A Guide for Island Lovers: Exploring Some of the Most Beautiful Islands Around the World

Indonesia, known as the "Land of a Thousand Islands," boasts bustling cities, perfect beaches, majestic volcanoes, and numerous resorts. You can transit through Jakarta to explore the country's past and present, honeymoon on Bali , enjoy water sports on Bintan Island, dive into the clear waters of Manado to admire beautiful corals or hike a volcano on Lombok Island to witness the stunning volcanic lake.

Located in central Indonesia, Bali is famous for its honeymoon beach villas and renowned spas. It also features the breathtaking sunset at Jimbaran Beach, the ancient Sea Temple, and the famous shipwreck diving site at Tulamben. Bali offers a variety of activities, and its ancient Hindu temples and traditional dance performances are deeply rooted in its culture.

Best Time to Travel: April to September is the best time to visit Bali, as it's the dry season with less rain, ideal for surfing, diving, hiking, and cycling.

Highlights: Kuta Beach, Jimbaran Beach, and Nusa Dua Beach are in southern Bali, offering lively beaches, vibrant nightlife, and renowned resorts. The southeastern island of Nusa Lembongan boasts clean waters and beaches. Ubud, located in central Bali, is a charming town enveloped by lush jungles and picturesque rice terraces, brimming with galleries and art shops. Water activities are mainly in the South Bay of Nusa Dua, including banana boats, flying fish, jet skiing, sea walking, parasailing, snorkeling, and diving.

Komodo Island, located in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia, offers more pristine and quieter beaches than Bali, making it a lesser-known destination. The island is named after the rare "Komodo Dragon," a giant lizard believed to descend from dinosaurs. The province features active volcanoes and the famous Kelimutu, with Komodo Island's stunning scenery and rare pink sand beaches.

Best Time to Travel: Komodo dragons are active from April to September, during the dry season with less rain. May to July is their mating season, offering a chance to witness nature's raw spectacle. Diving during this season allows you to dance with Manta Rays.

Highlights: Experience an 18th-century ocean exploration ship stay, encounter the pink sand beaches mentioned in Jay Chou's(a Chinese singer) songs, and dive to explore the rich marine life, including manta rays, sharks, moray eels, turtles, and corals. Search for the world's last Jurassic ancient dragons.

Lombok Island, in Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia, is across the sea from Bali and features one of Indonesia's highest peaks. With clear blue waters, the majestic Mount Rinjani, and unique Sasak culture, Lombok Island rivals Bali in charm. It's easy to reach from Bali, with a 40-minute flight, transforming a Bali and Lombok twin-island tour into a delightful double experience.

Best Time to Travel: The dry season from April to September is ideal for visiting Lombok, perfect for diving, hiking, and cycling.

Highlights: Lombok's beauty is a real knockout! Mandalika's fine white sand and renowned racing track, the romantic pink of Pink Beach, the must-visit Rinjani volcano hiking trail, the clear blue Gili Islands, and the fragrant Sasak traditional houses, exquisite handicrafts, and peaceful seaside settings.

Manado is located in the northeastern corner of Sulawesi Island and the capital of Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia. Known as "half volcano, half ocean," Manado offers a unique blend of water and fire. It's a forgotten diving paradise with a rich underwater environment suitable for divers of all levels.

Best Time to Travel: May to October is ideal, with less rain, making it the golden season for tourism.

Highlights: Manado offers both land and underwater tours. Visit colorful houses and the Flying Jesus statue in the city, or explore the Tomohon volcano town, Mount Mahawu, and Linow Lake. Underwater tours with hundreds of scuba diving spots are a must-visit for diving enthusiasts.

Besides Bangkok and Chiang Mai, island hopping is a major attraction in Thailand. The islands are scattered along the long coastline, mainly in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, with famous spots like Phuket, Krabi, and Samui Island. From November to April, the non-rainy season offers clear waters and a vast expanse of azure sea.

