There are places on the planet that are worth seeing at least once in your life. In their lists, beautiful islands confidently occupy the first lines. We have studied the ratings of reputable travel resources – from Tripadvisor to Condé Nast Traveler — and selected 6 of the most beautiful islands in the world. Spoiler: one of them belongs to the territory of Russia.
Contents
- Mauritius, East Africa
- Bali, Indonesia
- Iturup, Russia
- Fiji, Oceania
- Madeira, Portugal
- Paros, Greece
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Mauritius, East Africa
How to get there: only with a transfer, but there are convenient flights with just one short stop in Istanbul or the Emirates.
Visa: no need, you can stay on the island for up to 60 days. Get ready to present your hotel reservation and return ticket, plus you will need to fill out a migration card upon arrival.
When to go: from November to April.
The amazing island of Mauritius is located on the shores of the Indian Ocean. The local landscapes look fabulous, but people come here not only for the sake of relaxing by the azure water surrounded by palm trees. The island can offer a lot of entertainment that will appeal to active tourists.
By all means go to see the so-called underground waterfall. It’s actually an optical illusion.: the viewer sees falling jets due to the unusual relief of the ocean floor formed by coral reefs, sand and silt.
On the island, you can swim with sperm whales or go on safari to the Kasela Nature Park to see huge turtles, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras and even pet a lion. Don’t forget to take pictures of the huge lilies in the Pamplemus Botanical Garden.
By all means go to see the so-called underground waterfall. Photo: Myroslava Bozhko/Shutterstock.com
Where to stay
- Veranda Tamarin Hotel and Spa — from 17,214 rubles. for two people per night;
- LUX* Le Morne — from 45,052 rubles;
- LUX* Grand Gaube — from 29,299 rubles;
- Tamassa Bel Ombre — from 14,684 rubles;
- The Westin Mauritius Turtle Bay Resort and Spa — from RUB 24,990
Bali, Indonesia
How to get there: the most convenient option is to fly with a short transfer in Doha or Dubai.
Visa: needed, easily issued at the airport upon arrival for 500,000 IDR (2,710 rubles).
When to go: from April to November.
Just as you can’t get the words out of a song, you can’t get Bali out of the list of the best islands. After all, here is the perfect mix of surfing, trendy places, hangouts and at the same time amazing nature — volcanoes and the ocean.
The island provides an opportunity not only to soak in the water, but also to ascend the Agung volcano at the hour of dawn, undergo a purification procedure with Sebatu springs and learn how to surf on a board. That’s not all: have time to visit decent coffee places, fall in love with rice fields, go vipassana (retreat of silence) in Ubud, be impressed by the waves and rocks in Uluwatu and look into the best bars of Changu.
The island provides an opportunity not only to soak in the water, but also to ascend the Agung volcano at the hour of dawn. Photo: Putu Artana/Shutterstock.com
It’s best to take a bike and go explore different parts of the island on your own. As seasoned travelers say, the island shows everyone what they need to see — and no one happens to be in Bali.
Where to stay
- Royal Tulip Visesa Ubud Hotel — from 26,459 rubles. for two people per night;
- Ramayana Suites & Resort — from 7499 rubles;
- Pertiwi Bisma Ubud — from 4998 rub.;
- Hyatt Regency Bali Hotel — from 17,607 rubles;
- Villa Moonlight — from 30,369 rubles. for company overnight.
The Royal Tulip Visesa Ubud Hotel.
Iturup, Russia
How to get there: first we fly by direct flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and from there by plane to Iturup.
Visa: not required.
When to go: from July to September.
Iturup Island boasts wildlife and fantastic locations that Iceland and Norway combined will envy. There are swirling rivers, colored fumaroles (sources of hot gases), a beach with volcanic black sand, the Sea of Okhotsk on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. And also snow-white rocks, the bursting heat of the Baransky volcano, lava fields, a wall of waterfalls and other natural wonders!
You shouldn’t expect much comfort here, hotels and glamping with the benefits of civilization are gradually appearing, but you need to book them very much in advance. Plus, it is recommended to travel here with local guides or as part of organized groups: it is unlikely that you will be able to get to all the tasty places on your own.
Iturup Island boasts wildlife and fantastic locations. Photo: Shchipkova Elena/Shutterstock.com
On Iturup, it is pleasant to swim in natural thermal baths, enjoy wild places and remember how wonderful it is sometimes to be away from civilization. Well, it is definitely worth visiting neighboring Sakhalin with its natural oyster bar on Lake Busse and the mystical Aniva lighthouse, on the way to which you can meet killer whales.
Where to stay
- “Island” — from 3122 rubles. for two people per night;
- Guest house “Kasatka” — from 5182 rubles;
- “Bear” — from 5182 rubles.;
- Bay House Sakhalin Guest House — from 28,000 rubles;
- Mega Palace Hotel — from 8973 rub.
The Mega Palace Hotel.
Islands of Russia
Even more islands — from small to large — have been collected in this article. There are Olkhon, Sviyazhsk, and even Baltschug: yes, the islands are very different.
