I've been to a lot of islands on my travels and really felt like doing a list of my top 5 tranquil islands - really remote places to visit! It was quite hard to narrow it down to just 5 but here I go. These are places you can get head out to for relaxing, where you will meet very few other people. These lists are only made up from places I've actually visited by the way, so that will explain the random places on it (I would actually love to include the remote Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland on my list, except I haven't actually been there as yet). These are in no particular order by the way... 
1. Cuverville Island in 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!
How to get to it - When book a boat trip to Antarctica, there's a chance you will visit Cuverville. It will totally depend on the weather conditions, and the decisions of the captain and the crew as they decide on the landings. If not, your Antarctica trip may include other islands that I didn't visit. And I'm so sure that they will capture the same sort of magical spirit as Cuverville!
2. Bruny Island in Tasmania, AUSTRALIA:
This is a very quiet of a place to relax away from the busy world. If you thought Tasmania itself is tranquil, seriously get yourself to Bruny Island on the south east corner. Here you can have a drink in Australia's southernmost pub, view a gorgeous sunset and see the rare white wallabies, a novelty in themselves. Bruny is a marvellous tranquil island bereft of commercialism. Worth the trip!
How to get to it - Board a ferry in Kettering in South East Tasmania which heads across on a daily basis. If you do miss the last one you will have to stay the night though! Which may not be a bad thing...
3. Sark, 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's position is often disputed. Is it a country? Well it could be, but it could also be part of the UK. Sark has its own stamps and incredibly once fielded its own international football team (they scored 0 goals and conceded 70 in the 4 matches they played. You will arrive on Sark by boat (from St. Peter Port, Guernsey) and a tractor will take you up the steep hill to the town centre. Fantastic views, old style buildings, a main street which is old fashioned to the core. The capital is called La Seigneurie. Hiring a bicycle is an option and cyle all over the island. You can visit the adjoining island of Little Sark. This is a brilliant place.
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 on Lantau Island, HONG KONG:
Asia just had to be represented on this list and so I've gone for a place in Hong Kong. OK so ignore the fact that Lantau Island also houses one of the world's busiest airports on it and head over to the west corner at a remote fishing village called Tai O. Here you can really relax. To the point where you lose track of time, and momentarily even forget you're in Hong Kong. There is no commercial aspect to daily life here. Lots of hikes, surprise waterfalls, boat trip option and superb seafood. Walking around the traditional fishing village on stilts is another great thing to do. Tai O is fabulous!
How to get there - Tai O can be reached by bus from near the Tung Chung MTR station. Or you can get a bus from Mui Wo (which has a direct ferry to Hong Kong Central).
5. Cape Horn/Cabo De Hornos in CHILE:
It would just feel ridiculous to leave the magic of Cape Horn off this list! Cape Horn is pretty much the southernmost point of the civilised world and the marker point for the start of the Drake Passage. All that remains further south is Antarctica, which makes Cape Horn feel like the end of the world. OK, so I didn't actually set foot on Cape Horn (that was a bit beyond my budget!), but our ship sailed right up close to it, so we could get a glimpse of 'the horn'. Just to note there is actually a set of islands further south called the Diego Ramirez Islands but nobody lives there. Cape Horn is the end of the world.
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.
Have fun on tranquil islands, don't stop living!
1. Cuverville Island in 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!
How to get to it - When book a boat trip to Antarctica, there's a chance you will visit Cuverville. It will totally depend on the weather conditions, and the decisions of the captain and the crew as they decide on the landings. If not, your Antarctica trip may include other islands that I didn't visit. And I'm so sure that they will capture the same sort of magical spirit as Cuverville!
2. Bruny Island in Tasmania, AUSTRALIA:
This is a very quiet of a place to relax away from the busy world. If you thought Tasmania itself is tranquil, seriously get yourself to Bruny Island on the south east corner. Here you can have a drink in Australia's southernmost pub, view a gorgeous sunset and see the rare white wallabies, a novelty in themselves. Bruny is a marvellous tranquil island bereft of commercialism. Worth the trip!
How to get to it - Board a ferry in Kettering in South East Tasmania which heads across on a daily basis. If you do miss the last one you will have to stay the night though! Which may not be a bad thing...
3. Sark, 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's position is often disputed. Is it a country? Well it could be, but it could also be part of the UK. Sark has its own stamps and incredibly once fielded its own international football team (they scored 0 goals and conceded 70 in the 4 matches they played. You will arrive on Sark by boat (from St. Peter Port, Guernsey) and a tractor will take you up the steep hill to the town centre. Fantastic views, old style buildings, a main street which is old fashioned to the core. The capital is called La Seigneurie. Hiring a bicycle is an option and cyle all over the island. You can visit the adjoining island of Little Sark. This is a brilliant place.
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 on Lantau Island, HONG KONG:
Asia just had to be represented on this list and so I've gone for a place in Hong Kong. OK so ignore the fact that Lantau Island also houses one of the world's busiest airports on it and head over to the west corner at a remote fishing village called Tai O. Here you can really relax. To the point where you lose track of time, and momentarily even forget you're in Hong Kong. There is no commercial aspect to daily life here. Lots of hikes, surprise waterfalls, boat trip option and superb seafood. Walking around the traditional fishing village on stilts is another great thing to do. Tai O is fabulous!
How to get there - Tai O can be reached by bus from near the Tung Chung MTR station. Or you can get a bus from Mui Wo (which has a direct ferry to Hong Kong Central).
5. Cape Horn/Cabo De Hornos in CHILE:
It would just feel ridiculous to leave the magic of Cape Horn off this list! Cape Horn is pretty much the southernmost point of the civilised world and the marker point for the start of the Drake Passage. All that remains further south is Antarctica, which makes Cape Horn feel like the end of the world. OK, so I didn't actually set foot on Cape Horn (that was a bit beyond my budget!), but our ship sailed right up close to it, so we could get a glimpse of 'the horn'. Just to note there is actually a set of islands further south called the Diego Ramirez Islands but nobody lives there. Cape Horn is the end of the world.
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.
Have fun on tranquil islands, don't stop living!
About the Author:
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