MomSkoop
Ever dreamed of escaping to a tiny paradise where adventure awaits around every corner? Small islands often surprise travelers with their incredible diversity and endless opportunities for discovery. Despite their limited size, these island gems pack in stunning landscapes, hidden beaches, and vibrant cultures that can keep explorers busy for days or even weeks. Grab your map and sense of adventure as we visit ten small islands that prove big experiences come in small packages.
1. La Digue: Seychelles’ Bicycle Paradise
Imagine a place where cars are rare and bicycles rule the roads. La Digue delivers this charming reality along with some of the world’s most photographed beaches. Giant granite boulders frame the shoreline at Anse Source d’Argent, creating natural sculptures that change with the light throughout the day.
Inland, vanilla plantations and lush forests hide Aldabra giant tortoises moving at their own relaxed pace. The island measures just 10 square kilometers, but between snorkeling in crystal waters, hiking to Belle Vue lookout, and sampling Creole cuisine in local homes, you’ll find yourself wishing for more time in this pedal-powered paradise.
2. Gozo: Malta’s Time-Forgotten Sister
Rural charm oozes from every corner of Gozo, Malta’s smaller and more authentic sibling. Ancient temples older than Egypt’s pyramids stand in silent testimony to civilizations long gone.
The Azure Window may have collapsed in 2017, but Dwejra Bay still captivates with its inland sea and perfect diving spots. Farmers tend fields their families have worked for generations, while fishing boats bring in the day’s catch to waterfront restaurants.
Wander through the narrow streets of Victoria with its imposing Citadel, or discover hidden coves accessible only by foot. Three millennia of history blend with Mediterranean beauty on an island you can drive across in just 20 minutes.
3. Lord Howe Island: Australia’s Prehistoric Wonder
Just two hours by plane from Sydney lies a world frozen in time. Lord Howe Island hosts fewer than 400 tourists at once, preserving its status as one of Earth’s last untouched paradises.
Mount Gower’s challenging 8-hour round trip hike rewards the brave with panoramic views and encounters with rare mountain woodhens. Below the surface, the world’s southernmost coral reef harbors an astonishing mix of tropical and temperate marine species swimming through crystal waters.
Bicycles provide the main transport around this crescent-shaped haven where providence petrels still land on outstretched arms, trusting humans as they did before hunters arrived on other islands. This UNESCO World Heritage site feels like stepping into a nature documentary.
4. Aitutaki: The Cook Islands’ Hidden Lagoon
Fluorescent blue waters surround Aitutaki like nature’s most perfect swimming pool. This triangular coral atoll in the South Pacific remains one of Polynesia’s best-kept secrets despite having what many travelers call the world’s most beautiful lagoon.
Fifteen tiny motus (islets) dot the outer edges of the lagoon, each offering pristine beaches where your footprints might be the only ones in the sand. One Foot Island lets visitors mail postcards from perhaps the most remote post office on earth.
Traditional outrigger canoes still navigate these waters while locals share stories of their ancestors who found this speck of paradise using only the stars. The main island’s highest point reaches just 123 meters, yet exploration possibilities seem infinite.
5. Folegandros: Greece’s Authentic Island Escape
Beyond the cruise ship crowds of Santorini lies Folegandros, where authentic Greek island life continues unchanged. The clifftop Chora village dazzles with whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches seemingly suspended between sky and sea.
Hiking trails crisscross the island, connecting remote beaches accessible only by foot or boat. Locals might invite you to taste homemade matsata pasta or rakomelo honey liqueur as you pass their homes.
Evening brings magic to the main square where children play while elders debate the day’s events over coffee. With minimal light pollution, stargazing from the path to Panagia church delivers a cosmic show that rivals any earthly view. This 12-square-mile island somehow contains an entire universe of experiences.
6. Little Cayman: Underwater Explorer’s Dream
Population: 170 humans, 2,000 iguanas. Little Cayman’s tiny dimensions above water hide an underwater giant—the spectacular Bloody Bay Wall that plunges more than 1,000 feet into the abyss.
Divers and snorkelers marvel at the sheer drop-off just 100 feet from shore, where eagle rays glide past in the blue while reef sharks patrol deeper waters. The island itself offers serene beaches where you’ll rarely see another soul and bird sanctuaries where red-footed boobies nest undisturbed.
Nights bring star-filled skies and bioluminescent bays where kayakers create trails of glowing water with each paddle stroke. This 10-mile-long island might be the Cayman Islands’ smallest sibling, but its natural treasures feel boundless.
7. Koh Nang Yuan: Thailand’s Three-Island Jewel
Three tiny islands connected by a perfect sandbar create one of Thailand’s most photogenic locations. Koh Nang Yuan sits just off Koh Tao, requiring a short boat ride to reach its shores—and that extra effort keeps the crowds manageable.
The Japanese Gardens snorkeling site teems with tropical fish swimming among vibrant corals in shallow water perfect for beginners. A steep 15-minute climb to the viewpoint rewards hikers with the iconic vista of twin beaches and turquoise waters that grace countless travel magazines.
The islands ban plastic bottles to protect their delicate ecosystem, so bring your reusable container. As daytrippers leave in late afternoon, overnight guests at the single resort experience the magical transformation as sunset paints the connecting sandbars golden.
8. Anegada: The British Virgin Islands’ Coral Oasis
Unlike its volcanic neighbors, Anegada emerged from a coral reef, creating a flat landscape that barely rises above sea level. This geological uniqueness brings spectacular beaches stretching for miles without another soul in sight.
Flamingos wade through salt ponds while endangered rock iguanas sun themselves among the scrub. The surrounding Horseshoe Reef—the fourth largest barrier reef on earth—has claimed over 300 shipwrecks, creating an underwater museum for snorkelers and divers to explore.
Fresh lobster pulled from the sea becomes dinner at beach restaurants where tables sit right in the sand. With fewer than 300 residents and limited development, Anegada offers the rare chance to experience a Caribbean island much as it was centuries ago.
9. Sifnos: Greece’s Culinary Island Treasure
Clay pots bubbling with chickpea stew announce Sifnos as Greece’s gastronomic island before you even step off the ferry. Ancient pottery traditions influenced cooking methods that made this Cycladic gem the birthplace of Greece’s first celebrity chef, Nicholas Tselementes.
Medieval villages perch on hilltops connected by stone-paved hiking paths that pass Byzantine churches and Venetian watchtowers. Chrysopigi Monastery sits dramatically on a split rock over turquoise waters, creating the perfect sunset meditation spot.
Artisans still craft ceramics using techniques passed down for generations, while local tavernas serve mastelo lamb cooked in clay pots with wine and dill. Despite covering just 74 square kilometers, Sifnos packs in 365 churches—one for every day of the year, locals proudly explain.
10. Pulau Redang: Malaysia’s Marine Park Paradise
Off Malaysia’s east coast, Pulau Redang’s waters shine so clear that boats seem to float on air rather than sea. Part of a protected marine park, the island’s nine beaches feature sand so fine it squeaks underfoot.
Morning brings opportunities to swim alongside gentle black-tip reef sharks and giant green turtles that nest on these shores. The island’s interior jungle harbors monitor lizards, monkeys, and birds creating a symphony of sounds for hikers on the cross-island trail.
Marine life thrives in such abundance that even first-time snorkelers encounter clownfish, parrotfish, and perhaps the resident humphead wrasse. When monsoon season closes the island between November and February, coral reefs recover and fish populations replenish, ensuring next year’s visitors find the underwater world just as magical.