The world’s best secret islands

Apr 12, 2011 11:15:17 PM

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Looking for a romantic spot that’s (almost) all yours? Here’s a list from our brand new Best in Travel 2011 guide to reignite your love affair with desert islands, with picks from across the globe.

1. Torres Strait Islands, Australia

Image by Killer White Fluff

As far as you can go in Oz without falling off the map, the Torres Strait Islands are Australia as it might have been if Europeans had never arrived. Spilling north from the tip of Cape York, the 274 islands in the Torres Strait preserve a unique tribal culture that bridges the divide between Aboriginal Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Great Barrier Reef is right on the doorstop and there are airstrips and hotels on Thursday Island and Horn Island, but access to other islands is at the discretion of local tribal councils.

Permits to visit outlying islands must be obtained at least one month in advance from the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

2. Yaeyama Islands, Japan

Image by ajari

The idyllic Yaeyama Islands are tucked away at the very southern tip of the Japanese archipelago. Looking more like the Caribbean, the islands of Iriomote, Taketomi and Ishigaki serve up generous portions of sun, sea, sand and sushi. Ishigaki has the best of the beaches, while Taketomi is famous for its traditional Ryukyuan houses and Iriomote is a jungle playground with an open-air onsen (hot springs).

Japan Transocean Air flies daily from Tokyo to Ishigaki, which is connected to the other islands by regular ferries.

3. Îles du Salut, French Guiana

Image by Antoine Hubert

Most people have heard of Devil’s Island, but few would be able to stick a pin on a map. The smallest of the three Îles du Salut, this infamous former penal colony is separated from the coast of French Guiana by 11km of treacherous, shark-infested waters. Steve McQueen tried to escape the islands repeatedly in Papillon, but most modern visitors are willing castaways, lured here by waving palms, chattering macaws and spooky ruins from the penal colony days.

Access to the Îles du Salut is by catamaran from Kourou and the only place to stay is the clubhouse-style Auberge des Iles.

4. Ulleungdo, South Korea

Image by hkinuthia

It’s easy to see the appeal of tiny Ulleungdo. Midway between South Korea and Japan, this rugged volcanic island is said to have no pollution, no thieves and no snakes – in other words, this is perfect hiking country. Ferries run daily from the mainland to the tiny port at Dodong-ri, where trails climb to the rocky summit of Seonginbong Peak (984m). If you want to really push the boat out, continue to the Dokdo islands – a tiny collection of outcrops that are hotly disputed between Japan and South Korea.

Perched beneath a towering cliff wall, Chusan Ilga Pension offers comfortable but satisfyingly rustic accommodation on the rugged north coast.

5. San Blás Archipelago, Panama

Image by Fathzer

Panama probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of the Caribbean, but this Central American nation has coral cays to rival anything in the Caymans or the Virgin Islands. Run as an autonomous province by the Kuna people, the San Blás Archipelago is a crescent of 365 tiny islands basking in the warm waters of the southern Caribbean. Forget luxury resorts – the only hotels are homestays in village houses and dinner is whatever the fishermen bring home in their canoes each evening.

Air Panama has regular flights to several San Blás islands, including the capital, El Porvenir.

6. Penghu Islands, Taiwan

Image by hsuyo

If Taiwan is the other China, then the Penghu islands are the other Taiwan. Administered from Taipei, the 90 islands of the Penghu archipelago are – within Taiwan at least – for their glorious scenery and ‘touching nostalgia’, which translates to unspoiled traditional Taiwanese culture. Away from the capital, Makung, this is a land of ox-carts, fish-traps, stone-walled fields, basalt cliffs and ancient temples dedicated to the sea goddess Matsu. If sun and sand are more your cup of shochu, the beaches and windsurfing are pretty impressive too.

From May to October, Penghu’s beaches are a nesting ground for endangered green turtles – locals leave turtle-shaped offerings at temples across Penghu as part of the Lantern Festival, 14 days after the New Year.

