I've been to a lot of islands on my travels and really felt like doing a list of my top 5 tranquil islands - really remote places to visit! It was quite hard to narrow it down to just 5 but here I go. These are places you can get head out to for relaxing, where you will meet very few other people. These lists are only made up from places I've actually visited by the way, so that will explain the random places on it (I would actually love to include the remote Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland on my list, except I haven't actually been there as yet). These are in no particular order by the way...
1. Cuverville Island in ANTARCTICA:
Antarctica is quite simply the most peaceful and wonderful continent on the planet, so I have to include one from there on this list. I have chosen Cuverville Island. We did a hike in the thick snow up to the top on our Antarctica adventure and this place just blew my mind it was that breathtaking! Falling snow, penguins, collapsing glaciers as a backdrop and miles away from the office blocks of London, Paris and New York. This place is special. You might get to it if you take an Antarctica trip!
Where Is It? - Somewhere off the Gerlache Strait in Antarctica. When you book your Antarctica trip you can check the itinerary but ultimately whether you land there or not will depend on weather conditions and the captain and crews decisions. Don't fret if you don't land on Cuverville, you will go to a different island just as magical - there are lots of islands in Antarctica!
2. AUSTRALIA: Bruny Island, Tasmania:
This was a gem of a place to relax away from the world. If you think Tasmania itself is tranquil, try driving to the south east corner of it and head across to the remote Bruny Island. This has Australia's southernmost pub on it as well as some cracking sunrise and sunset viewing points. Plus the added bonus of being able to see some rare WHITE wallabies. Bruny Island, in its disconnected splendour is as quiet and remote as they come. A full report on my trip to Bruny Island is here: Bruny Island.
Where Is It? - South East tip of Tasmania. To get there head to Kettering and get the ferry across. They sail during the daytime only so if you miss the last one you'll be stuck on Bruny. That won't be a bad thing - I spent a night there and loved it.
3. CHANNEL ISLANDS: Sark
Sark is inspirational. If you've heard of the Channel Islands, you'll know it's just north of France and a fair bit south of England. Sark was Europe's last feudal state, and believe it or not it has its own parliament and a low population of around 600. It will feel you've been warped back in time on arrival in Sark. It is such a great place to relax away from the busy world. There are no cars on Sark. I visited Sark along with the rest of the Channel Islands while working on the Cross Channel Ferries.
Sark is just north of the French coast, and I don't class it as part of the UK, though it's position is often debated. They have their own stamps and even once fielded an international football team (scoring 0 goals and conceding 70 in their only 4 matches: Sark International Football Team. Arrival is by boat and then a tractor takes you up the steep hill to the main village centre. There are some outstanding views, vintage buildings and pretty gardens. The capital is La Seigneurie. On my visit, I hired a bike and cycled all over the island, including crossing a bridge to an adjoining island, known as Little Sark. I recommend heading to Sark!
How to get there - I went by boat on the Bon Marin de Serk, which leaves from St. Peter Port in Guernsey. This is by far and away the best, cheapest and most obvious route to Sark. There is no airport in Sark, although a landing strip and helipad have been used before. Private boat is also an option.
4. Tai O on Lantau Island, HONG KONG:
I kind of wanted an Asian representative in this short list, and living in Hong Kong made me favour the wonderful Lantau Island in the west part of Hong Kong. If you can forget the fact that part of the island has a busy international airport on it, then get away to the very west corner at Tai O, where you can really relax. So much so that you will lose track of time, and even forget you're in Hong Kong. There is no commercial element here. Plenty of hikes, even waterfalls, boat cruises and the highlight is the seafood and walking around the traditional fishing village on stilts. An amazing place!
How to get there - Tai O can be reached by bus from near the Tung Chung MTR station. Or you can get a bus from Mui Wo (which has a direct ferry to Hong Kong Central).
5. CHILE: Cape Horn/Cabo De Hornos:
It would just feel crazy to leave the marvellous Cape Horn off this list! Cape Horn quite simply is the southernmost point of the civilised world and the marker for the dreaded Drake Passage. All that lies south is Antarctica, making Cape Horn feel like the end of the world. Though I didn't actually set foot on Cape Horn (that would come at a high cost believe me!), we sailed eloquently past it, stopping by to glimpse at this famous spot. Just breathtaking.For the record there are actually islands further south called Diego Ramirez Islands, which we also passed, but the famous one is Cape Horn.
How to get to it - Basically it will come at a cost if you really want to stand on Cape Horn. You'll have to contact the Chilean Naval authorities and maybe even receive a visitor permit. There is a 13 kilometre rule for boats passing by. We wereluckily on a quieter day and were allowed to get within a few kilometres of the Horn. Your Antarctica trip might actually take you past Cape Horn, like mine did. But you can also arrange some boat trip on the south tips of Chile and Argentina.
