These virtually untouched paradises in Southeast Asia are the ultimate getaway from the world
A cool drink in your hand, you arrive on the white shores of a beach resort, feeling the sand bury between your toes and the breeze tousling your hair. You look around for a quiet spot to settle beneath the shade or to take a private dip into the sea.
Alas, it seems like half of Asia had the same idea as you did, and peace and privacy seem like a distant dream on this crowded shore.
Sound familiar? If you’re looking out for a beach holiday that can promise complete calm and isolation, check out these five virtually untouched islands that are worth travelling out of the way for.
1. Pulau Kapas, Malaysia
Also known as Kapas Island, Pulau Kapas is a small resort island located off the coast of Terengganu, Malaysia. “Kapas” is Malay for “cotton”, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised why it was named as such: Its sands are seemingly as soft and white as cotton.
Pulau Kapas is a designated marine park, and reportedly has one of the cleanest shores in Malaysia. For snorkellers, the northern cove is good for turtle-spotting, and reef sharks have been sighted at the south side of the island at Turtle Valley resort.
The island also has a few diving sites, and jungle trails snake across the island. You may even spot some enigmatic Amphidromus snails (whose shells curl clockwise and anticlockwise)
To get here, hop on a ferry from Marang, which is about 45 minutes by car from Kuala Terengganu. The best time to visit would be from March to June, as the island is beset by the monsoon season from October to March.
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