The Most Beautiful Collections of Tropical Islands on Earth

Aisa’s rating of destinations - Maldives

Beaches | Diving & Snorkeling
Surfing
Culture & Sightseeing | Shopping

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Aisa votes Maldives one of the Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia. Maldives boasts spectacular white sand beaches, colorful coral reefs, blue lagoons and lush tropical forest. When it comes to tranquility & peace, and marvelous sea scenery, there is no rival of Maldives. It’s indeed an earthly paradise!

Besides, the Maldives is the smallest country in Asia in terms of population, thus comparing to Bali or Phuket there there can be many local tourist, Maldives is a quieter, more peaceful and relaxing place to be with a sense of detachment from anything urban!

The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, with 1192 islands and 193 of them inhabited. These numerous islands were can be grouped into 26 coral atolls. Atolls are giant ring like coral formations. It is located south of India’s Lakshadweep islands, and about 700 kilometers south-west of Sri Lanka. Male is the capital city of Maldives.

The beaches in Maldives are nothing but spectacular. One of the best beaches in Maldives is Sun Island in the South Ari Atoll of Nalaguraidhoo island. It’s 62 miles from the Maldives airport at male. Sun Island, also known as flower of the indies, is a real paradise with soft sand, sparkling turquoise lagoons and over water bungalows.

Maldives is a great place for diving. It’s voted one of the top 10 dive sites in the world (the other two top 10 dive sites are Sipadan Island of Borneo in Malaysia and Similan Islands of Phuket in Thailand). Aisa thinks it’s probably the best in Indian Ocean, if not in Asia!

The water are very clear and warm throughout the year, and marine life is abundant and you will find amazingly diverse fish species. The reefs form exciting labyrinths for you to explore! North Male atoll and South Ari atoll provide reliably good diving around the atoll walls. If you are particularly interested in seeing turtles (and mantas), head to the Turtle Head Point!

When it comes to diving, every season has its charm in Maldives. From December to March, the water visibility is the best (can be as deep as 50 meters) and the humidity is very low, and it’s considered the best season to dive. During the south-west monsoon seasons from May to August, and the visibility is reduced. But you are likely to meet whale sharks in May. Night dives is fun as the reefs get active at night. However there are not many or interesting shipwrecks there.

While diving in Maldives is world standard, it can be expensive, comparing to other Asian tropical destinations. One tank scuba dive and equipment rental can cost over US$100.

Read more about Maldives at Surfing

Sightseeing activities are concentrated in Male, e.g., King’s Palace, Grand Friday Mosque, the Mulle Aage (Sultan’s Palace), the harbor, fish market, etc. Read more about Maldives at Shopping

Overwater bungalow is a Maldivian classic. The bungalows are built on stilts directly above a lagoon. Many Maldives repeaters prefer a bungalow with a private beach.

Did you know Weekend in Maldives runs from Friday to Saturday, during which government offices, banks and many shops are closed. You won’t notice this at the resorts though, as tourists.

The Maldives have a remarkably easy visa policy: everybody gets a free 30-day visa on arrival, provided that they have a valid travel document, a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds (either a confirmed reservation in any resort, or US$100 + $50/day in cash). This can be extended up to 90 days at Male. Importing alcohol, pork or pornography (very broadly defined) into the Maldives is forbidden. Alcohol is only sold on the resorts. All the luggage are X-rayed. Exporting sand or seashells is also forbidden.

The Maldives is the flattest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 meters. 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level. The rising sea levels pose serious risks to the country.

Seasons The southwest monsoon brought wet season from mid-May to November. The tourist season are from November to April.

Official Website http://www.visitmaldives.com/

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

An Amazingly Idyllic & Exotic Island

Aisa’s rating of destinations - Phuket

SPA & Massage | Wildlife & Nature
Beaches | Diving & Snorkeling
Culture & Sightseeing | Nightlife | Surfing

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Aisa votes Phuket one of the Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia because of its spectacular beach & scenery, great diving sites and a variety of activities you can do!

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand (it’s about the size of Singapore!), located in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. The island is mostly mountainous. 70% of the island is forest. The beaches at western coast are sandy, while beaches on the east coast are more often muddy.

