Whether you’re into K-Pop or not, we reckon South Korea should be on everyone’s bucket list.
The hectic frenzy that is Seoul, the deliciously crazy cuisine (hello, hongeo-hoe!) to the baseball games, South Korea is hit of extraordinary culture.
We know South Korea is on many of your bucket lists, owing to the thousands of entries we had into our Ultimate K-Adventure competition.
We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and creativity of our readers, and there were many worthy winners. But, there can be only one.
AND THE WINNER IS
Drumroll please…
Trishia Jandu!
Congratulations Trishia! You’ve won return flights to Seoul, $750 cash and an extraordinary 7-day South Korean adventure for the ages!
get lost would like to thank our incredible partners in this competition, ASIANA Airlines, Inside Asia, World Nomads and Visit Korea, for their exceptional support and making all this possible – helping travellers get lost.
I’ve navigated every continent, indulged in the most exclusive travel experiences, and ventured to the farthest corners of the globe in pursuit of exotic perspectives for get lost Magazine over the last 20 years.
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So when assigned the task to share the best that West Hollywood has to offer, a place I first called home right out of college, that launched my obsession with travel, I was faced with a unique problem.
On the surface, it might appear akin to asking David Attenborough to expound on goldfish behavior or Anthony Bourdain to critique his mom’s meatloaf. Yet, against all expectations, this assignment unfolded as one of the most personal and captivating journeys of my career. West Hollywood, or WeHo as locals affectionately don’t call it, holds a unique place in my heart—it was the initial haven I sought beyond the bustling confines of New York City.
Here, I learned, for better or worse, the art of savoring life through eating, drinking, and dancing. To paraphrase Thomas Wolfe “you can never go home again,” but Tommy, you’ve yet to acquaint yourself with West Hollywood.
Bedecked in a vibrant spectrum of rainbow hues, West Hollywood stands globally recognized as one of the LGBTQ+ capitals of the world. The acceptance that radiates from every street corner fosters an atmosphere of creativity and openness unparalleled in most locales you’ll have encountered to this point.
From coffee shops to repair shops, restaurants to hospitality, there’s an unbridled celebration of novelty, spirit, and character that sets this destination apart.
With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, I descended back into the folds of my old haunts to work out whether they retained the glossy brilliance that once captivated me, while also seeking to uncover mysteries that had evolved in this rainbow paradise during my absence while I explored the diverse landscapes of the world.
I check into The Pendry Hotel, the contemporary pinnacle of fun-lux accommodations in West Hollywood, if not the entire expanse of Los Angeles. The hotel seamlessly blends maximalism and deco elegance, exuding casual charm that encapsulates the quintessence of West Hollywood. The rooms are opulent, the rooftop pool lounge is alluring, and the bars and lounges transport you into a Baz Luhrmann-inspired dreamscape. The ghost of the former House of Blues that occupied the same space years ago, has now metamorphosed into the Pendry’s ultra-lux piano bar, hosting luminaries like Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, and Beck—ensuring the legacy of celebration lives on.
Knowing myself all too well, I anticipate some serious recovery time after a proper night out in West Hollywood, so I headed to Book Soup to get something to read poolside with a bottle of Advil. I love this iconic literature shop, where you can still buy physical magazines or the perfect gift for your friends back home, not to mention your next favourite read. On the way out I spy a red sign pointing down an extremely thin alley that reads Mystery Pier Books. Following it I discover a living hobbit house where the owner, Harvey Jason, welcomes me in.
Unannounced, I discover perhaps the most iconic rare bookstore in the world where you can see (and with enough collateral, buy) first editions of the world’s most sought after tomes. Byron, Kerouac, even first edition Shakespeare are in this little cottage house, all waiting for you to drool over.
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I start to head back to the hotel and duck into the Sunset Marquis to have a quick look inside the Morrison Hotel Gallery. Here, two-dimensional celebrities come to life in photographs of Cash, Madonna, Hendrix, and McQueen, capturing candid moments of their extraordinary lives. The spot is virtually hidden, but anyone that wants to get to know their celeb crushes better should not pass up this opportunity.
Embracing the polished sheen of West Hollywood’s streets, I couldn’t help but feel wonderfully inadequate—a sentiment I fondly recalled from my 20s. Back then I used to lift heavy things at Crunch, but today that experience can be lived at Dogpound, where A-listers sculpt their bodies with some of the world’s best trainers like Zach, the unsung heroes behind J-Lo’s tush and Hemsworth’s Thor-pack.
Properly pumped and ready to undo all gains made earlier, I met up with some old friends to plan our attack on West Hollywood’s unbeatable nightlife. We started with a baseline bite at Harlowe, an establishment so good that once the carefully crafted cocktails and savory delights began dropping in on our seductively lit corner booth, we found it nearly impossible to leave.
As the night unfolded, we explored West Hollywood’s world-class iconic joints for imbibing, each offering a unique vibe and salacious saltiness. Keeping it classic, I headed to The Formosa Cafe, the oldest and most authentic watering hole in West Hollywood, where strong drinks flowed freely in a classic atmosphere reminiscent of Hollywood’s golden era.
With the night still young, we ventured to Casa Madera, an exclusive venue nestled in the same space that marked the beginning of my travel-obsessed career at the infamous Mondrian Hotel. The fish-forward Mediterranean haven offers amazing views and delightful DJ beats. Their culinary offerings were a feast for the senses—seductive citrus hamachi, floral-draped butter crab legs, and a fortress of Haas tuna tartare. The experience was a West Hollywood trifecta, a perfect blend of taste, ambiance, and Instagram-worthy visuals surrounded by celebs.