Happy travelling, don't stop living!
1. Cuverville Island in ANTARCTICA:
Antarctica is quite simply the most peaceful and wonderful continent on the planet, so I have to include one from there on this list. I have chosen Cuverville Island. We did a hike in the thick snow up to the top on our Antarctica adventure and this place just blew my mind it was that breathtaking! Falling snow, penguins, collapsing glaciers as a backdrop and miles away from the office blocks of London, Paris and New York. This place is special. You might get to it if you take an Antarctica trip!
Where Is It? - Somewhere off the Gerlache Strait in Antarctica. When you book your Antarctica trip you can check the itinerary but ultimately whether you land there or not will depend on weather conditions and the captain and crews decisions. Don't fret if you don't land on Cuverville, you will go to a different island just as magical - there are lots of islands in Antarctica!
2. AUSTRALIA: Bruny Island, Tasmania:
This was a gem of a place to relax away from the world. If you think Tasmania itself is tranquil, try driving to the south east corner of it and head across to the remote Bruny Island. This has Australia's southernmost pub on it as well as some cracking sunrise and sunset viewing points. Plus the added bonus of being able to see some rare WHITE wallabies. Bruny Island, in its disconnected splendour is as quiet and remote as they come. A full report on my trip to Bruny Island is here: Bruny Island.
Where Is It? - South East tip of Tasmania. To get there head to Kettering and get the ferry across. They sail during the daytime only so if you miss the last one you'll be stuck on Bruny. That won't be a bad thing - I spent a night there and loved it.
3. CHANNEL ISLANDS: Sark
Sark is inspirational. If you've heard of the Channel Islands, you'll know it's just north of France and a fair bit south of England. Sark was Europe's last feudal state, and believe it or not it has its own parliament and a low population of around 600. It will feel you've been warped back in time on arrival in Sark. It is such a great place to relax away from the busy world. There are no cars on Sark. I visited Sark along with the rest of the Channel Islands while working on the Cross Channel Ferries.
Sark is just north of the French coast, and I don't class it as part of the UK, though it's position is often debated. They have their own stamps and even once fielded an international football team (scoring 0 goals and conceding 70 in their only 4 matches: Sark International Football Team. Arrival is by boat and then a tractor takes you up the steep hill to the main village centre. There are some outstanding views, vintage buildings and pretty gardens. The capital is La Seigneurie. On my visit, I hired a bike and cycled all over the island, including crossing a bridge to an adjoining island, known as Little Sark. I recommend heading to Sark!
How to get there - I went by boat on the Bon Marin de Serk, which leaves from St. Peter Port in Guernsey. This is by far and away the best, cheapest and most obvious route to Sark. There is no airport in Sark, although a landing strip and helipad have been used before. Private boat is also an option.
4. Tai O on Lantau Island, HONG KONG:
I kind of wanted an Asian representative in this short list, and living in Hong Kong made me favour the wonderful Lantau Island in the west part of Hong Kong. If you can forget the fact that part of the island has a busy international airport on it, then get away to the very west corner at Tai O, where you can really relax. So much so that you will lose track of time, and even forget you're in Hong Kong. There is no commercial element here. Plenty of hikes, even waterfalls, boat cruises and the highlight is the seafood and walking around the traditional fishing village on stilts. An amazing place!
How to get there - Tai O can be reached by bus from near the Tung Chung MTR station. Or you can get a bus from Mui Wo (which has a direct ferry to Hong Kong Central).
5. CHILE: Cape Horn/Cabo De Hornos:
It would just feel crazy to leave the marvellous Cape Horn off this list! Cape Horn quite simply is the southernmost point of the civilised world and the marker for the dreaded Drake Passage. All that lies south is Antarctica, making Cape Horn feel like the end of the world. Though I didn't actually set foot on Cape Horn (that would come at a high cost believe me!), we sailed eloquently past it, stopping by to glimpse at this famous spot. Just breathtaking.For the record there are actually islands further south called Diego Ramirez Islands, which we also passed, but the famous one is Cape Horn.
How to get to it - Basically it will come at a cost if you really want to stand on Cape Horn. You'll have to contact the Chilean Naval authorities and maybe even receive a visitor permit. There is a 13 kilometre rule for boats passing by. We wereluckily on a quieter day and were allowed to get within a few kilometres of the Horn. Your Antarctica trip might actually take you past Cape Horn, like mine did. But you can also arrange some boat trip on the south tips of Chile and Argentina.
Happy travelling, don't stop living!
About the Author:
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