Your top three long-haul holiday destinations

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

Given we haven't been anywhere for over a year now, we are planning a long-haul holiday in 2022 (UK summer or autumn). There are so many beautiful places to visit though and choosing is proving hard. We're not looking for a beach holiday or a city holiday. Ideally we'd like something with lots of nature (Canada, Rockies, that kind of thing). We've been to Australia and have done safaris in Africa and are keen to try something new.

So I thought I'd ask here - what are your top three long-haul holiday destinations? It'd be just two adults, no kids. Thank you!

I 3rd Costa Rica !

Sri Lanka
Singapore
Bali

Cheating by combining destinations but I have done the combined holidays

Peru, Ecuador and Galapagos-definitely my favourite trip

Laos& Vietnam

Japan

Costa Rica was amazing. There are beaches if you want them, but so much to see without needing to do that. There are several resorts with hot springs heated by the volcanoes (we did a child friendly one with lots of slides, but did an evening trip Tina really posh one more aimed at adults!). We also did zip lining above the cloud forest, mangroves boat trip, walk up a volcano and snorkelling off the coast.

USA (inland, some truly breathtaking scenery)

Sri Lanka

Only 2 weeks or can you stretch to 3?

My 2 week destinations

1. Hawaii - The Big Island (but the others aren't bad just busier)
2. Japan - But for me that was more city/culture than the great outdoors
3. Costa Rica - recommend around 10 days of touring then 4 days at a luxury hotel

My 3 week destinations

1. New Zealand - Simply the best (I can't wait to be able to go back)
2. Hawaii - multiple islands (after NZ this is my favourite place to vacation)
3. Vancouver and BC - magnificent

Maldives - but the nature will be aquatic. Can easily be combined with Sri Lanka.

Borneo - amazing. Orang Utans, monkeys and all sorts.

Belize - hummingbirds, monkeys, old temples. Pretty cool.

New Zealand, New Zealand, New Zealand

Another vote for Hawaii, although personally I love combining the Big Island and Kauai. So much amazing scenery and nature.

I also absolutely adored Costa Rica. Fabulous place.

1. Costa Rica
2. Patagonia
3. Sri Lanka

I’d go back to any of these places in a heartbeat, but if I had to pick that would be the order!

My top three long haul would be
Peru
South Africa
Jordan (more mid-haul, but incredible!!)

Chile.
Madagascar- different to other safari experiences in Africa.
Costa Rica.

Well it seems Costa Rica should definitely be on my list. And it wasn't, so that's good. I am very drawn to British Columbia - keen to spend two weeks driving around and exploring.

For those of you who've been to Costa Rica - can you hire a car and drive around yourself or is it better/safer with a guide?

@InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest

Well it seems Costa Rica should definitely be on my list. And it wasn't, so that's good. I am very drawn to British Columbia - keen to spend two weeks driving around and exploring.

For those of you who've been to Costa Rica - can you hire a car and drive around yourself or is it better/safer with a guide?

If you are both confident enough drivers it’ll be fine. My DH and I both did a lot of driving in Costa Rica over our 16 day trip. Some of the driving can be a bit hairy by British standards, but generally the roads are pretty well maintained and easy to navigate. We went down to the more remote, central and south areas of Costa Rica and a 4x4 was invaluable.

Maldives, New Zealand, Hawaii

New Zealand - I’ve been five times!
Borneo- Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
Vietnam- Sapa for hiking, Mekong Delta, DaLat also nice. I also love Hanoi and HCM and HoiAn is one of my favourite places.
British Columbia
Bhutan is also great for hiking and really is the most amazing place.

We didn't drive, mainly internal flights. The Osa Peninsula was interesting to get to, it involved a flight, 1 hour speedboat and a tractor to get to our hotel