If reaching for the suntan lotion is your idea of exertion, this honeymoon trend isn’t for you. But if you’re a more active twosome, an afternoon of learning to surf, hiking to the top of the tallest nearby peak, or four-wheeling over rugged terrain are foolproof ways to increase your pulse.

Where to Go

• Taking a safari doesn’t have to mean living like a rhino. Tintswalo Safari Lodge in South Africa is a luxurious base from which to explore the surrounding nature reserve. tintswalo.com
• Crisscross the Mediterranean island of Gozo on a weeklong bike trip. Breakaway Adventures offers “independent” tours, whereby they suggest routes and provide bikes, and then wave good-bye. breakaway-adventures.com
• For the helicopter pilots at Nimmo Bay Resort on Vancouver Island, the top of a glacier is a fine place to drop you off for lunch before whisking you away to other natural landing pads. Nimmobay.com.

Help: Find tour operators for adventures from surfing to storm chasing at Voyagetrek.com.

2. Country Hopping

Couples who don’t get to travel much are splitting their honeymoon between a few different spots. It’s a chance to take advantage of far-flung places you may never travel to again, or to vary the type of trip by spending time in different settings (like a week in the city, then a week on the beach).

Where to Go

• Shop and dine in the bustling city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and then fly five hours to rest on a beach in The Maldives.
• Get a well-rounded Mediterranean experience by jetting from the Italian island of Sicily to the Greek capital of Athens, with a final stop to see the ancient ruins on Crete.
• Travel to the Caribbean island of Antigua to experience the lively nightlife, and then take a 40-minute flight to Dominica, which is less developed and has a more subdued vibe.

Help: Flying within Europe? Check Ryanair.com or Easyjet.com for supercheap airfare.

3. Green Honeymoons

There’s no real definition of what qualifies a hotel as “green,” but making minimal impact on the surroundings, serving local fare in it’s restaurant, and using solar power are signs that it’s on the right track. These resorts prove going eco can still be posh.

Where to Go

• Fiji’s Turtle Island limits visitors to just 14 couples at a time to ensure the island’s preservation, and organic gardens provide fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. TurtleFiji.com
• Never thought you’d see a zebra grazing in Mexico? You will in the 25,000-acre nature reserve that surrounds Cuixmala resort, along with gazelles and wild boars.
• Cuixmala.com
• Machaca Hill Lodge in Belize is located within an 11,000-acre nature reserve, less than 25 percent of which is used by visitors of the resort. MachacaHill.com.

Help: Want to spend your honeymoon helping others? Plan a volunteer honeymoon through sites like CharityGuide.org or i-to-i.com.