Hidden Island Gems: Lombok and Beyond

There is a certain breed of traveler who believes paradise must be earned. Not by mere currency - any fool can book a ticket to Bali or Tahiti - but by endurance, patience, and a willingness to squint at barely legible ferry schedules. These are the islands that do not come to you. They require a series of questionable transport decisions, a tolerance for delays that can sometimes best be described as existential, and an ability to find charm in the phrase “no, no WiFi.” In return, they offer the kind of beaches that exist only in postcards, minus the suspiciously enthusiastic crowds and $15 coconut smoothies.

These places exist just out of focus, deliberately ignored by glossy travel brochures in favor of destinations where luxury hotels replicate themselves like particularly aggressive coral. They are the islands spoken of in murmurs by those who have been, reluctant to share their secrets lest the wrong sort of people - those who demand menus in five languages or ask if the jungle has “gluten-free options” - start arriving. Yet, despite their relative obscurity, these islands do not lack for wonders. Their landscapes remain untamed, their cultures unspoiled by the burden of excessive hospitality. Here, you are not a tourist so much as an agreeable intruder, tolerated so long as you don’t try to build a resort.

Take Lombok, for instance - a place forever doomed to be introduced as “Bali’s quieter neighbor,” as though it exists only in relation to its louder sibling. But beyond Lombok, there are others, islands equally deserving of attention yet spared the indignity of package tours. Places where time slows, where nature still has the upper hand, and where you might have to negotiate with a goat for the best spot on the beach.

In today’s post, we’ll explore some of these hidden island gems, from Lombok to the back of beyond. Some of the last bastions of Edenic adventure before the influencers find them.

Lombok, Indonesia

Lombok sits just east of Bali, separated by the narrow but significant Lombok Strait, which doubles as both a geographic divide and a metaphorical one.

While Bali has long been the darling of tourists seeking enlightenment in the form of smoothie bowls and crystal-infused water bottles, Lombok has remained blissfully less adorned. Historically, the island was home to the indigenous Sasak people before various outsiders - Balinese kings, Dutch colonists, and, more recently, lost backpackers - took an interest. Yet, despite its history of foreign arrivals, Lombok has managed to retain a sense of authenticity, a place where local culture isn’t performed so much as lived, and where the beaches don’t require an Instagram filter to look appealing.

For those who appreciate nature in its raw, unpolished form, Lombok offers plenty. The towering Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, dares the ambitious to trek its slopes, rewarding them with crater lakes and existential fatigue. The Gili Islands - three tiny, car-free specks off the northwest coast - offer world-class diving, or at the very least, the illusion of productivity between naps in a hammock.

Further south, the beaches of Kuta (not to be confused with its overdeveloped Balinese namesake) provide stunning surf breaks and sunsets that don’t require a reservation.

And if culture is what you seek, Lombok’s traditional Sasak villages – like the Kelompok Wanita Tangguh

which roughly translates as the Village of Strong Woman where the women run the show, producing Songket (traditional handwoven fabrics) while the men drink coffee and smoke hand rolled cigarettes - offer a glimpse of island life as it was before tourism became an industry. Accompanied by a pace of life that scoffs at urgency.

Getting to Lombok is pretty straightforward: a quick flight from Bali or Jakarta, or a ferry that provides varying degrees of adventure depending on your tolerance for maritime unpredictability. Accommodation ranges from boutique eco-resorts nestled in the hills to minimalist beach bungalows where the WiFi is aspirational at best. For something that nicely straddles the line between the two is the Merumatta Senggigi Lombok, a resort that offers affordability or exclusivity depending on your budget and state of mind, accompanied by a staff that represents the best of Sasak hospitality. The best time to visit is during the dry season (April to October), when the sun cooperates, and the humidity is at least slightly less oppressive. Lombok remains a place where time stretches, crowds thin, and paradise is not a commodity but a quiet inevitability.

Biak, Indonesia

Biak, a small island off the northern coast of Papua, Indonesia, has spent much of its history being noticed for all the wrong reasons. Once a strategic outpost during World War II, it saw more than its share of conflict before retreating into the relative anonymity of a tropical paradise with an identity crisis - equal parts military history, Melanesian culture, and untouched nature. Today, it remains one of Indonesia’s lesser-known gems, a place where coral reefs and jungle-cloaked caves coexist with the occasional rusting relic of war, as if history and nature reached a quiet truce.