Phuket, located in southern Thailand, is one of the largest and most developed islands, known as the "Pearl of the Andaman Islands." White sandy beaches offer relaxation and sunbathing, while the crystal-clear waters are home to vibrant coral reefs and adventurous bays. Phuket is also famous for its nightlife, with bustling night markets and delicious Thai snacks and desserts.

Best Time to Travel: November to April is the best time to visit Phuket. The nearby Similan National Park is also open during this period.

Highlights: Phuket boasts numerous natural beaches, such as Patong Beach, Karon Beach, and Kata Beach, a paradise for travelers. The white sand and clear waters offer water sports like jet skiing, surfing, and parasailing. Besides Phuket, nearby islands like Racha Yai Island, Similan Islands, and Phi Phi Islands offer unique experiences, including island hopping tours and underwater adventures.

Samui Island won the 2024 Best Island in Asia-Pacific award from “Travel + Leisure” magazine. Unlike bustling Phuket, Samui Island retains a natural and simple charm, with soft white sand beaches and palm trees covering the island. And include the 80-foot golden Buddha, beautiful rocks at Lamai Beach, snake farms, and coconut-picking monkeys.

Best Time to Travel: January to April is the peak tourist season for Samui Island.

Highlights: Samui Island offers rich water activities, with coral reefs and abundant fish around the island, making snorkeling, diving, and sea fishing popular. Island hopping tours are diverse, with Koh Tao in the north offering rich coral reefs and marine life, a famous diving spot in Thailand. Nearby Koh Phangan is known for its Full Moon Party, where the island's Haad Rin beach brings backpackers from all over the world to drink beer and listen to electronic rock, turning the whole island into a sea of fun.

Ko Samet, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is a small island with lush jungles and green coconut groves. The east coast features natural beaches, with Diamond Beach known for its wide white sand and clear green waters and Stingray Beach for marine life encounters. The west coast is famous for sunsets, with Ao Wong Duan Bay being an excellent spot for watching the sunset. The island also has traditional fishing communities, offering a glimpse into their daily life.

Best Time to Travel: November to April or May, with dry weather suitable for outdoor activities and beach vacations.

Highlights: Ko Samet offers suitable temperatures for windsurfing, snorkeling, and water skiing year-round. It boasts beautiful tropical scenery and pristine waters, along with unique and affordable tropical fruits and seafood. At night, you might catch a fiery fire dance show that matches the lively atmosphere of other performances.

The Similan Islands, consisting of nine islands, are located about 85 kilometers northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, known as one of the world's best diving spots. The coral reefs formed over 5,000 years ago, and the beautiful underwater coral reefs and caves make it an adventurer's paradise. To protect marine life, the islands are only open for half the year.

Best Time to Travel: The Similan Islands are open from November to April. From December to May, leopard sharks can be seen.

Highlights: If you have a diving certificate, a multi-day liveaboard diving trip is a fantastic way to explore. With high water transparency and abundant underwater scenery, the beautiful coral reefs and mysterious caves fulfill many divers' dreams. Popular deep dive sites include Anita's Reef, Elephant Head Rock, Donald Duck Bay, Boulder City, and Honeymoon Bay.

Malaysia is divided into East and West Malaysia, separated by the South China Sea. West Malaysia is the political and economic center, with popular cities like Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Malacca, and Langkawi. East Malaysia includes Sabah and Sarawak, with Kota Kinabalu as the capital of Sabah and Semporna in the south. Semporna's popularity has attracted divers worldwide, making it a popular choice for island hopping in Malaysia.

Semporna, meaning "perfect" in Malay, offers turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, tall coconut trees, colorful coral reefs, and a fascinating underwater world. Semporna is a small town and a transit point for exploring nearby islands like Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai. The town is filled with hotels, dive shops, and restaurants. The clear waters are home to abundant marine life, including flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, gobies, and moray eels.