7. Bay Islands & Hog Islands, Honduras

Image by Theodore Scott

Forget Pirates of the Caribbean – the sand-dusted islands that float off the coast of Honduras are the real deal. In their heyday, the islands of Roatán, Utila and Guanaja were home to 5000 cutthroats, brigands and buccaneers, including the infamous Henry Morgan (aka Blackbeard). These days, the Bay Islands are better known for their beaches, diving and laid-back tropical vibe. You can turn the volume down ever further at the nearby Cayos Cochinos (Hog Islands) – 13 languorous coral cays and one secluded resort in a sea of brilliant blue.

The driftwood Plantation Beach Resort is the Hog Islands’ only accommodation, but camping can be arranged on uninhabited islands.

8. Con Dao Islands, Vietnam

Another prison-turned-paradise, the Con Dao islands were home to the most notorious penal colony in Indochina, and continued its grim work until the end of the Vietnam War. Now preserved as Con Dao National Park, the 16 islands are a natural wonderland of dense jungles, jade-coloured waters and white-sand beaches, home to dugongs, dolphins, turtles and spectacular coral reefs. For now, tourist developments on the islands are limited to a single dive shop and a handful of resorts in Con Son township.

Timing is everything with Con Dao – the islands are lashed by squalls from the west from June to September and squalls from the east from September to January.

9. Ssese Islands, Uganda

Image by sanjoyg

Why would a landlocked African nation appear on a list of desert islands? Thank Lake Victoria. The Ssese Islands tick all the right boxes for an island paradise – golden beaches, whispering palm trees, exotic flora and fauna – they just happen to be in the middle of Africa’s largest lake. Most of the 84 islands in the Ssese group are undeveloped, but a handful of resorts and beach camps grace the sands of Buggala, Bukasa and Banda. Aside from basking in the sun, the main activities are combing the jungle for exotic creatures and canoeing across the lake.

Boats run daily to Kalangala on Buggala island from Entebbe, Kasenyi and Bukakata on the mainland.

Check out Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 for the best places to go and things to do all around the world right now!

