Top 20 of the most beautiful islands to visit in the world

What could be more relaxing than gazing at the sea with your feet in the sand? If you are planning to go on holiday, here is our list of the most beautiful islands to visit!

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When it comes time to go on holiday, many people decide to choose a destination where the heat, beaches and sea are there and rightly so! After all, what could be more relaxing than watching the waves run aground on the sand while reading a good novel or enjoying a summer drink? If you don’t know yet which destination to choose for your next holiday, here is a top 20 of the most beautiful islands in the world. Let’s bet that after reading this article, you’ll want to set foot on each of them!

1. Moorea, French Polynesia

Do you dream of volcanic mountains, pristine white sandy beaches and vibrant turquoise waters? Moorea should be your next holiday destination! Only 30 minutes from Tahiti by high-speed catamaran, Moorea is a place to relax and enjoy the calm and beauty of nature.

Discover the authentic Tahitian culture and tropical nature on foot. Rent a car or a bike and drive around the Moorea coast for 60 kilometres. Pass through white churches and sleeping fishing villages, and stop on the way to buy tropical fruit, fresh tuna or frozen coconut.

2. Jamaica

In Jamaica, you will fall in love with the warm Caribbean climate, picturesque beaches, beautiful sunsets and majestic waterfalls.

Our favourite places: the romantic Reach Falls in Portland and Negril town for its reggae concerts and psychedelic sunsets.

3. Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is a small island in the Philippines and its main attraction is White Beach, a perfect white sandy beach, like a postcard, surrounded by palm trees, dive shops, bars, resorts and restaurants.

Our favourite place to enjoy the sunset is Diniwid Beach located north of White Beach. After a perfect sunset, choose a bar to enjoy a concert and party all night long. However, the festivities have begun to wreak havoc on the environment of this small island and tourism is now restricted.

4. Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Waiheke is only 35 minutes by ferry from Auckland. Enjoy this paradise of magnificent vineyards and olive groves, participate in a wine tasting and relax over a delicious lunch in a vineyard. Waiheke is an immersive adventure where you can walk along the cliffs, explore the beaches or fly gently through the forest on a zip line.

If you wish to spend the night on the island, we advise you to stay at Delamore Lodge where you can enjoy relaxing spa treatments, refined cuisine and a splendid swimming pool overlooking the bay.

5. Capri, Italy

Located less than an hour by boat from Naples, Capri is an inevitable stopover, an idyllic island, where the steep cliffs rise majestically above a crystal clear blue sea.

The most famous view of the island of Capri is undoubtedly “The Blue Grotto”, a magical cave where the sea sparkles with an electric blue hue. History lovers will appreciate Villa Jovis, the ruins of the imperial Roman villas where Emperor Tiberius lived.

6. Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

The Ko Phi Phi archipelago is located in the Andaman Sea, a marginal sea in the Indian Ocean. Located off the west coast of southern Thailand, it offers an interesting range of plant and animal species. The two main islands of the group are Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh.

Ko Phi Phi is the ideal destination for nature lovers, Koh Phi Phi’s flora impresses with a mix of jungle and rocky landscapes. The island’s guides can take you on an incredible jungle hike where you will see many animals, such as monkeys, snakes and wild birds.

7. Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is only an eight-hour direct flight from the United Kingdom, and it is the ideal destination for adventure lovers. The island is of volcanic origin and if you like hiking, you will love Les Pitons, two mountainous volcanic plugs listed as World Heritage sites.

The best beaches in the Caribbean are in Saint Lucia. The most famous are Sugar Beach and Marigot Bay. La Grande Anse is the ideal place to see sea turtles crawl out of the water and lay their eggs on the sand. Note that the luxury resort Sugar Beach is unique in its kind, perfect for family holidays and romantic getaways.

8. Whitsunday Islands, Australia

The Whitsunday Islands are an archipelago of 74 tropical islands with white sandy beaches located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Lovers of marine life will not miss the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive in the wonderful Great Barrier Reef, which is an unforgettable experience.

It is difficult to choose where to stay on the archipelago because there are many islands. Our favourite seaside resort is located on Hamilton Island, the largest and most popular of the Whitsunday Islands. Qualia is a seaside resort with 60 isolated pavilions hidden on the northern tip of the island. Condé Nast Traveler has named Qualia as the best seaside resort in the world in 2012. It is an adult retreat with an award-winning spa, two superb restaurants, a library, two bars and an excellent range of water activities.

9. Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is part of the Hawaiian archipelago and is also called the garden island. It is an island of steep mountains, green valleys and cascading waterfalls. We suggest you explore the beautiful cliffs of the Napali coast, in the north of the island and the Coconut Coast in the east.

On the south shore, you will find sites of cultural, historical and geological importance as well as beautiful beaches. Kauai Island has been featured in more than seventy Hollywood films and television shows, including Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and Jurassic World.

10. Fiji

Fiji is a Melanesian country in the South Pacific Ocean divided into nine groups of islands. You can visit Fiji all year round, with temperatures remaining stable at around 27°C. Ocean activities such as swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving can be practiced in all seasons. Divers benefit from increased visibility around coral reefs during the Fijian winter months from May to October.

The largest and most important island in the country is called Viti Levu. It is the most economically developed and has a rich cultural heritage to discover. The best attractions of Viti Levu are on the water. You can go dolphin watching, go to the kitesurfers’ paradise of Nananu-i-Ra, and see the coral reefs of Bligh Passage.

