from Tiffin Top

Tbilisi’s sulphur baths and balconied old town, the Kakheti wine country and the hilltop church below Mount Kazbek.

Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct$665–$1,400 a week5–7 nights

A private sulphur bath in Abanotubani · Gergeti Trinity Church below Mount Kazbek · A wine tasting and supra feast in Kakheti

The old summer capital: a toy train, colonial lanes along the Ridge and snow in Kufri in winter.

Best Feb–May, Oct–Dec$420–$1,085 a week2–4 nights

Toy train on the Kalka–Shimla railway · Sunset stroll along the Ridge and Mall Road · A snow day in Kufri

The Queen of the Nilgiris: a mountain railway, tea gardens and misty lakeside mornings.

Best Dec–Apr$420–$980 a week2–4 nights

Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train to Coonoor · Rowing on Ooty Lake · Botanical Garden walk

A cabin with a hot tub and a mountain view, misty ridges, autumn colour and fireflies that blink in sync.

Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov$1,785–$3,185 a week3–5 nights

Evening in a cabin hot tub with a mountain view · Cades Cove loop at dawn for deer and black bears · Sunset from Clingmans Dome

The Queen of the Hills: Mall Road strolls, Himalayan views from Lal Tibba, and the colonial lanes and bakeries of Landour.

Best Feb–May, Oct–Dec$420–$1,050 a week2–4 nights

Sunrise over the Himalaya from Lal Tibba · A walk round Landour’s Chaar Dukaan · Ropeway to Gun Hill at sunset

A high-altitude desert: Pangong’s blue lake, monasteries on cliffs, Nubra’s sand dunes and some of the world’s highest roads.

Best Jun–Sep$595–$1,330 a week6–8 nights

Pangong Lake at sunrise · Over Khardung La to Nubra · A camel ride on the Hunder dunes