Best Time to Travel: Semporna has a typical tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 23-35°C year-round. The peak tourist season is July and August, with many visitors and divers, so book water villas in advance. March to June and October to February are the rainy seasons, with occasional heavy rain affecting diving. April features the vibrant Regatta Lepa boat festival, and May to September is the best time for turtle season.

Highlights: Semporna offers many quality islands, including the coral sea resort island of Kapalai, the mysterious Bajau tribe on Mabul Island, and the diver's pilgrimage site of Sipadan. Mataking Island boasts the breathtaking and Picturesque sandbar in Semporna. Island hopping tours to these beautiful islands will be unforgettable!

Kapalai Island: With no large beaches or coconut groves, Kapalai resembles a large aquarium when the wind is calm. You can see lively fish schools in the sea, and at night, fish gather under the spotlights, making it feel like you're sleeping in paradise.

Mabul Island: The surrounding waters are home to diverse marine life, making it an ideal diving spot in Semporna. Non-swimmers can admire colorful corals, starfish, and fish from the water villa corridors. The island offers various resort and water villa accommodations for a unique experience. Visit the Bajau village on Mabul Island and bring candy and cookies for the performing children.

Sipadan Island: A perfect diving destination, Sipadan's edge drops from 3 to 600 meters. Sipadan offers many dive sites, with colorful corals and exotic fish, and the famous Barracuda Point, where you can see Jack storms and, with luck, wolf fish storms.

Pom Pom Island: Close to Sipadan, Pom Pom Island is in its natural state, with tropical rainforests and one of Malaysia's most pristine islands. The snorkeling environment is excellent, with many corals and fish, and you might spot large turtles. Diving here is a dance with corals, seaweed, starfish, and turtles.

Mataking Island: Divided into Big and Small Mataking, the islands are connected by a long sandbar at low tide, separating them when the tide rises. The hotels are on Big Mataking, while Small Mataking is a jungle. The island boasts the breathtaking and Picturesque sandbar in Semporna, tropical rainforests, and rich marine life. It's a favorite for experienced divers, and you might even meet turtle releases.

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, offering beautiful sunshine, long coastlines, and the sacred Mount Kinabalu surrounded by blue sky and white clouds. The mangroves are home to gibbons and fireflies, and the world-famous sunset views are a must-see. The underwater world is rich with tropical fish and diverse coral reefs, attracting divers worldwide.

Best Time to Travel: Kota Kinabalu is suitable for water sports year-round, but May to September is the dry season with less rain, making it ideal for travel.

Highlights: Kota Kinabalu is famous for Kinabalu GeoPark and Tanjung Aru Beach, with many picturesque islands attracting hikers, nature lovers, and divers. You can dive at Mamutik Island, climb Mount Kinabalu for natural beauty, paraglide, or experience thrilling rafting on the Kiulu River. Each adventure challenges your adrenaline, making Kota Kinabalu an adventurer's paradise.

Mantanani Island: Located about an hour's drive from Kota Kinabalu, Mantanani Island is named after two wild dugongs (commonly known as "mermaids") in the nearby waters. Snorkeling is the main activity, and rich fish resources and "Blue Tears" visible at night attract many visitors.

Mengalum Island: Far from the mainland, Ring Island offers clearer waters and more colorful corals. Snorkeling reveals small fish and corals, and you might see starfish with luck. Mengalum Island is named for its ring-like shape and is popular with couples, symbolizing perfect and lasting love.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park: This park Comprises Pulau Gaya, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Sulug, and Pulau Sapi. It offers beautiful underwater scenery, making it a great spot for island hopping and diving.

The Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, consists of about 1,200 small coral islands, stretching north to south in the Indian Ocean like pearls scattered. Over 100 islands have been developed into resorts, each named after the hotel. The Maldives' unique overwater villas are perfect for newlyweds seeking a romantic and private getaway.

Best Time to Travel: November to April, with cooler temperatures suitable for diving. From May to October, temperatures are higher, and it's the rainy season, so many people avoid these months, but hotel prices are lower in the off-season.

