There’s nothing fairly like an island getaway, and the world’s oceans are crammed with unique islands simply ready to be explored.
However deciding which unique islands to go to is a problem, given the sheer quantity and sheer range of the islands on the market.
Whereas the traditional view of an unique island is likely to be white sand and swaying palm timber of the Maldives or Fiji, there’s way more ready to be found
You’ll be able to discover the chilly climes of Deception Island in Antarctica, or you possibly can enterprise into the frozen wilderness of Greenland.
Sri Lanka is stuffed with nationwide parks and unique wildlife whereas Penang is an island that’s made for foodies.
There’s an island on the market for everybody although, and to encourage your subsequent journey, listed below are our favourite unique islands to go to!
16 Greatest Unique Islands
1. Maldives
Hurasdhoo Island, one of many many unique islands within the Maldives.
The Maldives is sort of actually the definition of unique islands, and this small archipelago within the Indian Ocean is usually the very first thing that involves thoughts once you assume tropical.
That’s as a result of the Maldives is superbly photogenic. There are white-sand seashores fringed by palm timber and the water is splendidly crystal clear.
You may also indulge and loosen up at among the greatest inns on this planet, and also you’ll discover that many are located on non-public islands or seashores, and the one strategy to attain them is by boat or seaplane.
Alternatively, board a small dhoni cruise or liveaboard and discover a variety of islands throughout your go to. That is the most suitable choice should you like to snorkel or scuba dive.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Maldives Island Hopping with G Adventures – 8 days
- Maldives Dhoni Explorer with G Adventures – 7 days
2. Sri Lanka
Arugam Bay is house to among the greatest seashores in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is a superb island vacation spot for anybody searching for an journey as a result of the island nation is stuffed with tradition, historical past, wildlife, and surroundings.
Sri Lanka has one thing for each type of traveler, be it luxurious or funds backpacker, and there’s a lot to do on this compact nation that you just may maintain returning time after time.
You’ll be able to go on elephant safaris within the nationwide parks, whale watching alongside the coast, loosen up on white-sand seashores or trek into the jungles or highlands seeking historic cities and temples.
It’s all this stuff that maintain us coming again to Sri Lanka. We’ve spent greater than a month touring this nation and always uncover new issues.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Sri Lanka Encompassed with G Adventures – 14 days
- Uncover Sri Lanka with Nationwide Geographic Journeys – 12 days
- Sri Lanka Specific with G Adventures – 8 days
3. Deception Island
Deception Island is likely one of the most distant vacationer locations on this planet.
Deception Island won’t be the normal definition once you consider unique islands, however it’s actually a uncooked and untraveled place.
In that sense, it’s unique, as a result of few folks ever make it to the Antarctic to set foot upon the black sand seashores of Deception Island.
This can be a rugged and delightful place, an island on the mercy of the intense Antarctic climate. It’s teeming with seals and penguins and is thought for its dramatic harbor, shaped from the caldera of a sunken volcano.
Add all that to the truth that the seaside is a sizzling water seaside. Boiling sizzling water bubbles up by way of the sand inflicting a steamy launch on the prime because it contrasts with the chilly air.
Deception Island is as unique as islands come.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Antarctica Basic with G Adventures – 11 days
- Quest for the Antarctic Circle with G Adventures – 14 days
- Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica with G Adventures – 22 days
4. Greenland
Ilulissat is one among Greenland’s most picturesque cities.
One other rugged and wild island to go to is Greenland, the most important island on this planet.
Greenland can also be on the mercy of maximum climate, because the island stretches deep into the Arctic Circle.
You’re greatest visiting in summer time when the snow has melted and there’s a shocking abundance of wildlife. Courageous the winter although and you may expertise the northern lights and learn to snowmobile or canine sled.
In Greenland, there are large glaciers, countless stretches of wilderness and numerous alternatives for journey.
We spent 3 weeks exploring Greenland, visiting locations like Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut, and Nuuk. We additionally walked the 100 mile Arctic Circle Path.
5. Busuanga, Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago that’s composed of hundreds of unique islands, however one of the excellent is Busuanga.
Positioned north of Palawan and south of Manila, Busuanga is the jumping-off level for island hopping by way of the Calamianes Islands.
Right here yow will discover Coron, one of the well-liked locations within the Philippines, the place there are freshwater lakes, tall limestone karst rocks, and countless snorkeling and diving alternatives in each wrecks and reefs.
Busuanga is an island that’s largely undiscovered as most vacationers don’t enterprise past the favored Coron City.
