One of the great things about traveling Southeast Asia is that there’s a wide range of options of beautiful places that are just so breathtakingly spectacular. Obviously, Southeast Asia has been blessed with exotic islands that are to die for. Thus, making Southeast Asia the perfect destination for many solo travellers and explorers.
With large options of gorgeous island destinations, one of the itinerary for travelling Southeast Asia is island hopping. The good news and the bad news of it is that sometimes it can be overwhelming to plan itinerary for island hopping in Southeast Asia since there are so many options. Well, here are some of the best islands in Southeast Asia that needs to be on the top of the list!
Palawan, Philippines
Source: gapyear.com
Island hopping in Southeast Asia won’t be a great one if Palawan is not on the itinerary. One of the great things about Palawan is that the island is still undeveloped. Aside from that, Palawan is the most biodiverse islands in the Philippines, thus it is known as “The Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines”. Visitors can enjoy pristine jungle, mountains, and white beaches where many species of flora and fauna can be found there.
Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
Source: pawahtravelogue.com
Located about 21 kilometres off coast of Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia, Perhentian Islands is the most beautiful island in Malaysia. Perhentian Islands will make visitors feel as if they left modern civilisation where they can discover the magnificent marine life under the crystal clear water. Traveller will get to choose between Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil, depending on their travel style. Perhentian Kecil is smaller and perfect for backpackers with great nightlife, while Perhentian Besar is more organised and family-oriented.
Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
Source: bali-indonesia.com
Gili Trawangan, the largest of the three Gili islands, is a popular destination where visitors can enjoy the purity of nature. The beaches are still powdery white with a beautiful clear blue waters that are positioned perfectly for sunsets over Bali’s Mt Agung and sunrise over Lombok’s Mt Rinjani. Unique to the Gilis, no motorised transport is allowed. Visitors will have to go on foot, bicycles or using pony carts to get around the island. Also, if visitors want to follow the beach around the perimeter of the island, the most popular ones are Goodheart (the main stretch) and North Beach where the best snorkling is to be found.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Source: backpackerbanter.com
Known as the turtle island, Koh Tao is a small paradise island isolated in the gulf of Thailand. Not only inhabited by sea turtles, the island’s shape also resembles a turtle when viewed from Koh Phangan. Offering natural beauty both above and below the water, Koh Tao is an unforgettable destination for divers, adventurers and travellers alike. Under the clear and warm water of Koh Tao, there are stunning coral reefs and abundant marine life can be spotted.
Koh Rong, Cambodia
Source: dronestagr.am
Often described as an ‘island paradise’, one of the ultimate destination in Cambodia is Koh Rong. Located about 25 kilometres near the coast of Sihanoukville, Koh Rong is a new few tourist, backpackers island that’s undeveloped for years. The island boasts pristine white sandy beaches, warm crystal-clear ocean waters, and a hot tropical climate. Best activities to do in Koh Rong are diving, snorkling, trekking, cycling, and fishing. The recommended time to visit Koh Rong is between the middle of November and the start of May.
Besides those 5 stunning destinations, there are a few more islands that’s just needs to be mentioned. The honourable mentions are Siargao (Philippines), Koh Phi Phi (Thailand), and Gili Meno (Indonesia).