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Comments

6 November 2010 2:32AM cwbush83 Report this comment
Got to say, I'm surprised that Ulleungdo made it ahead of Bigeumdo. I clearly need to pay it a visit.
6 November 2010 3:16AM zebec Report this comment
Perhaps consider the Greek Cycladic isle Folegandros as one of the semi-secret islands?
24 November 2010 7:06PM wolvie83 Report this comment
Good lord man. Henry Morgan was not Blackbeard. Blackbeard was Edward Teach. You're confusing two of history's most FAMOUS pirates as the same person. Henry Morgan was a Buccaneer who was paid to stop law breakers and such. Edward Teach was the man breaking those laws most of the time. Get your facts straight don't just make them up.
24 November 2010 7:09PM wolvie83 Report this comment
Apologies, "privateer".
30 December 2010 2:04AM agonyofsorrow Report this comment
My husband and I went to Penghu Islands before. There are some pix in my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=113541&id=511953716
Those pix were taken by my cheap and simple camera, Canon Power Shot A530.
3 January 2011 10:11AM awdp Report this comment
I love Penghu. The ancient village at Erkan is special in that the old people in their houses (built from coral!) let you come in and share a cup of tea. It's like walking into a piece of history. My cousin and I went swimming at the Shili beach in November and it was quite comfortable. Favorite place to stay is Villa Romana B&B (in Chinese it's: 澎湖西衛海岸民宿). A beautiful house with only 2 guestrooms and surrounded by water smack in the middle of the archipelago. Taiwan woman and American man run it. Very friendly. Great seafood and Taiwan Chinese food at any number of restaurants in town. Plus great peanut candy made by the locals. Most of the locals don't speak any English, but they are extremely friendly and will try to help.
10 January 2011 4:43AM mariannavitoroulis Report this comment
Hurry up and go to the beautiful semi secret Greek island Karpathos before it gets discovered by the masses!
13 January 2011 1:43PM eexplora Report this comment
We've found that taking one week to two week cruises is the best way to visit the islands of the Caribbean. From Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Puerto Caldera, Marigot, Panama, Barbados, and Cartagena
http://e-explora.com/
http://e-explora.com/Pagina/Presentacion/Documento.aspx?idSesion=634304650383313604mrlban55iwtnyo55uiji1c55
13 January 2011 5:48PM fishismz Report this comment
I would consider the Batanes group of Islands as some of the best-kept secrets of the Philippines. The island has a very low crime rate, and the windswept islands are a thing of beauty, which evoke drama and tranquility at the same time. Paradoxically, it is accessible and remote at the same time, as it is located in the northernmost portion of the country, just a few kilometers south of Taiwan.
9 February 2011 10:19PM bamboopowder Report this comment
i would highly advise against Penghu island in Taiwan. Like EVERYTHING else in taiwan the water is polluted, the air is polluted, the rivers are polluted, and the beaches are polluted. the country has a major clean up on their hands and the local govn't does absolutely nothing to combat it. go to any number of the north facing beaches in penghu and you'll literally stand on a meter of garbage. i've never seen anything as disgusting as this place. talk about an opportunity wasted...but that's the norm for taiwan as they place industry above all else. i'm quite shocked that lonely planet would even bother putting penghu on their list. anyone who has been there can attest that there is nothing island like about this place. the island is overrun with concrete boxes and there is no island culture to it. with so many other 'true island' options out there this is one definitely worth skipping.
3 March 2011 6:14PM riitaa Report this comment
The islands of Con Dao have a tragic history - they lay completely unoccupied until the French occupied Vietnam and used the island as one large prison complex, where prisoners were shackled, starved and beaten, forced into hard labour and subjected to some particularly cruel and unusual punishment. http://www.holidayindiaonline.com/
21 March 2011 10:35PM wobbleon Report this comment
The Croatian island of Cres in the northern Adriatic is passed-by by many tourists who only think of Croatia as Dubrovnik et al. Cres is the least populated, wildest and most rugged Croatian island. It's perfect for nature lovers, eco-activities and those who prefer more than just sea and sun. Take a look www.tajnecresa.com
12 April 2011 3:28PM pipong Report this comment
Your good selves printed a wonderful report on Camiguin Island, Philippines Title "Fire n Nice" I'd have though they would deserve an honorable mention. Dive sites, Volcanoes (7), Sunken Cemeteries,White islands,Waterfalls (3), Hot Springs, Soda Springs and wonderful islanders who so so friendly!!!!!
12 April 2011 3:32PM hypershock Report this comment
All I can say is that the Torres Strait Islands are absolutely absolutely AMAZING!!! I can't recommend it highly enough!
12 April 2011 5:25PM clairealgarme Report this comment
There are many best secret islands in the Philippines. I hope you include this in the list.
12 April 2011 5:53PM agonyofsorrow Report this comment
I don't know what made bamboopowder thinks like that about Penghu. My husband and I had a great time there. We spent more than half month to travel among the beautiful islands. People there are very friendly and helpful. The sea food there is great too. The only thing we had to get use to was the strong wind. We arrived in Taiwan at the end of October. Penghu is very windy in late autumn and winter. However, it's another interesting experience for us. Many people go to Penghu in summer, enjoy the great beaches and water activities. I have many pix of PengHu islands. If we've got the chance, surely we'll be there again.
12 April 2011 11:01PM denimw Report this comment
