There are few more indulgent experiences then disappearing to a tropical hideaway – the privacy, the luxury, the sense of being blissfully isolated. Here are some of our favourite island escapes.
When many of us think about holidays, images of sun, sand, azure seas and swaying palm trees come to mind – especially during the winter months. For generations, holiday goers have made for the tropics for their vacations, but as more and more people travel, finding your own little slice of heaven has become increasingly difficult. Fortunately, there are still plenty of hidden gems, tiny island retreats that you’ll only have to share with a few like-minded souls, as well as a few island escapes that can be all yours.
Lizard Island
Australia
One of Australia’s best-kept secrets, the Great Barrier Reef’s Lizard Island emerged from a lavish multi-million dollar renovation a few years back, ensuring its place as one of Downunder’s top island resorts. The resort’s interiors, by Aussie architects Pike Withers, give a breath of fresh air to Lizard’s iconic Lodge Bar, the Osprey’s Restaurant, the Anchor Bay Suites, and the luxurious Sunset Point Villas.
Weighing in at 1,000 hectares and wreathed by some of the best coral on the Great Barrier, Lizard Island boasts 24 powder white sand beaches and only 40 luxury rooms and suites. For the ultimate indulgence, head for one of the new-look Anchor Bay Suites, which are easily accessed from the Lodge and feature spacious verandahs, iPod stations, and Bose entertainment systems. If you can drag yourself from your sun deck, be sure to hit some of the Island’s spectacular dive sites, including the 100-year-old giant clam garden.
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Cheval Blanc Randheli
Maldives
The Maldives is well known for its island escapes, and LVMH Group’s Cheval Blanc Randheli, its second Cheval Blanc Maison, is as luxurious a hideaway as you’re likely to find. Located on its own series of islands in the Maldives’ unspoiled Noonu Atoll, the resort is a 40-minute trip on the resort’s own seaplane from the international airport. Cheval Blanc Randheli boasts just 45 sleek villas, each of which features lofty cathedral-style ceilings, 41ft private infinity pools; and spacious bathrooms with Aqua di Parma toiletries.
Families will love the 15 one or two-bedroom Island Villas and Garden Villas, which feature outdoor terraces and access to private white sand beaches, while the 15 overwater bungalows epitomize the true Maldivian experience for the romantic at heart.
Guests can spend their days snorkeling, diving, or fishing in the pristine waters of the atoll on a traditional dhoni, cruise at sunset on the resort’s private yacht, visit the spa, which is located on its own island, or lounge by the mesmerizing main infinity pool. By night, enjoy special wine dinners at Le 1947, or watch the chefs in action at the Diptyque live cooking theatre.
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Cayo Espanto
Belize
At this sizzlingly sexy Caribbean Sea hideaway, the hardest decision you’ll have to make each day is where to dine. Bespoke gourmet meals are created to guest specification and served everywhere from a seaside hammock to the end of your personal dock.
Accommodation on the tiny isle ranges from the resort’s two new over-water bungalows to five premium sea-facing villas, each of which come with captivating ocean vistas, infinity pools, and alfresco showers. Villas and bungalows resemble private homes and are each extremely private and architecturally unique, while activities include guided scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing trips, as well as impromptu cocktail hours and romantic beach picnics.
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Six Senses Laamu
Maldives
Home to some of the best island hideaways in the world, Six Senses’ newest gem has opened on a previously uninhabited atoll. With the powder white sands and crystal clear waters that have made the Maldives a favorite with travelers from around the world, the Six Senses Laamu is a forty-minute flight followed by a twenty-minute speed boat from civilization, guaranteeing you unprecedented tropical privacy.
The resort boasts 97 spacious and luxurious villas, each designed to blend into the lush surrounding landscape. Spend your days at the resident surf school, kite surfing or snorkeling on pristine reefs, and your evenings sampling wines from the glass-encased, six-meter-high Altitude wine cellar, which rises from the sea like Poseidon’s trident.
