I was thinking about all the islands I've visited and trying to narrow it down to the best ones, but I just couldn't so I'll compile a few different lists to sum them up in categories. First of all these are my 5 top tranquil islands. Places you can get away to for relaxing, with very few other people about. These lists are only compiled from places I've actually been to by the way, hence the peculiarity of it (I would love to include Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland on this list, but I haven't been there yet!). They are in no particular order... 
1. Cuverville Island, ANTARCTICA:
Antarctica is quite simply the most peaceful and wonderful continent on the planet, so I have to include one from there on this list. I have chosen Cuverville Island. We did a hike in the thick snow up to the top on our Antarctica adventure and this place just blew my mind it was that breathtaking! Falling snow, penguins, collapsing glaciers as a backdrop and miles away from the office blocks of London, Paris and New York. This place is special. You might get to it if you take an Antarctica trip!
Where Is It? - Somewhere off the Gerlache Strait in Antarctica. When you book your Antarctica trip you can check the itinerary but ultimately whether you land there or not will depend on weather conditions and the captain and crews decisions. Don't fret if you don't land on Cuverville, you will go to a different island just as magical - there are lots of islands in Antarctica!
2. Bruny Island in Tasmania, AUSTRALIA:
This was a gem of a place to relax away from the world. If you think Tasmania itself is tranquil, try driving to the south east corner of it and head across to the remote Bruny Island. This has Australia's southernmost pub on it as well as some cracking sunrise and sunset viewing points. Plus the added bonus of being able to see some rare WHITE wallabies. Bruny Island, in its disconnected splendour is as quiet and remote as they come. A full report on my trip to Bruny Island is here: Bruny Island.
How to get there - Get the ferry across from Kettering in South East Tasmania. Ferries are daily, but if you miss the last one, you'll have to stay overnight (there are hotels and campsites on Bruny!).
3. Sark in the CHANNEL ISLANDS:
Sark is inspirational. If you've heard of the Channel Islands, you'll know it's just north of France and a fair bit south of England. Sark was Europe's last feudal state, and believe it or not it has its own parliament and a low population of around 600. It will feel you've been warped back in time on arrival in Sark. It is such a great place to relax away from the busy world. There are no cars on Sark. I visited Sark along with the rest of the Channel Islands while working on the Cross Channel Ferries.
Sark might well be a country, it might also be part of the UK. It has its own postage stamps and can you believe it once fielded a proper international football team (well they didn't score any goals and conceded 70 in their only 4 international matches). You'll arrive by boat and then a tractor arrives and you hop on and head up the hill to the main street. Highlights are the amazing view, the old fashioned main street, the odd capital of La Seigneurie and Little Sark - a small adjoining island where bikes are even banned! Hire a bike to get to the entrance though. You have to love Sark!
How to get to it - Get a boat called Bon Marin de Serk - it leaves from St. Peter Port in Guernsey. This is easily the cheapest, best and most popular way to get to Sark. There ain't no airport here - though a helipad for emergencies and a landing strip. If you own a private boat, that is also an option.
4. Tai O, Lantau Island, HONG KONG:
I kind of wanted an Asian representative in this short list, and living in Hong Kong made me favour the wonderful Lantau Island in the west part of Hong Kong. If you can forget the fact that part of the island has a busy international airport on it, then get away to the very west corner at Tai O, where you can really relax. So much so that you will lose track of time, and even forget you're in Hong Kong. There is no commercial element here. Plenty of hikes, even waterfalls, boat cruises and the highlight is the seafood and walking around the traditional fishing village on stilts. An amazing place!
How to get to it - Go by bus from a bus stop near Tung Chung MTR station. Alternatively you can catch a bus from Mui Wo , which has a direct ferry to Hong Kong Island.
5. Cape Horn/Cabo De Hornos in CHILE:
I simply cannot leave Cape Horn off this list despite the fact I didn't actually step on it. My budget wouldn't stretch that far. Our ship however sailed right up close to it. Cape Horn, is basically the end of the world! It's the southernmost liveable part of the planet on the south tip of Tierra del Fuego in Chile. In reality the islands further south are Diego Ramirez Islands, but nobody lives there. You can actually get onto Cape Horn, as travellers such as Michael Palin have done. I was just passing by to say hello. As remote and tranquil as they come. Except for the rock boat ride...
How to get to it - Basically it will come at a cost if you really want to stand on Cape Horn. You'll have to contact the Chilean Naval authorities and maybe even receive a visitor permit. There is a 13 kilometre rule for boats passing by. We wereluckily on a quieter day and were allowed to get within a few kilometres of the Horn. Your Antarctica trip might actually take you past Cape Horn, like mine did. But you can also arrange some boat trip on the south tips of Chile and Argentina.