Highlights: Hulhumale is the capital of the Maldives, one of the smallest capitals in the world, and the only city in the Maldives, surrounded by blue waters. You can explore the city on foot, visit museums or churches, and experience local Maldivian culture. Alternatively, take a seaplane or speedboat to an independent island to start your vacation.

Highlights: This private island is a six-star resort located 177 kilometers from Hulhumale in the Nilande Atoll. A 40-minute flight from Hulhumale Airport brings you to this beautiful island. You can enjoy various water activities and relaxing spa services on Niyama Island, or take a dhoni boat or luxury speedboat to chase the sunrise.

Highlights: Located on Villingili Island, the southernmost resort island in the Maldives, guests receive a certificate for crossing the equator when flying inland. The island is vast, with rich natural resources not found on other islands, including a 6-kilometer coastline and 2 kilometers of pure white sand. The atoll offers world-class diving spots. For the ultimate vacation experience, guests can book a luxury yacht to admire the island's beauty and dine on the equator.

Highlights: The hotel on Kani Island is crafted by the renowned Club Med, with luxurious overwater suites built on ‘Tall house’ style footposts connected to the land by a floating bridge, immersing you in the crystal-clear Indian Ocean. You can enjoy diving, fishing, and other water sports on the island, or romantically watch the sunset on the beach with your lover.

Hainan Island features magnificent mountains, mysterious rainforests, rare tropical flora and fauna, and charming coconut breezes. The island's rich tourism resources include the culture of the Li and Miao ethnic groups, precious cultural relics, and a pleasant climate.

Best Time to Travel: Hainan has no winter, with abundant rainfall year-round. November to March is the peak tourist season, making it a popular "winter escape" destination and crowded with visitors.

Highlights: A visit to Sanya is incomplete without experiencing the beauty of Wuzhizhou Island. The island tour's essence lies in the scenic coastal views along the Stone Gallery. One side features steep cliffs, while the other has crashing waves, with a stone path gently unfolding along the coastline, where mountains and sea blend perfectly.

Diving Paradise: Wuzhizhou Island, also known as "Lover's Island," offers stunning scenery, clear waters, and beautiful beaches, with many original coconut groves. The island's rich underwater resources include various tropical coral fish, and you might even spot sea urchins. Diving enthusiasts shouldn't miss this spot.

Highlights: West Island is home to over 1,000 native families. Compared to other islands, West Island is flatter and less noisy. The sand is coarser, making it ideal for shell collecting. West Island is known as a "diving paradise," with designated diving areas and diverse marine life, allowing you to dive into the sea and dance among coral reefs and fish schools.

Highlights: Boundary Island, located between Lingshui and Wanning in Hainan Province, is known as "Beauty Island". The island offers various activities, including reef diving, cliff diving, shipwreck diving, jet skiing, sea walking, and parasailing, providing unprecedented excitement and novelty. The colorful and diverse coral and marine life in the magical underwater world will delight ocean lovers.

Vietnam, located on the eastern Indochina Peninsula, has a long coastline and a diverse culture due to its north-south span. It features destinations like Ho Chi Minh City, known as the "Paris of the East," Da Lat, the "French Sky Garden," Mui Ne, the "Maldives of the East," Da Nang, the "Hawaii of the East," and the diving paradise of Nha Trang.

Phu Quoc Island, in the southwest of Vietnam with quality beaches and pearl production. The island is also known for its high-quality fish sauce. It features long beaches, rare starfish beaches, exciting water parks, a long cross-sea cable car, and a colorful wildlife park. You can enjoy sea fishing, snorkeling, and strolling along the soft sandy beaches, making it a perfect vacation destination.

Best Time to Travel: November to April is the best time to visit Phu Quoc Island, with sunny weather and less rain, allowing you to enjoy the beach, sun, sea, and water activities.

