#1 Kalanggaman Island, Leyte, Philippines
With a two hundred-meter long white sand bar that is connected to the tiny island, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte, Philippines is one of the many hidden paradises in the island nation. Enjoy an adventurous trip to the island on small, wooden outrigger boats (which the chance of getting trailed by dozens of dolphins along the way), and bathe in the crystal clear waters or snorkel with schools of jacks and barracudas. Also, the island is a prime spot for diving, as the underwater topography is a wall that drops down to up to 300 meters and is a passageway for migrating schools of fish and big marine mammals such as whale sharks.
Known as the ‘Four Kings’, is a group of beautiful, exotic islands in Papua, eastern Indonesia. Known as the Mecca for underwater enthusiasts, Raja Ampat is home to endemic and rare species – with 75% known coral species and 1300 fish species found and exciting drift and deep wall dives.
#3 Coron, The Philippines
The island of Coron, located north of Palawan in the Philippines, is home to lush wild jungles, white sand beaches, uninhabited islands (that you could spend a night under the stars on a hammock on while sailing around), safari-like wildlife, a dozen WWII shipwrecks (that could be explored diving), and incredible underwater wildlife.
#4 Havelock Island, Andaman Islands, India The Havelock Island is a hidden beautiful (albeit low-key) island amongst the Andaman Islands in India. This charismatic island offers a dose of the rustic, peaceful island life as the transportation on the island is basic and there is a stark absence of giant chain resorts. Beautiful sceneries and the simple island life are just a couple of the many things Havelock has to offer.
If you want to get away from the busy, touristy Phuket when in Thailand, Krabi is the place to go. With quieter roads and way less people, this paradise is known for its white sand beaches, clear waters and also as a heaven for rock climbing due to its unique karst formations. You can also go elephant trekking or dirt-bikin in Phanom Bencha National Park, or go on a trip in the limestone and sparkling gold-quartz-covered caverns in Tham Phra Nang Nai.