Even the most exotic destination can lose its sheen once the novelty of being somewhere new starts to fade. One way to keep the excitement alive is a mid-break change of scenery to bring a new kind of adventure. With endless flight combinations and tour options for tempting multi-centre jaunts, it’s easier than ever to quash the restlessness that can creep in on a two-week escape by splitting your time and having the best of both worlds. Whether you’re heading on your honeymoon or just on holiday, here are ten of the most exciting safari and beach holiday combos. Now all that’s left is to work out what to pack.
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1. Sri Lanka and Maldives
Roamed by leopards, elephants and sloth bears, Sri Lanka is a fabulous alternative to a classic African safari, with exciting game drives in the island’s wonderfully wild national parks, including Yala, Udawalawe and Minneriya. After your jungle jaunts, it’s a short hop to one of the world’s most spectacular beach destinations, the Maldives, where overwater villas, coral reefs and snorkelling adventures in crystal-clear waters await.
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With a stunning beachfront location on Sri Lanka’s less-explored east coast, Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers whale-watching tours and 4×4 safaris in Minneriya National Park, home to the world’s largest gathering of Asian elephants
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Travelbag’s Scenic Sri Lanka Tour & Maldives holiday includes five nights B&B in Sri Lanka, with safaris in Udawalawe and Yala national parks, and five nights all-inclusive at Sun Siyam Olhuveli in the Maldives
• The Kandy House, Sri Lanka review: an idyllic villa-style hotel in a tropical setting
• Best beaches in Sri Lanka
• LUX* South Ari Atoll hotel, Maldives review: ultimate laid-back lagoon living
• Best overwater villas in the Maldives
2. South Africa
South Africa’s diverse landscapes mean you can combine a thrilling safari experience and the perfect beach escape without even having to leave the country. Kruger National Park is the jewel in the country’s crown and one of the world’s most spectacular wildernesses. Once you’ve seen all of the park’s big five, take time to relax on the beaches of the Western Cape or KwaZulu-Natal.
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Located inside Kruger National Park, Mdluli Safari Lodge has luxury tented accommodation in the heart of the South African bush. It is a 50-50 partnership with the local Mdluli community, providing training, employment and other support
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Join a safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, camp with Africa’s first all-female anti-poaching unit, the Black Mambas, and relax at the beach at Cape Vidal on Intrepid Travel’s nine-day Kruger & Coast itinerary
• Best safaris in South Africa
• Best family holidays for a proper adventure
3. Costa Rica
One of the most biodiverse destinations in the world, Costa Rica ticks both your safari and beach boxes with ease, delivering intrepid wildlife adventures and gorgeous spots to swim, sunbathe or snorkel around the coast. Explore the country’s rainforests and volcanic peaks looking out for sloths, spider monkeys and iguanas, then catch a wave on the Pacific surf beaches or dive the reefs off the Caribbean coast.
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Hotel Nantipa sits on a beautiful sweep of sand on Costa Rica’s Nicoya peninsula: one of the world’s five Blue Zones, where residents are known to live exceptionally long, healthy lives
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Explore Costa Rica’s incredible rainforests with G Adventures, visiting green and leatherback turtle nesting grounds at Tortuguero before heading to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for swimming, snorkelling and beach time by the Caribbean Sea
• Read our full guide to the world’s best adventure holidays
4. Tropical North Queensland, Australia
With two Unesco world heritage sites meeting at Cape Tribulation — the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef — tropical North Queensland provides an exciting and diverse range of activities to guarantee the perfect safari and beach holiday. Join a 4WD tour of Earth’s oldest rainforest to see crocodiles and tree kangaroos, before kicking back on the beaches and islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
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An adults-only boutique resort, the Reef House is a tropical North Queensland retreat on the shores of beautiful Palm Cove, providing the perfect base for adventures on the Great Barrier Reef and in the Daintree Rainforest
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Spend ten nights in Australia with Flight Centre, including bushwalking and wildlife-spotting in the rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands, a stay on the beach at Port Douglas, and a snorkel cruise on the Great Barrier Reef
• Best time to visit Australia: when to go and what to do
• Best train journeys in Australia
5. Borneo and the Malaysian peninsula
One of just two places in the world where you can see orangutans in the wild, the island of Borneo provides untamed adventures, tribal encounters and the chance to see pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and sun bears, alongside the critically endangered apes. Safari complete, seek out a soothing sojourn at a Bornean beach retreat such as Gaya Island, or on the paradise islands of the Malaysian peninsula.
