Travel Inspiration | The 15 Most Beautiful Islands Around the World

Consisting of 26 natural atolls, the Maldives are home to some of the world’s most stunning, and eye-catching islands on earth.

Located off the coast of Sri Lanka, this incredible location is the perfect spot for a beach vacation. And while getting here is a bit of a hike, the country’s outstanding all-inclusive resorts are at the ready to help you rejuvenate and lap up the life of luxury while enjoying the sugary-white sands and turquoise waters of the island.

The Maldives has a range of different resorts that cater for both family getaways, offering an endless number of activities for the kids, while also offering an adults-only escape, an escape that features a plunge pool, overwater villas, and sunset dinners on the beach.

One of the most luxurious places to stay when visiting the Maldives would be Hurawalhi Maldives. This luxurious private island resort features hammocks strung across the shoreline before a beachfront sunset, and a translucent turquoise lagoon that sparkles beneath the posh overwater villas, offering an experience that is so remarkable, that the pictures you take will hardly do it justice.

Although only certain villas have plunge pools (both on water and on land), each villa features a rainfall shower, a sundeck, and a beautiful eye-catching design.

Mallorca is a Mediterranean gem situated in Spain, and is known for its picturesque scenery, beautiful weather, and mouth-watering cuisine.

Although Mallorca is a part of Spain, its rugged landscape has been regarded as ‘Otherworldly’, and sets it apart from the rest of the country. The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca’s landscape is made of rocky mountains and lush wooded hillsides that fall down towards the sea.

Along the stunning coastline travelers can find viewpoints that look out at the pristine coves that sparkle with crystal clear waters.

Mallorca offers vacation goers a delightful experience as the destination is not only known for its nature, but for its history as well. With historic towns and charming villages, the destination is loaded with attractions like medieval churches, castles, and art museums. A destination with both cultural wonder and natural wonder.

With around 700 islands and more than 2,000 tiny cayes, the Bahamas have definitely earned its place within the conversation of, “Most Beautiful Islands around the world”.

The top attractions of the Bahamas range from its crystal clear waters and thriving coral reef, to its duty-free shops, mega-resorts, and variety of live performances and other entertainment options found in the capital of Nassau.

The Bahamas perfectly balances a slow travel experience with a thrill-seeking adventure. Interested in big-game fishing? Bimini makes for the best location. Interested in snorkeling? Why not try exploring a completely different world, submerged underwater at Long Island and Andros.

For travelers looking to visit the Bahamas solely for the sake of Rest and Relaxation, travelers might enjoy one of the Out Islands, like Exumas, Abacos, or Eleuthera – these are said to be amongst the best Caribbean islands for uncrowded, blissful beach time.

The Ph Phi Islands are an archipelago of stunning beauty, situated in the Krabi province in the middle of the Andaman sea, 42 km away from Amphoe Mueang. The location lies between the large island of Phuket and the Straits of Malacca coast of Thailand.

Lush limestone peaks rise from the tropical sea, and warm waters lap on palm-lined sugary beaches. Ko Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island and offers day trips to the surrounding islands. Popular activities include swimming, snorkeling, and superb diving.

Travelers who have traveled the globe will agree that few countries in the world have more picturesque beaches than Thailand. And while it is easy to find breathtaking tropical paradises all over the country – the province of Krabi is home to some of the most spectacular coastlines in Asia.

Phra Nang Beach in the Krabi province is a 10-minute picturesque walk that starts in neighboring Railay beach through a trail that cuts through towering limestone cliffs. The sharp cliffs of the region attract many rock climbers, while the quiet emerald bay waters are perfect for both snorkeling and swimming.

St. Lucia is unlike the other islands in the Caribbean, as its best assets are not necessarily its pristine beaches, with its golden sands and graceful palm trees that offer travelers a splendid experience. Rather, it is the dramatic topography of the island.

The towering Pitons, twin volcanic peaks preside over the luscious green landscape, rising more than 700 meters from the sea, and providing a breathtaking backdrop of gorgeous jungle scenery.

Adventure seekers will find plenty of things to do on St. Lucia. Ziplining, climbing the Pitons, hiking the various nature trails, horseback riding, sightseeing cruises, and exploring the island’s active volcano are all popular activities.

Travel Tip : After all your adventures, you can relax under the rustling palms on St. Lucia’s golden sands or soaks in the island’s healing hot springs.

Like what you’re reading? Why not check out our other blogs on the Most Scenic Waters of the World.

