The tropical island holiday is perhaps the most universal travel fantasy — clear water, white sand, coconut palms, and a sense of being genuinely removed from ordinary life. The reality, at the better islands, is even better than the fantasy. The best tropical islands combine natural beauty with their own distinct culture, cuisine, and character, which elevates them above simple beach resorts into experiences you will still be thinking about years later.
These five islands are among the most extraordinary on the planet — each remarkable in a different way, and each worth considerable effort to reach.
Palawan, Philippines
Palawan is consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful islands, and the competition it beats is formidable. The island province in the western Philippines stretches for nearly 450 kilometres and contains some of the most extraordinary marine environments on earth — the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site accessible only by liveaboard dive boat, is one of the finest dive destinations in Asia.
El Nido at the northern tip is the most visited part of Palawan, where limestone karst formations rise out of turquoise lagoons in a landscape that looks designed rather than geological. The island-hopping tours between the karsts — through secret lagoons, over shallow reefs, and into caves — are genuinely extraordinary. Coron in the north offers outstanding wreck diving and freshwater lakes of surreal clarity.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Bora Bora is where the overwater bungalow concept originated, and no other destination in the world has replicated the combination of lagoon, extinct volcanic peak, and luxury resort that makes this island so distinctive. The lagoon is a spectrum of blue from pale turquoise in the shallows to deep cobalt towards the reef — colours that appear almost digitally enhanced until you see them in person.
The island itself is small enough to drive around in an hour, but most visitors spend their time in and around the lagoon rather than exploring the interior. Snorkelling with reef sharks and rays in the shallows is a routine activity here. The sunsets viewed from the overwater villas, with the dark silhouette of Mount Otemanu reflected in the still lagoon water, are among the finest in the world.
Socotra, Yemen
Socotra is the most alien landscape on earth that is accessible without specialist permits. Isolated from the African mainland for millions of years, the island has evolved a flora that is found nowhere else — including the extraordinary dragon blood tree, a species that looks as though it was designed by a science fiction illustrator, with a flat, umbrella-shaped canopy that can live for hundreds of years.
The beaches on Socotra are pristine and virtually empty. The diving is exceptional. The island’s remoteness has protected it from the kind of tourism development that has changed other Indian Ocean destinations. Getting there requires a flight to either mainland Yemen (currently inadvisable due to ongoing conflict) or a connecting flight via Abu Dhabi or Muscat. The political situation makes Socotra challenging but not impossible to visit — check current Foreign Office advice carefully before planning any trip.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are a different kind of exotic — not tropical but genuinely unlike anywhere else in the world. The eighteen volcanic islands in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway have a landscape of sea cliffs, waterfalls, and turf-roofed villages that feels ancient and almost mythological. The bird life — particularly the Atlantic puffin colonies that can be visited by kayak — is outstanding.
The Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory of Denmark, reachable by flight from Copenhagen or a long ferry journey from Denmark. The weather is famously changeable but the light — when it appears between the cloud — is extraordinary, and the absence of mass tourism infrastructure gives the islands a quietness that is increasingly rare in any island destination.
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Aitutaki’s lagoon is frequently described as the most beautiful in the world, and it is difficult to argue with the description. The atoll in the southern Cook Islands encloses a lagoon of extraordinary colour — multiple shades of turquoise and blue over a sandy shallow floor — ringed by a series of small islands (motus) accessible by boat.
Unlike Bora Bora, Aitutaki has remained small and relatively undeveloped. There are no large resort hotels. The accommodation is in small guesthouses and boutique properties, and the number of visitors at any one time is limited. The lagoon cruise to the outer motus, stopping to snorkel over the coral and have lunch on a deserted beach, is as close as travel gets to paradise in the literal sense of the word.
What Makes an Island Truly Exotic?
The most exotic islands share certain qualities beyond their visual beauty — a genuine remoteness that makes the journey feel meaningful, an environment that is distinctive rather than generic, and a culture or character that makes the experience of being there feel genuinely different from anywhere else. The best tropical islands reward the effort it takes to reach them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tropical island is easiest to reach from the UK?
The Maldives is the most accessible Indian Ocean island destination, with direct flights from London of around eleven hours. Tenerife and other Canary Islands are the closest tropical-climate islands to the UK at around four hours’ flying time, though they are technically subtropical rather than tropical. The Philippines and French Polynesia require longer journeys with connections.
When is the best time to visit Palawan in the Philippines?
November to May is the dry season, with the best weather for island-hopping and diving. June to October is the rainy season, with the possibility of typhoons affecting the islands. February and March are generally the finest months — dry, not too hot, and with calmer sea conditions for boat trips between the karsts.
Are the Cook Islands expensive?
Yes, by Pacific island standards. Flights from the UK involve multiple connections and are costly, and accommodation on Aitutaki in particular tends to be boutique and priced accordingly. The Cook Islands use the New Zealand dollar, and general costs are similar to New Zealand. It is not a budget destination, but the experience is exceptional.
Is Bora Bora worth the cost?
For those who can afford it, Bora Bora generally delivers on its reputation. The overwater bungalow experience is genuinely extraordinary, the lagoon is as beautiful as photographs suggest, and the quality of the better resorts is outstanding. The downside is the cost — a week at a mid-range overwater bungalow resort is expensive, and everything on the island costs more than almost anywhere else in the Pacific.