The nightcap started with a bit of laughter and revelry at The Comedy Store, before we moved 100 feet down Sunset to the Saddle Ranch, where my friend braved the mechanical bull for a round of free shots—a fair trade in our book. Finally we let gravity take hold of us as we tumbled down Olive to the infamous Barney’s Beanery, where nights in West Hollywood usually used to end. It, as always, did not disappoint.
Look, if you know me, or you’ve come on my adventures, you will know I don’t suffer from travel fools. You can’t go back home, unless your home never leaves you. West Hollywood is that place that isn’t a location, it’s a philosophy, an emotion, or a dance move depending on when you ask. To me West Hollywood will always be the sweet flavour of fear of the unknown, mixed with the sweet release of acceptance. Be who you are or what you may be, this is a fold in the world’s culture where you’re not always just welcome, but celebrated. Thank you, and it is so good to be home.
To reach an epic beach is one of the key elements of travelling.
Some like big waves and some like a peaceful bay. Some prefer crystal-clear white sand while others froth the black or even rare pink sand beaches. Some think it’s when there’s a buzzing vibe and big crowd of people wearing not much, while others like beaches that are completely deserted.
Best Beaches: 100 of the world’s most incredible beaches, is Lonely Planet’s guide to the very best beaches from around the world. It’s a beautiful coffee table chic showcasing beaches with elephants, beaches with caves, beaches with epic surf and sprawling coastlines.
The book is broken down by continent, and includes top ranking beaches for sunsets, the best for nature, the best for people watching etc.
LONELY PLANET’S TOP 5 BEACHES TO WATCH THE SUNSET
Maremegmeg Beach, Philippines
Punta Rata Beach, Croatia
Pfeiffer Beach, USA
Playa de Famara, Spain
Cable Beach/Walmanyjun, Australia (pictured)
**
To celebrate, get lost are giving away a few copies of this ripper.
TO WIN, TELL US IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE BEACH IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
Ever wanted to stay in Japan for more than the three months the tourist visa allows?
Yeh, same.
We’ve got good news. News out of the Land of the Rising Sun is that a Digital Nomad Visa is about to drop, meaning you can now stay for up to six months.
If you’re from one of the selected 49 countries (anyone in the EU, plus the U.K, Australia, the U.S. and a few more) you’re good to apply.
There are a few conditions; 1) they are targeting super-skilled applicants with an annual income of 10 million yen (just over AU $100,000). 2) you gotta have public health insurance.
They are especially after IT gurus so if that’s you and you love Japan, you’re in business.
The program is expected to launch in March, so we’ve got no link to send you to yet.
Japan represents an epic place to spend time as a digital nomad. Unbelievable food, adventure, and weather from heavy snow to blazing sun to suit your needs.
Cities like Tokyo are likely to be an expensive stay, but lesser-tread prefectures like Nagano, Gunma, Hiroshima and even Ehime in the south-west of Japan represent fantastic, and affordable options as places to live and work.
South Africa is a country which prides itself on its diversity, and that 100% includes its travel experiences.
From vibrant neighbourhoods overflowing with energy and vibes, to stunning natural landscapes and the wildlife that call them home, South Africa is a kaleidoscope of colour, adventure and culture.
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Like a movie you haven’t seen before, expect twists and turns and adventure gems in every corner of this country.
This is our lowdown of the unheralded and lesser-known, but still epic experiences, spanning all nine provinces.
PROVINCE: NORTH WEST SAFARI FROM THE SKIES
Okay, so going on any safari is incredible, life changing, bucket-list stuff. But going on safari from a hot air balloon? ABSOLUTELY WILD TIMES. Just imagine floating above a pride of lions as they take down a gazelle, or watching giraffes saunter across the plains under an African sunset.
Pilansberg National Park is all about crafting these super tranquil safari experiences. Not that we need any more convincing but they’ll even throw in a glass of bubbles, which never hurts. If animals are cool but you’re more of a geology nerd, this birds-eye view is a unique opportunity to see a dramatic volcanic landscape from above. Pretend you’re a vulture or an osprey or a fish eagle.
Also in the North West: Get a history lesson at Sterkfontein Caves
Inside these caves, scientists discovered hominid and other animal fossils that date back more than 4-million years, to the birth of humanity. Forget your high school history classes, this is where it’s at.
PROVINCE: FREE STATE HIKE TO HEAVEN IN THE GOLDEN GATE
It’s pretty hard to hide something that spans 340 square kilometres, but it seems Golden Gate Highlands National Park has managed to stay well and truly out of the spotlight.
Not to be confused with its more famous San Fransican namesake, South Africa’s Golden Gate NP boasts sweeping landscapes and some of the most epic hiking in the country (a competitive field). Not to be missed is its Pride Rock-style sandstone cliff. It’s giving Simba.
Other impressive hikes include the Cathedral Cave Walk which descends through several natural caves, including one filled with water. Then there’s the Wodehouse Peak Trail, a 10.5 kilometre loop taking in all the classic African game; zebras, elephants and the like. The cruisy three-hour drive from both Johannesburg and Bloemfontein is also a big plus.
Also in the Free State: Go back in time at Vredefort Dome
Vredefort is one of South Africa’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it does not disappoint. It’s actually an impact crater that dates back millions of years when a massive meteorite made impact with the earth.
yebo (ˈjebaʊ) South Africa informal an expression of affirmation
Word origin Zulu yebo yes, I agree
“Yebo” is important slang to know when in Soweto.