Fiji, Oceania
Howget: you will have to fly with a couple of transfers, the most convenient way is via Dubai and Beijing or Tokyo (visas are not required for a connecting flight).
Visa: is not needed, when crossing the border, a stamp is put in the passport, allowing you to get high in the country for up to 90 days.
When to go: from May to October.
That’s exactly where heaven is on earth, so it’s in Fiji! An independent state, it is also an archipelago of more than 300 islands in Oceania with impeccable beaches and photoshopped water. It hides gorgeous lagoons, lush rainforests and waterfalls. Fiji has delicious cuisine, an impressive mix of cultures and stunning resorts where tourists especially like to arrange weddings and honeymoons.
An independent state, it is also an archipelago of more than 300 islands in Oceania with impeccable beaches. Photo: Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock.com
A special treat here for connoisseurs of the ocean. Snorkeling, freediving, surfing, fishing, jet ski safaris, sea kayaking and sailing are plenty to spend time with benefit and pleasure.
If you want romance, then go to Yasawa Island, otherwise the main islands are Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Levuka and Mamanuka.
Where to stay
- Yasawa Island Resort — All Inclusive — from 99,200 rubles. for two people per night;
- Nanuku Resort Fiji — from 47,259 rubles;
- De Vos — The Private Residence — from RUB 18,975;
- Sea Winds Villa — from RUB 64,387;
- Ramada Suites by Wyndham Wailoaloa Beach Fiji — from 23 140 rub.
Yasawa Island Resort — All Inclusive.
Madeira, Portugal
How to get:First, to Istanbul or Yerevan, and then there are plenty of options to fly European low—cost airlines to Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (aka Funchal Airport).
Visa: you need a Schengen issued by Portugal or another Schengen state.
When to go: spring is here all year round, but from April to November it is a little more pleasant, since the rest of the time is considered the rainy season.
The adventures will begin immediately upon arrival: Madeira airport is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, and landing an airplane here is already an attraction in itself. All thanks to the difficult terrain of the island and the descending winds from the mountains. Only pilots with special qualifications are allowed to fly in this area, so don’t worry, you’ll be in experienced hands. A glass of local fortified wine — madeira — after landing will restore peace of mind and set you up for a vacation mood.
They go to Madeira for the blue sea, surrounded by rocks, emerald forests and trekking along the most beautiful trails along the levades — ancient irrigation canals. In total, there are more than 30 routes of varying length and complexity, and their description is worthy of a separate article.
They go to Madeira for the blue sea, surrounded by rocks, emerald forests and trekking along the most beautiful trails. Photo: proslgn/Shutterstock.com
The alternative is to explore the island behind the wheel, you just need to prepare for steep serpentines. The local architecture is impressive — do not miss the opportunity to stroll through the streets of the charming capital Funchal, swim in the natural pools of Porto Manish and look into the picturesque village of Seixal.
Among other recommendations: take a boat trip to Punta San Lorenzo to see whales and dolphins, as well as try local fruits. Here they are crossed as they want — it turns out to be unusual and delicious.
Where to stay
- Saccharum Resort — from 24,992 rubles. for two people per night;
- Quinta Mar And Sol — from 29,431 rubles;
- Casas Maravilha Calheta — from 10,213 rubles;
- Villa Pacífico by MHM — from 35,934 rubles;
- Casal São João Cottages — from 7,365 rub.
Saccharum Resort.
Paros, Greece
How to get there: the most convenient way is to fly through Istanbul and Athens. But it will be twice as cheap via Cairo or Sharjah, and then by domestic flight or ferry from Athens.
Visa: Schengen is needed.
When to go: from June to September.
Welcome to the beautiful Aegean coast. When it comes to Greece, Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes are often seen in the tops, but Paros is not inferior to them in any way. The island belongs to the Cyclades archipelago, which is famous for its traditional architecture. In ancient times, Paros was famous for quarries of white marble, which was used in the construction of houses.
Here are charming villages, whose streets are decorated with whitewashed houses and shrubs with bright flowers, centuries—old churches, ruins, museums and monasteries. The island is home to one of the oldest monuments of Byzantine architecture in Greece — the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani.
Here are charming villages whose streets are decorated with whitewashed houses and shrubs with bright flowers. Photo: valantis minogiannis/Shutterstock.com
Check out the best beaches of the island — Colimbitrese, Santa Maria and Marcello, try your hand at windsurfing on the Golden Beach and admire the thousands of fluttering butterflies in the reserve. The mandatory items of the program should be tasting local cuisine and wines, as well as a raid on the numerous stylish bars, clubs and restaurants that come alive with the coming of darkness.
Where to stay
- Glyfa Village — from 19,652 rubles. for two people per night;
- Paradise Garden — from 26,349 rubles;
- Fragos Apartments — from 16,849 rubles;
- Heaven Naoussa Villas — from 26,349 rubles;
- Sea Front Villa — from 204,718 rubles. for company overnight.
Glyfa Village.
Well, what a list came out, a real vishlist for many years to come! Plan your dream vacation on the Island, enjoy the ocean and keep your head away from the scorching sun. Bon voyage!
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