Luxury May holidays

From luxury self-drives in southern Europe to whale watching in Canada, May is an excellent time to escape on holiday before the summer crowds arrive. Our specialists have picked out their favourites below.

European sun

Italy and Spain are ideal May destinations, with Tuscany enjoying highs of 21ºC, ideal for road trips and exploring Florence. In Spain, Andalucia basks in sunshine, while Portugal's Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve all benefit from the same Iberian heat, and self-drives are a little quieter thanks to avoiding peak tourist season. Over in Scandinavia and the Nordics, the arrival of spring sees Norway's fjordland bloom in wildflowers, rushing rivers and spectacular waterfalls.

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Tuscany, Italy

North America

May is an excellent time to head on a USA road trip. with fewer crowds in across its world-famous cities and majestic national parks. It's also a great time to spot whales in eastern Canada while the western Rockies lend themselves perfectly to a luxury rail journey.

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Arches National Park, Utah, USA

Safaris in Southern Africa

While the south of Africa's temperatures begin to rise in May, the humidity in destinations such as Botswana remains low, making it an excellent time to head on a safari. Luxury safari lodges abound, alongside superb dining and expert guides as you go in search of the Big Five.

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Okavango, Botswana

Adventures in Asia

Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia enjoy endless sunshine during May, with Bali particularly pleasant. The latter is the perfect destination for a honeymoon, combining culture with the region's superb beaches. Japan is also an excellent choice, with the chance to catch the end of cherry blossom season in the north.

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Lombok, Indonesia

The Caribbean

Prior to the rainy season, May is a great time to head to the Caribbean for a luxury hotel stay and it's often quieter post-Easter. Barbados and St. Lucia are our top picks.

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Beach, St Lucia

Our top May holiday ideas

Sorrento

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

8-day tailor-made holiday from £3,505 pp incl. flights

Based in Sorrento, this is the perfect introduction to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Across one memorable week, you'll relax, dine in style and join expert guides to explore the region's storied highlights.

Taormina, Sicily

Best of Sicily

From glorious swathes of golden sand to millennia-old ruins framed by scented lemon groves and sun-soaked vineyards, Sicily’s highlights are as enchanting as they are varied. Take it all in with stays in iconic hotels and scenic country drives.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Machu Picchu & the Galápagos

15-day tailor-made holiday from £11,495 pp incl. flights

In between exploring the mist-clad beauty of Machu Picchu and cruising the Galápagos Islands, discover the rhythms of Lima, Cusco and Quito, some of South America's most enticing cities.

Rocky Mountaineer

Canadian Rockies on Rocky Mountaineer

10-day luxury rail journey from £4,165 pp incl. flights

Travel in style between Vancouver and Calgary, enjoying included gourmet dining and drinks throughout, while taking in spectacular national parks on expert-led tours in the Rockies.

Alhambra

Andalucia: a luxury road trip

Knit together the world wonders of Andalucia with scenic drives, luxury palace stays and private tours included throughout.

Mokoros, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Highlights of Botswana

10-day tailor-made fly-safari from £13,730 pp incl. flights

This is a safari at its most indulgent. Explore the winding waterways of the Okavango Delta and the vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert with stays in ultra-luxury lodges, enjoying all-inclusive activities and dining.

Tented accommodation, andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp

Luxury Tanzania

Tanzania offers some of the world’s best safari experiences, combined on this itinerary with the finest in all-inclusive stays. You’ll take in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and flamingo-dotted Manyara Lake with touring and flights included throughout.

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Best of Cambodia

14-day tailor-made holiday from £4,660 pp incl. flights

Explore traditional floating villages and stay in everything from tented suites on rainforest rivers to luxury boutique boltholes overlooking the Gulf of Thailand on this ideal introduction to Cambodia.

Lombok beach and coral reef, Indonesia

Highlights of Bali and Lombok

12-day tailor-made holiday from £4,200 pp incl. flights

Experience the best of Indonesia’s paradise islands with stays in private-pool villas and jungle-clad bungalows as private touring and transfers bring you between water temples, snorkelling trips and traditional performances.

Japan cherry blossoms

Highlights of Japan

10-day tailor-made holiday from £7,225 pp incl. flights

This is the ideal introduction to Japan, pairing a host of highlights with personalised tours, including a trip up the iconic Tokyo Skytree, stays at luxurious ryokan accommodation, traditional kaiseki feasts and journeys aboard the bullet train.

Novice monks, Bangkok

Highlights of Thailand

Showcase the best of Thailand in style, taking in Bangkok’s infectious energy, enjoying a taste of adventure at a jungle-clad elephant camp, and ending with an indulgent beach break on the beaches of Krabi.

Ha Long Bay

Highlights of Vietnam

13-day tailor-made holiday from £4,945 pp incl. flights

An introduction to Vietnam's most iconic and enticing sights, including its vibrant towns and cities, verdant countryside and, of course, its world-renowned cuisine.

Komodo Dragon fight

Bali, Singapore & Komodo: luxury cruise and stays

17-day tailor-made holiday from £9,460 pp incl. flights

Between island-hopping on a luxury small-ship cruise, complete with technicolour dives and Komodo dragons, you’ll explore Singapore’s futurism and stay in private-pool villas in Bali.

Florence, Italy

The Tuscan Coast & Florence

Tuscany is famous for Renaissance art and architecture, with the city of Florence at its forefront. Less well known perhaps are the region’s beaches, each as lovely as the Botticelli Venus. This trip combines the beauty of both.

Geiranger

Norway's Western Fjords

7-day tailor-made self-drive from £2,795 pp incl. flights

Couple stylish accommodations with the meandering roads of Norway's majestic western fjords for the ultimate self-drive adventure.

Lisbon, Portugal

Porto & Lisbon luxury break

7-day tailor-made holiday from £1,905 pp incl. flights

From the picturesque villages of Duoro Valley to the fairy-tale charm of Sintra, this Porto to Lisbon trip offers it all – world-class wine, magnificent scenery and stays in two fabulous hotels.

Florence, Italy
Special offer

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Florence to London

4-day tailor-made holiday from £4,975 pp incl. flights

Save up to £470 pp – ends 31 Jan

Journey aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, starting amid the exquisite architecture of Florence before crossing the Alps in style en route to London.

Humpback whales, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Highlights of the Atlantic Canada

Explore the scenic beauty of Atlantic Canada on a scenic self-drive through charming villages and dramatic coastal landscapes.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

Rockies to the Red Rocks Discovery on Rocky Mountaineer

10-day luxury rail journey & small-group tour from £4,615 pp incl. flights

Experience Rocky Mountaineer's newest route as you travel in luxury through the American Southwest, taking in three of Utah's "Mighty 5" National Parks.

Coastline, Highway 1, California

Luxury Pacific Coast Highway with Las Vegas Self-Drive

14-day tailor-made self-drive from £5,735 pp incl. flights

Explore the spectacular coast of California and revel in the bright lights of Las Vegas on this luxury self-drive from San Francisco.

Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia

Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia

With unbeatable views across the famous Piton World Heritage site and the Caribbean Sea, Jade Mountain is one of St Lucia's most luxurious resorts.

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