Most beaches in Phuket are on the west coast, stretching some 45kms from Mai Khao beach in the north to Rawai in the South. The 3 main tourist beaches of Patong, Karon and Kata are in the southern half of the island. Patong is a wide and long beach, and the most popular one. Patong is full on tourism, plenty of accommodation and shopping, loads of restaurants and bars and a beach full of beach chairs and umbrellas. Comparing to Patong, Karon is less developed, clean and well looked after. Kata is more popular with younger people, and is a very scenic beach.

Phuket is a big island and you can always get out and explore, e.g., Laem Ka beach, Laem Sing beach, are some of Phuket’s quiet secrets. There are many other secluded spots and many beaches that are largely undeveloped. With a little effort, you can find smaller, quieter beaches all over the island. Some have just a few hotels or resorts, most have long stretches of sand.

Phuket offers more than just beaches, there are much more attractions and activities to explores, if you want more than just relaxing on a beautifully beach, Phuket is your one-stop-shop for relaxing, fun poking, sightseeing and shopping.

Phuket is great place for diving. There are several coral islands to the south of the Phuket, e.g., Similan Islands to the north west and Phi Phi Island to the south east. And there are a great variety of local dive sites around Phuket, e.g., Koh Racha Yai, Shark Point, Anemone Reef.

Aisa recommends a day trips to Similian Island for diving and snorkeling from Phuket. The Similan Islands lie about 100s km Northwest of Phuket and were declared a National Park in 1982. It is rated as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, with white beaches and spectacular dive sites in warm, clear waters. (The other two top 10 dive sites in Asia are Maldives and Sipadan Island of Borneo in Malaysia).

Phuket’s west coast is a good surfing destination. Read more about Phuket at Surfing.Many other activities include parasailing, water skiing, banana boat rides, or sailing a beach catamaran.

Read more about Phuket at Nightlife, Wild life & Nature, and about Thail Massage at SPA & Massage

Phuket has some notable historical temples. Read more about Phuket at Culture & Sightseeing

Phuket is a great place for a golf holiday with half a dozen golf courses. Phuket stages international tournaments and is a real Asian golfing center.

Did you know If you happen to be in Phuket at the right time of the year, don’t miss Songkhran (Thai’s New Year, also know as the Water Splashing Festival) on April 13, Loy Kratong sometime in November. Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be held in September 29 - October 7 in 2008. It is a festival full of life and magic!

Seasons November to April is the high season with more sun and less rain. The rainy season in Phuket is from May to October due to monsoon season.

Beware Prostitution has become part of the nightlife in Phuket, despite the fact that it’s officially illegal.

Official Website http://www.phukettourist.com/

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

An Unspoiled Place to Celebrate the Genuine Tropical Spirit

Aisa’s rating of destinations - Lombok

Surfing
Diving & Snorkeling

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Aisa votes Lombok one of the Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia for it’s untouched, natural charm, despite that Lombok is not as famous as some other destinations. Lombok offers peace & tranquility and a more complete experience of what a tropical paradise is, in all its serenity, beauty, and happiness.

Lombok is an island in west Indonesia, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali. It’s a smaller, lesser known sister island to Bali, and it’s only 2 hour’s trip from Bali by boat. Gili Islands are three idyllic atolls at the northwest corner of Lombok. They are Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.

Lombok has much in common with nearby Bali, but less well-known and less-visited by foreigners. It has been promoting itself as an “unspoiled Bali” and to increase its visibility to tourists. Lombok boasts beautiful, untouched beaches. Kuta beach is a magnificent stretch of powdery white sand and blue sea with rugged hills around it, and the sunrise and sunsets are simply spectacular! It’s not the same Kuta as in Bali though.

The most-developed center of tourism in Lombok is Senggigi, spread in a 10-kilometer strip along the coastal road north of Mataram; Gili Islands is famous among backpackers.

Lombok and Gili islands are great place for diving and snorkeling, where you can find florescent fish, blue starfish or giant turtles! Surfing in Kuta is considered some of the best in the world.