It’s a greeting, a confirmation, an invitation and a positive vibe all in one, and synonymous with Soweto—South Africa’s largest and most famous township—just out of Johannesburg. The great Nelson Mandela grew up around these parts on the famed Vilakazi Street—the only street in the world with two Nobel Peace Prize winners to its name (Desmond Tutu being the other).
Not everyone knows this but the see Soweto is by tuk-tuk or bike, starting at at Lebo’s Backpackers, which is hostel in name only. Lebo’s is actually a four-star accommodation with friendly and knowledgable staff who will show you Mandela’s childhood home (bullet holes still visible), shebeens (pubs known for their role in the anti-apartheid movement), workers’ hostels (ditto), churches and community centers that give a feel for the rhythm of the streets. Come ready to learn some of South Africa’s most important history.
Jeffrey’s Bay, or J-Bay, (or J-Baai if you’re a local, or J-Bae if the bay itself is your best friend) is in the upper, upper echelons of famed surf spots. Labelled the ‘fastest wave in the world’, this is the wave that put Africa on the surfing map in the 60s.
From May to August the swells and offshore winds are best, but it’s hardly fickle – you could visit any time of year and still catch some waves. There are around five different breaks to catch at J-Bay, but Supertubes is the most famous and serious of these, and home to the World Surf League event since 1984.
South Africa boasts an array of epic spots on each coastline and cape, all reachable within a few weeks. But there’s no doubting which is the king.
The exclamation mark at the beginning of !Xaus Lodge is part of the local ‡Khomani San language, but it may as well summarise travellers’ excitement at getting to a desertscap and seeing the epic night sky.
Situated in the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, this place one of very few ‘Dark Sky Sanctuaries’ in the world, as recognised by the International Dark Sky Association (yes that’s a real thing). The sky is spiritually and culturally significant to the ‡Khomani, one of the world’s oldest ‘First People’, whose culture is full of skylore: tales of the sun, moon, stars, and galaxies.
Let a guide tell you the stories of the sky, and then retreat back your stay—an eco lodge overlooking a gigantic salt pan, in the midst of the beautifully unforgiving Kalahari Desert.
What do we mean by that? You can sandboard the epic Witsand Dunes. Fun fact: also known as ‘roaring sands’ due to the way the grains rub together to emit a deep reverberating hum.
Being at Zwakala, in the mountainous north-eastern town of Magoebaskloof, sort of feels like being at a really cool, relaxed house party which happens to have amazing beer on tap.
There’s a large, green lawn for you to stretch out on and enjoy the South African sun, often with bands playing. Obviously there’s a braai (BBQ), and beer pong and giant jenga—the whole place is a proper vibe.
In Zulu language Zwakala means ‘come closer’—which seems to summarise the setup. Zwakala is an award-winning micro-brewery, so you know the beers are on point; we recommend the Weekend Special – a white IPA named South African Beer of the Year.
Also in Limpopo: Chill out (big time) at Bela-Bela Hot Springs
Set in the foothills of the beautiful Waterberg mountains, Bela-Bela’s hot springs were originally used for healing purposes by the Tswana people hundreds of years ago.
Fur seals are rowdy creatures, especially when you find them in a hundred-strong gang just off the Cape’s west coast. You’ll probably smell the pod before you see them—they come with a strong scent of fish guts. Or you might hear them first—their hoarse barking is hard to miss. And while on land you might mistake their blubber for boulders, in the water they’re playful acrobats.
Don’t pass up on the warm wetsuit, these waters are chilly. And if you want to spend any amount of time watching the fur seals play beneath the waves, then you’ll want an extra layer of protection. What to expect: choppy waves (depending on the weather), beautiful kelp forests and the occasional dive bomb from a silly little pup.
Fancy a little adrenaline on your South African adventure? If you’re in KwaZulu-Natal, make sure to stop by St. Lucia where experienced teams can take you out onto the estuaries teeming with hippos and crocs.
While there might be bigger names elsewhere in terms of national parks, iSimangaliso Wetland Park – where the St Lucia estuary flows – is host to some 115 different mammal species. Take an incredible boat trip that cruises past the beautiful (albeit slightly terrifying) hippos and Nile crocodiles from a safe distance.
PROVINCE: MPUMALANGA CHOOSE YOUR OWN BLYDE ADVENTURE
At 26km long and an estimated 1km deep, the Blyde River Canyon rivals most around the world for vastness, but what you don’t expect is how strikingly green the canyon is.
Dense layers of subtropical vegetation wrap the bulk of the precipitous cliffs, between which the Blyde River snakes its way through. You can hike most of the canyon here, and be sure to check out the crazy cylindrical slots known as Bourke’s Luck Potholes. But we reckon the best place to absorb this epic scene is smack bang in the middle of it all, in a damn boat. Meander downstream, take it easy, watch the crocs. Blyde means ‘happy’ in Afrikaans – we think we’d be happy here too.
If you want the full experience at Kruger National Park, book a spot in one of the communal campsites. You’ll not only hear all the jungle noises through your tent walls but you’ll also get to witness a famous Kruger sunrise.
There’s a new Golden Route in Japan – it’s greener than the other, and it’s probably not where you thought it was.
A triangular itinerary which loosely tracks Tokaido Road – the most travelled path during the Edo Period, connecting Kyoto to Tokyo – is the old Golden Route and still the go-to for most first-time Japanese travellers.
Maybe you’re a full-blown Japanophile and this is your 12th trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, or maybe you just don’t like crowds – say no more fam. We have an alternate ‘Golden Route’ for you.