During World War II, Biak became a brutal battleground as Allied forces fought to seize it from the Japanese in 1944. The island’s strategic airfield made it a prize worth the staggering human cost, with soldiers battling in suffocating tunnels and fortified caves. Today, remnants of that horror remain: Goa Jepang (Japanese Cave), where hundreds of Japanese troops met their fate, some by suicide;

Parai and Wardo Caves, eerie relics of underground warfare; and the abandoned Mokmer Airfield, once the site of fierce aerial combat. Unlike many war memorials, Biak’s historical sites remain raw and unvarnished, a stark reminder that paradise is often layered with tragedy.

For those willing to look past Biak’s wartime scars, the island offers a wealth of natural beauty. The coastline is fringed with white-sand beaches and some of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the Pacific, making it a diver’s dream without the jet-setting crowds on Komodo or Raja Ampat. Inland, limestone caves like Goa Jepang hold echoes of the past, while birdwatchers can trek into the rainforest in search of the elusive Biak paradise kingfisher. The local culture is equally compelling - traditional dance, Papuan cuisine, and markets that remind visitors that Biak, despite its turbulent history, has a rhythm all its own.

Reaching Biak is surprisingly straightforward, with flights from Jakarta and Jayapura landing at the island’s airport. Accommodations range from functional guesthouses to beachfront resorts that embrace the island’s slow, unpolished charm. Can try the Asana Biak Papua hotel, close to the airport but on the beach and near to main attractions. The best time to visit is during the dry season from May to October, when the skies are clear, the sea is calm, and Biak remains, as it always has, a fascinating place caught between past and present.

Alor, Indonesia

Alor Island sits in the easternmost reaches of the Nusa Tenggara archipelago, a place so far removed from Indonesia’s usual tourist circuit that even Google Maps seems a little hesitant.

Unlike its better-known neighbors, Alor has never been in a hurry to accommodate outsiders, which is precisely what makes it so compelling. Historically, the island has been home to a diverse mix of indigenous tribes, each with their own languages, traditions, and a shared reputation for being rather unfazed by the passage of time. European explorers arrived centuries ago, followed by missionaries, traders, and, most recently, divers with an affinity for off-the-grid adventures.

And diving is, without question, Alor’s main event. The island’s waters are a masterpiece of unspoiled coral reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and currents that keep things interesting for those who like their marine life with a side of adrenaline. Even if you’re not inclined to strap on a tank, Alor offers plenty - traditional villages like Takpala, where palm-thatched houses cling to the hillsides,

or volcanic beaches where the sand comes in unexpected shades of black. Inland, waterfalls and rugged mountains invite exploration, though the island’s slow pace ensures that nobody is in any particular rush to get anywhere.

Reaching Alor requires a little effort, which is precisely why it remains blissfully uncrowded. Flights from Jakarta or Bali connect through Kupang, West Timor, before a final short hop to Alor’s tiny airport.

Accommodation ranges from dive resorts catering to those who prefer their beds near the water to simple guesthouses where the main luxury is absolute quiet. The Alami Alor Dive & Snorkel Resort is a good option. The best time to visit is during the dry season (May to October), when the visibility underwater is at its best, the weather is cooperative, and the island remains, as ever, stubbornly indifferent to the idea of mass tourism.

Sabu/Sawu, Indonesia

Sabu (or Sawu or Savu, depending on who you ask – we’re going with Sabu) sits quietly between Sumba and Timor in Indonesia’s lesser-visited southeastern waters.

Unlike its more tourist-ready counterparts, Sabu has never made a serious bid for the travel spotlight, and it seems perfectly content that way. Historically, the island has been home to the Sabunese people, who have held onto their animist traditions and megalithic burial sites despite various colonial and religious influences drifting through over the centuries. Life here still moves to the rhythm of ancient customs, seasonal harvests, and the occasional bemused glance at an outsider who has somehow found their way to this remote stretch of Indonesia.

For those willing to trade convenience for character, Sabu rewards with landscapes that feel entirely its own - windswept cliffs, rugged limestone formations, and beaches so empty they seem almost forgotten.

The island’s traditions are just as striking, with intricate ikat weaving still practiced in local villages and ceremonies that involve rituals older than most maps of the region. Surfers with a taste for the undiscovered will find untamed waves rolling in from the Indian Ocean, while those who prefer their adventures inland can explore prehistoric rock shelters and hidden saltwater lagoons.

