# The 10 Best Islands in the World

> We've rounded up the ten best islands on the planet, from the Galapagos to Malta. Unique landscapes, beaches, and unforgettable experiences for your next trip.

- URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/10-naikrashchykh-ostroviv-svitu/
- Language: en
- Published: 2024-11-13
- Categories: Historic Sites, Beaches, Australia, Greece, Maldives, USA, Indonesia, Surfing & Diving, Relaxation, Seas & Oceans

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Devoted readers have once again picked their favorite island getaways in the "Best in the World" awards, and this year's results prove that no destination is too far-flung when it comes to pristine white-sand beaches and exotic wildlife.

For the third time in the awards' two-decade history, the wild Galapagos Islands took the top spot. Even though they sit 600 miles west of South America, they keep drawing travelers with the promise of encounters with playful sea lions and vivid blue-footed boobies.

With rugged Tasmania, the jagged peaks of Moorea, and the dazzling islands of Australia's Great Barrier Reef rounding out the list, this year's picks are a clear departure from 2014, a year that reflected a certain national pride (the Hawaiian islands claimed four of the ten top spots overall).

Now distant, out-of-the-ordinary shores are back on travelers' minds. Not that there's anything wrong with living out fantasies of coconut palms and luaus. And for that very reason, Maui and Kauai are back again, marking 20 years running on the overall Top 10 list.

## 1. Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)

This wildlife-packed archipelago, sitting hundreds of miles off the coast of Ecuador, has long drawn thrill-seekers and enthusiastic photographers with its colonies of sea lions, flightless cormorants, the world's only marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins that casually cross the equator. The volcanic landscapes and beaches, relatively untouched by tourism, are best seen from the water, and cruise ships like the 100-passenger Silversea Galapagos pair travelers with naturalists for a truly eye-opening experience.

Luxury in this isolated ecosystem took an evolutionary leap with the arrival of Pikaia Lodge, a carbon-neutral five-star resort with its own giant tortoise reserve that lets you explore the islands at your own pace, by private yacht, of course.

## 2. Bali (Indonesia)

Of all the tropical islands that make up Indonesia (17,508 of them, to be exact), Bali outshines them all. With its rice paddies, richly decorated Hindu temples, and rocky headlands, it's the jewel of the country. We recommend heading to Sanur to watch the sun spill over the horizon in the morning, or to Besakih, the most sacred and mystical temple on the slopes of Mount Agung.

The island's scenery may be worthy of the big screen, but Bali makes cultural depth an essential part of any trip. Visitors can join cooking classes (think duck curry and black rice porridge with papaya soup), study contemporary Balinese art, and take part in a traditional blessing ceremony for a full immersion in Indonesia's heritage.

## 3. Maldives

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The lowest-lying country in the world has no land higher than six feet above sea level, which means a trip to the Maldives is really about connecting with the warm, receding tides. Many hotels are built right over the shimmering azure waters, and the best of them make the most of this otherworldly real estate market. Coral nurseries, underwater nightclubs, and feasts enjoyed on floating pontoons are just some of the lavish touches travelers can come across here.

Snorkeling and diving attract both couples chasing romance and families chasing adventure. Feeling worn out? You can unwind on any of the white-sand beaches or sandbars scattered across the reefs and atolls.

## 4. Tasmania (Australia)

Readers are smitten with this Australian state, calling it a little-known gem with no rival among other island destinations. Its varied and striking landscape is almost hallucinatory: rolling dunes carpeted in psychedelic banksia flowers, granite formations rising out of the beaches, and the marvel of the tessellated pavement at Eaglehawk Neck.

Those who travel across its 600,000 acres of untouched coastal wilderness might come face to face with hyena-like Tasmanian devils, wallabies, and platypuses. Despite its remote location, Tasmania boasts a freewheeling food scene thanks to local ingredients like hand-harvested sea lettuce, native game such as possum, and organic Tasmanian wine. And the best part? The air here is as clean as Antarctica's, making it the perfect place to catch your breath.