11. Dalmatian Islands, Croatia

Croatia’s Dalmatian coast stretches along the western tip of the country and is a unique destination made up of picturesque islands and seaside towns. No matter which of the seventy islands you choose, you will return with amazing memories. Our favourite island is undoubtedly Cres, known for its griffin population, where you can marvel in the oak forests, admire the majestic cliffs that line the sea and rest on quiet beaches.

The largest city and the hub of the coastline is Split, a haven of curiosities and museums classified by UNESCO. Tourists sometimes neglect to pass through the beach-deprived Croatian capital, Zagreb, an architectural and historical treasure that we recommend you to visit.

12. Bali, Indonesia

Bali is the favourite destination for surfers and divers, but there is much more to discover than its beaches and marine biodiversity. Exotic temples and palaces amidst breathtaking landscapes make the island a unique experience.

Choose wisely where to stay on the island, as each city offers a different experience. Seminyak is Bali’s seaside resort, most of the island’s best restaurants are in the area and night birds will enjoy its nightlife. On the other hand, Ubud is very quiet and the ideal place for nature lovers, preferring green valleys to the beach and enjoying art, culture and history. But if you are a partygoer, Kuta is known as the ideal destination with its many bars and clubs open until the wee hours of the morning.

13. The Cook Islands

The fifteen Cook Islands are a small warm tropical paradise in the heart of the Pacific. The main island Rarotonga is very modern, but has a robust culture, firmly rooted in traditional Polynesian values and history. You will enjoy a very good coffee, traditional cuisine and will not be able to choose between the different outdoor activities, lagoon cruises and cultural visits to fishing and hiking.

A must see: visit the sublime lagoon of Aitutaki, one of the jewels of the Pacific surrounded by small desert islands and swim in the underground caves of Mitiaro and Ma’uke.

14. Santorini, Greece

Welcome to one of the most beautiful destinations in Greece. Santorini offers a unique landscape of exotic coloured beaches made of black, red and white, the result of their volcanic sand. Imagine swimming in the warm and mythical Aegean Sea, with a breathtaking volcano and sunsets in the background.

The architecture of the island is very characteristic, the churches are built in caves and the whitewashed houses, the blue dome churches and the paved paths are of amazing beauty.

15. Palawan, Philippines

Treat yourself to delicious local cuisine and regional beers in Palawan. One of the things we love most about the Philippines is the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Sabang. It was declared one of the seven new wonders of nature in 2012.

If you are not a fan of crowds, Port Barton is a very quiet village where you will find beautiful beaches. You can also snorkel to see sea turtles and kayak to the nearby islets, you will have everything for you. Palawan is an important stopover for migratory birds and is home to about 15 species of birds that can’t be found anywhere else, Coron Bay is a very interesting destination for divers, you can find more than half a dozen ships sunk there during the Second World War. Experienced divers can enter the ships and discover a dark and lost world of abandoned engine rooms, scattered personal effects and bomb holes opening to the depths.

16. Île Maurice, Africa

This idyllic holiday destination allows you to do a variety of water sports, see beautiful beaches, go hiking in the mountains and observe animals.

Mauritius is an island steeped in history. There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit: Aapravasi Ghat in the colonial capital of Port Louis and Le Morne, a mountain that served as a shelter for fugitive slaves in the 18th century.

There are also some incredible national parks to see on Mauritius, such as the Black River Gorges and Casela Wildlife Park where you can walk with cubs.

17. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is an isolated island in the South Pacific. Surrounded by white sandy beaches and turquoise water protected by a coral reef, it is a very pleasant place to snorkel and scuba dive. It is also a popular tourist destination for its luxury seaside resorts, some of which offer bungalows on the water. One of the best hotels is the five-star Four Seasons Hotel.

The most impressive view of the island is in the centre of Mount Otemanu, where there is a dormant volcano that rises to a height of 727m.

18. Seychelles

The 115 islands of the Seychelles await you quietly in the warm and clear waters of the Indian Ocean. The beaches of the Seychelles with their pink granite rocks are among the most beautiful in the world and the Aldabra Islands are a site that is home to tens of thousands of giant turtles.

The Green Valley of May National Park is the only place where the six endemic palm species of Seychelles, including the Sea Coco, can be found together. Sea Coconut produces a fruit that is one of the largest and heaviest known and is appreciated by a number of Asian cultures for its aphrodisiac, medicinal, mystical, and other properties.

19. Maui, Hawaii

There’s so much to do in Maui. Don’t miss Haleakala National Park and its spectacular sunsets, stroll through Lahaina’s historic sites and take a drive to Hana. From Maui Island, you can sail to Lanai, a truly romantic place to visit, also known for its wreck of a Second World War tanker.

Maui is a volcanic island and you can snorkel in its volcanic cone which will reveal a rainbow of coral and tropical fish in the crystal clear waters of the crater.

Weather conditions in Maui vary from day to day and can be radically different depending on the side of the island where you are, so don’t forget to pack wisely.

20. Maldives

The Maldives is a tropical island composed of 26 atolls of white sandy beaches surrounded by turquoise water. You will enjoy the great experience of swimming in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and its colourful fish. The seaside resorts in the Maldives are exceptional, and with over 100 choices, you should certainly find your ideal holiday home.