While winter settles over the UK and the days grow shorter, the Southern Hemisphere is just beginning to bask in long, warm days, offering vibrant landscapes and some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife and cultural experiences. It’s a season perfectly suited to luxurious escapes, where sunshine, adventure and indulgence await. At The Luxury Holiday Company, we love crafting tailor-made journeys that help travellers make the most of this seasonal switch. Here are five of our favourite Southern Hemisphere destinations to experience at their finest while the UK is wrapped in winter.
Few destinations are as varied and rewarding during the UK winter as South Africa. Cape Town offers an irresistible mix of cosmopolitan flair and natural beauty, from Table Mountain's sweeping vistas to golden beaches and the buzzing waterfront. Just beyond the city, the Cape Winelands unfold in a patchwork of vineyards, each estate offering world-class wines and long, lazy lunches under the summer sun. For those seeking the wild, the country’s legendary game reserves provide unforgettable safari experiences. Kruger National Park and the surrounding private reserves offer exceptional wildlife sightings, all enjoyed from luxurious lodges that place comfort and exclusivity at the heart of your adventure. Our Cape, Winelands & Kruger Safari itinerary celebrates this diversity in style.
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Cape Town
Australia is a land of contrasts, and during the UK winter, the entire country comes alive. Sydney blends oceanfront beauty with city sophistication, while the country's Red Centre offers something altogether different: vast desert landscapes, ancient Aboriginal culture and the iconic Uluru glowing at sunrise and sunset. After time in the Outback, many travellers retreat to the tropical coastline of Queensland. Here, the Great Barrier Reef offers snorkelling among kaleidoscopic coral, calm lagoons and island resorts that invite you to unwind in true luxury. Our Sydney, Rock & Reef itinerary captures the quintessential Australian experience, pairing urban charms with wilderness adventure and coastal relaxation in one perfectly balanced itinerary.
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Diving in the Great Barrier Reef
For those seeking a winter escape with real depth, Argentina and Chile offer an irresistible blend of latin culture and jaw-dropping landscapes. Buenos Aires makes a wonderful starting point – a city alive with grand architecture, artistic spirit and a passion for food, wine and tango. Crossing the Andes into Chile reveals an entirely different world, where landscapes stretch across deserts, lakes, fjords and glaciers. In the north, the Atacama Desert is a standout, its lunar valleys, salt flats and star-filled night skies unlike anywhere else on Earth. Both countries share one of the world’s most dramatic regions: Patagonia. Whether you explore from the Chilean or Argentine side, this is a land of raw, untouched beauty with luxury lodges serving as sanctuaries amid the wilderness, offering warm hospitality, exceptional dining and guided adventures right from the doorstep. Our Discover Argentina & Chile itinerary brings these two remarkable countries together in a seamless, immersive journey.
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Atacama Desert
For those seeking warm seas, golden sands and total tranquillity during the UK winter, Mauritius stands out as a favourite in the Indian Ocean. An island rich in both natural beauty and cultural heritage, its coastline is fringed with turquoise lagoons and coral reefs, while inland you’ll find lush forests, waterfalls and volcanic peaks.
Luxury resorts provide exceptional service, pristine beaches and a relaxed pace, with days spent snorkelling, sailing, indulging in spa treatments or simply enjoying the island's famously warm hospitality. One of our most loved combinations is the Cape Town, Kruger & Mauritius itinerary, which pairs the excitement of safari and the sophistication of Cape Town with the soothing calm of a Mauritian beachfront escape – an ideal blend of adventure and relaxation.
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Beach in Mauritius
Ideal for the winter months, Ecuador's Galápagos Islands are a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts, with an abundance of unforgettable encounters. Imagine strolling alongside giant tortoises in the highlands, snorkelling with playful sea lions in turquoise waters, or spotting vibrant marine iguanas sunning themselves along volcanic shores. Despite the islands’ wild and remote reputation, luxury travel here is certainly possible. Elegant expedition cruises offer stylish, intimate accommodation, exceptional dining and guided excursions that bring the islands’ extraordinary biodiversity to life, whether observing rare bird species on remote islets or kayaking through secluded coves. Our Luxury Quito & Galápagos Cruise itinerary showcases the very best of these islands. It combines a luxurious live-aboard yacht cruise with opportunities to explore both iconic and off-the-beaten-path locations, ensuring you can experience the full breadth of the Galápagos’ wonders.
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Land iguana in the Galápagos