## 5. Santorini (Greece)

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On Santorini everything is brighter, where whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches tumble down the slopes of an ancient caldera. Among the highlights are the black sands of Perissa beach, the well-preserved prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, known as the "Minoan Pompeii," and the photogenic sunsets over Oia, a clifftop village that is one of the most photographed places in the world. Perivolas, an adults-only resort set in 300-year-old cave dwellings that feel anything but primitive, offers a selection of honey-and-herb-scented Apivita toiletries, along with an infinity pool that seems to pour straight into the Aegean Sea.

## 6. Moorea (French Polynesia)

This heart-shaped island floating in the South Seas has convinced even the most discerning travelers that paradise on Earth truly exists, thanks to its impossibly blue lagoons and rugged, rainforest-cloaked mountains. The less-visited sister island of Bora Bora offers coconut-strewn beaches and the heady scent of vanilla, grapefruit, and Tahitian gardenia, along with thatched-roof bungalows at luxury hotels like the InterContinental, and views of Tahiti, just 11 miles away, at The Sofitel Moorea la Ora Beach Resort.

The friendly Tahitians are full of local legends. It's said that the beaches along Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay were formed by the tail of a giant yellow lizard, and, perhaps more plausibly, that James Michener's novel "Tales of the South Pacific" was inspired by this otherworldly land.

## 7. Maui (Hawaii)

Hawaii's golden child draws everyone, from gilded Hollywood celebrities to barefoot surfers. These days it has lively cosmopolitan neighborhoods and ultra-trendy resorts (like the new Andaz Maui at Wailea, with three infinity pools and an open-air lobby), alongside the usual breathtaking natural landmarks that put it on the map in the first place.

We recommend starting your trip with the classic sunrise bike ride down the 10,023-foot volcanic crater of Haleakala, or the breathtaking scenic drive to Hana. Then you can stop at Oheo Gulch, a chain of waterfalls and pools in Hana, for a must-do swim.

## 8. Kauai (Hawaii)

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Kauai, the oldest Hawaiian island, formed when lava burst from the ocean floor 5 million years ago. It's certainly more peaceful than its glamorous neighbor to the east, though no less dramatic. Among the highlights are Pali Ke Kua beach, or Hideaways, tucked away behind tall black lava walls, as well as Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, both surrounded by scenic hiking trails and winding roads.

Development here isn't unheard of; Kauai has its famous golf courses and well-known resorts. But nature still asserts itself in the form of the spiky Anahola Mountains and the cliffs above Hanalei Bay. From here you get perhaps the most stunning view in the state: clouds evaporating over a perfect crescent of beach.

## 9. Islands of the Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

The vast 1,600-mile coral reef stretches from the northeastern edge of Australia, teeming with more than 400 species of marine life, from enormous baleen whales to prickly sea urchins. Divers can be found year-round in this maze of more than 3,000 individual reefs, one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the largest living structure on Earth, made up of billions of coral polyps.

Of all the islands in the region (roughly 900), our favorite is the Whitsundays, sitting on the doorstep of this coral paradise, in large part because of the blindingly white strip of sand known as Whitehaven Beach. The stunning biodiversity is mirrored in the incredible variety of resorts scattered across the Great Barrier Reef. While the sprawling 244-room Hayman Island has acres of marble floors and a pool seven times larger than Olympic standard, the more modest Qualia has 60 cozy bungalows fitted with private terraces and quila wood.

## 10. Malta

History lovers have long adored this Mediterranean country, proving that you don't need palm trees or daiquiris to be one of the world's most alluring islands. Malta has been ruled by every great empire in the region, from the Phoenicians to the Byzantines, from the British to the 1.5 million tourists who flock to the island's colorful shores each year. Its limestone cliffs are dotted with Baroque churches, ruined castle walls, and fortresses.

The capital, Valletta, packs half a millennium of history into half a square mile, with forts and staircases crowned by unrivaled harbor views. With the arrival of a new open-air theater designed by Renzo Piano, visitors can now admire the contrast between 21st- and 16th-century architecture. Nearby Gozo offers a respite from Valletta's buzzing energy; it's said that this is where Odysseus spent seven years after the Trojan War. Take one look at this beautiful Bronze Age island, set between Sicily and the northern coast of Africa, and you won't blame him.