Capri is situated 20 km off of the Amalfi coast, and is a glamorous destination that lives up to its hype. Sea stacks and jagged cliffs rise from the teal-shaded Tyrrhenian Sea, framed by sprays of colorful flowers.

One of the island’s biggest attractions is the Blue Grotto, a glowing sea cave, where locals row tourists by boat and sing Opera in order to demonstrate the caves’ acoustics.

When you arrive at the port of Marina Grande, make sure to take the funicular up to the main town of Capri, a place so beautiful people have said that it looks more like a movie set. The piazza here buzzes with well-dressed locals, and tourists trotting around with shopping bags filled with designer clothes and the island’s heavenly perfumes.

Travel Tip : Be sure to visit the highest town, Anacapri, and take a chair lift up to Monte Solaro for a spectacular view of the sea.

Koh Samui is the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand, followed by its two sister islands, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. With its crystal clear waters, perfectly-arched palms, and a backdrop of luscious green Jungle: Koh Samui is regarded as a tropical gem.

Enjoy the kaleidoscopic coral reefs and green peaks rising from the turquoise waters within the eye-catching Ang Thong National Park, or take a day trip around to the sister islands as this is one of the top things to do when visiting Koh Samui.

Koh Samui provides travelers with variety, with Chaweng Beach being the most developed of the beaches on the island. Chaweng beach is home to luxury resorts like Vana Belle, and Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, while Laem Setbeach is less developed, and offers a peaceful environment, with coral gardens just off the coast and obscure rock formations.

Kaua’i is regarded as, “the Garden isle”, for its rainforest that cloaks much of the interior, its waterfalls that tumble from the lava cliffs, and the irresistible fragrance of tropical flowers that fill the sultry air.

Although the island is littered with luxurious flora, its true beauty comes from its coastline that is just spectacular. Lava sculpted this stunning island, thrusting it from the depths of the ocean to form luscious, green velvety ridges and breathtaking cliffs rimmed by gorgeous beaches.

Kauai’s most popular attraction would be the stunning Na Pali coast, an unforgettable area with a landscape that was made famous by the film Jurassic Park. Other places to visit would be Waimea Canyon, the various waterfalls around the island, and the vistas that rival the most bespoke locations around the world.

It is possible to tour the entire island within two days, with one day devoted to sites along the road west of Lihue, curving up to Waimea Canyon, and the second day spent with a sole focus on the road that runs to the northern coast. However, Kauai is a place of tremendous beauty, and we doubt that you or any other travelers would want to spend just a measly two days in this tropical paradise.

Strung between French Polynesia and Samoa, while also holding strong ties to New Zealand, the Cook Islands are an archipelago made up of 15 islands and are among the most underrated tropical paradises found around the world.

Rarotonga, the visible tip of a volcanic cone, is the largest of the Cook Islands, and is the top tourist destination within the Cook Islands. Its capital, Avarua, is the commercial and cultural center of the islands.

Travelers will find that the coral reefs ring the island of Rarotonga, enclosing a narrow lagoon, and creating some unbelievable opportunities for swimming and snorkeling with the marine wildlife.

Aitutaki is another island to consider as it is the second most visited island within the Cook Islands, and for good reason. Dotted with 21 tiny palm-fringed islets, and home to a stunningly beautiful lagoon.

Beachcombing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking are all popular activities throughout the Cook Islands, and if you feel like changing it up, there are also luscious jungle hiking trails that are filled with picturesque views.

Being one of the most beautiful, and captivating islands of the Indonesian archipelago, it is easy to see why Bali is so high up on many globetrotters bucket list destinations.

Offering treks through the lush, green monkey-laden jungles to surfing hotspots along the volcanic sandy beaches, Bali is a destination that you cannot simply visit once!

The island’s gorgeous coastline, majestic beaches, and azure water are the stuff of dreams. A haven for those who love sports, Bali’s pristine beaches attract surfers and divers from across the globe. Bali is also an ideal destination for a family getaway, with many luxury beach resorts offering plenty of family-friendly activities.

Beaches to visit when coming to Bali include Jimbaran Bay – a place known for its calm waves, and soft sand. Jimbaran makes for a great location to grab a meal as the shoreline is filled with honeymoon resorts, hotels and restaurants.

Travel Tip : One of the top things to do when visiting Jimbaran is to grab a meal while looking out at the sun as it sets and disappears into the sea.

With its bleached white villas tumbling down volcanic cliffs, and with blue-domed churches rising against the glimmering sea, Santorini has definitely caught the attention of luxury travelers with its dramatic beauty.