Reaching Sabu requires a little patience - flights from Kupang, West Timor, are the most reliable option, though ferries exist for those who enjoy an element of uncertainty in their travel plans. Accommodation is sparse but functional, with small guesthouses and homestays offering a place to rest between explorations. The best time to visit is during the dry season (April to October), when the skies are clear, the seas are (relatively) calm, and the island remains as unbothered by tourism as it has always been.

Wakatobi, Indonesia

Wakatobi, an archipelago in Southeast Sulawesi, is the kind of place that feels like it should exist only in the fever dreams of overzealous travel writers. Named after its four main islands - Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko - Wakatobi has long been a sanctuary for marine biodiversity, protected by its status as a national park and its inconvenient remoteness. Historically, the Bajua sea nomads called these waters home, navigating with a precision that modern GPS could envy.

Today, the islands remain blissfully underdeveloped, attracting those who prefer their paradises without the interference of beach clubs and souvenir stalls.

For divers, Wakatobi is something of a holy grail. The reefs here are among the healthiest on the planet, with visibility so clear it borders on the ridiculous.

Tomia, in particular, offers dramatic wall dives, while Hoga Island provides an underwater kaleidoscope of coral gardens and unbothered marine life. But even if you’re not one to strap on a tank, Wakatobi has its charms - traditional stilt villages built over the sea, quiet mangrove forests, and enough secluded beaches to test your ability to do absolutely nothing. Binongko, the least visited of the four main islands, is known for its centuries-old tradition of blacksmithing, where artisans still hammer out machetes as if modern industry never arrived.

Getting to Wakatobi requires a bit of determination, which is precisely why it remains so pristine. The easiest route is a flight to Wangi-Wangi from Kendari, Sulawesi, followed by a boat transfer to wherever you plan to settle in. Accommodation ranges from high-end eco-resorts catering to divers with deep pockets to simple homestays where the amenities are basic, but the ocean views are five-star. The Wakatobi Dive Resort has its own coral reef steps away from the shore.

The best time to visit is during the dry season (April to November), when the seas are calm, the skies are blue, and Wakatobi remains, as ever, a destination for those who prefer their luxury in the form of untouched nature.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Koh Rong, floating off the coast of Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand, is what happens when an island tries to be two things at once - a backpacker’s playground on one side, an untouched paradise on the other. For years, it was Cambodia’s best-kept secret, known only to those willing to endure questionable boat rides in search of empty beaches. Then word got out, and now half the island hums with beach bars and late-night fire shows, while the other half remains blissfully indifferent to modern entertainment.

The result is a rare balancing act: an island that can be as lively or as quiet as you want it to be.

If you’re looking for postcard-worthy scenery, Koh Rong delivers. White Beach and Long Set Beach offer the kind of powdery sand and turquoise waters that travel ads promise but rarely deliver. More adventurous visitors can hike through the jungle to Sok San Beach, snorkel around the coral reefs, or take a nighttime swim with bioluminescent plankton,

a surreal experience best enjoyed without questioning the science too much. For those drawn to local culture, small fishing villages on the quieter side of the island provide a glimpse of Koh Rong before the full weight of tourism arrived, where wooden stilt houses and fresh seafood remain the order of the day.

Getting to Koh Rong is fairly straightforward: a ferry from Sihanoukville gets you there in about 45 minutes, though “straightforward” in Cambodia can sometimes include unexpected delays. Accommodation runs the spectrum from beachfront bungalows with the bare essentials to high-end resorts catering to those who prefer their seclusion with a cocktail menu. The best time to visit is between November and May, when the skies are clear, the seas are calm, and the island still retains enough of its original charm - though for how much longer is anyone’s guess.

Flores Island, Portugal

Flores Island, the wild western outpost of Portugal’s Azores archipelago, feels like the kind of place nature designed on a particularly inspired day. Floating in the middle of the Atlantic, closer to Newfoundland than Lisbon, it has spent most of its history being ignored by the outside world - first by explorers who deemed it too rugged for serious settlement, then by modern tourists who tend to stop at São Miguel and call it a day. Those who do make the effort, however, are rewarded with a landscape that seems plucked from a fantasy novel: towering waterfalls, crater lakes, and cliffs that plunge dramatically into the sea, as if daring civilization to encroach any further.

Exploring Flores is less about checking off landmarks and more about surrendering to its sheer, unfiltered beauty. The island’s lakes - Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Lagoa Funda, and Lagoa Comprida - sit nestled in ancient volcanic craters, shifting in color depending on the mood of the sky.

