TAKE 2 Asia’s islands


The continent’s big hitters are popular for good reason, but veer off the


beaten track for some lesser-visited winter warmers, writes Laura French


p 70


alm-fringed shores, sugar-white beaches, emerald rainforests – it’s easy to see the


allure of a far-flung island escape. And while the likes of Koh Samui and Bali might be your first ports of call, there’s an array of options for travellers looking to go a little farther from the well-trodden path. “Vietnam and Cambodia are


incredibly popular at the moment, with Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Song Saa and Krabey Island leading the charge,” says Erica Moore, product manager for Asia at Inspiring Travel.


30 JANUARY 2025


“We have also seen a big rise in enquiries for travel in the Philippines and Thailand.” Charlotte Bower, senior product executive for InsideAsia Tours, points to Laos, home of Si Phan Don (or the ‘4,000 islands’) for a unique experience. “This series of islets sits in the mighty Mekong and is best explored by boat or bike at a slow, sleepy pace,” she says. With dozens of other


archipelagos dotted across the continent, there’s plenty more to explore – so where should you send clients keen to escape the crowds?


travelweekly.co.uk


LIKE THIS? THAILAND


From the party-fuelled islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Phi Phi (pictured) to quieter spots such as Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe and Koh Yao Yai, Thailand is the quintessential island paradise. For a luxury getaway, Koh Samui and Phuket offer temptation in spades, while divers will be in their element on Koh Tao, one of the world’s best (and cheapest) places to learn.


THE PHILIPPINES


For similar vibes without the crowds, look to the Philippines. Comprising more than 7,000 islands, there’s no shortage of shores here. For a luxury stay, suggest Boracay, home to grande dame resorts like Shangri-La as well as smaller boutique hotels scattered across caster-sugar sands. Farther west, Palawan – an eco-conscious archipelago of nearly 2,000 islands – is the stuff of dreams for nature lovers, with dramatic cliffs, verdant jungle and aquamarine lagoons centred around its namesake island. Head to El Nido in the north to see majestic limestone karsts jutting above coral reefs, and over to the island of Coron for diving and snorkelling. Elsewhere, the easterly, teardrop-shaped island of Siargao


is a hotspot for surfers thanks to its barrelling waves, while wildlife fans will find plenty on the island of Bohol, home to


national parks studded with tumbling waterfalls. Book it: Inspiring Travel offers a week at Shangri-La Boracay from £3,015 per person, based on two sharing a Deluxe Room with breakfast, including international and domestic flights and lounge passes, for travel between March and May 2025. inspiringtravel.co.uk


TRY THIS


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