With back-to-school season well underway and the colder weather starting to settle across the UK, it’s time to start thinking about those winter-sun escapes. According to The British Travellers Associate, 42% of people either booked or considered a winter trip this year with 31% choosing winter sun.
From the white-lined shores of Turks and Caicos to the dusty foothills of the Aravalli Mountains in Rajasthan, BIRD has rounded up sun-soaked offering a much-needed dose of vitamin D, sure to get UK travellers swapping scarves for swimsuits.
A mind, body and soul reset at Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand
Average winter temperature: 25°C
Located on the southern coast of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, Kamalaya is inspired by its founders’ who have been quietly trailblazing to create a destination which facilitates journeys to promote self-discovery and transformation. With warm weather enveloping the island from November through to May, Kamalaya is the perfect choice for a winter sun escape that heals the mind, body and soul. Since its opening in 2005, Kamalaya has successfully positioned itself as a global leader in the wellness space offering in-depth programmes from Comprehensive Detox, Ideal Weight, and Optimal Fitness to Enriched Gut, Sleep Enhancement, Embracing Change and Emotional Harmony.
To book: A Seven-night Embracing Change programme on a full board basis from £4,399pp sharing, including flights and transfers, accommodation, all meals, and beverages (excluding imported drinks and alcohol), transfers and seventeen treatments.
The Caribbean’s best kept secret: Pine Cay
Average winter temperature: 27°C
The secluded 800-acre private island in Turks and Caicos is the perfect place to escape the cold and avoid crowded winter sun destinations. Home to an elegant 13-room hotel, a collection of private homes and two miles of pristine white-sand beach, Pine Cay is just a 20-minute boat ride from the mainland. Overlooking the beautiful blues of the ocean and shimmering freshwater lagoons, guests are invited to enjoy the most secret spot in the Caribbean.Offering activities aplenty, days are spent snorkelling over the kaleidoscopic coral reef. Diving can be arranged with a trusted local dive partner, as can kitesurfing. Paddle boards and entirely transparent kayaks are ready and waiting to be borrowed, and the cerulean waters are ripe for fishing adventures, including deep-sea fishing and unrivalled world-class bone-fishing. Back on dry land, there’s birdwatching, biking, tennis, swimming in the freshwater pool, under-the-stars screenings at the Sand Dollar Cinema or day trips to nearby islands.
To book: Island-Inclusive rates at Pine Cay start from $1,650 per room per night including all meals, soft drinks, select alcohol, transfers from the mainland, watersports, sailing and all on-island activities, based on two sharing.
Finch Bay Eco-Hotel, Galapagos Islands: A warmer winter for wildlife exploration
Average winter temperature: 27°C
Winter in the Galápagos Islands offers ideal conditions for exploration and relaxation, with warm temperatures, calm pristine seas, and vibrant wildlife activity. Finch Bay, the leading eco-hotel in the Galápagos, is a serene oasis and sandy beachfront cove on Santa Cruz Island that serves as the perfect gateway to the archipelago’s most iconic sites. Guests can indulge in bespoke, eco-conscious luxury while further exploring the islands aboard Metropolitan Touring’s expedition yachts. Among the lowest passenger-to-guide ratio in the Galapagos, guests can watch enchanting wildlife, snorkel with sea lions, hike to volcanic landscapes or soak up the equatorial sun. A short water taxi ride from Finch Bay Hotel can also take guests to Puerto Ayora town centre, where visitors can immerse themselves in the lively Galapageño culture with local markets, ocean-front restaurants or perhaps an educational visit to the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station.
To book: From £490/night, for a stay in December 2024.
Connect with nature at Anopura, India
Average winter temperature: 25°C
Tucked away in the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains, Anopura is a pocket-sized paradise enveloped by lemon groves, frangipani trees and marigolds. This corner of Rajasthan enjoys minimal rainfall and bright sunshine throughout the winter, yet still eludes the crowds and offers many eye-opening activities to explorers with innate curiosity who are looking to escape traditional winter festivities. Anopura was created to encourage guests to recreate the simplicity of a child’s first discoveries with nature (there has been a huge increase in sightings of leopards for 2024); plucking vegetables from the fields, milking cows, and bird watching whilst learning about local wildlife. Signature offerings include leopard safaris across astonishing landscapes rich with history, and picnics in temple ruins at dusk with homemade pakoras in tiffin boxes and chilled beers, whilst soaking in the Aravalli Mountain range. Guests can also try their hand at skill-based activities such as pottery, block printing and carpet weaving.
To book: Rates for a One Bedroom Farm Villa start from £170 per night on a B&B basis.
A remote getaway at Cap Karoso on the magnetic island of Sumba
Average winter temperature: 29°C
Discover Cap Karoso, an all-encompassing island escape that offers complete immersion in the remote island of Sumba’s magic and unique culture. The sprawling, eco-conscious haven with 44 rooms and 20 villas is set amongst an expansive three-hectare organic farm, supplying most of the produce for the resort’s restaurants and bar. This winter, Cap Karoso’s guests can discover Sumba’s carefully preserved indigenous culture in a meaningful way, experiencing its incredible Bronze Age tribal traditions through visits to local communities and traditional activities such as Ikat weaving and fishing. Additionally, Cap Karoso will play host to world-renowned chefs at fine-dining restaurant and community table, Julang, with household names Mehdi Kebboul, Katsu Okiyama and Numa Muller welcomed as the first of many
To book: Prices for Studio Suites start from £320, 2-bedroom duplexes are from £875 and 2-bedroom villas are from £1,200 per night on a B&B basis.