Perched atop the black lava cliffs, the eye-popping colors of the bougainvilla add to the islands astounding beauty, with the settlements of Firá and Oia being the island’s most picturesque, and pricey destinations – with Oia ranking amongst the most photographed places in the world.

The most popular places to stay are along the Caldera of the island’s west coast, however, the beauty of choosing where to stay in Santorini is that the island’s size makes every point around the island easily accessible from wherever you choose to stay.

The port towns of Firá and Oia are ideal for travelers who would like to have easy access to gorgeous restaurants, and other shops, and for those who are only visiting the island for a short period of time.

The towns of Imerovigli and Megalochori are relatively smaller and less crowded with day tourists, making it the perfect location for a secluded, quiet island retreat.

Palawan in the Philippines is a destination that looks as if it were pulled from a fairytale. The island province stretches southwest to Borneo, with luscious green limestone peaks that rise from the crystal-clear sea.

Sugary-white sands surround many of these jungle-clad islands, while beneath the water, the coral reefs burst with the life of a diverse tropical ecosystem, making this area an unbelievable location for a diving experience.

Other popular attractions include the Palawan islands’ unique wildlife, emerald lakes, and quaint fishing villages. Travelers can find bespoke accommodation on the island of Coron, while El Nido drips with natural wonder and beauty, and is home to one of the most captivating islands in the chain.

Travel Tip : Be sure to check out Palawan’s top attraction, the World-Heritage listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park, an impressive and eye-catching limestone cave system with a long underground river.

The island of Bora Bora is known to be shaped like a giant sombrero, and showcases a ravishing turquoise lagoon. Travelers can catch a glance of the fish, turles, sharks, and stingrays that swim in the crystal clear waters, as well as the tiny islets that dot throughout the lagoon, creating a glamorous, romantic atmosphere that makes you fall in love with your partner all over again.

One of the more popular accommodations for travelers is the Conrad Bora Bora Nui. Nestled in a private cove with white-sands and lava rock, this luxury resort is made up of overwater bungalows that are simply out of a dream, with soaking tubs and bespoke comforts opening up to serene waters.

The resort features a wide range of amenities as well as restaurants that have a distinct French inspiration, a hilltop spa with el fresco treatment areas, and a 3,330-square-foot infinity pool that blends into the views of the lagoon.

Fiji is known for its white sands, coral reefs, and turquoise waters, ticking all the boxes for a tropical island getaway.

Fun Fact : Many people go scuba diving in Fiji specifically, just to witness the sharks and pelagics that exist here in large numbers. In Fiji, shark encounters are all but guaranteed. In some areas of Fiji you can find not only gray, white, and blacktip reef sharks but the bigger ones too!

Diving, snorkeling, fishing, and in some areas, surfing, are all popular activities to take part in when visiting Fiji. However, if Rest and Relaxation is on your mind, the palm trees that line the beach offer up some nice shady areas for taking it easy while the silky warm seas are also a joy to swim in.

With more than 300 islands to choose from within the surrounding area, travelers have many options and can choose an island that best suits their vacation needs. From luxurious celebrity hideaways, to family-friendly resorts, to even the sublime Yasawa and Mamanusca group.

Isle of Skye means “cloud island” in old Norse. The island’s landscape of wind-whipped beaches, toothy crags towering over apple-green moors, deep lochs, soaring cliffs, and thick clouds that cover the island in mist, gives the island a mystical feel that travelers have stated to be magical.

From majestic castles and spectacular views, Scotland’s famed Isle of Skye’s is an incredible destination for both hikers and nature enthusiasts alike.

The largest of the Inner Hebrides, this 80-kilometer-long wonderland has a rich history. While hiking the island, look out for dinosaur fossils, brocks (Pictish round towers), and the ruins of old Viking homes.

Travel Tip : Be sure to pack lots of water and snacks, as you won’t have a chance to pull over at roadside shops or gas stations. It’s mostly you, the impeccable landscape and the mountain peaks.

The Isle of Skye’s main town, Portee, makes for a great base for explorers of the island. The port town has a bustling atmosphere as the town revolves around its harbor, complete with rainbow-colored houses and shops that allow you to stock up before you depart on your adventure.

Quiraing is another note-worthy area located in Trotternish on the northernmost summit of Skye. Quiraing is a magnificent landscape, steeped in natural wonder, beauty and history, and was formed by a series of substantial landslides. Abundant cliffs, rock pinnacles, captivating plateaus, and small dotted lakes litter the area, making it one of the top attractions in all of Skye.

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