Happy travelling, don't stop living!
1. Cuverville Island, ANTARCTICA:
Antarctica is quite simply the most peaceful and wonderful continent on the planet, so I have to include one from there on this list. I have chosen Cuverville Island. We did a hike in the thick snow up to the top on our Antarctica adventure and this place just blew my mind it was that breathtaking! Falling snow, penguins, collapsing glaciers as a backdrop and miles away from the office blocks of London, Paris and New York. This place is special. You might get to it if you take an Antarctica trip!
Where Is It? - Somewhere off the Gerlache Strait in Antarctica. When you book your Antarctica trip you can check the itinerary but ultimately whether you land there or not will depend on weather conditions and the captain and crews decisions. Don't fret if you don't land on Cuverville, you will go to a different island just as magical - there are lots of islands in Antarctica!
2. Bruny Island in Tasmania, AUSTRALIA:
This was a gem of a place to relax away from the world. If you think Tasmania itself is tranquil, try driving to the south east corner of it and head across to the remote Bruny Island. This has Australia's southernmost pub on it as well as some cracking sunrise and sunset viewing points. Plus the added bonus of being able to see some rare WHITE wallabies. Bruny Island, in its disconnected splendour is as quiet and remote as they come. A full report on my trip to Bruny Island is here: Bruny Island.
How to get there - Get the ferry across from Kettering in South East Tasmania. Ferries are daily, but if you miss the last one, you'll have to stay overnight (there are hotels and campsites on Bruny!).
3. Sark in the CHANNEL ISLANDS:
Sark is inspirational. If you've heard of the Channel Islands, you'll know it's just north of France and a fair bit south of England. Sark was Europe's last feudal state, and believe it or not it has its own parliament and a low population of around 600. It will feel you've been warped back in time on arrival in Sark. It is such a great place to relax away from the busy world. There are no cars on Sark. I visited Sark along with the rest of the Channel Islands while working on the Cross Channel Ferries.
Sark might well be a country, it might also be part of the UK. It has its own postage stamps and can you believe it once fielded a proper international football team (well they didn't score any goals and conceded 70 in their only 4 international matches). You'll arrive by boat and then a tractor arrives and you hop on and head up the hill to the main street. Highlights are the amazing view, the old fashioned main street, the odd capital of La Seigneurie and Little Sark - a small adjoining island where bikes are even banned! Hire a bike to get to the entrance though. You have to love Sark!
How to get to it - Get a boat called Bon Marin de Serk - it leaves from St. Peter Port in Guernsey. This is easily the cheapest, best and most popular way to get to Sark. There ain't no airport here - though a helipad for emergencies and a landing strip. If you own a private boat, that is also an option.
4. Tai O, Lantau Island, HONG KONG:
I kind of wanted an Asian representative in this short list, and living in Hong Kong made me favour the wonderful Lantau Island in the west part of Hong Kong. If you can forget the fact that part of the island has a busy international airport on it, then get away to the very west corner at Tai O, where you can really relax. So much so that you will lose track of time, and even forget you're in Hong Kong. There is no commercial element here. Plenty of hikes, even waterfalls, boat cruises and the highlight is the seafood and walking around the traditional fishing village on stilts. An amazing place!
How to get to it - Go by bus from a bus stop near Tung Chung MTR station. Alternatively you can catch a bus from Mui Wo , which has a direct ferry to Hong Kong Island.
5. Cape Horn/Cabo De Hornos in CHILE:
I simply cannot leave Cape Horn off this list despite the fact I didn't actually step on it. My budget wouldn't stretch that far. Our ship however sailed right up close to it. Cape Horn, is basically the end of the world! It's the southernmost liveable part of the planet on the south tip of Tierra del Fuego in Chile. In reality the islands further south are Diego Ramirez Islands, but nobody lives there. You can actually get onto Cape Horn, as travellers such as Michael Palin have done. I was just passing by to say hello. As remote and tranquil as they come. Except for the rock boat ride...
How to get to it - Basically it will come at a cost if you really want to stand on Cape Horn. You'll have to contact the Chilean Naval authorities and maybe even receive a visitor permit. There is a 13 kilometre rule for boats passing by. We wereluckily on a quieter day and were allowed to get within a few kilometres of the Horn. Your Antarctica trip might actually take you past Cape Horn, like mine did. But you can also arrange some boat trip on the south tips of Chile and Argentina.
Happy travelling, don't stop living!
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Unknown - Monday, December 10, 2012
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