The Rocha dos Bordões, a towering wall of hexagonal basalt columns, is a reminder that nature does geometry better than humans ever could. Waterfalls tumble into lush valleys with such frequency that after a while, you stop keeping count. And for those drawn to the ocean, the island’s rocky coastline and hidden coves make for spectacular hiking, swimming, and the occasional philosophical moment of staring into the vast Atlantic and wondering if you should, in fact, just stay forever.

Getting to Flores requires a flight from mainland Portugal to the Azores, followed by a hop from São Miguel or Terceira - a journey that weeds out the casual traveler.

Once there, accommodation ranges from charming guesthouses to rural cottages, where the biggest luxury is the absence of urgency. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, Aldeia da Cuada is a restored village providing guests the chance to stay in a traditional stone house. The best time to visit is between May and September, when the weather is at its most cooperative, the hydrangeas are in full bloom, and Flores remains, as ever, blissfully unconcerned with the concept of mass tourism.

Isla Holbox, Mexico

Isla Holbox, a thin, sun-drenched strip of land off Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, is what happens when a place decides that paved roads and high-rise resorts are entirely unnecessary. Technically part of the Yum Balam Nature Reserve, this car-free island has spent most of its history quietly fishing and dodging the overdevelopment that swallowed much of the Riviera Maya.

Despite its increasing popularity, Holbox still clings to a slower, sandier way of life - where golf carts replace cars, shoes are optional, and time operates on something looser than a schedule.

Holbox is best known for its proximity to the world’s largest fish - whale sharks - which migrate through its waters from June to September, giving snorkelers the rare chance to feel both exhilarated and insignificant at the same time.

Beyond the marine giants, the island offers shallow, turquoise waters perfect for kayaking, kite surfing, or simply floating with a drink in hand. Flamingos and pelicans roam the sandbanks, bioluminescent plankton light up the waves at night, and the town itself is a low-key collection of colorful murals, beach bars, and seafood shacks serving ceviche that requires no further justification.

Getting to Holbox requires a ferry from Chiquilá, about two hours north of Cancún, which conveniently acts as a natural filter against those looking for an all-inclusive experience. Once on the island, accommodation ranges from eco-boutiques and stylish beachfront cabanas to budget-friendly hostels for those prioritizing hammocks over thread counts. The Hotel Villa Flamingos offers beaches and wild life all in one. The best time to visit is from November to April, when the heat is manageable, the mosquitoes are merciful, and Holbox remains, at least for now, just off the mainstream map.

Lamu Island, Kenya

Lamu Island, off the northern coast of Kenya, is the kind of place where time meanders rather than marches. The oldest Swahili settlement in East Africa, Lamu has spent centuries absorbing influences from Arab traders, Portuguese explorers, and anyone else who happened to sail by. The result is a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, intricately carved wooden doors, and a waterfront where dhows - traditional wooden sailing boats - glide past as they have for generations. Unlike many coastal destinations, Lamu never saw the need to modernize for the sake of tourism, preferring to remain elegantly weathered and utterly unbothered by the rush of the outside world.

Despite its languid charm, Lamu offers plenty for those willing to explore beyond their shaded terrace. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is a masterpiece of Swahili architecture, best appreciated by wandering aimlessly until you accidentally find yourself at a centuries-old mosque or a hidden courtyard café. Shela Beach, a stretch of golden sand just outside town, is ideal for long, unhurried walks, while a dhow trip at sunset reminds you why people once traveled by sail instead of schedule.

And for those interested in the island’s past, the Lamu Museum and Lamu Fort provide just enough historical context before you inevitably return to doing as little as possible.

Getting to Lamu requires a flight from Nairobi or Mombasa to the mainland airstrip in Manda, followed by a short boat ride to the island - an arrival process that sets the tone for the slower pace to come.

Accommodation ranges from boutique Swahili-style guesthouses to grand seafront villas, most designed for maximum sea breeze and minimum distraction. If you’re looking for a classic Lamu experience, the Peponi Hotel in Shela offers a relaxed atmosphere and stunning ocean views. The best time to visit is from December to March, when the skies are clear, the trade winds are gentle, and Lamu remains, as always, an island where modernity is more of a suggestion than a necessity.

Iriomote Island, Japan

Iriomote Island, the wildest and least tamed member of Japan’s Okinawa archipelago, is what happens when a place decides it would rather be a jungle than a tourist destination. Sitting just a ferry ride west of Ishigaki, this subtropical island is mostly dense rainforest, tangled mangroves, and rivers that seem more suited to crocodiles than kayakers (mercifully, Japan lacks the former).

