7 Idyllic Destinations For A Winter-Sun Vacation

Reputationally, the Maldives is the ultimate winter-sun destination and its newer resorts are finding ever more imaginative ways to live out your private island fantasy. In the Unesco-protected Baa Atoll, Here is one of the smallest (read: exclusive) ultra-luxury resorts in the country, with just nine residences divided between two natural islands named Somewhere and Nowhere. Somewhere has seven vast three- and four-bedroom residences, each stretching across the island from sunrise to sunset and featuring a 45- to 47-meter private pool. Nowhere, on the other hand, takes seclusion further still, with just two residences and the option to commandeer the entire island. Designed by KulörGroup and Muza Lab, the resort opened in phases from December 2025, making this its first full winter season and a suitably rarefied proposition for anyone who considers the usual Maldivian private villa not quite private enough.

A long-loved tropical-island escape, Phuket’s scenery is so spellbinding that it has provided the backdrop for a number of excellent pieces of film and television: The Beach and The White Lotus, to name two. On its north-western coast, Trisara has an unrivaled location – straddling a secluded private beach with crystalline waters and 14 hectares of lush, protected rainforest. The vast suites and villas sit on the hillside, sheltered by towering palm trees and with superlative vistas of the Andaman Sea. There are six dining destinations – including PRU, Phuket’s only Michelin-starred restaurant (which also holds a Michelin green star for its commitment to sustainable gastronomy) – while the incredible Jara Spa melds ancient Thai healing traditions with modern holistic therapies for an immersive wellness experience.

With coconut-palm beaches and cerulean seas in abundance, Sri Lanka offers the epitome of a tropical retreat. On the country’s south coast, the quiet area of Tangalle is a blissful place to soak up the natural beauty of jungle, ocean and national parks – with wildlife safaris, ancient temples and tea plantations all nearby as well. Amid the verdant landscape, Amanwella is found in a serene and secluded position, opening out onto a horseshoe beach, with the suites – each complete with a private pool – looking out over the Indian Ocean. For guests who wish to get closer to the inviting waters, activities on offer span surfing, snorkeling and whale watching.

Even in the depths of winter, Cyprus can be relied upon for a dose of Mediterranean sunshine. That and the chance to walk along some rugged coastlines and explore several millennia of interesting history. On the island’s western edge, Anassa sits proudly on the Akamas Peninsula, overlooking the sea, surrounded by olive groves and bougainvillea. The hotel has just re-opened after the first phase of a €10-million-plus renovation, with renowned global creative studio Yabu Pushelberg designing 76 rooms and suites, as well as its whitewashed villas, in natural textures and sun-bleached tones. Outside of the hotel, explore the Baths of Aphrodite, where legend has it the goddess met her lover Adonis.

There are private-island escapes, and then there is having an entire far-flung Polynesian atoll to yourself. Secluded in the Tuamotu Archipelago, some 1,000 kilometres from Tahiti, Nukutepipi is available only for exclusive buyout, making it an extraordinary option for a multi-generational trip or extremely extravagant celebration. Accommodation is scattered beside the lagoon, from bungalows to two-bedroom junior villas with infinity pools and a huge master villa complete with its own cinema room and Jacuzzi. Elsewhere, there are plenty of pristine beaches, a primary forest of untouched, naturally regenerated native plants and tree species, as well as a natural bird sanctuary. It can accommodate up to 50 guests and the greatest luxury would surely be knowing that every last one of them has been invited by you. September and October are a particularly sweet time to visit, at the tail end of French Polynesia’s drier season, before the slightly damper, but still lovely, balmy November climes kick in.

If Rajasthan isn’t on your travel bucket list yet, it needs to be and it is at its most inviting in the winter months, when the legendary Indian temperatures have cooled to a nice moderate warmth, and evenings might even come with a light breeze. Just over an hour outside Jaipur, Anopura is a more boutique, but still luxurious (seriously, you can have your own butler) alternative to the state’s grand palace hotels: a 60-acre hideaway in the Aravalli foothills, surrounded by farmland, lemon groves and attractive roving peacocks. Its rooms are divided between suites and secluded villas, where traditional Rajasthani architecture and antiques blend with contemporary comforts, private gardens and temperature-controled pools.

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