Incredible Asian islands you didn’t know existed

It's time for a tropical getaway.

By Amanda Smith
Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Pack your curiosity and let your sense of adventure take you to white sand, emerald water tropical islands… and you don’t have to fly as far as you might think.

I pinch my nose, shut my eyes and wait to feel the splash, as my flippers pierce the turquoise water. Suddenly, I’m in a hidden world where life moves in symphony. The endless shades of colour magnify as other senses dull. I glide forward in one, gentle stroke as a flotilla of three, four, five turtles appear. My fearless inner child nudges me forward as I marvel with curiosity and joy.

You’re probably thinking I’m in Hawaii. But what if I tell you this experience could be yours without 10+ hours in economy? Try five. Here are a few incredible South East Asian islands you didn’t know existed.

Boats at sunset in Koh Rong.
Boats at sunset in Koh Rong.

Gili Islands, Indonesia

South Aussies travel to Bali religiously, yet Indonesia has more than 17,500 islands. A cluster of these islands, just off the north-eastern shoulder of Bali’s neighbour, Lombok, is where you can swim with my turtle posse.

That’s less than a five-hour flight (and 60-minute boat ride) from where you’re sitting at home. Surrounding the Gili Islands is an underwater wonderland. If you’re a diver, you can explore the reef and mystical sunken ship at Wreck Point off Gili Trawangan. For snorkellers, Turtle Point at Gili Meno is a must-do. Prefer to stay above water? Sync your stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) session with dusk, and watch the sun set over Lombok’s distant volcanoes.

On land, you can hire a bike and follow the water’s edge around each island, stopping at night markets, pop-up vintage beach markets and seafood barbeque restaurants. If you’re feeling less active though, there are plenty of places you can slip into island mode by sipping a coconut while swaying in a hammock.

Exploring paradise can work up an appetite – refuel your body with simple, flavoursome Indonesian dishes like nasi goreng, nasi campur (and anything else beginning with nasi), chicken satay, and grilled fresh seafood. The Gili Islands are also peppered with more western-style organic eateries too, so you can expand your menu to include food from both the east and west.

Gili Islands, turtle.
Swimming with turtles around the Gili Islands.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Just a few minutes by boat from the coastal Cambodian city of Sihanoukville is one of the country’s most gorgeous islands, Koh Rong. Famous for its sandy coves, coral reef, waterfalls and zip lines, this Cambodian treasure offers both a peaceful ambience and a dash of adrenaline.

If you’ve seen the movie The Beach, you’ll remember that scene where Leonardo DiCaprio emerges from the jungle onto a pristine, almost-translucent-sanded beach, and clear turquoise water. That particular beach in Thailand is now closed to visitors, but a trek through the jungle to Sok San is pretty close.

When the water is this clear, snorkelling beckons. On Koh Rong, you’ll constantly be marvelling at seahorses, parrot fish, yellow boxfish and blue-spotted ribbon tail rays. But the adventure isn’t just at sea level. Suspended between treetops are countless ropewalks and zip lines. Choose how fast you want your heart to beat by either walking or gliding above the trees.

Before you sleep, take a stroll along the beach and watch for a glow where the water laps the shore. In the right conditions, bioluminescent plankton congregate and put on a spectacular show in hues of electric blue. If you take a guided snorkelling day tour, this will be your last stop on one of the deserted beaches.

Koh Rong Beach, Cambodia.
Koh Rong Beach, Cambodia.

Lombok, Indonesia

With surf, waterfalls and volcanoes, Lombok has truly scored nature’s trifecta. Dubbed ‘the old Bali’, this neighbouring island peacefully aligns your circadian rhythm with nature.

Picture long, snaking roads, gorgeous exposed shoreline and little warungs selling freshly barbecued fish straight off the coals. Disappear into dense rainforests on a scooter and pop out at semi-deserted beaches like Mawun and Tanjung Aan.

Trade-in your thongs for sneakers, so you can climb nearby rocks and take in all-encompassing bay views. Cool off later under a cascading, emerald waterfall – take your pick from Tiu Teja, Tiu Kelep or Sendang Gile. Let the fresh water trickle down your back, providing an instant relief from Indonesia’s humidity.

Finally, if you’re willing to challenge your physical and mental limits in exchange for indelible memories of a sunrise hike over an active volcano, say hello to Mount Rinjani.

Sendang Gile waterfall, Lombok
Sendang Gile waterfall, Lombok.

Manukan Island, Malaysia

After a short, 10-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu, you’ll reach Manukan Island – one of five in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. As you get closer to the shoreline’s vignette of greens, the water becomes shallower and takes on a sparkling mint tone, illuminated against the lush, dark green rainforest on the sand’s edge.

Manukan Island, while small, has all the island necessities. There’s the sunset point, walking trails that wrap around the accessible areas, seafood barbecues and boat rides. This island will give you all those luxuries, plus jungle trekking, parasailing, sea-walking, and glass-bottom boat rides.

When you’re travelling hours by plane, what’s an extra 30 minutes on a boat to get to a different kind of paradise? Picture Maldives beaches, with cheap, delicious South East Asian food. Now there’s only one thing left to do – book and go.

Manukan Island, Malaysia.
Manukan Island, Malaysia.

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