Highlights: The Guinness World Record-holding Hon Thom cable car is a must-experience on Phu Quoc Island, offering panoramic views of the beautiful sea. Phu Quoc National Park is one of Asia's few parks featuring both forests and oceans, home to many rare animals and tropical forests. Phu Quoc Island is also a great snorkeling destination, where you can explore colorful fish around coral reefs and admire the beautiful underwater scenery.

Nha Trang, in central Vietnam, is a famous coastal city and port city, offering exciting island-hopping tours, the dreamy Vinpearl Land amusement park, and natural mud baths, adding to its entertainment appeal. Dive into the sea filled with coral reefs and marine life, or explore the majestic Ponagar Temple for a leisurely vacation in Nha Trang.

Best Time to Travel: February to April is the best time to visit Nha Trang, with pleasant weather, less rain, and mild winds, ideal for sea excursions.

Highlights: Nha Trang Beach is a must-visit for every visitor, with a row of luxury hotels and cafes opposite the beach, offering a leisurely atmosphere. Hon Chong Promontory, 1.8 kilometers north of Nha Trang, features massive granite promontories standing in the sea. Nha Trang is the birthplace of mud baths, with authentic hot mud baths. Nha Trang is also a great diving destination in Vietnam, with calm waters formed by surrounding islands.

Island Hopping Tours: Nha Trang's waters have many islands, with five popular ones for island hopping: Hon Mieu, Hon Tam, Hon Mot, Hon Mun, and Hon Tre (also known as Pearl Island). Island hopping tours usually include a day's itinerary.

Hon Island: Hon Tre is home to a famous resort with VinWonders Nha Trang, known as the "Disneyland of Vietnam," making it a great family destination. You can ride the Ferris wheel to admire Nha Trang's long coastline, enjoy the water world, watch mermaid shows in the ocean park, and experience thrilling rides like pirate ships and drop towers.

Whether it's the fine sandy beaches of Boracay Island, the popular Bohol Island, or the pristine ecological paradise of Palawan, the Philippines offers a genuine and unspoiled island experience.

Boracay Island is one of the most well-known islands in the Philippines, with a 4-kilometer white beach known as the "world's finest sand." The beautiful sea views, proximity, and affordable prices attract countless visitors. You can stroll along the romantic beach, see couples taking wedding photos, sail to witness a stunning sea sunset or enjoy sea fishing and snorkeling in the blue sea.

Best Time to Travel: December to February is the peak tourist season for Boracay Island, with cool and dry weather, making travel convenient. However, it's also crowded, and prices are slightly higher.

Highlights: Boracay Island has small islands and snorkeling spots nearby, accessible by outrigger boats for sea fishing, snorkeling, and island lunch barbecues. Boracay's sunset is unparalleled, with the 4-kilometer white beach facing west, offering a spectacular view without going out to sea. Sunset sailing is a must-do, with the boat sailing towards the sunset, surrounded by a beautiful sunset! Other activities include parasailing, banana boating, kite surfing, sea walking, and zip-lining.

Island Hopping Tours: Crystal Cove Island is usually a stop on Boracay's island-hopping tours, about a 10-minute boat ride from Boracay. The small island has two natural caves with clear water-like crystals. The island's man-made scenery is great for photos.

Bohol Island is a famous diving destination. Bohol Island is about 70 kilometers from Cebu, with travelers usually transiting through Cebu International Airport. Bohol Island's underwater world features the majestic underwater fault, schools of dolphins, and abundant fish and corals. The island is home to the Chocolate Hills, a Harry Potter filming location, and the Philippine tarsier, a Philippine national treasure.

Best Time to Travel: November to February is the best time to visit Bohol Island, ideal for whale watching and diving. The rainy and dry seasons are not very distinct, so travel is not greatly affected.

Highlights: Bohol Island is surrounded by 73 small islands, with Panglao Island connected to Bohol Island. The famous Alona Beach is on Panglao Island, with most resorts, inns, and restaurants concentrated here, making it the base for exploring Bohol Island. From Bohol Island, you can visit nearby islands like Balicasag Island and Virgin Island for island hopping and diving, and see dolphins. Balicasag Island is one of the best diving spots in the Philippines, with a spectacular underwater fault.

