Looking For Some Winter Sun? Here Are 10 Ideas

The clocks falling back has really dulled our shine – and there’s no better pick-me-up than booking a holiday. Here are 10 winter sun ideas to cut through the gloom this season.

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Winter Sun Holiday Ideas 2024/25

Kamalaya Koh Samui

Retreat In Thailand

Thailand is one of the most popular countries to visit on a global scale right now – a trend that’s going nowhere fast with The White Lotus season 3 on the horizon. Take a moment to slow down as 2024 draws to a close and 2025 starts anew, and secure your spot on a retreat. Healing Holidays has plenty to choose from, spanning integrative wellness on the jungle-clad island of Bang Krachao (just outside of Bangkok), to a health and sports resort in a forest just 20 minutes from Phuket, to a hypnotically beautiful holistic spa resort overlooking Koh Samui.

BOOK IT: Find Healing Holidays’ collection of Thailand retreats at healingholidays.com

Haldu Tola, Pench Tiger Reserve (Explorations Company)

Pench Tiger Reserve, India

Safaris are always a popular choice come winter, but here’s a unique option. Introducing Haldu Tola, a beautiful private villa immersed in a magical part of India renowned for its wildlife. Now part of Explorations Company’s unparalleled portfolio, this one-of-a-kind property is named for the Haldu tree and its eight connected buildings which form a hamlet or ‘tola’. Step inside through the grand crafted doorway to find an elegant courtyard orbited by four en suite bedrooms, a dining room, and a majestic living room opening out onto the heated pool. It’s the perfect destination for an intergenerational escape – complete with world-class wildlife spotting guided with your own senior camp manager.

BOOK IT: Rooms start from £19,500 for a five night stay for five to eight guests, including twice daily safaris, cooking lessons, star gazing, all meals and soft drinks and airport transfers. Find out more and enquire at explorationscompany.com

Our Habitas Kalahari, Namibia

Kalahari Desert, Namibia

Speaking of wildlife, November to February is the perfect time to visit Namibia – when daytime temperatures settle around 25 to 35°C, while cooler night temperatures drop to 15 to 20°C. Set against the panoramic savannah, Our Habitas Kalahari is made up of 40 stylish tents, a communal lounge, a pool and a wellness centre, all located on a 50,000 hectare private wildlife reserve just 45 minutes from the Windhoek airport. It makes for the perfect natural escape this season: think expansive sand dunes, salt pans and diverse wildlife, with activities including guided desert safaris, stargazing and cultural experiences with local tribes.

BOOK IT: Rooms start from £300 per night and can be booked at ourhabitas.com

andBeyond Vira Vira, Chile

Araucanía, Chile

For off-beat winter sun holiday ideas, look to South America. Sun seekers, adventure lovers and culture vultures alike should flock to varied Chile this season, when the southern hemisphere’s summer is just getting started. Hidden in the foothills of the Andes, Chile’s answer to the Lake District is home to andBeyond Vira Vira, an exclusive riverside lodge backdropped by breathtaking landscapes. Expect cosy interiors, private outdoor hot tubs and split-level suites, with on-site farm, vegetable garden and even a cheese factory creating a culinary haven. Just beyond the hotel, discover wildlife, volcanoes, local wine, and the UNESCO-protected Huerquehue National Park.

BOOK IT: Rooms start from $950 USD per person per night, and can be booked at andbeyond.com

Bequia Beach Hotel, St Vincent & The Grenadines

St Vincent & The Grenadines

Winter sun and the Caribbean are almost synonymous – but you can still veer off the beaten track. Perched on one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean is the beautiful but still relatively undiscovered Bequia Beach Hotel. A family owned gem championing laid back luxury, expect a charming setting with a soothingly relaxed atmosphere – perfect for dusting off the cobwebs as we enter 2025. And for a taste of the surroundings, a new culinary tour is on offer this season, introducing guests to local markets, stalls and restaurants to learn about all about the island’s cuisine and produce.

BOOK IT: Rooms start from $319 (approx £250) per night, including breakfast, and can be booked at bequiabeachhotel.com

Two-Bedroom Pool Villa at Nirjhara

Bali, Indonesia

This eco jungle hideaway has been artfully designed around the spectacular cascading waterfall after which it is named. Nirjhara is located in Kedungu on Bali’s southwest coast, blending seamlessly into nature and boasting a whole host of spiritual wellness activities this season, including all-day off property blessing ceremonies, sunrise surfing, sunset horse riding and rice-paddy trekking.

BOOK IT: Rooms 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. Book at nirjhara.com

Antigua, Guatemala (Getty)

Guatemala & Belize

For a Caribbean alternative, Guatemala and Belize are home to ancient Mayan cities, rainforests, labyrinthine caves, lakes and smouldering volcanoes – while still enjoying the glorious Caribbean coastline. A South American adventure is the perfect way to combine adventure with culture – and guaranteed sun – and cazenove+loyd can arrange thrilling itineraries for every kind of traveller. On one itinerary, the adventure begins in the pretty colonial city of Antigua in Guatemala, before guests travel to stunning Lake Atitlán for kayaking and hiking. Next are the jungles of northern Guatemala, home to the hidden Mayan ruins of Tikal, before guests fly to Belize’s best beach destination Placencia Peninsula complete with palm-fringed white-sand shores and one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world.

BOOK IT: Prices for this trip to Guatemala and Belize start from £7,500pp (based on two sharing), including 14 nights’ accommodation, domestic flights, transfers and all experiences (excluding international flights). For more inspiration, visit cazloyd.com

LUX* Belle Mare, Mauritius

Mauritius

For a family escape this winter, LUX* Belle Mare is just what the doctor ordered. Enjoying temperatures in the high 20s all winter long, this luxurious resort’s indoor-outdoor interconnected beach-hut-style suites are ideal for multi-generational groups who still want their own slice of privacy come evening. And by day, kids can enjoy a dedicated club, PLAY, featuring expertly curated activities that foster individuality, self-discovery, and personal development.

BOOK IT: Rooms start from £355 per night, and can be booked at luxresorts.com

SHA Mexico

Cancun, Mexico

A hop further north, Mexico is similarly all about Caribbean sunshine, with an average winter temperature hovering around 27°C. Escape the party crowds and embark on a journey of self-discovery and optimal health this winter at SHA Mexico. Rising above the Mayan jungle, set off the coast of the Americas’ largest coral reef, guests can choose between four personalised health programmes, healing both the winter blues and the body.

BOOK IT: Prices start from $5,770 USD, inclusive of the four-day Recover and Energise programme and an SHA Nutrition plan in an ocean front deluxe room. Book at shawellness.com

Coral Reef Club

Barbados

Fancy a sporty escape? As padel popularity soars to new heights, Barbados’ Coral Reef Club has launched brand new courts this season, while the 2025 schedule promises plenty of wellness residencies joining the stunning spa. Family owned and operated, Coral Reef Club is home to 88 classically designed suites, dotted across beautifully landscaped gardens with sweeping views of the calm Caribbean Sea – in short, a dreamy winter sun escape.

BOOK IT: Rooms start from £1,090 per night including breakfast, and can be booked at coralreefbarbados.com