Top Islands in Southeast Asia

Best Islands in Southeast Asia: 

The many islands in South East Asia for sun, good food, parties, and romantic getaways! Use this guide to select one or more to visit on your trip. 

Islands in Thailand 

It should be no surprise that the islands in Thailand do to get the top of the list. They are not only great tourist infrastructure of Thailand is easily accessible, the Thai islands are diverse enough to please a wide range of travelers. 

From raging party scenes Islands with limited power to calm, you will find lots of action either as or as much rest and insulation than you can handle. 

Most Popular: Phuket and Koh Samui 

Top Picks: Koh Lanta and Koh Chang 

Where to party: Haad Rin on Koh Phangan; Koh Tao; Koh Phi Phi 

Where Chill Koh Lipe and smaller islands on the Andaman (west) side 

When: Koh Lanta almost shut down during the monsoon season. Read more about Koh Lanta Weather. 

Islands in the Philippines 

With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippine archipelago, you'll be spoiled for choice both in the vicinity of Manila and beyond. A quick flight to Cebu City offers a variety of options in the Visayas island on air or on the Philippines' busiest port accessible. Negros Iceland is an often overlooked option in the area. 

Philippine Islands are of volcanic rule, scattered with lush, hilly interior and many bays and beaches around the edges. Although the beaches in the Visayas are very photogenic and virtually untapped, not always expect fine sand; Many beaches are made of coral or rocks. 

Most Popular: Boracay and Panglao Iceland 

Top Picks: Watch these five major islands of the Philippines. 

Where to party: Boracay Iceland 

Where Churchill: Apo Iceland; see how to get to Apo Iceland. 

When: Read about the weather in the Philippines. 

Islands in Malaysia 

While Langkawi is undisputed island hotspot Malaysia, there are many other nice choices with pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving. The Perhentian Islands are an integral part of the Banana Pancake Trail for backpackers. 

Tioman Iceland, closer to Singapore, is a duty-free island with the two busy beaches and quiet coves. While Penang is a great place to visit, it's so big that you do not even know that you are perhaps on an island! 

Most Popular: Langkawi 

Top Picks: The Perhentian Islands (see some Perhentian Islands Tips) 

Where to party: Perhentian Kecil 

Where Churchill: Perhentian Besar and Tioman Island 

When to go: High season in the Perhentian Islands is from June to August. The islands virtually close down in the winter months. 

Islands in Indonesia 

For obvious reasons Bali is all the attention of visitors to more than 17,000 islands of Indonesia - but there are other pieces of paradise to be enjoyed. The three Gili Islands in Lombok are a good choice for island-hopping to find a balance between resting and socializing. 

You will find incredible diving throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Sumatra, the sixth largest island in the world, is the place for orang-utans, volcanoes, jungle and adventure. 

Most Popular: Bali (see: Where is Bali) 

Top Picks: Gili Air 

Where to party: Gili Trawangan and Kuta Beach in Bali 

Where Churchill: Gili Air, Gili Meno and Kadidiri in Sulawesi islands Togean 

When: The summer months are the best in the rule. Read more about the weather in Indonesia. 

Singapore 

Yes, Singapore is a city, island and country all in one! While notoriously expensive than its Southeast Asian neighbors, Singapore is a unique, world-class destination. 

Singapore might not be the first choice for clean beaches or loneliness, but you will do an amazing number of things. And expect not only an urban, concrete jungle - Singapore has plenty of green space for its size. 

See where Singapore is and some basics for travel Singapore. 

With these 10 Tips for Budget Travel Singapore. 

Visit some of the great museums in Singapore. 

Malaysian Borneo 

Many visitors to Malaysia forget that the third largest island in the world is just a quick, cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia shares the island of Borneo with Indonesia and Brunei. You will find a threatened species, national parks, exotic indigenous culture, green rain forests, and incredible diving. 

See where is Borneo and top events to do in Malaysian Borneo. 

Learn how to find cheap flights to Borneo. 

See you do some top events in Kuching.