Palawan, in the southwestern Philippines, is a long, narrow island. Unlike the well-developed Boracay Island, Palawan is one of the last ecological paradises in the Philippines, surrounded by over 1,000 coral reefs and offshore islands, making it a diving and water sports haven.

Best Time to Travel: Palawan has a tropical climate with dry and rainy seasons. June to October is the rainy season, with prolonged rain causing travel inconvenience. November to May is the dry season, with pleasant weather and less rain, making it the best time to visit.

Highlights: Palawan's main tourist areas are Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron. Divers can choose Coron, while those preferring leisure can choose El Nido. Puerto Princesa is Palawan's transportation hub, often visited with El Nido. Palawan's St. Paul Underground River offers a boat ride through the waterway to explore the million-year-old stalactites and thousands of bats flying overhead, a spectacular sight.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, with its heart-shaped reef and white sandy beaches, offers unparalleled coral reef scale, with over 900 islands and a 2,300-kilometer coastline along Australia's east coast. Whether diving to explore the marine world or enjoying the sun and sand at island resorts, the Great Barrier Reef's vacation options won't disappoint. Its rich biodiversity earned it a place on the World Heritage List in 1981 and recognition as one of CNN's seven natural wonders.

Best Time to Travel: May to October offers stable and pleasant weather, with clear skies and enough light to enhance the vibrant colors of corals and fish.

Highlights: Exploring the Great Barrier Reef by sea and air captures its beauty. You can take a boat to the heart of the reef, experience basic diving, and enjoy sea walking for seniors and children. Couples can take a helicopter ride to view the entire reef and the rare heart-shaped reef from above.

Fiji, known as the "Crossroads of the South Pacific," is a world-renowned honeymoon destination. Comprising over 330 islands, it's a good place to see the sunrise and a world-class diving destination, with one of the world's largest continuous coral reefs. It was named the "Best Island in the World" by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2024.

Best Time to Travel: May to October is the comfortable season for Fiji tourism. November to March is Fiji's daylight saving time.

Highlights: The islands offer snorkeling, fishing, helicopter rides, and more, with classic island hopping tours providing an immersive experience of Fiji's unique island charm. As a world-famous diving destination, don't miss diving with professional instructors to see colorful coral reefs and fish. You can also skydive from 10,000 meters to view the blue Fiji from above, experiencing the adrenaline rush.

Denarau Island: The popular choice for Fiji vacations, close to Nadi Airport, with eight large resorts offering private beaches and complete facilities. Denarau Marina is a key hub for traveling to other Fiji islands.

Mamanuca Islands: Northwest of the main island of Nadi, the Mamanuca Islands are like pearls scattered in the blue ocean, with unique white sandy beaches. The islands were the filming location for "Cast Away," allowing you to experience nature's charm like the movie's protagonist.

Yasawa Islands: A chain of 20 sunny islands in northwest Fiji, the Yasawa Islands offer diverse landscapes, pristine beaches, and blue lagoons. Many films have been shot here, including "Blue Lagoon."

Hawaii, a U.S. island state, consists of 132 islands in the central Pacific, with Honolulu on Oahu Island as the capital. Known for its unique scenery, abundant sunshine, water, wind, and geothermal resources from active volcanoes, Hawaii is a world-renowned water sports center, offering snorkeling, surfing, hiking, skydiving, and more.

Best Time to Travel: Hawaii is a year-round destination, with mild weather. The best travel seasons are April to June and September to November, with clear skies, fewer tourists, and more affordable prices.

Highlights: Spring offers mild temperatures for snorkeling and beach activities, enjoying the ocean's charm. Summer's warmer temperatures make it ideal for water activities like surfing, diving, and sailing. Fall is perfect for exploring Volcanoes National Park, and hiking to witness volcanic activity and nature's wonders. In winter, stargazing is a must, with the Mauna Kea summit offering a stunning view of the starry sky.