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Known for its rainforest adventures, Borneo also has sandy beaches, reefs and islands to explore. Gaya Island Resort is a dreamy place to relax after your jungle jaunts, with a luxe spa and a marine centre
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Join a 14-day guided tour of Borneo and the Malaysian peninsula with Exodus and you’ll venture into the forests and along the rivers of Borneo where the orangutans roam, before hitting the glorious beaches of Langkawi Island
• Best time to visit Borneo: when to go and what to do
• Best things to do in Borneo
6. Brazil
A visit to the mighty Amazon rainforest should be on every traveller’s bucket list, and there’s no better way to top off your South American wildlife adventure than with some sun, sand and samba in Brazil’s party and beach capital, Rio de Janeiro. Join a guided tour to search for pink river dolphins and elusive jaguars in the Amazon, before relaxing on Rio’s beautiful beaches.
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Overlooking the golden sweep of sand in upmarket Leblon, Janeiro Hotel offers a stylish boutique retreat with a mini spa, rooftop infinity pool and dazzling views of Rio’s Two Brothers Peak and Christ the Redeemer
The adventure travel company Explore! has a 14-day Pure Brazil tour, which includes wildlife watching by boat and 4×4 in the Amazon and the Pantanal, before visiting Rio and its breathtaking beaches and city sights
• Best Brazilian beaches that aren’t Copacabana
7. Canada and Hawaii
This exciting North American double act combines brilliant adventures of the grizzly bear kind in Canada with tropical beaches, traditional culture and sun-drenched days in Hawaii. Vancouver is the gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, home to grizzlies and rare white spirit bears. From this remote realm, fly to Honolulu for the start of your chilled Hawaiian island escape.
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With a prime position on Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Oahu, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort combines luxe contemporary rooms and suites with authentic Hawaiian traditions through its cuisine, cultural crafts workshops, entertainment and spa treatments
Enjoy a three-night all-inclusive stay at Knight Inlet Lodge in the Great Bear Rainforest for grizzly bear viewing and whale watching, two nights in Vancouver, and five nights at a four-star beach resort in Hawaii with the family travel expert Bushbaby
bushbaby.travel
• Best things to do in Canada
• Best Canada tours
• 16 of the best hotels in Hawaii
8. Botswana and Seychelles
Whether you’re exploring in a safari vehicle or a traditional wooden mokoro canoe, the vast Okavango Delta offers wildlife-viewing experiences like nowhere else in the world, with the chance to see elephants, lions and African wild dogs. If anything can tear you away from this magical place, it’s the breathtaking islands of the Seychelles, with their dazzling white beaches and lush, tropical forest terrain.
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Lying on the northern tip of Mahé, on a hillside overlooking the secluded Beau Vallon Bay, Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa has luxe stilted villas with private balconies and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean
Machaba Safaris in Botswana has partnered with Blue Safari Seychelles to offer a 15-night Okavango and Ocean Safari Package experience from Maun to Mahé, exploring Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Alphonse Island in the Seychelles
https://itineraries.safariportal.app/Maun-to-Mahe/999128036378936494
• Best safari camps and lodges in Botswana
• Okavango Delta guide: when to go and where to stay
• Best hotels in the Seychelles
• Incredible things to do in the Seychelles
9. India
India has made great strides in protecting its tigers and helping the population to bounce back from poaching and habitat loss, and responsible tiger safaris within the country’s dedicated tiger reserves offer an incredible opportunity to see these awe-inspiring big cats in the wild. The tranquil beaches and backwaters of Kerala, or the laid-back coastal resorts of Goa, offer the perfect pairing for your forest forays.
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The tiger safari specialist Pugdundee Safaris has seven sustainable eco-lodges in central India, offering responsible wildlife experiences in the tiger reserves established in the region’s national parks, including Kanha, Panna, Pench, Tadoba and Bandhavgarh
pugdundeesafaris.com
The Taj, Temples and Tigers itinerary from Wendy Wu Tours includes a tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park, visits to the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort and Delhi, plus the chance to add on a beach escape in Goa
• Holi celebrations in India: where to go and what to do in 2025
• Best time to visit India: how to plan your trip
• Best places to visit in India
10. Zambia and Madagascar
Pair this dynamic duo together for your next escape and you’ll experience epic wildlife encounters in Zambia’s elephant stronghold of South Luangwa National Park, known as the home of the walking safari; explore the mighty Zambezi River with its resident hippos and crocs; view the thundering Victoria Falls; and have the chance to see the towering baobabs, rare lemurs and striking undiscovered beaches of Madagascar.
Make it happen
Set on the banks of the Zambezi River in Lusaka, Zambia’s Royal Zambezi Lodge has 15 secluded tents, a luxury spa, a large deck for wildlife viewing and offers game drives in the Lower Zambezi National Park
Mavros Safaris’ Time + Tide Bush & Beach Safari includes four nights at Time + Tide Chinzombo to explore Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, two nights in Lower Zambezi and five nights at Time + Tide Tsara Komba in Madagascar
mavrossafaris.com
• Best cruises in southern Africa
• How to plan a safari: what you need to know
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