That is palms down one among our favourite locations on this planet. We’ve been a number of instances since we first found this space in 2014.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Philippines West Tour – 10 days
- Philippines Island Hopper – 19 days
- Palawan Island Hopper – 10 days
6. Cuba
Cuba is likely one of the most unique islands within the Caribbean as a result of the massive island nation is brimming with range.
In Havana, one of many oldest cities within the Americas, you possibly can stroll by way of ramshackle streets as you get hold of the wealthy colonial historical past.
Within the countryside of Vinales, you possibly can hike and marvel on the stunning surroundings, and see the place guerillas akin to Che Guevara and Fidel Castro as soon as waged warfare in opposition to the federal government.
Alongside the coast, you possibly can take pleasure in traditional Caribbean seaside resorts at Varadero or you possibly can take pleasure in some off the overwhelmed observe scuba diving within the Bay of Pigs.
Trinidad, a captivating Spanish colonial metropolis, is a kind of gems that can go away you craving for a return go to from the second you arrive. It’s additionally, arguably, our favourite place to go to in Cuba.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Cuba Libre with G Adventures – 6 days
- Cuba Explorer with G Adventures – 9 days
- Cuba Colonial with G Adventures -15 days
7. Easter Island
Easter Island solely has one true seaside.
Easter Island is nearly as unique because it will get, particularly if it’s intrigue and isolation that attracts you in.
To begin with, Easter Island is extremely distant, being discovered within the Pacific Ocean someplace between Chile and New Zealand.
However most of all, it is a mysterious place, the place the fascinating Easter Island Moai statues stand tall.
These are statues which have confused and baffled students for many years, they usually actually add to the mystique of this rugged and uncooked vacation spot.
Moai apart, this island is wealthy in pure magnificence and pacific islander tradition. It’s a journey for the senses and we’d suggest you intend a minimum of every week for a go to.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Easter Island Unbiased Journey with G Adventures – 4 days
- Easter Island Tour – 4 days
8. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
These dreamy photographs of the Raja Ampat islands that you just see on-line, in all places, come from Piaynemo.
Positioned off the coast of New Guinea, the Raja Ampat islands are top-of-the-line scuba diving locations on this planet.
This assortment of effectively over 1000 small islands is distant, and it’s nonetheless being found by vacationers and vacationers.
Marine life thrives within the waters right here, and whereas the islands and seashores are themselves paradisiacal, it’s what’s beneath the waves that basically attracts folks in.
This space is distant and costly by typical Southeast Asia requirements, however completely definitely worth the cash and energy to go to.
9. Islands of Fiji
Fiji is crammed with many superb islands however palms down Qamea Island is likely one of the greatest.
Fiji is a traditional tropical getaway, and few different locations on this planet might be described as unique islands, in the identical straightforward method that Fiji and its many islands can.
You’ll be able to snorkel pristine coral reefs and scuba dive in one of the biodiverse elements of the Pacific.
Chase waterfalls and uncover the wildlife inside Fiji’s rainforest, or just sit again, loosen up and unwind within the sunshine on a white sand seaside.
We spent a month touring all through Fiji and might personally attest that it’s a place of wealthy tradition and insane pure magnificence.
Locations like Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Qamea, Viti Levu, Pacific Harbour, the Mamanuca Islands, and the Yasawa Islands shouldn’t be missed.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Wanderlands Fiji – 8 days
- Yasawa Islands Sea Kayaking Fiji – 8 days
10. Borneo
Sipadan Island is a marine paradise for divers.
The big island of Borneo is likely one of the most unique islands on this planet as a result of it is a vacation spot teeming with wildlife and variety.
Borneo is split between Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, and there are numerous adventures awaiting you.
Marvel on the golden mosque and floating villages in Brunei, scale the height of Mount Kinabalu, the best mountain in Southeast Asia in Malaysia, or get off the overwhelmed observe and uncover Kalimantan, a hardly ever visited a part of Indonesia.
It’s additionally house to among the greatest scuba diving on this planet, the famed Sipadan. It’s an opportunity to dive an enormous underwater volcano with attractive wall drops, large colleges of fish, a great deal of turtles and extra sharks than you possibly can think about.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Better of Borneo with Nationwide Geographic Journeys – 12 days
- Expertise Borneo with G Adventures – 14 days
- Western Borneo Expertise with G Adventures – 8 days
11. Dominica
Dominica is thought to be one of the stunning of the Caribbean Islands.
Positioned within the Caribbean, Dominica is likely one of the greatest islands to go to in case you are searching for out of doors actions.