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Pulau Pangkil Kecil
Indonesia
Why have a villa when you can have your own Spice Isle in Indonesia? Located close to the equator and easily accessible from Singapore, this tiny island is equipped with a series of ‘Driftwood Palaces’, and makes up in privacy and rustic charm what it might lack in contemporary luxury.
With Palau Pangkil Kecil you hire the entire island, a great proposition for extended families getting together for a well-earned reunion or for friends celebrating en masse.
You’ll have it all; a swimming pool, deserted beaches, your own bar with a cutting-edge sound system, a spacious kitchen, water sports equipment, and a small army of staff to cater to your every whim. The island’s nine beachfront ‘Palaces’ are partially made of timber salvaged from the sea and boast four-poster beds, ceiling fans, and en suites, while guests can spend their days playing volleyball, snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing, between naps in the numerous shaded hammocks.
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Velaa Private Island
Maldives
Another breathtaking hideaway in the Maldives, Velaa Private Island redefines luxury in one of the most popular sunkissed destinations on the planet. Located north of the capital Malé, within the Noonu Atoll, Velaa Private Island is the brainchild of founders Radka and Jiri Smejc and epitomizes their own sense of intimacy and luxury after years living the jet-set life.
With architecture by Czech designer Petr Kolar, Velaa’s 43 private villas and five four-bedroom residences fuse local materials with contemporary touches, including spacious private pools. To make the most of your Maldivian escape, opt for one of the 18 sumptuous over-water villas, and be sure to pamper yourself with a visit to the unique My Blend By Clarins spa, the first in the Maldives.
Michelin-starred chef Adeline Grattard oversees the resort’s signature restaurant, Aragu & Cru, as well as breakfast nook Tavaru, while golfers might be tempted to perfect their swing at the Maldives’ only Troon Short Game Golf Academy, designed by Masters champ Jose Maria Olazabal.
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Necker Island
British Virgin Islands
If you have a hankering to live the millionaire lifestyle, head for a millionaire’s island, in this case, Sir Richard Branson’s little retreat in the Caribbean.
He first purchased the island in 1978, opening it up as a private retreat for hire in 1984 and since then it’s played host to the world’s top celebrities. Accommodation is either in the Great House, which is set atop Devil’s Hill or in a series of ‘Bali House’ private villas dotted across the island. The Great House, which boasts six suites, is where guests come together for sundowner cocktails, while the six Bali Houses offer the ultimate in privacy – why? Because you’ve taken the whole island, and we’re all friends.
Be sure to make time for the many water sports on offer, including kiteboarding, sailing, and windsurfing, and of course, with a millionaire’s island comes to his toys, including the Necker Nymph, a unique three-person submarine.
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Song Saa Private Island
Cambodia
Cambodia is emerging as a hot new destination for luxury travelers, and the development of Song Saa, the nation’s first private island resort, is a testament to things to come. Located in Cambodia’s pristine Koh Rong Archipelago, the resort features 25 rainforest, beach, and over-water villas, each of which boasts its own private pools and rustic chic designs inspired by Cambodian fishing villages.
When guests aren’t whiling away hot afternoons in the resort’s infinity-edged swimming pool or day-tripping to hidden snorkeling and diving spots, they can sample stunning seafood at the over-water restaurant which lies at the heart of the property. And unlike many island hideaways, if you truly find your paradise far from home, you can buy one of the villas and make it your own for life.
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The Naka Island
Thailand
The Naka Island offers a private all-villa escape for travelers seeking solace. Nestled among stunning beaches and coconut groves on the island of Naka Yai, off Phuket, the resort is only accessible by speedboat and features 67 superbly-appointed pool villas.
Designed with influence from Thai culture, each villa boasts stunning views across the Unesco-listed Phang Nga Bay and features open-air bathrooms, private plunge pools, spacious outdoor sun decking, and private shaded salas. Each villa is serviced by an ‘experience guide’, a private butler, concierge, and guest relations officer rolled into one, who can organize excursions, spa appointments, or dinner bookings at Tonsai, an all-day dining restaurant, or My Grill, an open beachside seafood grill.