A few hours bullet train west of Tokyo are Nagano and Gunma prefectures – based in Central Honshu’s mountainous region. Nagano will be familiar to snow lords as a sick destination in winter (Nagano City hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics to great acclaim and are set to host the 2026 ones).
get lost took the ‘New Golden Route’ in summer, which took us from laidback Karuizawa, up into the mountains Nozawa Onsen, through Gunma’s stunning apple growing country, across to tranquil Lake Nojiri and finishing at the not-so-tranquil rapids at Tone River.
Here’s eight of the best experiences we vibed along the New Golden Route:
Max chilling in Karuizawa
We spent a day ambling the streets of Karuizawa, one of the first stops on the New Golden Route, and immediately understood why the town attracts a lot of domestic holiday-makers, looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
There was something incredibly tranquil about strolling the neat, green streets of this laidback town in summertime, getting a coffee and receiving far more than I bargained for (a massage? Aftershave?) during a haircut, where we also managed a pretty good conversation considering neither of us knew a lick of the opposing language. Suzuki Barber Shop ftw.
A stunning, modern onsen which allows tattoos, Tonbo-no-Yu is among the most attractive onsens in the country. Making use of Karuizawa’s natural geothermal hot springs, the springs are situated in amongst lush green, and it’s easy to drift away here.
The onsen has been here since 1916, but has recently undergone its own spruce up. Almost worth a day trip from Tokyo on its own.
Shiraito Waterfall is unlike any waterfall I’ve ever come across. It’s only 3 metres high, but 70 metres wide, bending around in a horseshoe shape so that when you approach the water’s edge, it feels like it surrounds you from all sides. The trail up to the falls is short, and the area most beautiful (but somewhat busy) in summer amongst verdant green surrounds.
Mountain Biking at Nozawa Onsen
Shredders might consider it sacrilege to visit Nozawa Onsen in summer, when there is no snow at the area legendary for its snow.
The slopes become mountain bike trails in the summer, with different trails for everyone. We took the ‘medium’ difficulty route and found it very challenging…apparently there are two levels further up than that.
Easily the most delicious train we’ve ever been on.
It serves local beers and wines; there is something incredibly satisfying about drinking a wine in your own private little booth as you cruise past the vineyards where the grapes in that wine were grown.
Demolishing an 11 (11!) course meal is satisfying too; the menu consisted of tateshina pork and Shinshu mushrooms, paprika mousse and Shinshu salmon, roast beef, plus a totally droolable (not a word but you get the idea) fruit compote.
The train is stunning, with timber sourced locally and classic Japanese furnishings which give a luxurious, exclusive feeling. The best way to travel from Karuizawa to Nagano.
get lost’s heart rate went down a number of notches in a Shirin-yoku (forest bathing) session at Lake Nojiri, near the town of Shinano. Over 80% of Nagano Prefecture is covered in forest, which passes the ey test here as we take an easy hike through a green jungle, where we learnt which flora and fauna helps us sleep better and aid our digestive systems, and which kills us almost instantly, we meditated and then took a dip in the soothingly fresh waters of the stunning lake. I’m not usually the meditative, reflective type, preferring energy over quiet, but this did it for me.
Traditional luxury at the foothills of Mount Tanigawa, Bettei Senjuan is a stunning place to stay, with every room in the joint giving you views of mountain peaks or jungle, and an open-air private pool in each as well.
It’s not hard to find good food in Gunma and Nagaino but Bettei has won awards for its cuisine, and plate after plate of sumptuously plated food stood was evidence enough of this.
Tone River is the epicentre of Japan’s white-water rafting. A half-day course has you careening down 12km of world-class grade 3-4 rapids, which takes in three different canyons: Momiji Canyon, Minakami Canyon and Suwa Canyon.
Spring (April – June) is actually a better time to go than summer, but you are able to raft all the way through until October. If the rapids are slower, the sessions turn into half-rafting, half-canyoneering and jumping off rocky ledges.
The name of the sale is kind of misleading; you haven’t missed it, it’s happening now, from 16 January until 22 January.
If your new year’s resolution was to travel somewhere in 2024, you probably aren’t going to get a much better sign than this.
There’s 55 adventure-filled destinations to travel to, including the main ones in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, India, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam, and some left-field destinations in those places too.
Back to the sale though. A quick scan and the ones that looked good to us include:
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – from $185
Denpasar, Indonesia – from $190
Singapore – from $195
Cebu, Philippines – from $215
Jeju, South Korea – from $295
Osaka, Japan – from $315
Travellers looking to make the most of the sale will be able to book now until 23 January 3:00AM AEDT. Please see the full list of sales from Scoot and more information flyscoot.com/en/promotions/au-jan-gotta-scoot
It’s quite a simple question but when we asked our writers this, they surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly) found the task difficult, umming and ahhing, fidgeting and unwilling to commit, mainly due to the tricky task of narrowing the list down from literally everywhere to one destination.
I once spent six hours at Istanbul airport, and enchanted as I was by the ample charging ports and Starbucks, I couldn’t help but think there was more to Turkey than this.
I love chaotic places, so this year I’d like to amble through the frenzy that is Istanbul, crushing gozleme and sampling the lively nightlife on the Bosphorus. I’d like to avoid flares and death at the Intercontinental Derby football match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, and I’d especially like to cop an absolute beating at a traditional hammam, leaving as a new man, my creaky 31-year-old joints made to feel 29 again.
I’m going to the last place I haven’t been; Antarctica. It’s the final continent. The brass ring for me, saving the best and coldest for last. Something fitting about it, having thirsted after all the colourful, flavourful, wild destinations around the world to leave the frozen tundra as my final continental experience.
