Getting the timing right is everything in travel. The right destination at the right moment can turn a great trip into something genuinely memorable. Lovett & Co, the London-based luxury travel specialists, have put together a month-by-month guide to the best the season has to offer.
From a treehouse art retreat in rural France to turtle conservation in the Maldives, chimp tracking in Uganda and carnival celebrations on a Caribbean island, this is a season worth planning around. Every destination has direct access from the UK. The only question is where to start.
The selection spans eight exceptional properties across four continents, from May through August, covering everything from remote African wilderness lodges to overwater villas in the Indian Ocean. What connects them is a quality of experience that goes well beyond the accommodation itself, and the good news is that every single one is straightforwardly accessible by direct flight from the UK.
Whether the appeal is art and solitude in the French countryside, wildlife encounters in some of Africa’s least-visited national parks, or simply spending a week in a private pool villa above a spectacular coral reef, there is something here worth putting in the diary. Here is the full edit, month by month.
May
Loire Valley Lodges, France
One hour from Paris by train and a world away from the ordinary, Loire Valley Lodges is one of the most original hotel concepts in Europe. Set within 300 acres of Duporterie forest in France’s Loire Valley, the property brings together 21 private treehouse lodges, a pool, a spa, and two restaurants, all conceived by Parisian art dealer Anne-Caroline Frey around the principles of beauty, harmony, and sustainability.
Each lodge is both a private forest retreat and a living gallery, with original works by contemporary artists displayed against views of the canopy. Three new lodges are being added this season, and the WiFi-free, television-free design is entirely intentional, encouraging guests to spend their time outdoors rather than online. Activities include a monumental sculpture trail, forest bathing, guided wellness sessions, a swimming pool, and the year-round gourmet restaurant Ardent, whose seasonal menus reflect whatever is being harvested from the on-site farm.
May is a particularly good time to visit. The forest is at its most alive, the farm is in its spring harvest, and the Loire Valley’s cooler climate makes for a genuinely refreshing alternative to southern Europe at this time of year. Direct flights from the UK to Poitiers or Tours take around an hour, followed by a 30-minute drive to the property. The Eurostar and train from Paris takes 1.5 hours from the French capital. For wine lovers, the Loire is one of France’s finest producing regions, with world-class reds and whites within easy reach.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Maldives
Private pool villas, exceptional food, and one of the Maldives’ most respected marine conservation programmes make Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru an exceptional choice at any time of year. The island’s 48 villas are beautifully crafted from handcrafted tropical woods, woven organic materials, and thatched roofs, with every space designed to feel as connected to the water and the surrounding reef as possible.
Dining spans four distinct concepts, from vibrant Thai cuisine at Saffron to the striking overwater Japanese restaurant Madi Hiyaa, where the views are as good as the food.
The resort’s Marine Lab, established in 2004 as the Maldives’ first resort-based facility of its kind, has been at the forefront of ocean conservation for nearly two decades. Around World Turtle Day on 23rd May, the lab highlights its partnership with the Olive Ridley Turtle Project, giving guests the chance to get directly involved in conservation work through Citizen Science data collection, reef clean-up snorkels, and coral planting sessions.
Morning snorkels on the house reef, where turtles are regularly spotted, and guided underwater expeditions with the Marine Lab team add a genuine sense of purpose to what is already a wonderful stay.
June
Semliki Safari Lodge, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda
June marks the start of Uganda’s long dry season, and the best wildlife viewing conditions the country offers all year. Semliki Safari Lodge sits in a remarkable position within Uganda’s oldest protected area, the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, at the precise point where East African savanna meets Central African rainforest. The result is an ecological crossroads unlike anything else on the continent, and one that makes for some of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters available anywhere.
The lodge keeps its footprint small and its experience intimate: just eight private units in total, made up of two safari suites and six luxury tents, each with sweeping views over the forest canopy and surrounding escarpments. Private verandas, outdoor tubs, vintage Land Rover game drives, warm personal service, and fresh meals from the property’s own organic garden set the tone perfectly.
The wildlife here is genuinely rare. Forest elephants, shoebills, giant hogs, and dry-habitat chimpanzees found nowhere else in East Africa are among the highlights, while over 500 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, including 46 that are endemic to the Congo Basin and cannot be spotted anywhere else in the region. Kingfishers, sunbirds, bee-eaters, turacos, parrots, and barbets are among the species that make Semliki one of the great birdwatching destinations on earth.
