Best Winter Sun Destinations to Recharge, Restore and Glow

Inspiration

Calling all sun-worshippers continually chasing the next boost of serotonin — we’ve rounded up the best winter sun destinations to bring the heat, brighten your mood and spark a newfound fire in your soul.

When the days are short and the skies grey, there’s nothing more restorative than escaping to a place where the sun shines long and strong. Whether you’re craving barefoot walks along empty beaches, swimming in bath-warm seas, or simply feeling the glow of golden hour on your skin, winter sun escapes offer a much-needed dose of vitality and joy.

Proximity to the ocean and time spent under the sun heals all. Savour an endless summer sensation and pamper yourself in paradise at these glorious properties that define the art of winter sun escapes. Think golden hours, toes in the sand, private pools, and life slowed to a blissful rhythm — where your only task is to unwind completely.

Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas, Phuket, Thailand

Tucked away on a quiet island in Phang Nga Bay, Anantara Koh Yao Yai is the Thailand of your imagination — tranquil, lush, and quietly luxurious. A speedboat from Phuket delivers you to this remote hideaway, where limestone cliffs rise dramatically from the sea and hidden lagoons beckon.

The resort itself is designed to tune you into your surroundings: open-plan villas with private plunge pools, tropical gardens, and sweeping sea views. Kayak through mangrove canals at dawn, explore local fishing villages, or unwind in the spa with traditional Thai therapies. A fleet of vintage sidecars adds charm to inland adventures, while private picnics on sandbanks appear and disappear with the tide.

This is a retreat for travellers drawn to serenity and culture — one of Thailand’s best winter sun destinations where time stretches and deepens.

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Jalisco, Mexico

Secluded within a 3,000-acre private nature reserve on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is a powerful ode to authenticity, biodiversity and slow, meaningful travel. The architecture here — all clean lines and earthy tones — is designed to disappear into the surrounding jungle and bluffs.

Each room frames a different perspective: sun-drenched ocean, wild forest, or craggy volcanic rock. But it’s what surrounds you that brings this place to life. Take part in sea turtle conservation efforts, explore the Rancho Ortega farm (where blue agave, cacao, and heirloom maize are grown), or reconnect with your senses in the salt-air spa.

With open-air restaurants, cliffside infinity pools and a wild coastline where the jungle meets the surf, Tamarindo offers one of the best winter sun destinations for travellers seeking substance, soul and sublime sunsets.

Six Senses Kanuhura, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives

Set across three private islands in the far reaches of the Lhaviyani Atoll, Six Senses Kanuhura is the Maldives at its most refined — and most wild. You’ll swim with resident sea turtles whose thriving population is monitored by the on-site marine biology team, and snorkel coral gardens where parrotfish flit past in iridescent flashes.

Staying here means barefoot bliss, with powder-white beaches unfurling in all directions and overwater hammocks perfect for post-lunch lounging. The thatched-roof villas, either steps from the sea or suspended over it, feel like your own secret sanctuary. The spa focuses on integrated wellness and holistic healing, while sunset sails, cinema under the stars, and restorative sound therapy offer mindful ways to wind down.

It’s no wonder this is a favourite among those seeking the best winter sun destinations that feed both body and spirit.

Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island, Mozambique

For the truly off-the-beaten-path beach dream, Kisawa Sanctuary delivers a kind of magic that’s almost impossible to replicate. Located on Benguerra Island in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, the sanctuary is a celebration of wilderness, design, and quiet dignity.

Sand paths connect a handful of luxurious bungalows, each crafted using local weaving techniques and natural materials. Days here are rich with purpose and possibility: tracking dugongs and dolphins by dhow, scuba diving through reef pinnacles, or witnessing sacred island rituals passed down through generations.

The on-site Natural Wellness Centre blends Ayurvedic traditions with Mozambican herbal medicine, while the locally sourced menus change daily. You can feel the care in every detail. Among the best winter sun destinations for seekers of rare and restorative experiences, Kisawa is a true one-off.

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Eden Rock, St Barths, Caribbean

As legendary as the island itself, Eden Rock – St Barths was once the hush-hush retreat of Hollywood icons like Greta Garbo and Howard Hughes. Today, it retains its aura of glamour, where bold colours and bohemian-luxe décor meet high society style and effortless barefoot luxury.

Each suite here tells a story — from James Turrell-inspired lighting to private pools perched high above the sea. There’s an air of spontaneity to Eden Rock, where days start with beach walks and fresh mango smoothies, and end with yacht charters, candlelit dinners and live music on the sand.

Photography sessions on the rocky promontory, painting lessons with local artists, or simply watching the waves roll in — it’s all about joie de vivre. For sunseekers who dream in Technicolor, this Caribbean classic deserves its place among the best winter sun destinations.

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One&Only Le Saint Géran, Belle Mare, Mauritius

An effortless icon since the 1970s, One&Only Le Saint Géran continues to set the standard for island elegance on Mauritius’ eastern shore. Its sweeping private beach is framed by turquoise lagoons and rustling palms — a setting that invites you to unplug and soften.

Wake to morning yoga by the sea, then sip coconut water straight from the source as you stroll the tropical gardens. At the Chenot Spa, wellness is personalised, blending bioenergetic therapy, lymphatic drainage, and eco-therapy designed to rebalance your system. Culinary experiences are equally uplifting — from plant-based tasting menus to beachfront Creole grills and French-inflected fine dining under the stars.

Whether you’re sailing the Indian Ocean or paddleboarding at golden hour, every moment whispers: this is what the best winter sun destinations were made for.

Whether it’s a barefoot walk along the Indian Ocean or a sunrise swim beneath Mexican cliffs, these destinations offer more than just warmth — they offer reconnection, radiance, and renewal.

The best winter sun destinations aren’t just about sunbathing. They’re about feeling alive in your skin again, tuning in to nature, and honouring the moment you’re in.

Let your 360 Private Travel designer curate a journey that brings light back into your life — where the days are long, the air is warm, and your story is just beginning.

Our Latest Travel Inspiration:

Best Winter Sun Destinations to Recharge, Restore and Glow

Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas, Phuket, Thailand

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Jalisco, Mexico

Six Senses Kanuhura, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives

Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Eden Rock, St Barths, Caribbean

One&Only Le Saint Géran, Belle Mare, Mauritius

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Follow along and tag us #360PrivateTravel

Our Latest Travel Inspiration:

Best Winter Sun Destinations to Recharge, Restore and Glow

Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas, Phuket, Thailand

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Jalisco, Mexico

Six Senses Kanuhura, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives

Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Eden Rock, St Barths, Caribbean

One&Only Le Saint Géran, Belle Mare, Mauritius

Other articles you might like...

Greece's Golden Season: Luxury Autumn Travel in Greece

Best Christmas Market Holidays in Europe (and where to stay)

The Seychelles: where luxury meets untamed nature

Where to Go for Winter Sun in Morocco

Follow along and tag us #360PrivateTravel

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