I look forward to the white void ahead, the adventure it brings, and as always, sharing it with my get lost family who always seems to find me no matter how far off the radar I get.”
Topping my travel wish list for 2024 is a cycling trip to Japan to tackle the Shimanami Kaido route. The 280km journey connects six Japanese islands dotted throughout the Setouchi Inland Sea. Apart from stunning views of the islands, water, temples, and whirlpools, it features the Kurushima Kaikyo Ohashi — one of the world’s longest suspension bridges.
Apart from indulging in my odd love of riding over a long bridge, what better excuse to indulge in a luxury ryokan onsen stay than a day spent in the saddle?”
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
BEST FOR: UNDERWATER ADVENTURES UEPI, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Perched on the edge of the world’s longest saltwater lagoon, Uepi Island also hosts Uepi Island Resort — a boutique paradise with six bungalows scattered throughout the island’s tropical rainforest.
But it’s below the water where this island really comes to the fore. Bordering the 2,000-metre-deep ‘The Slot’, the diving here is world-class and super crowded (just not with other divers). You gotta share these waters with plethora of incredible marine life.
Not a diver? Not a problem! A jump off the jetty and into the depths of The Slot with just your mask and snorkel is enough to join the reef sharks swimming through this marine wonderland.
DO Swim with the angelic ocean manta rays. You won’t regret it.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
BEST FOR: A KNOCK AROUND GAME OF FOOTBALL HENNINGSVAER, NORWAY
Name a more epic football pitch, we’ll wait. Henningsvær Stadium sits on a small rocky outcrop on the southern tip of Austvågøya, Lofoten archipelago’s largest island.
Whew, what a mouthful. And while this pitch is only used for amateur football (imagine the cost of flying teams out on the regular!) it’s become a bona fide social hub for the fishing village. If you dig cold weather island life, getting up close with the Northern Lights AND football—pack ya boots and get here.
DO Try rakfisk (fermented fish), but only if you’re brave.
BEST FOR: UNDERWATER ADVENTURES UEPI, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Perched on the edge of the world’s longest saltwater lagoon, Uepi Island also hosts Uepi Island Resort — a boutique paradise with six bungalows scattered throughout the island’s tropical rainforest.
But it’s below the water where this island really comes to the fore. Bordering the 2,000-metre-deep ‘The Slot’, the diving here is world-class and super crowded (just not with other divers). You gotta share these waters with plethora of incredible marine life.
Not a diver? Not a problem! A jump off the jetty and into the depths of The Slot with just your mask and snorkel is enough to join the reef sharks swimming through this marine wonderland.
DO Swim with the angelic ocean manta rays. You won’t regret it.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
Baffin is immense. It’s actually the fifth largest island in the world. So if you’re craving vast, Arctic steppe and grand fjords, head here stat.
Sirmilik National Park is affectionately known as the “Yosemite of the North” where you can spy snowy owls, narwhal and polar bears. Or head out to the ice floe to spy a few beluga whales swimming the freezing waters.
DO Tuck into a Baffin surf-n-turf freshly caught Arctic char and some roasted caribou. Maybe even a little muktuk (whale skin and blubber) if you’re feeling adventurous.
BEST FOR: A KNOCK AROUND GAME OF FOOTBALL HENNINGSVAER, NORWAY
Name a more epic football pitch, we’ll wait. Henningsvær Stadium sits on a small rocky outcrop on the southern tip of Austvågøya, Lofoten archipelago’s largest island.
Whew, what a mouthful. And while this pitch is only used for amateur football (imagine the cost of flying teams out on the regular!) it’s become a bona fide social hub for the fishing village. If you dig cold weather island life, getting up close with the Northern Lights AND football—pack ya boots and get here.
DO Try rakfisk (fermented fish), but only if you’re brave.
BEST FOR: UNDERWATER ADVENTURES UEPI, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Perched on the edge of the world’s longest saltwater lagoon, Uepi Island also hosts Uepi Island Resort — a boutique paradise with six bungalows scattered throughout the island’s tropical rainforest.
But it’s below the water where this island really comes to the fore. Bordering the 2,000-metre-deep ‘The Slot’, the diving here is world-class and super crowded (just not with other divers). You gotta share these waters with plethora of incredible marine life.
Not a diver? Not a problem! A jump off the jetty and into the depths of The Slot with just your mask and snorkel is enough to join the reef sharks swimming through this marine wonderland.
DO Swim with the angelic ocean manta rays. You won’t regret it.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
BEST FOR: SELF-PROFESSED DIRTBAG CLIMBERS KALYMNOS, GREECE
If you say the words ‘crag’, ‘belay’ and ‘chimney’ all on a regular basis, then Kalymnos is the island for you. No doubt.
Considered one of the world’s best rock climbing spots—because of its infamous (and craggy) limestone cliffs—Kalymnos is equal parts stunning beauty and world-class slab routes. Throw in views across the Mediterranean and as many gyros as you can handle, and this sounds like a bucket list climbing experience.
DO Head to sandy hamlet, Masouri, for beach views and a Byzantine fort when you’re feeling too gassed to climb.
Baffin is immense. It’s actually the fifth largest island in the world. So if you’re craving vast, Arctic steppe and grand fjords, head here stat.
Sirmilik National Park is affectionately known as the “Yosemite of the North” where you can spy snowy owls, narwhal and polar bears. Or head out to the ice floe to spy a few beluga whales swimming the freezing waters.
DO Tuck into a Baffin surf-n-turf freshly caught Arctic char and some roasted caribou. Maybe even a little muktuk (whale skin and blubber) if you’re feeling adventurous.