Robinson Crusoe Island, Fiji should be on here. The beach isn't always perfect, it depends on the tides, but the water is always clear. The thing that makes this place great is that it's basic, budget and most of all, the staff are wonderful. The staff do the fire and knife dancing that many people staying on the mainland go to as a day or night trip. If you stay on the island in the accomodation you can join in with all the activities and watch the dancing almost everyday. I've been twice in the last year and I'm heading back next Monday. Check out the awesome reviews on Trip Advisor.
13 April 2011 12:31AM loulou37 Report this comment
This is what lonely planet lists should be like: full of suggestions I've never heard of and with room for additional interesting info from commenters, rather than a list of obvious-ish places and then arguments from commenters as some recent lists have been. So thanks so much for a great original article today.
13 April 2011 5:53AM tamyeuqui Report this comment
I has just came back from Con Dao island. It is one of the most peaceful I have seen in Vietnam. Beautiful beach with coral reef and a long stories about the biggest prisons with 20.000 person died in 2 centuries. A good place to relax and hide away the rest of the world.
14 April 2011 12:19AM hickson Report this comment
I haven't yet seen the book so I don't know if ILE DU LEVANT was included, but it should be. A subtropical island off France's Mediterranean coast where you are allowed to be naked all the time. (At restaurants and in the port you are required to wear something, but it can be as little as a g-string.) Camping La Pinede is beautiful, well-run and inexpensive. Nighttime temps in summer are in the upper 60s, daytime temps in the low 80s.
14 April 2011 7:32PM toyemen Report this comment
What a shame Lonelyplanet how come you have mentioned Socotra island on the first top secret islands and after two days you just removed it from the list?
19 April 2011 7:24AM guabitas Report this comment
What happend to Socotra???
29 April 2011 7:36AM clynnryan Report this comment
The snorkeling around Cayos Cochinos (Hog Islands) Honduras is awesome. I stayed in the Garifuna village, they have basic cabins and homestays there. You can snorkel and dive off shore because the islands are coral. I was taken by dugout canoe to beautiful coral reefs on other islands also. The islands are a protected area, no fishing, no large boats, so vast numbers of baby fish
9 May 2011 4:45PM funkydelicguy Report this comment
PHILIPPINES is composed of 7,107 islands and it has the best secret islands
12 May 2011 3:29PM clortie Report this comment
What about Vancouver Island, off the coast of British Columbia in Canada????? That place is amazing!
19 May 2011 11:56PM gusdon Report this comment
Indonesia may be an alternative site as a destination .... There were 17 thousand island with an exotic beach ... I'm not promising a luxurious place, but if you want a little adventure, why not try it?
Try to visit this site http://travelinginparadise.blogspot.com
25 May 2011 6:41PM guide2uganda1 Report this comment
At last, the irresistible Ssese Islands are listed number nine! Explore some of the amazing photos from different travelers to these 84 beautiful Islands http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ssese&f=hp
17 June 2011 12:39PM resortsorama Report this comment
these locations are absolute stunning !!! I am surprise Moorea Tahiti is not listed...check out www.resortsorama.com there is some amazing resorts for ALL !
20 June 2011 9:26AM mary7226 Report this comment
The Philippines has islands that are second to none. Sheer perfection. The sand is like silk and the water is like a bath. I could live there.
21 June 2011 11:50AM im_hanie Report this comment
Indonesia have 17thousand islands, and no one of them in the list :(
11 July 2011 2:41PM admr Report this comment
I agree with mary7226. The Philippines has wonderful islands and one of the best you can find in the Calamian archipelago which consists of about 100 pristine islands and islets, amongst them you will find the mysterious Coron island. For some pics have a look at http://www.alamindahbeach.com
12 July 2011 8:27AM murillo_d Report this comment
I think that Formantera Island must be between the top 10 ;)
-- Daniel Murillo Mir
@danielmurillom @bagpacktravelle
http://bagpacktraveller.blogspot.com/
26 July 2011 3:35PM restaurantsinsydney Report this comment
These all 8 ice lands are amazing. but why you have written this as secret Iceland!!
26 August 2011 6:27AM travelguide88 Report this comment
Nice places to visit. Like them.
21 September 2011 1:02AM economycarhire Report this comment
Wonderful post! Hadn't heard of several of these islands. The shark infested waters near Îles du Salut, French Guiana certainly caught my interest :/ otherwise, they sound wonderful!
8 October 2011 5:04AM DonnaQuijote Report this comment
Îles du Salut, French Guiana looks like the Turku archipelago!!
11 October 2011 9:14PM everyusernameistaken Report this comment
Clortie....While I agree Vancouver Island is amazing, it is far from secret! And to the people complaining about missed islands, there are thousands of islands in the world, many that are secret. They aren't gonna please everyone with 9 selections......however, I have to agree with those mentioning the Philippines and especially the north of Palawan. Absolutely amazing islands there!
21 December 2011 1:57AM regularjohan Report this comment
North Island in the Sir Edward Pellew group in N.T Australia is truly secret, almost impossible to get out to, I worked on a fishing Charter that had exclusive deals with the Aborigines to be there. The Island also contains extremely holy places for them.
7 January 2012 4:52AM pviviani Report this comment
Gonna def have to check some of these out on my travels. Made the leap to travel the world about 2 months ago and am currently at pachamama in CR (http://ow.ly/7MOYG). Some of these are being added to the list :)
13 February 2012 10:37AM turismoenportugal Report this comment
Nice article :) amazing places!!!