Picture this: you’re lounging on pristine white sand with crystal-clear water stretching endlessly before you, and the only footprints in the sand are your own. While everyone else fights for space on overcrowded beaches in Bali or Santorini, smart travelers know there’s a whole world of hidden island gems waiting to be discovered.
These secret spots offer the same stunning beauty without the selfie sticks and overpriced cocktails. The best part about these hidden treasures is that they’re all accessible to regular travelers – no private jet required.
Here’s a list of 20 secret islands where you can experience paradise without the crowds.
Flores Island, Portugal
This volcanic gem in the Azores archipelago feels like stepping into a fairy tale that nobody else has discovered yet. The island spans just 55 square miles and attracts fewer visitors in a year than Santorini sees in a single day.
Twin crater lakes reflect the sky like mirrors, while natural hot springs bubble up from the earth in secluded valleys where you might not encounter another soul for hours.
Sark, Channel Islands
Cars are banned on this tiny British Crown dependency, making it one of the world’s few remaining feudal states and a haven for peace seekers. The island measures only 2 miles long and gets around 40,000 visitors annually, compared to nearby Jersey’s 700,000.
Horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are your only transportation options as you explore dramatic cliffs and hidden coves that feel frozen in time.
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Lord Howe Island, Australia
This UNESCO World Heritage site limits visitors to just 400 at any given time, ensuring you’ll never feel crowded even during peak season. Located 370 miles off Australia’s east coast, the island boasts the world’s southernmost coral reef and beaches so untouched they look like movie sets.
The resident population of 350 locals treats visitors like long-lost friends rather than tourists.
Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia
While its larger neighbor Koh Rong draws backpackers by the thousands, this smaller island remains blissfully overlooked by most travelers. The island offers the same powdery white beaches and bioluminescent plankton displays, but with a fraction of the visitors.
You can walk for miles along Saracen Bay without bumping into another person, especially during the shoulder seasons.
Ischia, Italy
This volcanic island sits in the shadow of glamorous Capri, which works perfectly in its favor for crowd-conscious travelers. Ischia offers the same stunning Mediterranean scenery and thermal springs, but costs half as much and feels ten times more authentic.
The island produces its wine and has been a well-kept secret among Italian families for generations, though international tourists are still catching on slowly.
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Stewart Island, New Zealand
New Zealand’s third-largest island sees fewer than 20,000 visitors per year despite offering some of the country’s most pristine wilderness experiences. The island sits 20 miles south of the South Island and remains 85% national park, with more kiwi birds than people.
Most travelers stick to the main islands, leaving Stewart Island’s pristine beaches and hiking trails wonderfully empty.
Gotland, Sweden
This medieval island in the Baltic Sea feels like a living history book that most international travelers have never heard of. The main town of Visby looks exactly like it did 600 years ago, complete with intact city walls and cobblestone streets.
Swedish families vacation here regularly, but the island rarely appears on international travel itineraries despite offering some of Europe’s most unique cultural experiences.
Pemba Island, Tanzania
Often called the ‘Green Island’ for its lush clove plantations, Pemba sits 30 miles north of Zanzibar but receives a tiny fraction of its neighbor’s tourists. The island offers some of East Africa’s best diving and pristine beaches where you might be the only visitor for miles.
Traditional dhow boats still outnumber tourist vessels in the surrounding waters, giving the place an authentically untouched feel.
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Príncipe Island, São Tomé and Príncipe
This tiny nation in the Gulf of Guinea consists of two main islands, with Príncipe being the smaller and more secluded option. The entire country sees fewer tourists in a year than most Caribbean islands get in a week.
Chocolate plantations cover the mountainous interior, while pristine beaches ring the coastline with nary a beach chair or umbrella vendor in sight.
Chiloé Island, Chile
This mysterious island off Chile’s coast feels like stepping into a different world entirely, complete with colorful stilt houses and ancient folklore. The island’s unique wooden churches have UNESCO protection, but most international travelers bypass them entirely on their way to Patagonia.
Local traditions include mythical creatures and distinctive architecture found nowhere else on Earth.
