In 2024, DINKs, that is, Dual Income, Childless couples, are experiencing a new golden age. Unhindered by 7pm bedtimes or scheduled school holidays, and with extra cash in the bank, childless kids are free to enjoy remote or long journeys to the world’s most inspiring places.
Sound like you? Make the most of all that spare income and your ability to fly at a moment’s notice and book one of these once-in-a-lifetime trips…
Explore the Dalai Lama’s hometown
With its high altitudes (the capital, Lhasa, is one of the world’s highest cities), rich cultural landscapes, and adventurous vibe, Tibet isn’t number one on family-friendly bucket lists. But it’s great for able-bodied DINKs, who can tour the majestic Potala Palace, wander Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace, and visit the vast and tranquil monasteries. On a 10-day journey with World Expeditions starting and ending in Chengdu, China, you will enter Tibet on a spectacular train ride (the highest in the world) and reach an altitude of 3,670 m. It’s a really confusing thing.
Prices start from £2,690 per person for 10 days. worldexpeditions.com
Relax on an adults-only all-inclusive service
No splash pools, no shouting at the buffet; If you want tropical all-inclusive relaxation in a kid-free environment, an adults-only hotel is for you. One of the few private islands in the Maldives with a strict adults-only policy, Hurawalhi epitomizes the Indian Ocean dream, with rows of overwater villas complete with sun terraces and stairs leading directly to the sea. Sip cocktails at sunset, join a dolphin cruise, or take a windsurfing lesson. Then (for an additional fee) feast on king crab with lemon fish carpaccio and saffron foam at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, the world’s largest all-glass undersea restaurant.
Prices start from £4,499 per person for 7 nights. travelbag.co.uk
Journey to the White Continent
Antarctica is a bucket-list destination – but between the high cost per person and the challenging crossing of the Drake Passage, this really isn’t the place for little travelers. High-end French cruise operator Ponant’s small-scale expeditions take you up close to the glacial, iceberg-covered landscapes of the White Continent, while offering a sophisticated adult atmosphere through chic design, white tablecloth fare and expert-led lessons. On the 10-night Emblematic Antarctic cruise, which starts and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, you’ll hike, sea kayak, and ride an inflatable zodiac with a professional naturalist who will point out humpback whales, leopard seals, and several species of penguins.
Prices start from £9,470 per person for 10 nights. ponant.com
Cycle the wine roads of Umbria
Nothing says ‘grown-up’ holiday like a visit to a wine region. Feel the freedom of the breeze on your face as you wander through vineyards, sunny olive groves and medieval villages, especially when you do this as part of a cycling tour. On a self-guided bike tour with Headwater, you and your other half can cruise through the photogenic Valle Umbra to the hilltop wine village of Montefalco to sip vibrant Grechetto-based whites and inky reds made from Sangiovese and Sagrantino. When the stomach starts to growl, there is no compromise on where and what to eat; so tuck into striped strangozzi pasta with heaps of black truffle.
Prices start from £1,399 per person for 7 nights. headwater.com
Safari in Namibia
There are plenty of family-friendly safaris out there; but Namibia’s offerings are clearly aimed at adults, with its ancient orange desert and petrified trees, caches of Stone Age rock art and world-class stargazing. A bespoke Namibia trip for Couples with Original Travel deftly sets the mood for romance with dune-top accommodation in the NamibRand reserve offering 30-degree scenic views, as well as 4×4 and walking safaris across challenging terrain and evening campfire sessions under pinprick skies. Cheetahs, lions, hartebeests, impalas and leopards all roam the epic and rugged wilderness, so have cameras ready.
Prices start from £7,415 per person for 13 days. originaltravel.co.uk
Hike the Inca Trail
Are you the couple who enjoys a good old walk? Then, with no kids to stop you, you can sign up for one of the world’s most iconic treks: Peru’s Inca Trail. The five-day guided hike, passing through mountain passes, cloud forest and ancient ruins and ending at the world-famous Machu Picchu, the iconic 15th-century Lost City of the Incas, is best enjoyed as part of a wider tour covering the wonders of Peru is taken. . G Adventures runs major iterations, including the 14-day ‘Inca Trail and Amazon’ trip, which includes visits to the serene Sacred Valley, the historic capital of Cusco, the wildlife-rich Amazon jungle and the food capital of Lima.
Prices start from £4,599 per person for 14 days. gadgetventures.com
Road trip along Route 66
America’s most iconic impulse is ‘are we there yet?’ It is best handled without its chorus. echoes from the backseat. Long days in the car aren’t for little legs, but you can spend two weeks traveling by road from Chicago to Los Angeles, enjoying the scenery from glassy skyscrapers to forested mountains, arid deserts and turquoise-covered coasts. . Along the way, you can stop to eat at modest restaurants, interesting old museums, and dusty towns that look like something out of a movie. And when you finally arrive in Santa Monica, California, you can spread your towel on the beach and soak up some sunshine without having to build a single sand castle.
Prices start from £1,557 per person for 14 days. americaasyoulikeit.com
Island hopping and diving in Raja Ampat
Lined in a blue patchwork off the coast of West Papua, the remote and forest-covered Raja Ampat archipelago remains largely unexplored – just what you’re looking for if you’re looking for a double trip with serious bragging rights. Some 1,500 hilly islands feature white sand beaches, hidden lagoons and some of the world’s best diving reefs; these are perfect for exploring on a small ship. Cruise through the Misool archipelago, stopping for snorkeling, swimming and diving, and exploring domed caves. When you’re not below the surface, you’ll have time together to enjoy pristine beaches, learn about local Asai culture, and hike through dense landscapes.
Prices start from £10,620 per person for 15 days. audleytravel.com
See Europe by rail
Anyone can take a short European city break; But for DINKs with the time, money and flexibility, the chance to travel in depth across the continent becomes a real possibility. With a more sophisticated approach to interrailing, Byway offers a 40-day Grand European Tour by rail that will take you from London to Scotland, France to Belgium, Switzerland to Italy and beyond, and tick off the highlights of almost a dozen capital cities. You’ll spend multiple nights at each stop, so you’ll have plenty of time to sightsee (or catch up on emails if you’ll be working remotely along the way). As a bonus, it’s an eco-friendly way to explore, too.
Prices start from £4,091 per person for 40 days. byway.travel
White Water Tuesday in Costa Rica
Pacuare Lodge, a lush eco-stay nestled among the dense forests of central Costa Rica’s lush wilderness, has only one main route: a whitewater rafting journey along the sparkling rapids of the winding Rio Pacuare. It’s the perfect, heart-stopping approach for active couples looking to make the most of their stay at this indoor-outdoor wilderness lodge, where their days can be spent canyoning, ziplining, or hiking, or simply relaxing in villas with soaking tubs. Enjoy farm-to-table organic food, the soothing sounds of nature, and don’t miss after-dark tours of local wildlife including hedgehogs, tree frogs, and snakes.
Three to seven nights at Pacuare Lodge start from £5,605 per person, including flights. elegantresorts.co.uk