Through the Semliki Chimpanzee Project, guests can also contribute directly to vital conservation research. Uganda Airlines operates direct flights from London Gatwick to Entebbe..
Honey Bear, Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, Uganda
Opened in late 2023 by WildPlaces Africa, Honey Bear is as intimate as safari lodges get. Five beautifully designed tents sit on the southern bank of the Kazinga Channel within the Kyambura Game Reserve, each positioned for uninterrupted views across the water.
Waking to hippos splashing below and elephants at the waterline at sunrise is not a marketing promise here; it is simply what mornings look like. As one of only two accommodations in the entire reserve, alongside its sister lodge The River Station, the level of privacy and exclusivity is exceptional.
The standout activity is a descent into the Kyambura Gorge on foot, guided by expert chimpanzee trackers. The gorge is dense, atmospheric, and alive with birds, monkeys, and the distant calls of chimpanzees moving through the canopy.
It is one of those experiences that stays with you long after the trip is over. A relaxed mess tent serves as the dining and sitting area, and the whole atmosphere is full of character.
Kulu Ora, Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda
The newest WildPlaces Africa property and one of the most exciting openings in Africa this year, Kulu Ora sits deep within a 75,000-hectare low-impact zone in Uganda’s oldest and largest national park, Murchison Falls. Named after the local word for ‘river’, the lodge shares this extraordinary stretch of wilderness only with its sister camp, Papa’s Camp, meaning guests can experience seclusion and crowd-free wildlife encounters.
Eleven elegantly appointed ensuite canvas-walled suites each have a private plunge pool, and the surrounding terrain delivers some of Uganda’s finest game viewing, including the country’s ‘Big Seven’ in a pristine natural setting. The lion sightings here are among the best in the country.
Beyond the wildlife, Kulu Ora offers forest bathing, meditation, and yoga beneath ancient trees, exceptional birding and fishing on the Nile, night drives through untouched wilderness, and bush dinners in secluded riverfront spots that are hard to imagine topping.
July
The Landings Resort & Spa, St Lucia
St Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s most naturally beautiful islands, and The Landings Resort & Spa is one of the finest places to experience it. Set on the golden sands of Rodney Bay in the north of the island, the five-star beachfront resort is built around a private marina that gives it a distinctive yacht-club character unlike most of its peers.
Marina View Villa Suites overlook the water directly, and guests can dock private vessels, join dive trips, take snorkelling tours, go fishing, or book sightseeing charters right from the resort. Three restaurants, three bars, and easy access to Rodney Bay Marina’s boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife complete a very appealing picture.
July is a particularly exciting time to be on the island. Saint Lucia Carnival runs in July 2026, building to the spectacular street parades on 20th and 21st July, when the island fills with colourful costumes, live music, and dancing that takes over entire streets. The combination of one of the Caribbean’s great festivals and a world-class beachfront resort to come back to at the end of the day is about as good as summer travel gets.
August
Dhawa Ihuru, Maldives
Sitting just moments from Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Dhawa Ihuru offers a livelier, more relaxed counterpart to its sister island, and one that is rightly celebrated for having one of the best house reefs in the entire Maldives.
The reef begins just steps from the shore and is alive with colourful corals, reef fish, and sea turtles, making it ideal for snorkellers and divers of all abilities. The resort’s PADI 5-Star Gold Dive Centre handles everything from first dives to advanced exploration, while the nearby Rannamaari Shipwreck offers an exhilarating option for more experienced divers. Kayaking, catamaran sailing, and guided lagoon adventures round out a full programme of water-based activities.
With 45 contemporary beachfront villas, a dedicated kids’ club, safe swimming areas, family-friendly dining, and a well-considered all-inclusive package, Dhawa Ihuru is one of the Maldives’ most complete family resorts. Mealtimes are easy and the days fill themselves.
Parents looking for a little more calm have the spa and the quieter lagoon corners to retreat to, while the twin-island arrangement with Vabbinfaru means the Marine Lab experiences and overwater dining of the sister property are also within reach. It is a genuinely hard combination to beat.
All properties featured are bookable through Lovett & Co, each with direct-flight access from the UK. For further information, visit lovettandco.com.