Planning to escape from the hustle-bustle of the city with your beloved? Check out the list of Top 10 remote islands that are distant from civilization. Visit the untouched white beaches, tropical palms and miles upon miles of shimmering water.
1. Xisha Islands: Located in the South China Sea, 205 miles from China’s Hainan Province, the islands are known for their tropical beauty and are home to some of the world’s rarest birds, many of which are not seen anywhere else on earth. With crystal-clear seawater, tropical plants and a climate to strip off and frolic naked for, this is exactly why island people are so damn chilled out.
2. Falklands Islands: East of Argentina, about 300 miles, are the Falkland Islands, known best for the two-month battle that took place in 1982 between Argentina and British forces. Comprising two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, like Vietnam the Falklands have become an increasingly popular tourist spot since Britain claimed victory.
3. Cocos Islands: Slap dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 559 miles from Christmas Island, its closest neighbor, the Cocos Islands, are as desolate as the islands explored by Crusoe. Unlike other vacation-worthy islands, the Cocos Islands do not have huge resorts, sprawling shopping malls or rows of restaurants to entertain guests. Here it’s all about entertaining yourself with simplistic pursuits such as exploring its shores by day and lying in a hammock by night.
4. Galapagos Islands: An archipelago of over 60 islands, of which only five are inhabited, the Galapagos Islands are scattered around the equator, 604 miles from Ecuador. Populated by 40,000 residences, the Hispanic islands are the perfect place for those looking for a little peace and quiet away from the daily grind. Here visitors can moor up in their private yachts and enjoy a leisurely stroll across its untouched sands.
5. Attu Island: Attu Island is at the Western end of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and is the easternmost point of the United States. Boasting a difficult-to-maneuver landscape of volcanoes and valleys, and a volatile climate of year-round fog and storms, Attu is not only one of the most remote islands on earth, but it’s also one of the most forbidding. While visitors may not want to stay on the island for a week-long vacation (after all, there are no Western-style hotels here), it’s worth seeing as a stop-off on a cruise of the Bering Sea.
6. Saint Helena: Saint Helena is one of the most isolated places in the South Atlantic Ocean. Famed as being the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was sent in exile (among others), the island claims to be Britain’s second-oldest colony and is a stunning emerald jewel. With a sub-tropical climate, diamond-blue waters, lush vegetation, and an abundant wildlife, it truly is one of the last remaining paradises on earth.
7. Easter Island: Known for the large stone heads that are perched ominously on the edges of its cliffs, Easter Island has become the most famous desert island. Despite being miles away from Chile, however, Easter Island isn’t all that difficult to reach, with regular flights to and from its small airstrip courtesy of LAN Chile Airlines. The biggest draw to Easter Island is, of course, the large stone Moai statues, ancient ruins and petroglyphs, but those who aren’t into culture can also enjoy al fresco sporting activities such as horseback riding across its chiseled landscape or surfing on its warm Pacific waves.
8. Pitcairn Islands: Four volcanic masses that rise ominously out of the Pacific make up the little-known Pitcairn Islands; 1,300 miles from Tahiti, you’re practically guaranteed no fighting over sun beds on its beaches. As Britain’s most isolated dependency, only the largest island of Pitcairn is inhabited, and with no port or natural harbor, supplies are rowed in on old longboats from larger ships stationed offshore. With awesome cliffs and a rugged, unmanicured coastline, it’s the type of place you can imagine being shipwrecked on and never wanting to be found again.
9. Kiribati: The world’s most eastern point (at least on land), Kiribati is an island nation that teeters dangerously close to the equator. Lying 1,650 miles southwest of Hawaii, the archipelago comprises 21 inhabited islands and 13 more that lie desolate. While there may not be a hell of a lot to do in Kiribati other than crisp on its pristine white-sand beaches, there are enough services to ensure you’re fed, watered and that there’s a suitably stylish roof over your head.
10. Tristan da Cunha: Located midway between South Africa and Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean, Tristan da Cunha is the world’s most remote island. Made up of six separate volcanic islands, and with such natural beauty it would be a shame to deny its existence. The islands are now inhabited by the world’s most isolated community after once being an important trading route between Europe and the Indian Ocean. Surviving on basic industries such as farming and fishing, the population has become one of the most extraordinary in the world thanks to living in such desolate, limited conditions.
Nice list, love the sound of St Helena.
Though I beg to differ on one point: Easter Island has an extremely long airstrip, for use as an emergency landing point for the space shuttle.
this is maybe a list of the most remote INHABITED islands
certainly not THE most remote
eg. ile de Amsterdam or Bouvet Oya
The pic next to 1. Xisha Islands is actually Galapagos Islands.