Gili Air Wall is a great spot for diving and snorkeling, where you can meet amazing florescent fish, blue starfish, green sea turtles or even tiny sea horses. You will experience the genuine, mellower side of Indonesia. One of the bars hosted a ‘dark moon’ party on a Wednesday night. It’s a once-every-two-months event. The party drew visitors from the surrounding islands.

Gili Trawangan is the largest and most popular to visit. you can walk around the whole island in about 2 hours or take a horse and buggy ride around it. The horse drawn carriage is the only form of transportation there!

Gili Meno is the most undeveloped natural island of the three.

Comparing to Bali, Lombok & Gili Islands are far less touristy, with Gili Islands even more relaxed. You can meet the real Indonesians and not just on the tourist trail.

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

An Island with Stunning Coastlines and Lots of Fun

Aisa’s rating of destinations - Koh Samui

Nightlife | SPA & Massage
Beaches | Wildlife & Nature
Culture & Sightseeing | Surfing

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Aisa votes Koh Samui one of the Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia because of its beautiful beach and coastline , great diving and the fun nightlight you don’t get elsewhere!

Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand, off the east coast of Thailand. It is the third largest island in Thailand after Phuket and Koh Chang.

Chaweng and Lamai are the two best beaches on the east of the island. There are beaches in the north coast, not as spectacular but cheaper, where you can get a beach front bungalow for a good price.

Chaweng Beaches is the largest and most popular beach in northeast Samui. It’s approximately 7 km long with powdery white sand. It’s bordered by emerald-blue water and a coral reef. If you find Chaweng over-developed and crowded, Lamai beach is probably a better choice - it’s calmer and more peaceful.

Koh Samui’s surf season is from October to December. Chaweng beach is the most popular beach for surfing. Other spots include the “left alone” reef beak off Chaweng beach and a reef break in front of Le Meridien Baan Taling Naam Resort.

A day trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park at Na Thon is a must. The national marine park features limestone kharsts, tropical rainforests and secluded beaches. Activities include Kayaking along small islands in the pristine water and go under the overhangs of the cliffs, visiting small caves on the side of the islands when the tide is low. There is a aquamarine lake in the middle of the island. You can hike your way to the lake, which involves climbing steep stairs and going through small gaps in the rocks.

Koh Samui has very exciting nightlife. There are discos, clubs, music venues, traditional Thai Dancing, mud wresting and Thai boxing. Chaweng beach is the most popular night life area. There are many ladyboy (Katoeys) shows if you are interested. The famous Full moon party is at  Ko Pha Ngan, a sister island of Koh Samui just 30 minutes boat ride away. The party draw tourists from nearby islands, including Phuket and Phi Phi, and people all over the world! The party starts from night, and runs till dawn, if you are into the high energy dancing and drinking marathon! It happens once every lunar month, when it’s a full moon. The party is held at Had Rin Beach, south-eastern part of Samui Island. There are also half moon and black moon parties.

There are a number of attractions on the island. Big Buddha Temple has a gigantic statue of the Buddha - 12 meter high! There are other temples, and numerous animal attractions: crocodile farm, snake farm, monkey theatre, elephant trekking, and butterfly garden. A tourist couldn’t travel through Thailand without having a traditional elephant ride. And you get to feed the elephant banana after the ride! Other activities include watching Muya Thai Boxing at Chaweng Stadium.

Read more about Thai Massage at SPA & Massage

Did you know Ang Thong National Marine Park is the place that inspired Alex Garland to write The Beach.

Don’t be surprised to see more Swedish tourists in Koh Samui.

Seasons The monsoon season is from September to November.

Online Webcam You can see the Koh Samui beaches and street online by visiting http://www.samuicam.com.

Website for Full moon party schedule
http://www.samui.org/kohphangan/fullmoonparty.html

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

An Emerging and “Wide” Tropical Island

Aisa’s rating of destinations -Borneo

Wildlife & Nature
Diving & Snorkeling

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Aisa votes Borneo one of the Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia. Sipidan of Borneo is a world known dive Mecca, ranks one of the top 5 dive sites in the world, and definitely the best in Malaysia. Borneo is becoming a hot spot for well-traveled divers!

