Love in the Shadows: Conscientious Honeymoons to Dark and Sacred Places

Tallinn Medieval Tunnels

Introduction

When we think of honeymoons, the usual imagery comes to mind — white sands, clinking cocktails, postcard sunsets. But for some couples, love doesn’t follow a script — and neither should the adventure that follows “I do.” For those who are drawn to history, haunted beauty, or the poignancy of human resilience, a honeymoon can be something deeper: a pilgrimage, a quiet confrontation with the past, or a shared reflection on the world’s raw and remarkable truths.

From the preserved ruins of Pompeii to the solemn halls of Auschwitz, there are places that whisper stories long after the crowds have gone. For the alternative, thoughtful traveller, these sites are not simply “dark tourism” attractions — they are spaces of memory, mourning, and meaning.

In this guest article, our friends at TravelBug explore what it means to be a conscientious traveller when visiting destinations marked by tragedy or transformation. They offer guidance on navigating these powerful spaces with empathy, awareness and respect — making your honeymoon not just a getaway, but a shared experience that deepens your bond and expands your understanding of the world.

Pompeii, Italy

Morbid curiosity or an understanding of the impact of horrors of yesteryear?

When I mention dark tourism, there are two main reactions I get: a look of sheer horror and disgust, or one of surprise and interest. While the topic has become somewhat more acceptable following recent TV documentaries and books, there are limited travel itineraries or agents dedicated to this.

I started in the travel industry many moons ago and my business was the usual package holidays. The boring fly-and-flop holidays where the main focus was the nearest beaches and bars. I still put every effort into making these holidays memorable and personal, but they just weren’t fuelling my love of travel creation.

And so, I began to look at places that piqued my interest, sparked a sense of wonder, or ignited the need to find out why certain events took place, both past and present. It was hard. Hard to find any tours or packages that catered to this and that allowed the flexibility to create something truly unique to my interests. I wanted to visit places from my favourite horror novels or movies, see where cultural events took place, and visit the scenes of crimes (both war and criminal). After speaking with the many suppliers I work with, I found it was possible to put together these itineraries. It took a bit longer and involved more planning, but the result was an amazing adventure, specifically created to cater to individual interests and desires.

The result; TravelBug Holidays. An independent travel agent that specialises in the more unique and alternative travel itineraries. A travel agent that can put together holidays in the UK or worldwide. We can book escorted or independent touring, book your car hire, excursions, attraction tickets and much more. We believe that dark tourism is the exploration of the different, the unique and the sometimes-unsettling places on our planet. A look into different cultures, our history and the events that took place, shaping our future for better or worse. Understanding the impact of these events can give us insight into how we can ensure they are remembered and respected and be grateful for the value of peace.

So, here are 4 destinations to ignite the dark tourist:

Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp is the place where more than 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, sadly lost their lives during the Nazi’s World War II Holocaust and is now a place of peaceful remembrance.

Witness the immense terror and persecution that took place as you view piles of the victims’ personal belongings. Take in the sheer scale of the wooden barracks that held the prisoners and the gas chambers that once stood here.

See how the prisoners were transported here on the now abandoned railway tracks that lead to the gateway to this place of unspeakable horrors.

Pompeii, Italy

Visit with a guided tour or independently. This once-prosperous ancient Roman city of Pompeii was buried in a deluge of ash from the violent eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius over 2000 years ago.

Here you can uncover timeworn ruins, preserved temples and the remains of magnificently decorated villas. View the human casts taken from the voids of victims trapped under layers of cinder and learn about everyday Roman life from the artefacts they left behind.

A truly amazing insight into the lives of those who unfortunately perished. There are still archaeological excavations being carried out and you may see the teams at work during your visit.

Bastion Tunnels, Estonia

This secret network of Medieval bunkers and shelters sprawls underneath Estonia’s capital city Tallinn.

Step back in time to search a labyrinth of dark, cold underground tunnels, lit only by torchlight and imagine how life would have been for troops in this subterranean world during World War II.

Discover how the passageways were adapted and modernised for Soviet use in later years as you duck under low ceilings and crouch into cramped dugouts.

Guided or independent tours are available. The passages are part of the Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum.

If you’re looking for somewhere further afield……

Khmer Rouge Regime, Cambodia

This destination is not for the faint-hearted and will be distressing in parts. Uncover accounts about the Khmer Rouge regime on this trip to Cambodia.

A sombre ambience shrouds the Killing Fields of Choeung, and a large memorial contains the skulls of over 8000 victims of Pol Pot’s mass genocide between 1975 and 1979.

Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former secondary school that was used as Security Prison 21 and learn about the painful suffering that was inflicted upon the local people during this harrowing era.

Conclusion

There’s a kind of beauty in honouring the full spectrum of life — the joy, the sorrow, the resilience, the remembrance. For couples who feel pulled towards depth over daiquiris, a honeymoon can be more than a holiday; it can be a shared act of witness, of learning, and of standing hand-in-hand in places that have shaped humanity.

Whether you’re walking through ancient tunnels, standing in silent tribute at memorials, or simply choosing to see the world in all its layered complexity, your love story travels with you. And in doing so, it adds another thread to the great tapestry — one woven with curiosity, compassion, and reverence.

Love doesn’t have to avoid the shadows. Sometimes, it shines brighter because of them.