Faial Island, Azores
Often overshadowed by its larger neighbors in the Azores chain, Faial punches above its weight in natural beauty while maintaining its peaceful atmosphere. The island’s blue hydrangeas bloom from June to September, creating stunning natural hedgerows along quiet country roads.
The marina at Horta serves as a pit stop for transatlantic sailors, but land-based tourism remains refreshingly light.
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Iona, Scotland
This sacred island off Scotland’s west coast measures just 3 miles long, but packs incredible spiritual and natural beauty into its compact size. The island welcomes around 130,000 visitors annually, but most come on day trips, leaving the place eerily quiet by evening.
Ancient Celtic crosses dot the landscape, and the abbey, dating from 563 AD, creates an atmosphere of timeless tranquility.
Kangaroo Island, Australia
Despite being Australia’s third-largest island, Kangaroo Island feels worlds away from the mainland’s tourist crowds. The island sits 70 miles southwest of Adelaide and maintains a wild, untamed character with more native animals than people.
Recent bushfires damaged parts of the island, but recovery efforts have been remarkable, and the reduced tourist numbers mean even more space to explore.
Little Corn Island, Nicaragua
This car-free Caribbean paradise measures just 1 square mile but offers everything larger islands promise without the development pressure. The island has no roads, no cars, and no crowds – just pristine beaches, excellent diving, and a handful of eco-friendly accommodations.
Most travelers head to nearby Big Corn Island instead, leaving this gem blissfully peaceful.
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Gili Meno, Indonesia
The middle child of the three Gili Islands gets overshadowed by party-focused Gili Trawangan and more accessible Gili Air. This works perfectly for travelers seeking tranquility, as Gili Meno offers the same turtle-filled waters and stunning sunsets with far fewer visitors.
The island has no motorized vehicles and maintains a sleepy fishing village atmosphere that feels increasingly rare in Southeast Asia.
Holbox Island, Mexico
This laid-back Caribbean island north of the Yucatan Peninsula operates on ‘island time’ and prefers it that way. Golf carts replace cars, and the sandy streets encourage barefoot wandering between beachfront restaurants and hammock-strung accommodations.
Whale shark season brings some visitors, but the island never feels crowded thanks to its car-free policies and chilled-out vibe.
Vis Island, Croatia
This former military island only opened to foreign visitors in 1989, giving it a beautifully underdeveloped character compared to crowded Hvar or Dubrovnik. The island’s remote location, 40 miles from the mainland, keeps cruise ships away, while its dramatic coastline and hidden beaches reward those who make the journey.
Local wines and traditional fishing villages add authentic Croatian charm without tourist markup.
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Koh Kood, Thailand
Thailand’s fourth-largest island remains refreshingly undeveloped compared to its famous neighbors like Koh Samui or Phuket. The island’s mountainous interior and pristine beaches feel like stepping back to what Thai islands were like decades ago.
Getting there requires some effort involving multiple transport connections, which naturally filters out casual tourists and preserves the peaceful atmosphere.
Maria Island, Tasmania
This national park island off Tasmania’s east coast offers incredible wildlife encounters without any permanent residents or commercial development. The island serves as a sanctuary for Tasmanian devils and other native species while providing visitors with pristine bushwalking tracks and secluded beaches.
Day trips are possible, but overnight camping lets you experience the island’s true wild character.
Salina Island, Italy
The greenest of Sicily’s Aeolian Islands produces some of Italy’s finest capers and Malvasia wine while maintaining its authentic character. The island’s twin volcanic peaks create dramatic landscapes, while thermal springs and black sand beaches offer unique Mediterranean experiences.
Most tourists stick to nearby Lipari or Stromboli, leaving Salina’s hiking trails and fishing villages wonderfully peaceful.
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Where Solitude Meets Adventure
The travel industry’s focus on Instagram-worthy hotspots has created an interesting paradox – while popular destinations become increasingly crowded and expensive, truly spectacular places remain virtually empty simply because they don’t trend on social media.
These secret islands prove that the best travel experiences often happen in places where WiFi is spotty and hashtags are irrelevant. The world still holds countless hidden gems for those willing to venture beyond the beaten path, and the reward is having paradise practically to yourself.
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