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Administratively, this island is shared between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

On the west coast of Borneo, Turtle Beach and Golden Beach are part of the Similajau National Park. Both beaches are turtle nesting grounds, within a larger nature reserve full of tropical wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls and plenty of animal residents. The natural parks of Sarawak are the perfect place to enjoy an invigorating jungle trek, bird watching, or just relaxing on the many perfect beaches.

Borneo has abundant wildlife. It’s rainforest and eco-system is one of the oldest in the world with a huge variety of flora and fauna. This is probably only matched in some areas of Africa and in the Amazonas region. It is also the centre of evolution and radiation of many endemic species of plants and animals.

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is the worlds largest Orang Utan Sanctuary, it’s about 25 km west of Sandakan. The village of Sukau is a secondary forest and also a natural sanctuary of various wildlife species, including elephants and Orang Utans. Proboscis Monkeys is a species unique to Borneo. Turtle Islands Park comprises a group of three beautiful and unspoilt natural islands. Selingan is the main island in the group to see where the Green Turtle comes to lay eggs all year round.

Sipadan Island is on the east coast of Borneo. There are vibrant white beaches. Sipadan Island is one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, so be prepared to see great amazing marine life! (The other two top 10 dive sites in Asia are Maldives and Similan Islands of Phuket in Thailand).

There are many breeding greenback and hawksbill turtles, white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, barracuda, manta rays, eel garden, pipefish, nudibranches, flatworms, trevally and horse-eye jacks. Aisa has seen the most amazing greenback turtles here, they can be huge - up to 2 meters long! They are extremely graceful creatures in water despite their sizes. The rare mandarin fish can be spotted at the reefs of Mabul and Kapalai. Comparing to the marine life, the coral are not that great though. Aisa would not recommend Sipadan for inexperienced divers as the currents can be strong sometimes.

Borneo’s highest point is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, with an elevation of 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level. It’s the highest in southeast Asia and this makes Borneo the world’s third highest island Mount Kinabalu is also a major center of biodiversity in Borneo. Visit Kota Kinabalu National Park to experience it!

The island is an environmental reserve area so there are limits to the number of visitors per day.

Seasons The Monsoon season is normally November to January in areas around Kota Kinabalu, and different months in other districts like Sandakan or Tawau.

Official Website http://www.borneotravelguide.com

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

A Small Island with Pearly White Sand Beaches

Aisa’s rating of destinations - Boracay

Beaches
Nightlife
Wildlife & Nature

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Aisa votes Boracay one of Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia because of its picturesque and stunning white sand beaches, azure sky and clear turquoise water, casual & laid-back lifestyle!

Boracay is an island in Philippines. It’s located approximately 315 km (200 miles) south of Manila, the capital city of Philippines. It’s the most popular tourist destination in Philippines.

Two famous beaches are White beach and Bulabog beach. White beach gets its name from the powdery white sand beach. It’s a lovely 4 kilometer stretch of white sand beaches. Puka beach is at the island’s northern end, where there are lots of puka shells. It’s 30 minutes away from White Beach by boat. Puka beach is less crowded and quieter.

Other than diving, Boracay is a great place for sailing. You can take a sailing tour with the Red Pirates at southern end of white beach to experience a spectacular sunset in Asia.

There is a Butterfly Garden you don’t want to miss. It’s quite an experience walking in a tropical garden with rare and beautiful butterflies surrounded.

Nightlife in Boracay is lively and vibrant. There are many nightspots you can choose from, nightclubs, resto bars, hotels and restaurants…Some bars and discos have cover charges.

Most bars and pubs have their own band. The band performs local music with their native drums and string instrument. Some of the bars are designed in bamboo walls and thatched roofs to give it a tropical look. The popular bars include Cocomangas, Pier One and Summer Place. They are right on beach with loungers! Besides, you can watch a stunning sunset on the beach!

Dragon Boat Fesival are held annually on Boracay with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other Asian nations to compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May. In 2008, it took place in May 1-3. Paddlers from all over Asia are gathered in Boracay during the dragon boat race.