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Orpheus Island
Australia
Another hidden gem, Orpheus Island is located just 8km from Townsville in the country’s far north. Coral-fringed Orpheus accommodates only 34 guests at any one time, making it the ideal home-away-from-home for travelers looking for privacy and access to the Great Barrier Reef. The resort’s Beachfront Retreats and Nautilus Suites boast contemporary interiors and offer plenty of privacy, while a collection of indulgent villas, catering to four guests apiece, dominate the hillsides of Hazard Bay.
Spend your days game fishing on two new leisure craft, diving or snorkeling the surrounding pristine national park, or lounging at the resort’s pavilion bar, located beside the infinity pool. At night, gourmet Australian cuisine is served at the new alfresco restaurant, under a canopy of stars. Even better, hire the entire island for US$20,200 per night for your own private paradise.
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Kokomo Private Island
Fiji
If you’re looking for luxury at the heart of the South Pacific, you can’t go past the new Kokomo Private Island resort, Fiji’s newest private island hideaway.
Located in the celestial Kadavu Island Group, and developed by Australian Lang Walker, Kokomo is spread across 56-hectares of South Seas paradise, with lush rainforests wreathing white sand beaches and vibrant coral gardens, including The Great Astrolabe Reef, home to an abundance of exotic coral species and sea life, just waiting to be explored.
With a barefoot luxury ambiance, the island features 27 spacious villas, including five Hilltop Luxury Residences and one palatial Owners’ Beachfront Residence. Each villa features a private pool and walled garden, ensuring luxury and privacy in equal measure.
When you’re not whiling away the afternoon in your villa or dining at one of the resort’s many innovative kitchens, order an intimate in-villa barbeque, or take to the seas on guided snorkeling itineraries of the Great Astrolabe Reef, the fourth largest in the world.
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St Regis Vommuli Resort
Maldives
With just 77 villas spread across a nine-hectare private island in the Dhaalu Atoll, the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort offers some of the most indulgent accommodation in the Indian Ocean. The first St Regis in the Maldives (and the first on a private island), this luxurious new hideaway has been created by Warner Wong Design, with a contemporary tropical persona inspired by nature itself.
Villas feature manta ray-inspired curving roofs, all-timber exteriors, and blown glass art, while the two-story John Jacob Astor Estate, ideal for families, boasts a 300ft (92m) private pool, over 600sqm of sun decks, a show kitchen, a private spa, and a mini theatre. Look out for the resort’s six innovative dining experiences, which include an Asian specialty restaurant, a modern Italian eatery, an underground wine cellar, and a signature overwater bar.
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Banwa Island
Philippines
The epitome of the private island escape in Asia, Banwa Island is a retreat for the well-heeled. Located in the western Philippines, and boasting six sumptuous villas as well as a handful of suites, this private resort accommodates up to 48 lucky souls and comes with a price tag of US$100,000 a night. Not quite Indecent Proposal steep but certainly a hefty sum for a night by the beach.
Of course, what that price gets you is your own Fantasy Island. The single-booking policy ensures that you’ll only share paradise with those closest to your heart. There’s also a helicopter to whisk you all in from the airport in Palawan; and a fleet of leisure craft for days at sea sports fishing, diving on world-renowned Tubbataha Reef, or island hopping (we love the Lagoon 630 Catamaran). There’s also a private spa, golf course, and tennis court, and a small army of staff to ensure your needs are anticipated. Each villa has its own infinity pool, and a cocktail bar is never more than a few minutes’ walk away.
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North Island
Seychelles
Another undeniably indulgent retreat in the Seychelles, North Island is home to just 11 villas, all of which are dubbed ‘presidential’. A landmark conservation project that saw the island returned to its former ecological glory by Wilderness Safaris, North Island is accessible by helicopter from the main island of the Seychelles and offers a truly luxurious Robinson Crusoe experience.