Caribbean sunshine with a side of wellness at SHA Mexico
Average winter temperature: 27°C
Rising above the Mayan jungle and sitting across from the turquoise Caribbean Sea, SHA Mexico invites guests to embark on a journey of self-discovery and optimal health. For a winter-sun escape with an added dose of wellness, guests can choose between four personalised health programmes. Unique to SHA Mexico, the wellness clinic is set off the coast of the largest coral reef in the Americas offering guests a unique location to immerse with nature, which has its own healing benefits, along with therapies inspired in the prehepatic cultures, such as Temazcal, aimed to heal the body and the mind.
To book: Rates at SHA Mexico start from $5,770 USD, inclusive of the 4-day Recover and Energise programme, SHA Nutrition plan and in-room accommodations in an ocean front deluxe room.
A jungle escape to Nirjhara, Bali
Average winter temperature: 31°C
Sustainable hideaway, Nirjhara, is located in Kedungu on Bali’s southwest coast and has been artfully designed around the spectacular cascading waterfall after which it is named. Blending seamlessly into nature, the property offers guests a secluded and environmentally conscious haven, just a stone’s throw from the island’s volcanic sand beaches and must-see Tanah Lot Temple. This season, visitors to Nirjhara can expect a host of spiritual wellness activities, including all-day off property blessing ceremonies, and an extensive list of mindful offerings, such as sunrise surfing, sunset horse riding and rice-paddy trekking. Guests visiting this season can also tie in a visit with a trip to one of Southeast Asia’s leading literary and cultural events, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, running from 24-27th October. This festival brings together authors, readers, and intellectuals from around the world for inspirational talks, workshops, and readings.
To book: Rates at Nirjhara start from £355 during low season and £440 during high season per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two sharing a Canopy Suite.
A family escape: LUX* Belle Mare, Mauritius
Average winter temperature: 28°C
Situated in the wild tropics of the east coast of Mauritius, LUX* Belle Mare is the perfect base to escape the grey skies and long, dark evenings, with temperatures hovering in the high-20s all throughout winter. This year, LUX* Belle Mare ranked in third place in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Awards, cementing its place as a well-loved luxury resort across generations. For families, LUX* Belle Mare’s kids’ club PLAY offers an innovative space where children can engage in expertly curated activities that foster individuality, self-discovery, and personal development. The immersive facilities include the Sandbox Studio, which enables parent-child augmented reality experiences, to skimboard kite competitions, volleyball, and beachside football. The resort’s indoor-outdoor interconnected beach-hut-style suites are ideal for multi-generational groups who still want their own slice of privacy. Alternatively, families can opt for one of the 12 unique villas, each featuring a private pool, 24-hour butler service, and just a one-minute gentle stroll to the private beach.
To Book: Rates at Lux Belle Mare start from £355 per night. Guests travelling from the UK to all LUX* Resorts in Mauritius between 11 October 2024 to 11 November 2024 can enjoy a limited time exclusive online offer, celebrating the results of the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. Those booking rooms at LUX* resorts will receive an exclusive promo code to enjoy 15% off* Economy and Business Class fares. Terms and conditions apply.
Unveiling Soneva’s Winter Collection
Average winter temperature: 26°C
The Soneva Winter Collection invites guests to experience the very best of the season at their resorts dotted across the Maldives. With guaranteed sunshine and minimal rainfall throughout the winter months, guests at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani can enjoy an exclusive lineup of culinary, fitness and wellness legends, as part of their esteemed Soneva Stars programming. In November, guests can dine on revered chef Ravinder Bhogal’s cuisine, inspired by her mixed heritage and the UK’s diverse immigrant culture. Alternatively, in December guests can learn from football freestyler Marcel Gurk, who holds an impressive 10 Guinness World Records, or planetary scientist, Dr Armin Kleinböhl, whose work focusing on Mars and Venus led him to author or co-author more than 100 scientific publications. Not simply the reserve of couples, Soneva’s family-focused offerings ensure even the littlest guests are well looked after during their stay. Young Sonevians can explore fun-packed daily programmes full of seasonal cheer at The Den, including a special visit from Santa, in addition to exciting water sports, nature-inspired thrills, and family feasts on the beach.
To book: Rates at Soneva Fushi start from £1,900 per night on a B&B basis, and rates at Soneva Jani start from £2,500 per night on a B&B basis.
LUX* Marijani, Zanzibar
Average winter temperature: 30°C
LUX* Marijani, set on the iconic Pwani Mchangani beach on the North-East coast of Zanzibar transports guests from grey skies to white sand beaches overlooking the Indian Ocean. The resort offers a blend of Arabian architecture with a coastal Swahili feel, taking cues from its natural surroundings and creating a relaxed feel throughout the property – perfect for recuperation after a busy festive period. Throughout winter, the team at LUX* Marijani provides unparalleled warm and gracious service, with a curated one-of-a-kind collection of Extraordinary Experiences including, sailing on a traditional dhow to the shallows of Mnemba Island (famed for its dive sites), and 19th Century Hamamni Persian Baths and forest bathing in the resort’s indigenous forest.
To book: Rates start from approx. £280 per night on a B&B basis for 2 people sharing.
