5 Breathtaking Isolated Havens I Visited – Islands Around the World!

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Islands are the perfect isolated getaway when you want to find a quiet and peaceful travel. The world is full of amazing islands and I had the opportunity to explore many of them throughout my lifetime. Exploring places around the world in different types of travel styles has always been my jam. Island getaways are my favourite specially when I want a break from the mainland destinations. There are many islands worth visiting in the world and there are still lots in my bucketlist though I’m happy to share the top ones I have visited. From islands that are big enough to have multiple big cities and towns all the way to as small as just a dot on the globe and you can walk from the other side in a couple of hours, here are my favourite islands that I visited so far.

5. Oʻahu, U.S.A.

O’ahu in Hawaii was the first island I fully explored and it’s super gorgeous! This American island is home of the big waves surfers love and amazing sunrise and sunset on the beaches. Been here twice and both are for a wedding and in the same year lol. January and July 2015. What a coincidence (not really)! A lot of people choose this island or the other Hawaiian islands to do their dream destination wedding. It is very easy to go around the island with a car. Driving by the shore admiring the coast, stopping at the lookouts with a spam musubi in your hand is what you should do to get into the Hawaiian spirit.

There are many things to do here! Make sure to hike up the Diamond Head to see the beauty of the island, catch the big waves at North Shore, Lanikai Pillboxes for sunrise, and Lanikai Beach for the sunset!

4. Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand

If you’ve ever heard of Full Moon Party, then you’ve heard of Ko Pha-ngan. It is known as the party island because it hosts the Full Moon Party that happens every month during full moon. I went here during my YOLO trip in 2018 when I spent two months in South East Asia and spent my birthday here. Beyond the party scene of the island, it is has many attractions and activities you can do here. The beach, nature trails, awesome lookouts overlooking the island, and yummy Thai food. I spent three days here and did all these 6 activities in the island when I was in Thailand for two weeks.

3. Majorca, Spain

Majorca (or Mallorca) unexpectedly amazed me when I visited this Balearic Island on my three weeks grad trip back in April 2014 (it’ll be its anniversary soon so I’ll probably write something about it). I actually didn’t go here to party but to visit my Spanish friend from my study abroad in Leeds, UK. He showed me around the island. Visited small cute towns Valdemossa and Soller as well as a hidden beach at Sa Calabora. This was my first Southern Europe destination which proved to have a warmer climate and laid back ambience than its northern counterparts.

2. Palawan Group of Islands, Philippines

Philippines, where I was born and raised, is home to many great islands in the world including my number two! I listed the group of islands as one because it would be unfair to list the beautiful tiny islands one by one and take up this list so I merged them all together. The islands of Palawan are actually very popular that it’s on most top islands of the world list. Amazing fine white sands on the beaches in the islands. Obviously the top attraction in Palawan is island hopping! Malcapuya Island, Bulog Dos Island, Banana Island to name a few islands that I visited here from a day trip provided by Super Ultimate Tour during my 3 days trip in Coron.

1. Whitsunday Island

This one hands down is number one. Whitsunday Island is definitely number one in my list for its super fine white sand and amazing views of the Coral Sea (where Great Barrier Reef is located). I spent a day exploring this magnificent island in my Cairns trip as part of my 3 weeks in Australia and New Zealand trip. Booked a full-day tour with Cruise Whitsundays to visit the main attractions Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach. Hill Inlet is famous for the swirl picturesque path surrounded by turquoise water. There’s a lookout where you can see it from above too! These surreal moments where I can’t believe I’m here and felt like I was in a postcard.

I honestly could not believe what I’m seeing when I saw Hill Inlet and how fine the sand was at Whitehaven Beach. Fun fact, you cannot bring the sand as souvenir nor you can take it out of the group of islands because they are protected under some great barrier marine law. Happened to my friend and I where we caught sand on feet and the coast guard noticed it. He brought the hose and washed out feet lol.