This can be a rugged, volcanic island, and you may hike by way of dense forest to succeed in effervescent sizzling springs or the crater of the tall volcano that stands over 1500 meters tall.
In contrast to most islands within the Caribbean, you’ll not discover white sand seashores in Dominica. That is the island of nature and rocky, black seashores paired with lush, dense rainforest are the flagship of this island.
You’ll be able to journey all day, then sit again and benefit from the comforts of the resorts within the night, as you take pleasure in uncooked sunsets over the Caribbean.
12. Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar has among the greatest seashores on this planet.
Positioned off the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is likely one of the most unique islands to go to in Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Zanzibar isn’t just an island that’s recognized for its white-sand seashores and crystal clear water – though there are many each to take pleasure in – it’s an island that’s additionally famend for its tradition and historical past.
You’ll be able to uncover the most effective of the island’s wealthy heritage and colonial historical past – be it African, Portuguese, Omani or British – in Stone City, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed capital.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Zanzibar Unbiased Journey with G Adventures – 5 days
- Basic Serengeti & Zanzibar with G Adventures – 13 days
- Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar Adventures with G Adventures – 12 days
13. Caye Caulker, Belize
Caye Caulker, lazy days spent strolling the coast and breezy evenings spent searching to sea because the sunsets.
Off the coast of mainland Belize, yow will discover Caye Caulker, one of the unique islands in Central America.
Surrounded by clear water that’s excellent for snorkeling and diving, Caye Caulker is an ideal island retreat.
There’s just one village on all the island, and the remainder of Caye Caulker is simply sand and mangroves.
You’ll be able to loosen up and unwind, and benefit from the famously gradual tempo of life that Caye Caulker and Belize are so well-known for. Issues occur slowly on Caye Caulker however that’s simply wonderful should you’re on trip.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Discover Belize with Nationwide Geographic Journeys – 9 days
- Basic Belize & Tikal with G Adventures – 9 days
14. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are an iconic bucket listing vacation spot for nearly each traveler on this planet.
The Galápagos Islands are one of the famed locations on the planet as a result of that is the place that helped Darwin to refine his theories of evolution and pure choice within the nineteenth century.
The Galápagos Islands might be reached from Ecuador, and visiting this distinctive a part of the world is an unbelievable expertise.
The Galápagos Islands are distant and remoted, being discovered a number of hundred miles away from the South American shoreline.
That isolation is what led to the islands changing into so naturally distinct, and right now, because it was in Darwin’s day, the Galápagos is a haven for wildlife and birds.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Galapagos Specific Journey: Wilderness & Wildlife with G Adventures – 7 days
- Galapagos Island Hopping with G Adventures – 9 days
- Galapagos Journey: Snorkeling & Sea Lions with G Adventures – 9 days
15. Samos, Greece
Greek Island hopping is as dreamy because it sounds.
In Greece, one of the unique islands to go to is the gorgeous island of Samos.
That is the Aegean at its greatest and also you’ll discover a rugged shoreline and charming Greek villages and cities to discover.
In addition to being stunning although, Samos can also be a spot of historical past. That is the place the long-lasting Historical Greek mathematician Pythagoras got here from, as did many extra historic philosophers and writers too.
There are ruins throughout the island, from historic castles to historic aqueducts, and it’s a improbable place to delve into.
One other nice choice to expertise essentially the most unique islands in Greece is on a Greek Island Hopping tour. Uncover the traditional historical past with spectacular seashores as you sail across the Greek archipelago.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Saling Greece – Santorini to Mykonos with G Adventures – 8 days
- Greece: Historical ruins & iconic islands with Nationwide Geographic – 12 days
- Crusing Greece – Mykonos to Athens with G Adventures – 8 days
16. Penang, Malaysia
Penang Nationwide Park gives among the greatest climbing trails in Malaysia.
For meals lovers, one of the unique islands on this planet may simply be Penang.
Discovered on the northwest coast of Malaysia, Penang has some nice seashores and a lovely nationwide park, however most vacationers go to to dig deep into the culinary scene.
Georgetown is famend for the standard of its meals, and you may chow down on a variety of native dishes, be they Malay, Chinese language or Indian.
At any time when we consider our time spent in Penang, our mouths water on the considered the road meals.
Our Prime Really helpful Excursions:
- Singapore to Bangkok Journey with Nationwide Geographic Journeys – 15 days
- Southeast Asia: Hilltribes & Avenue meals with G Adventures – 21 days