Seasons There can be frequent heavy rainfall during wet season from May to October.

Tourist peak seasons are Christmas, New Year, Easter/Holy Week, and Chinese New Year periods.

Official Website http://www.boracayisland.org

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

A Tropical Paradise with a Hindu Flavor

Aisa’s rating of destinations - Bali

Culture & Sightseeing | Surfing | Shopping | SPA & Massage
Diving & Snorkeling | Nightlife
Beaches | Wildlife

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Aisa votes Bali one of the Top 10 Tropical Paradises in Asia because of its spectacular beaches, the culture, hospitable people and it spiritual magic! It’s a place full of uniqueness.

Bali is a fish-shaped Indonesian island. It’s located at east end of Java and approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. It was created by one of the largest known volcanic catastrophic eruption on Earth about 30,000 years ago. Today there are still active volcanoes on the island.

You will find both white sand and black volcano sand beaches. Beaches in the south tend to have white sand, where the tourism flourishes. The most well known beach is Kuta beach.

Bali is one of the top surfing destinations in the world and surfers’ paradise! Bali gets the full force of southern ocean swells from the Antarctic, and its southwest and south-east coasts are littered with surf spots. Lacking of dangerous rocks or coral, Bali is suitable for both beginners and experienced surfers. It is said that Bali’s wave were firstly surfed back in late 1930s by a group of Austrian surfers.

The primary surfing locations are in the southern coast, e.g., Kuta, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu. Kuta is the most popular surf site. You can easily find surf instructors lounging around the beach. Uluwatu is more popular among experienced surfers. The dry season from June to September is the best surfing season.

Read more about Bali at  Diving & Snorkeling

Love the Asian artworks? Bali is fantastic place to be: it’s famous for its wooden carving, stone carving and silverware, batik and ikat cloth and clothing. Ubud town is the cultural heart of the island, has been attracting many artists and painters for decades to live and work there. There are many art galleries and shop in Ubud. Watching the Kechak dance in Ubud is a cultural experience. The chant “kechak, kechak, kechak” can be mesmerizing!

Home to vast majority of Indonesia’s small Hindu minority, Bali has around 20,000 Hindu temples on the island. It provides magnificent visual culture infused with spirituality, which is unusual for other tropical destinations and earned its name “the island of God“. Tanah Lot temple is one of the most important sea temples, built atop a huge rock and surrounded by the sea. Build in the 16th century, Tanah Lot’s rituals include paying of homage to the guardian spirits of the sea. The best time to view the place is during sunset, when the sunlight gives the temple an illuminated glow right behind.

Bali is famous for its beautiful landscape. A chain of six volcanoes stretches from west to east. One of the famous active volcano in Bali is Mount Batur. Stop at Kintamani, a village offering an amazing panorama of Mount Batur. It’s one of the most impressing sites in Bali. There are also lush tropical forests, pristine crater lakes, fast flowing rivers and deep ravines, picturesque rice terraces, and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens.

Read more about Bali at Culture & Sightseeing and Shopping

Bali is paradise for spa lovers. The Javanese massage is a must try! There are several hot springs in Bali.

Jimbaran is famous for its seafood. Visit at dinner time so you can enjoy the seafood and the sunset at the same time!

Bali has a colorful and exciting nightlife. Read more about Bali at Nightlife and Wildlife

Did you know The popularity of the Bali has its flip side. it can be a heavy traveled and congested place, full of people living on overcharging tourist. Peddlers on Puta beach can be pushy. There are terrorist attacks in 2002 and 2005. However it did not tarnish Bali’s image as a tourism attraction.

Seasons The dry season is from April to November. From June to September the humidity is low, and it can be quite cool in the evenings. August is the coolest month. From December to March, the west monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity, but usually days are sunny and the rains start during the night and pass quickly.

Tourist peak season are July & August, Christmas, New Year; Australians’ school holidays in early April, late June and late September; Indonesian’s national holidays in mid August.

Official Website http://www.balitourismboard.org/

Text partly derived from Wikipedia and Wikitravel

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