BEST FOR: A KNOCK AROUND GAME OF FOOTBALL HENNINGSVAER, NORWAY
Name a more epic football pitch, we’ll wait. Henningsvær Stadium sits on a small rocky outcrop on the southern tip of Austvågøya, Lofoten archipelago’s largest island.
Whew, what a mouthful. And while this pitch is only used for amateur football (imagine the cost of flying teams out on the regular!) it’s become a bona fide social hub for the fishing village. If you dig cold weather island life, getting up close with the Northern Lights AND football—pack ya boots and get here.
DO Try rakfisk (fermented fish), but only if you’re brave.
BEST FOR: UNDERWATER ADVENTURES UEPI, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Perched on the edge of the world’s longest saltwater lagoon, Uepi Island also hosts Uepi Island Resort — a boutique paradise with six bungalows scattered throughout the island’s tropical rainforest.
But it’s below the water where this island really comes to the fore. Bordering the 2,000-metre-deep ‘The Slot’, the diving here is world-class and super crowded (just not with other divers). You gotta share these waters with plethora of incredible marine life.
Not a diver? Not a problem! A jump off the jetty and into the depths of The Slot with just your mask and snorkel is enough to join the reef sharks swimming through this marine wonderland.
DO Swim with the angelic ocean manta rays. You won’t regret it.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
You ever heard of the mega successful blockbuster, Avatar? Lol, of course you have.
Well, some of Pandora’s otherworldly landscapes are based on this super unique island in the Arabian Sea. Interestingly, Socotra is both one of the most remote islands in the world AND has historic evidence of human habitation dating back over 2,000 years. It’s home to the famous Dragon’s Blood trees, ancient tombs and cave sites, plus over 700 endemic plant species. It’s so close to being its own planet, it’s not funny.
DO Trek the incredible Hajhir Mountains (best in October and November).
BEST FOR: SELF-PROFESSED DIRTBAG CLIMBERS KALYMNOS, GREECE
If you say the words ‘crag’, ‘belay’ and ‘chimney’ all on a regular basis, then Kalymnos is the island for you. No doubt.
Considered one of the world’s best rock climbing spots—because of its infamous (and craggy) limestone cliffs—Kalymnos is equal parts stunning beauty and world-class slab routes. Throw in views across the Mediterranean and as many gyros as you can handle, and this sounds like a bucket list climbing experience.
DO Head to sandy hamlet, Masouri, for beach views and a Byzantine fort when you’re feeling too gassed to climb.
Baffin is immense. It’s actually the fifth largest island in the world. So if you’re craving vast, Arctic steppe and grand fjords, head here stat.
Sirmilik National Park is affectionately known as the “Yosemite of the North” where you can spy snowy owls, narwhal and polar bears. Or head out to the ice floe to spy a few beluga whales swimming the freezing waters.
DO Tuck into a Baffin surf-n-turf freshly caught Arctic char and some roasted caribou. Maybe even a little muktuk (whale skin and blubber) if you’re feeling adventurous.
BEST FOR: A KNOCK AROUND GAME OF FOOTBALL HENNINGSVAER, NORWAY
Name a more epic football pitch, we’ll wait. Henningsvær Stadium sits on a small rocky outcrop on the southern tip of Austvågøya, Lofoten archipelago’s largest island.
Whew, what a mouthful. And while this pitch is only used for amateur football (imagine the cost of flying teams out on the regular!) it’s become a bona fide social hub for the fishing village. If you dig cold weather island life, getting up close with the Northern Lights AND football—pack ya boots and get here.
DO Try rakfisk (fermented fish), but only if you’re brave.
BEST FOR: UNDERWATER ADVENTURES UEPI, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Perched on the edge of the world’s longest saltwater lagoon, Uepi Island also hosts Uepi Island Resort — a boutique paradise with six bungalows scattered throughout the island’s tropical rainforest.
But it’s below the water where this island really comes to the fore. Bordering the 2,000-metre-deep ‘The Slot’, the diving here is world-class and super crowded (just not with other divers). You gotta share these waters with plethora of incredible marine life.
Not a diver? Not a problem! A jump off the jetty and into the depths of The Slot with just your mask and snorkel is enough to join the reef sharks swimming through this marine wonderland.
DO Swim with the angelic ocean manta rays. You won’t regret it.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA, THE WORLD IS HOME TO ROUGHLY 900,000 OFFICIAL ISLANDS.
And while some are celebrity-level private (hello Richard Branson!) and others have been historically off-limits (howdy North Sentinel!), that leaves about 899,998 islands that are up for adventuring.
Today, we break down our top island idylls, from Mexico’s whale-shark-infested Revillagigedo Islands and Yemen’s alien Socotra landscape to going on an Arctic safari off the coast of Canada.
Click PLAY to watch
BEST FOR: WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS REVILLAGIGEDO ISLANDS, MEXICO
Known as the ‘Galapagos of Mexico’, these islands off the coast of Baja California Sur are a UNESCO-listed, fully protected, marine wonderland.
We’re talking sharks, dolphins, manta rays and humpback whales. There’s even a handful of fish species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Throw in crystal waters, four epic volcanic islands and a migratory channel for whale sharks and hammerheads, and you’ve got yourself an oceanic experience worthy of David Attenborough.
DOScuba dive Isla Socorro, keeping an eye out for giant manta rays.
You ever heard of the mega successful blockbuster, Avatar? Lol, of course you have.
