I gave you my opinion on the most beautiful beaches in the world in a previous article: here. In this article, I will give you my choice of the most beautiful islands I have been to and where I would like to go.
📋 The essentials to remember: My island favorites after about a dozen archipelagos: Bora Bora (Polynesia), Sardinia (Mediterranean), Gili Trawangan (Lombok), the Maldives, and Mauritius. For a tight budget: Pylos in Greece, Lipari in Sicily, Koh Lanta in Thailand. The criterion that makes an island legendary: crystal-clear water + reasonable tourist density.
The most beautiful islands I have been to
If I had to give you my top 3, it would be the following:
- The Koh Phi Phi islands in Thailand
This is the place where the movie The Beach was filmed. Koh Phi Phi consists of two very small islands. You can do everything on foot; there are no cars. The particularities of this island are that there are many activities to do: such as snorkeling, you can go scuba diving (there are very beautiful reefs near the coasts), you can kayak, camp, cliff jump, swim with reef sharks (they are harmless). The shape of the island makes it very pretty and it has a beautiful beach with very warm water because it is shallow.
- Fraser Island in Australia
Fraser Island is a deserted island where dingoes live in the wild. The advantage of this island is that there are many lakes and fewer tourists than in some places (although there are too many for my taste). You need a 4×4 to access it and it is possible to camp in the wild, guaranteed dingo encounters at night 😀 (just kidding? if you avoid leaving food outside, you won’t have bad encounters).
- The islands in Indonesia
It’s hard to choose between the islands in Indonesia like Bali, Java, Sumatra, etc., as each island is so surprising and disorienting; that’s actually why I’m going back to Indonesia in May. There is really everything: volcanoes, rice fields, magnificent beaches, scuba diving, wild hiking, stunning landscapes, etc. And on top of that, the cuisine is exquisite :D.
🗣️ My experience: On Gili Trawangan, the largest of the three Gili islands off Lombok, the island forbids all motorcycles and cars: transportation is by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. Sunrise on the East beach with a view of Mount Agung in Bali, snorkeling with turtles 30 meters from the shore. Accommodation in a simple bungalow at 25 €/night. A favorite that almost made me forget the Maldives.
The islands I would like to visit
🍀 Traveling to an island
- Complete disconnection possible
- Water activities on the agenda
- Calmer atmosphere
- Water always within reach
🔻 Limitations
- Logistical cost (ferry, internal flight)
- Limited local resources
- Weather risk (cyclones)
- Over-tourism in high season
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- Mauritius, the desire to go there came from meeting a friend who is of Mauritian origin and who introduced me to the culture and food. Since then I would really like to go, because I have several acquaintances there. In fact, it is at this friend’s place that we will visit in Dubai after our stay in Bali.
- Mauritius, the desire to go there came from meeting a friend who is of Mauritian origin and who introduced me to the culture and food. Since then I would really like to go, because I have several acquaintances there. In fact, it is at this friend’s place that we will visit in Dubai after our stay in Bali.
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- Taiwan, being of Chinese origin, having taken Chinese classes in a Taiwanese school in Paris, and having met quite a few Taiwanese people in Australia, I would like to go to see my friends again and also taste some Taiwanese dishes which are delicious. Taiwan is not too touristy compared to some places I mentioned earlier, which would allow me to blend in with the crowd and meet more locals.
⚠️ Classic trap
Visiting the Maldives or Bora Bora without checking the season. These destinations have a very marked dry season and rainy season. On site during the monsoon: torrential rains, rough sea, snorkeling canceled. Always check the precise weather of the island for the exact period of your trip.
🌍 Did you know?
Indonesia officially has 17,508 islands, of which about 8,800 have names and 6,000 are inhabited. It is the largest archipelago in the world. Greece has 6,000, of which 227 are inhabited.
- The Maldives, knowing that the Maldives are destined to disappear one day, I would really like to go there and live in those bungalows above the waters, go diving and enjoy the beautiful fine sandy beaches. It would be a great place to relax and rest.
- The Seychelles, I would like to go there for the same reasons as the Maldives. The Seychelles tempt me for this aspect of change of scenery, bungalow located near the sea. To be in a restful and stress-free place with few people around. It is mainly the idea of being in a dream place where there is a mix of nature and beach. I even consulted a site seyvillas specialized in accommodation in the Seychelles which really made me want to leave..
To delve deeper into the subject of preserved small islands, my little paradisiacal islands lists my favorites far from the crowds. If the beach is your number one criterion, the most beautiful beaches in the world focuses on the most legendary sands. And to zoom in on a particularly successful trio of islands, the Gili islands off Lombok details the Gilis.
And you, where would you like to go or which island surprised you the most?
What is the most beautiful island in the world?
Which island to visit for a honeymoon?
Which cheap tropical island?
| Island | Highlight | Budget /person /week | Best period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bora Bora (Polynesia) | Turquoise lagoon, overwater bungalows | 3500-6000 € | May-Oct |
| Sardinia (Italy) | Emerald Coast beaches | 900-1500 € | May-Sept |
| Gili Trawangan (Indonesia) | No motor vehicles, snorkeling | 600-1100 € | May-Sept |
| Maldives | Lagoon, diving | 2500-5000 € | Nov-April |
| Mauritius | Beaches + Creole culture | 1500-2500 € | May-Dec |
| Sicily (Italy) | History + nature + beaches | 800-1400 € | May-Oct |