The Gili, Indonesia islands

The beautiful Gili Islands in Indonesia has been a favorite track for Bali travelers seeking sun for decades. With the crowds galloping development and removing some of the charm of neighboring Bali, more and more people choose to spend their time between the Gili Islands-drenched paradise three.

Active government campaign to promote Lombok Indonesia as another top tourist spot is working. The Gilis not only draw backpackers and budget travelers; more accommodation in small islands is slowly dragging boutique label.

Despite the recent increase, the Gili Islands in Indonesia are far from giving up its charm yet. A lack of motorized transport maintains the serene life - between games anyway - and no high rise buildings threaten the view that only delights perfect water divers and snorkelers alike.

The Gilis be a good compromise of developed and rustic; Electricity comes and goes at the whim of the generators and not having to deal with too much concrete.

The three Gili islands in Indonesia

Perhaps the biggest advantages of this mobile from Bali to Lombok island is that the three Gili islands offer three unique experiences. You can choose one of the three or jump through daily speedboats.

Whatever island you choose to visit, three of the Gilis have beautiful beaches, large swimming pool, and lively coastal reefs full of life. The islands are small enough to walk and walk through the narrow roads of the interior of the islands offers quiet to take in the sunsets orange spots.

Gili Trawangan: The largest and most visited island with naughty games.

Gili Air: Island of medium size that can be circumnavigated in just 90 minutes.

Gili Meno: The smallest of the Gilis; quiet and rustic.

Gili Trawangan:

Affectionately shortened to just 'Gili T, Gili Trawangan is the largest and most visited of the Gili islands in Indonesia. Although the island has gained a reputation as the place to party in Indonesia, beautiful beaches and diving are cheap and excellent reasons to visit.

Despite being once primarily the domain of backpackers looking for a good time, the luxury development has skyrocketed in Gili T. The change in hotel availability is also causing a change in the type of clientele. Sleeping budgetary decisions are still available in the rugged interior of the island just a few minutes walk from the water.

Parties

Gili T is the epicenter of nightlife in this part of Indonesia. Small population of the island of about 800 residents swells to several times that as Indonesian and backpackers flooding in three games a week on the island.

On party nights Gili Trawangan could be compared to a smaller version of bully Indonesia Thailand Haad Rin on the island of Koh Phangan. Drugs, though still illegal, openly displayed on signs.

Warning: locally made spirit called arak can be a cheap option for alcohol in bars and restaurants in Gili Trawangan, but is responsible for numerous deaths of foreigners due to methanol poisoning. The government has remained largely silenced incidents.

Gili Air:

Much smaller and quieter than Gili Trawangan, Gili Air is actually closer to the mainland of Lombok. It also has a larger permanent population, perhaps because the locals prefer peace noise in Gili T.

Restaurants and elegant bungalows mingle with budget decisions that dot the island, which means it is a mixed crowd of travelers on Gili Air. Increasingly, backpackers, tired of the changes occurring in Gili Trawangan, Gili Air have passed.

While the beaches are not as large or as nice as the Gili Trawangan, you certainly do not have to share them both. In fact, you can walk all the way around Gili Air in about 90 minutes, depending on the amount of people in the area will stop to chat or show their children. A lush, dark interior is accessible via paths that align with coconuts drying in the sun.

Gili Air, despite being smaller, still has plenty of options for bars and restaurants, but places may close pretty early. Many dive shops offer PADI certification classes and access to the same excellent dive sites shared with Gili Trawangan.

Gili Meno:

Gili Meno is the smallest and most isolated of the three Gili islands and traditionally the choice for couples and families rather than those traveling to socialize. Despite having the best beaches and diving in the Gilis, Gili Meno resists pleasantly crowded.

See some of the best beaches in Asia.

While the basic costs of housing and living cost a little more in Gili Meno, has little to do with luxury. Electricity is irregular and the island has yet to get an ATM. The rustic atmosphere only adds to the charm.

Gili Meno is certainly not the place to come looking for nightlife; however, most visitors prefer to bring a book and detox after the madness of Gili Trawangan. A handful of dive shops offering PADI certifications and trips to dive sites around the Gilis.