The island
Mention Korea and several things probably spring to mind: the division of North and South, the sparkling city of Seoul (headquarters to Samsung, Hyundai and other Korean powerhouses) and Psy’s manic and flashy ‘Gangnam Style’. What’s not commonly known is that the Korean peninsula is studded with hu
The nerds guide to Hawaiis Big Island
There’s nothing wrong with the classic beach-and-umbrella-cocktail Hawaiian vacation. But nerds know that you can only read so much classic sci-fi on the balcony before your brain gets itchy for new input. Curiosity kicks in and you start to wonder…how are Hawaiian skies different? What’s the story
An island
Until recently, even seasoned travellers would have been hard pushed to pinpoint the Azores on a map. But finally the world is waking up to the allure of these nine volcanic islands, scattered like stepping stones in the mid-Atlantic. Whether youre watching the sunrise creep up Picos perfect cone, t
Top 10 things to do in Trinidad, Cuba
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad, Cuba, was built on the back of the 19th-century sugar and slave trade. At its zenith, in 1827, one of the 56 sugar mills in the region harvested the biggest cane haul in the world — just under a million kilos of white pressed crystals. This enormous, consp
Top ten experiences in Tasmania
Tasmania is still Australia, but beguilingly and bewitchingly it’s just that little bit different. It’s compact enough to ‘do’ in a week and layered enough to keep bringing you back. The island state produces gourmet food and wine, and a flourishing arts scene and a burgeoning urban cool point to a p
Exploring the Isle of Skye in Scotland
Like the finest single malt whisky, the Isle of Skye is an intoxicating distillation of all that is great about Scotland’s Highlands and islands. Its dramatic landscape embraces everything from bleak, wind-scoured mountains to sheer sea cliffs and edge-of-the-world, seashell-strewn beaches.Throw in
Comoros Islands: tropical charm off the beaten path
Named after the Arabic word for ‘moon’, Qamar, this poetically named but little-known archipelago is located between Madagascar and Mozambique.It was an important trading post for Arab, Persian, African and European traders from the 15th century onwards. Annexed by the French over the course of the
Island hopping off Cambodias coast
Sandy bliss awaits travellers off Cambodia’s south coast. Whether you favour being glued to a hammock upon an isolated shore, or fancy slothful days recovering from all-night raves, Cambodia has an island for you.Lapped by the lapis-hued waters of the Gulf of Thailand, the scattering of islands in C
Exploring Japan’s subtropical Ogasawara Islands
Pristine beaches, star-studded night skies, searing sunsets and whales splashing in tropical waters are not the usual things to expect on a trip to Japan. But venture about 1000km south of downtown Tokyo and that’s exactly what you’ll find.The recently designated World Heritage Ogasawara Archipelago
Island
Sydney’s gobsmackingly gorgeous harbour needs no introduction. While the harbour hums with activity, its eight idyllic isles are surprisingly quiet. Mid-week, you may even have their million-dollar views all to yourself.That’s not the case come New Year’s Eve, though. Five islands – Fort Denison, Sh
Tristan da Cunha: a journey to the centre of the ocean
Sitting in solitude in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, 2400km from anywhere and reachable only by boat, Tristan da Cunha is one of the world’s last destinations for the truly intrepid traveller.There’s no airport here, no wi-fi, not a latte to be found anywhere, and the only way to tweet or
Island
You dont always need suitcases full of cash to enjoy the Caribbean Sea – cradled in its western corner lie a number of idyllic island groups that are surprisingly easy on the pocket.San Blas Islands, Panama Scattered off the remote southeastern coast of Panama, the refreshingly undeveloped San Bl
Secret Mediterranean islands where you can escape the crowds
There are more than 200 islands in the Med, yet 90 per cent of tourists stay on just 10 per cent of them. We’ve rounded up six lesser-known isles worth seeking out if you’re looking for a little peace and quiet.Pantelleria, Italy Boat at sunset by Luca Volpi. CC BY-SA 2.0.Closer to Tunisia than I
The Hebrides: Scotlands magical western islands
An emerald shore receding behind, a sea breeze in your face, a dolphin surfing the bow wave as escort. The magic begins as soon as you board the ferry from Scotland’s rugged west coast and head for the Hebrides, a scattering of over 50 inhabited islands that takes in the stirring mountainscapes of S
Faraway in the Faroes: island hiking and wildlife watching in the north Atlantic
The Faroes are like nowhere else on earth. Adrift in the north Atlantic, these 18 forgotten islands are thrashed by furious swells and subject to some of the most fickle weather on the planet; all of which is forgiven the moment you clap eyes on their primordial beauty. They may be little but nature
Mallorcas great escapes: where to go to escape the crowds
Mallorca has grown up. Sure, the island still has a touch of the wild child in coastal resorts like Magaluf, but travellers are finally waking up to the fact that the island is so much more than the sum of its fly-and-flop resorts and boozerias.The real Mallorca, as locals have been at pains to poin
Alderney, Sark and Herm: exploring the lesser
How much adventure can you fit into a few square miles? When it comes to the least explored islands of the English Channel, the answer is far more than you might think.Alderney, Sark and Herm share many of the traveller-pleasing traits of their bigger, better-known neighbours, Jersey and Guernsey: f
A guide to Lake Nicaraguas islands
Soon behemoth supertankers will be cutting through the natural beauty of Lago de Nicaragua, Central Americas largest lake. A Chinese businessman has signed a controversial deal with the Nicaraguan Government to build and manage a waterway three times the length of the Panama Canal. Construction is d
Life on Flores, the Indonesian island that time forgot
A trip across Flores is like stepping back into the Indonesia of William Dampier and Joseph Conrad. Buffalo still plough the fields here and old women still chew betel nut while they weave fine ikat textiles by hand in the old ways. Flores is more than twice the size of Bali yet, until recently, has
Beyond the beaches: exploring Mauritius
There is no questioning the beauty of Mauritius beaches. And the famous powder white sands, which slope gently into sapphire blue waters, have long lured visitors to the island. Yet beyond their achingly picturesque aesthetics lies an island waiting to be discovered: markets hum, gardens bloom, swat