Well, some of Pandora’s otherworldly landscapes are based on this super unique island in the Arabian Sea. Interestingly, Socotra is both one of the most remote islands in the world AND has historic evidence of human habitation dating back over 2,000 years. It’s home to the famous Dragon’s Blood trees, ancient tombs and cave sites, plus over 700 endemic plant species. It’s so close to being its own planet, it’s not funny.
DO Trek the incredible Hajhir Mountains (best in October and November).
BEST FOR: SELF-PROFESSED DIRTBAG CLIMBERS KALYMNOS, GREECE
If you say the words ‘crag’, ‘belay’ and ‘chimney’ all on a regular basis, then Kalymnos is the island for you. No doubt.
Considered one of the world’s best rock climbing spots—because of its infamous (and craggy) limestone cliffs—Kalymnos is equal parts stunning beauty and world-class slab routes. Throw in views across the Mediterranean and as many gyros as you can handle, and this sounds like a bucket list climbing experience.
DO Head to sandy hamlet, Masouri, for beach views and a Byzantine fort when you’re feeling too gassed to climb.
Baffin is immense. It’s actually the fifth largest island in the world. So if you’re craving vast, Arctic steppe and grand fjords, head here stat.
Sirmilik National Park is affectionately known as the “Yosemite of the North” where you can spy snowy owls, narwhal and polar bears. Or head out to the ice floe to spy a few beluga whales swimming the freezing waters.
DO Tuck into a Baffin surf-n-turf freshly caught Arctic char and some roasted caribou. Maybe even a little muktuk (whale skin and blubber) if you’re feeling adventurous.
BEST FOR: A KNOCK AROUND GAME OF FOOTBALL HENNINGSVAER, NORWAY
Name a more epic football pitch, we’ll wait. Henningsvær Stadium sits on a small rocky outcrop on the southern tip of Austvågøya, Lofoten archipelago’s largest island.
Whew, what a mouthful. And while this pitch is only used for amateur football (imagine the cost of flying teams out on the regular!) it’s become a bona fide social hub for the fishing village. If you dig cold weather island life, getting up close with the Northern Lights AND football—pack ya boots and get here.
DO Try rakfisk (fermented fish), but only if you’re brave.
BEST FOR: UNDERWATER ADVENTURES UEPI, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Perched on the edge of the world’s longest saltwater lagoon, Uepi Island also hosts Uepi Island Resort — a boutique paradise with six bungalows scattered throughout the island’s tropical rainforest.
But it’s below the water where this island really comes to the fore. Bordering the 2,000-metre-deep ‘The Slot’, the diving here is world-class and super crowded (just not with other divers). You gotta share these waters with plethora of incredible marine life.
Not a diver? Not a problem! A jump off the jetty and into the depths of The Slot with just your mask and snorkel is enough to join the reef sharks swimming through this marine wonderland.
DO Swim with the angelic ocean manta rays. You won’t regret it.
Smack dab in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon is this hella haunted islet. Back in the 1800s it was used as a quarantine station for people with the Bubonic Plague (or people who were thought to have come in contact with the plague).
Then in the 1930s it was an island asylum featuring mad doctor-type experiments, then said mad doctor was found dead at the bottom of the bell tower. The tower was removed but some locals reckon they still hear it peal, while other locals swear 50% of the island’s soil is made of human remains.
Poveglia is thought to be so haunted that access is restricted, so we recommend jumping on a boat and circumnavigating the island to sense its foreboding presence.
DO Ask locals in town for their best ghost stories before you go.
Lamu Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya’s far north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for good reason.
This island is considered by eminent researchers as the “cradle of Swahili civilisation”. It became a super important religious centre, attracting Swahili and Islamic scholars, and has been inhabited for over 700 years. It’s also crazy beautiful, home to perfect beaches, has a no-car rule and an Old Town that is perhaps the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in all of East Africa.
BEST FOR: HARDCORE REMOTENESS TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
If you want to escape, you can’t get much further than Tristan de Cunha. This island’s closest mainland city is Cape Town, and that’s still a six-day journey by ship depending on the weather.
A British Overseas Territory, this island has around 300 permanent inhabitants and the only way to get to Tristan da Cunha is either by cargo ship or expedition boat. And even then you need permission, plus a special permit, to visit. But once there you can play spot the albatross, go hiking or check out the active volcano with its heart-shaped crater lake.
DO Hit The Albatross Bar after a big day of adventure — the world’s most remote pub.
BEST FOR: CULTURE AND ADVENTURE COMBO JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
You would think 1,833 square kilometres would be difficult to keep a secret, but South Korea seems to have managed. I mean, have you heard of Jeju Island, the slice of paradise just a 75 minute flight from Seoul?
Koreans know this island well, but have managed to keep it all to themselves; the volcanic craters, the underground lava tubes, the pretty forests and the decent swells. Explore all of these and feast on beer and fried chicken while you’re at it – you’ve earned it.
DO Go with one of Inside Asia’s epic Jeju tours, where you might get a glimpse of the incredible ‘haenyo’, Korea’s free-diving sea women.
BEST FOR: A ONCE-IN-A-BUCKET-LIST WHALE EXPERIENCE UOLEVA, TONGA
Located in the Ha’apai Island group in the centre of the Tongan archipelago, Uoleva Island is long on soft sand deserted beaches and perfect crystal clear lagoon, but Uoleva’s real charm is its proximity to the migrating humpback whales’ ‘nursery’.
From July to October the surrounding waters are where these majestic mammals mate, give birth and educate their young on how to survive. Breakfasts on the island are regularly interrupted by a “thar she blows” from a guest spotting a whale either spouting, breaching or lobtailing in the distance. Then begins the rush to the boat to swim with them, more often than not without another tourist in sight.
