10 Underrated Island Getaways for Travelers Who’ve Seen It All

Maybe you like to consider yourself an in-the-know traveler. You’re the one that your friends come to for advice. You’ve been to all the hot spots and now you’ve gotten off the beaten path more times than you can count. It’s hard to name a destination that you’ve either not been to or considered going to—which means when you’re ready to plan your next trip, you’re kind of at a loss for what to do next.

Or, maybe that’s not you. Maybe you haven’t traveled all that extensively, but you have a taste for the exclusive and up-and-coming. You want to have already discovered the best of the best by the time it finally becomes cool.

Whatever camp you fall into, if you’re planning an upcoming beach vacay, you’re going to want to know about these 10 islands you may have never heard of.

Lord who?

Lore Richard Howe was an 18th-century Royal Navy officer, but that’s not important. What is important, is that the island that shares his name is a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage site that’s just a short flight from Sydney, Australia.

The crescent-shaped island features breathtaking beaches with crystalline waters and views of the verdant mountains that jut up from the shoreline. It’s a great place to visit if you love nature and few crowds, with a certain exclusivity. There are only 350 permanent residents on the island, and the number of visitors is capped to 400 at any given time.

Brush up on your pronunciation before you set foot on this lush little island: It’s pronounced “beck-way.”

Technically part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this island is where you go when you want to escape the side of the Caribbean that’s all built-up resorts and cruise crowds. Getting there is relatively easy, when you consider how much this island flies under the radar. You can simply take a charter flight to the island’s small airport, or you can take a ferry from St. Vincent.

Once there, you can enjoy the many beaches, water sports, hiking, and visiting the local shops and restaurants.

Looking for an extra stamp of approval before booking your trip to Bequia? Well, how about a royal one? Princess Margaret honeymooned here and now there’s a beach named in her honor.

Considered one of the best islands off the coast of Brazil, Fernando de Noronha, or simply Noronha, is a rocky, volcanic spit of land with golden sands, blue-green waters, and plenty of marine life offshore. You can swim alongside the sea turtles, sharks and dolphins and, on land, hiking is also an option.

The island is located a short plane ride from the mainland, about 220 miles away. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and, since a large portion of the island and sthe urrounding archipelago is part of a national marine park, overall visitation is limited.

Haven’t updated your passport in a while? No worries, this often-overlooked Hawaiian island is ready and waiting for you.

While O’ahu, Maui, and the Island of Hawaii get their fair share of the limelight (and even Lanai is growing in popularity), Molokai retains its status as the overall least-visited island in the state. This is, in part, due to the lack of tourism infrastructure and resorts—which is a big bonus to a lot of travelers. Hawaiian traditions are still well and alive here, which further add to the island’s appeal.

The island boasts the smallest county in the country (12 square miles; the island itself is only 38 miles long and 10 miles across) and the highest sea cliffs in the world, as well as the longest continuous fringing reef in the world.

Make sure to spend time on Papohaku Beach, which is one of the largest white-sand beaches in all of Hawaii.

You’ve already been to the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. However, did you know that Spain has another, lesser-known island chain?

The Cies Islands sit in the Atlantic Ocean not far off the coast at all — so close, in fact, that you can take a 45-minute ferry from the city of Vigo to the islands. Part of Galicia National Park, the islands are heavily protected and sustainable tourism is the name of the game here. Depending on the season, visitors are limited to 450–1,800 visitors per day. You also have to get permission from the local government to buy your ferry ticket to the islands.

The archipelago is made up of three islands in total, two of which you’ll be able to visit via this ferry from the mainland (and which are uniquely connected by a footbridge). The third island is only accessible via boat charter.

Once there, you can swim, snorkel, hike, and camp (camping is really your only accommodation option).

Situated just about smack dab in the middle of Sicily, Malta, and Tunisia, Linosa is accessible via ferry from either Sicily or another hidden gem Italian island, Lampedusa.

The volcanic Linosa features black sand beaches, pristine snorkeling, a sea turtle hospital, and a village made up of colorful buildings. Part of a nature reserve, the island is not only home to sea turtles, but a variety of marine birds and endemic plants as well. 

About 400 people call the island home, and you’ll likely stay in a home rental for your trip.

If you’re looking for an island destination in northern Europe that offers more dramatic, windswept beaches than tropical appeal, then you’re probably going to end up in the Faroe Islands or maybe on some of the islands toward the north of Scotland, like the Isle of Skye.

You’d be missing out, though, if you didn’t also consider the Aran Islands, three islands off the coast of Ireland. Accessible via ferry or flight, they offer a rich taste of Irish heritage and history, plus stunning, rugged beauty, with stark rocky coastline juxtaposed against bright green fields and sapphire blue waters.

The most popular beach on the islands is Kilmurvey Beach, located on Inishmore, with its white sands and sheltered cove. However, you’ll find no shortage of other beaches throughout the destination.

In the Philippines, Malapascua combines the appeal of being on a relatively remote, car-less island with convenience and plenty to do. The journey to Cebu City from the island takes about half a day or longer, so this isn’t an island you would want to visit for a day trip only. Thankfully, for being as small as it is, the island offers an impressive number of very affordable resorts.

The primary draw here is the diving, specifically diving alongside thresher sharks. However, if that doesn’t really sound like your cup of tea, then your main other option for filling your itinerary is going to be exploring the handful of beaches. Favorite beaches include Langob Beach, Bounty Beach, and Hidden Beach. Local dining and nightlife are also on tap.

Situated in the Indian Ocean, Socotra is a remote Yemeni island that remains wildly untouched and that is often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean for its impressive biodiversity.

Despite the relatively untamed nature of the island, though, there is an airport, so getting to the island won’t require a ferry ride. You’ll just need to fly in from another, nearby destination, such as Abu Dhabi or Cairo. 

You will need a Yemeni visa to visit, as well as to book a flight through a licensed Socotra travel agency, which is why it may be best to visit this island as part of a guided vacation. However, the relative difficulty of reaching the island means that it is ultra-exclusive, with many travelers deterred by the extra work that goes into booking—even though that extra work can be well worth it.

Once you arrive, you’ll be amazed by the jaw-dropping beauty of both Aomak and Arher Beach, as well as Detwah Lagoon, with their stark-white sand and turquoise waters; the Homhil plateau filled with Dragon’s Blood trees; and Kalysan Canyon, with its natural pool, perfect for taking a dip.

A beach vacation in Germany? You got it. 

Sylt, which sits right off the German coast, in the North Sea and very near the Germany-Denmark border, gives almost New England vibes, if you want to compare it to something maybe a little more familiar.

Firmly a resort destination, it’s yet to become super-popular (at least comparatively) with the travelers coming over from the States. You’ll quickly see, though, why the destination has been given the nickname “the Hamptons of Hamburg.”

Unlike some of the islands on this list, where there’s little to do beyond beach-going and enjoying the natural beauty, this island has it all, with spas, golf courses, restaurants, and more.