Island Guide: Hawaii's main islands are eight, but some are uninhabited or private, so tourism focuses on six islands: Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lanai, Maui, and the Island of Hawai'i.

O'ahu: Honolulu, also known as Honolulu, is the capital of Hawaii, home to most of Hawaii's population. It's the gateway to Hawaii, with complete facilities, diverse dining and shopping options, and a great choice for first-time visitors.

Maui: Maui has beautiful beaches, Haleakala National Park, Hana, and excellent whale-watching spots.

Island of Hawai'i: A large island with the active Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kona, and Hilo. It offers wild beauty, with stunning active volcanoes.

Kaua'i: One of the oldest and northernmost island, with lush Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon.

Lanai: A luxurious paradise with Hulopoe Bay and Lanai City.

Moloka'i: Known for its deep connection to Hawaiian culture, with Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

Greece is home to numerous islands, with many famous ones. The Saronic Islands are close to Athens for day trips. The Cyclades Islands are Well-known among tourists, with Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, and Milos. The large islands, Crete and Rhodes, are far from mainland Greece, with over 10-hour ferry rides.

Santorini, one of the most charming places in the Aegean Sea, offers stunning sunsets, fairy-tale white buildings, sacred blue-domed churches, and ancient civilizations beneath volcanic ruins. Santorini's attractions are unique, with many ruins and museums reflecting its historical depth. It also boasts exceptional natural beauty, with numerous quality beaches, making it unforgettable to visit with a loved one at sunset.

Best Time to Travel: The traditional Greek island tourist season is from April to October, but Santorini is busy year-round.

Highlights: Santorini's main areas are the capital Fira, the cliff town of Firostefani, and Imerovigli. The famous sunset spot of Oia offers a breathtaking view of the sun disappearing on the horizon. From the red beach near Acrotiri in the south to the black beach in Kamari in the east, these beaches, formed by iron-rich rocks and black sand, add vibrant colors to Santorini's charm. The Thira volcano's natural formation creates a crescent-shaped landscape and stunning cliffs.

Mykonos Island, 95 kilometers from Athens, is famous for its blue skies, white houses, and the "flesh" color of the human body. The island is filled with blooming bougainvillea and white houses, with the sky and the Aegean Sea always a deep blue. The famous Greek "Venice" and windmills, along with naturist beaches, add to its allure. The lively Saint-Tropez and Ibiza-style parties attract fashionistas, vacationers, and cruise ships, adding a wild vibe to Mykonos.

Best Time to Travel: The best time to visit Mykonos is from April to October, with endless coastal views and the golden waves dancing joyfully in the sunlight.

Highlights: The harbor windmills, known as Kato Mili, are five Cycladic-style windmills on a hill, offering panoramic city views, especially stunning at sunset. The "Little Venice" opposite the windmills is Mykonos' really beautiful corner, with charming houses, colorful cafes, and restaurants, making it a great sunset spot. The Paraportiani Church is a Mykonos landmark, with its beauty against the sea and seagulls, creating a stunning scene in the Aegean Sea.

Mauritius, in the southwestern Indian Ocean, is a volcanic island surrounded by coral reefs, with diverse landscapes, narrow coastal plains, central highlands, and mountain ranges, earning it the title "Pearl of the Indian Ocean."

Best Time to Travel: Mauritius has a warm climate year-round, with an average temperature of 25°C. April to June and September to November offer comfortable weather, making it the best time to visit.

Highlights: The island offers rich resources, with birdwatching in the jungle and visits to beautiful botanical gardens. The east and west coasts are great for sunrise and sunset, with white sandy beaches. The north coast is a hub for sea excursions, with the Red Roof Church and Grand Bay. The south coast features geological wonders like the Seven-Colored Earth. You can also take a boat to see dolphins and dive into the colorful underwater world or enjoy a Mauritius-style spa.