Explore the island in your own golf buggy, say hello to the resident giant tortoises (including the island’s most famous resident, Disco Harry), arrive at remote West Beach bar in time for sundowners, and have the chef cook up a bespoke storm at the resort’s menuless restaurant. There’s also a fleet of water vehicles, a full dive center, and an intimate spa.
Joali Maldives
Maldives
Another newbie in the Maldives, Joali is a luxury retreat boasting 73 private beach and water villas as well as a clutch of sublime residences, each featuring insightful in-room libraries, cavernous bathrooms, and thoughtful objects d’art. Joali features bold, inspiring designs by Autoban and Tokyo’s Studio Glitt, as well as immersive art from young talents like Misha Khan.
Located in the Raa Atoll, a 45-minute seaplane ride from the capital Male, the new resort caters to both couples and groups traveling together, with two world-class residences, one perched above the lagoon and the other nestled on the beach, offering three and four bedrooms respectively, as well as private infinity pools, expansive living areas, and butler service.
After a day spent diving, snorkeling with manta rays, wakeboarding, or sailing on the atoll, sate your appetite with Japanese and Peruvian dishes at the Noriyoshi Muramatsu-designed Saoke restaurant; sundowners at The Mura Bar; or liquid nitrogen ice cream at The Chocolate & Ice Cream Store. Alternatively, indulge with a comprehensive menu of massages, facials, wraps, and rituals at the Joali Spa by ESPA.
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Laucala Island
Fiji
Hidden away among uninhabited isles in Fiji’s north, Laucala Island is one of the most indulgent and exclusive tropical enclaves on the planet. Once a private retreat for the Forbes family and now owned by Austrian billionaire and Red Bull guru Dietrich Mateschitz, this remote paradise offers privacy and luxury in equal measures.
A regular favorite with celebrities like Oprah and Elle MacPherson, at Laucala, guests can fly in with their own private jet or on the island’s twin-engine plane, and literally disappear from the rest of the world. There are just 25 spacious beautifully-appointed Stephen Albert-designed hideaways, ranging from 11 Plantation villas set against a white powder sand beach, through to four Plateau villas perched atop Mount Nawi, and a solo Overwater Villa. All come with 24-hour butler service, in-villa wine libraries, decadent outdoor bathrooms, and personal golf buggies.
You’ll also keep busy thanks to a fleet of aquatic toys – including a submarine – horseback riding, an indulgent spa, a David McLay Kidd-designed 18 golf course, and a host of restaurants to enjoy.
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Kudadoo Private Island
Maldives
Another new Indian Ocean playground is Kudadoo Maldives Private Island by Hurawalhi, an exclusive retreat of just 15 expansive overwater Ocean Residences a short seaplane ride from the international airport at Malé (and a quick boat ride from sister property Hurawalhi).
The all-inclusive resort works with an Anything, Anytime, Anywhere mantra and each of its spacious villas boasts private decks with sun loungers and suspended sofas, large infinity pools, and direct access to the lagoon.
Thanks to a small army of butlers, you’ll be forgiven for never wanting to leave your new home above the waves. However, if you do you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied, from a signature restaurant and elegant spa, to a host of water sports and aquatic activities, including snorkeling and diving with resident manta rays. Be sure to leave time for a spectacular dining experience at Hurawalhi’s 5.8, the world’s largest underwater restaurant.
Amanpulo
Philippines
A breathtaking island escape accessible only by private plane, Amanpulo is a tropical retreat that’s blissfully marooned in the middle of the Sulu Sea, an hour from Manila. This private island has it all, white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, verdant rainforests, luxurious accommodation (with every villa boasting its own beachfront), and a staff whose sole job is to ensure you want for nothing.
Of course, this is an Aman resort, so there’s a strong focus on wellness and healthy living so you can expect guided yoga classes, spa cuisine at the restaurants, and a host of insightful therapists on hand but for travelers simply seeking to disappear, there are few spots as close to civilization and yet as removed.
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