Human development has been kept to a bare minimum - partly by choice, partly because nature simply won’t allow otherwise - making Iriomote feel more like a lost world than a vacation spot. The island is also home to the elusive Iriomote cat, a rare, nocturnal wild feline that few have ever seen but everyone here will swear exists.

Activities on Iriomote lean firmly toward the adventurous. The island’s rivers and waterfalls make it a prime spot for kayaking and canyoning, with the Urauchi River leading deep into the jungle before rewarding the persistent with dramatic cascades like Mariudo and Kanpire Falls.

Hikers can disappear into the primordial forest, while snorkelers and divers will find coral reefs just offshore that remain blissfully intact. For those who prefer their nature with a side of leisure, the beaches - particularly Hoshizuna no Hama, where the sand grains are shaped like tiny stars - offer the perfect setting for doing absolutely nothing.

Reaching Iriomote requires a ferry from Ishigaki, the region’s main transport hub, which at least ensures that only the mildly determined make it this far. Accommodation consists mostly of small lodges and eco-resorts that respect the island’s commitment to staying untamed. If you’re looking for a natural, secluded experience, Eco Village Iriomote is a great option. The best time to visit is from late spring to early autumn, when the waterfalls are flowing, the ocean is warm, and the island remains, for now, a place where nature still makes the rules.

Saaremaa, Estonia

For those of you thinking an island experience needs to include palm trees and suntan lotion, think again. Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia, sits quietly in the Baltic Sea, a place where medieval castles, windmills, and juniper forests coexist with a stubbornly unhurried way of life.

Long prized for its strategic position, it has been passed between Vikings, Danes, Swedes, and Russians, all of whom left their mark before moving on, leaving the islanders to get back to more pressing matters - like distilling homemade schnapps and debating the finer points of sauna etiquette. These days, Saaremaa remains delightfully off the mainstream tourist map, drawing those who appreciate their escapes with a touch of old-world charm and zero urgency.

Despite its peaceful demeanor, Saaremaa offers plenty to do - provided your idea of excitement leans toward the atmospheric rather than the adrenaline-fueled. Kuressaare Castle, a 14th-century fortress that has seen more battles than it cares to remember, now presides over the island’s capital as a museum. The island’s windmills in Angla, remnants of a time when things moved even slower, stand as proud symbols of rural ingenuity.

Nature lovers will find their fix in the island’s bogs, pine forests, and the Kaali crater, a massive impact site.

Getting to Saaremaa requires either a ferry from the mainland or a tiny plane from Tallinn, ensuring that only the sufficiently motivated arrive. Once there, accommodations range from cozy farm stays to elegant spa hotels, where the main activity is soaking in mineral-rich waters while contemplating just how little you need to do. For a journey back in time as well as a chance to stop the clock for a moment the Arensburg Boutique Hotel & Spa is great option. The best time to visit is between May and September, when the days are long, the sea is (relatively) inviting, and Saaremaa remains, as ever, perfectly content in its own quiet corner of the world.

The thing about islands - real islands, not the ones overrun with infinity pools and influencer retreats - is that they don’t beg for attention. They don’t care if you come or not. They’ve been doing just fine for centuries, thank you very much. They’ve survived storms, conquests, tsunamis, and the occasional well-meaning but misguided developer with a grand vision. The best of them, the ones worth the trouble, are the ones that still feel a little untamed. A little indifferent to your itinerary. The ones where you might not get WiFi, but you will get stories. Maybe a sunburn. Probably both.

And yet, there’s always that uneasy balance - between discovery and destruction, between being the kind of traveler who appreciates a place for what it is and the kind who wants to improve it with smoothie bars and resort packages. These islands, the ones we’ve talked about, aren’t playgrounds designed for tourists. They’re places with their own histories, their own rhythms. You don’t go to Biak or Saaremaa expecting someone to roll out a red carpet. You go because places like these still have their rough edges, their ghosts, their wild stretches of coast where you can stand alone and realize, for once, that you don’t need to – or want to - be anywhere else.

So, go. Or don’t. These islands will be here either way, their forests growing, their tides rising and falling, their people living as they always have. But if you do go, try to be the kind of visitor who listens more than they talk, who treads lightly, who leaves nothing behind but the occasional footprint in the sand - soon to be washed away. As it should be.

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