DO Stay at one of the three completely isolated, off-grid “resorts” (we’re talking a handful of fales with perfect water views).
Bruce Brown’s seminal 1968 film ‘The Endless Summer’ follows two Californian surfers on the hunt for “the perfect wave”. The film concludes not in Hawai’i, California, or Australia, but in Senegal — on N’gor Island, a tiny little islet just off the coast of bustling Dakar.
The miniature island bears the brunt of the North Atlantic swell, giving rise to (at most recent count) 21 breaks for every kind of surfer. It’s only a ten-minute boat ride from the capital, but that ten minutes is enough to immerse yourself in a different world; eat, sleep, surf, repeat.
DO Stay at N’gor Island Surf Camp, for easy access to the beach, gear and a great crowd.
BEST FOR: NIGHTLIFE… OF A DIFFERENT KIND. IZU OSHIMA, JAPAN
We love the stars here at get lost, and who would have thought that just 25 minutes (flight time… less than an episode of ‘Pokemon’) from Tokyo you can get some of the most stunning star-gazing in the world.
The Oshima islands are a chain of volcanic islands south-east of Honshu. Izu Ōshima specifically is an incredible spot covered in small black volcanic rocks. Very Mars-like, very wow. During the day, take on the black desert known as Ura Sabaku, and at night, curl up in a sleeping bag and listen to an astronomer tell you the stories of the sky.
DO Climb Mt. Mihara and gaze out over the black desert landscape.
We eat our way around Mauritius, the world’s most underrated culinary spot.
Click PLAY to watch
It’s noon in Mauritius, and while I could be lounging in a hammock instead I’m hair-up in the hotel kitchen scraping fresh spices against a slab of volcanic rock.
I’m doing so willingly, I should probably add. It’s not like payment for my ocean-view room is in manual labour. No, I’m just staying at SALT of Palmar—a boutique adults-only hotel—where the focus on food is very, very immersive. Immersive to the point I’m learning how to make a traditional chicken curry, the most traditional way, from their local chefs.
Hence, the slab of rock. It’s like the Mauritian mortar and pestle—used for centuries to create ridiculously aromatic curry pastes. “This is how our mum, how our grandparents have always cooked,” Chef Visham tells me, as he crushes cumin and coriander, cardamom and cloves against the black slab. He gestures for me to add fresh tomato to the mix; I’ve already lost count of the ingredients going into this curry.
For those of you who don’t know, Mauritius is a small island off the coast off the bigger island of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa, and a comfy flight with Air Mauritius. But it’s also a literal melting pot of cultures, from African and French, to Indian and Chinese. All of which makes modern Mauritius an underestimated gastronomic giant.
I had no idea about this culinary diversity before I arrived. To be fair, I knew very little about Mauritius, full stop. I didn’t know it’s the wealthiest African nation (per capita); has over 27 microclimates; can be circumnavigated in a day; is the only country in Africa with Hinduism as its dominant religion; is home to one of the world’s largest coral reefs and an underwater waterfall; or that Mark Twain once said “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven was copied after Mauritius”.
I journeyed to this island blind. Which isn’t a bad way to travel, it just means everything comes as a surprise.
Like, I didn’t expect to be staying at a hotel that so deeply values using local ingredients that even my bathrobe is coffee-infused and my slippers are imbued with cinnamon. I didn’t expect a rooftop mixology session where I learned to make a ‘No Smoke Without Fire’—a cocktail inspired by the burning sugar cane fields during harvest time.
And I didn’t expect to be joining Chef Visham in his kitchen, and yet here I am, listening to the popping sounds of the masala dry roasting over high heat. He asks me, what I can only assume is a rhetorical, slightly existential culinary question: “If you’re going to eat a curry, you need to feel the spice in your mouth, otherwise what is a curry?”
One morning I journey to Flacq market. A picture-perfect island farmers market, with rows and rows of verdant veggies and boisterous hawkers—plus a little cafeteria out the back where locals go for a cheap feed.
My French is pretty much non-existent and I don’t have a guide, so we default for sign language. Pointing is universal, after all. I point to coconut-dusted balls (ladoo) that are syrupy and moreish. I point to a milky drink (alouda) that looks like boba and tastes like… well, a sweeter boba. I point to a sign that says dholl puri and am handed a flatbread stuffed with split peas and turmeric, topped with two types of curry.
There’s biryani and fried noodles, little pink cakes and fluffy brown dhal fritters. I can taste a hell of a lot of Indian ingredients, see a heap of French pastry skills and more than a little Chinese influence. But it’s all got its own Mauritian twist. There’s a surprising amount of tomato-based curries and very few coconut milk substitutions. I find myself so full I’m handing out bags of Mauritian sweet treats to children, like a weird, foreign, female Santa Claus.
Another morning I join Chef Yannick in his pastry kitchen where we make sourdough baguettes using his 35-year-old starter. That’s right, his sourdough starter is older than me. “We’re very good parents”, Chef Yannick tells me with a wink. “We feed it apple and grape juice every single day… because baking is not just learning how, it’s doing it with love.”
The French would be delighted.
It’s that love, and tradition, which keeps Chef Visham grinding his curry masala against that epic piece of stone, instead of using a machine. I ask him what dish on his (impressive) menu is the most popular, and he laughs— “this one”, he says pointing to our half-made chicken curry.
And when I finally sit down to eat, I am overwhelmed with all the reasons why. This dish tastes like centuries of culture have come together in a bowl. Chef Visham’s grandmother would be very, very proud.