I'm going to be honest with you. Really. In kindergarden when all the other kids were learning to share, I'm pretty sure I was distracted by a butterfly.
This south Pacific gem is more modernized and easier to access than the other islands on this list. That said, it's still a trek to get there. For North Americans, the easiest option is a direct flight on Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific) from LAX to NAN. This flight runs on a regular basis and prices tend to be lower than other options. In addition, Fiji Airways has flights continuing on to Australia which allow free layovers, an excellent break on the front or back end of a trip (or both!).
The Soloman Islands make up a small nation in the south Pacific. It is difficult to get to, which translates into a very low rate of tourism. Giza is one of the 922 islands that make up this nation, some hardly big enough to land a plane on, or so you'll think as your captain heads downwards.
The waters are crystal clear and chalked full of tropical fish. Many hotels simply dip a line off their pier to bring up a dinner of some of the most succulent fish you'll ever taste (note: if you don't like fish, you'll be challenged for options). Biking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and kicking back in a hammock are the most popular activities on this island paradise.
Imagine for a moment being stranded here, no internet or cellphone coverage, just peace and quiet. Not so bad, right?
My final choice on this list is also my favorite. Like the others, it's difficult to reach by entirely worth it.
Let's start with a geography lesson. Eritrea: located on the horn of Africa. It's surrounded by Ethiopia, Djibouti and Sudan, and sits across the Red Sea from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It's at war with the majority of its neighbours, and has strict requirements for tourists wanting to travel there. That said, it's 100% worth the effort.
Below are examples of two islands located off the coast of Eritrea in the Red Sea. Both were reached by power boat, both were entirely uninhabited, and on both we were left entirely to ourselves. The water was warm and filled with fish, the boats having to edge around the reefs to make their landings. Truly, I haven't seen anything to match the stunning beauty of these bits of sand. For the brave, this is an experience not to be missed.
Note: These are just beaches I've come across in my journeys. The fact is, the more remote you go the more spectacular they get. There are tons more out there, just waiting to be discovered!
Fact is, I'm not good at sharing. I like things to be mine. This especially holds true for beaches. I don't like to share my sand. As a result, most beach resorts aren't all that appealing. I have tested this several times in the Caribbean and while the beaches were nice, they didn't make me want to shove my flag in the sand and claim it for Canada.
The biggest issue? Too many people.
My favorite beaches don't include company.
So for all those beach-lovers out there, let's talk about the more remote, jaw-droppingly beautiful bits of sand out there that you aren't going to see on a Top 10 list.
1. Easter Island, Chile
Easter Island: better recognized as that island with all the statues of the giant heads.
Fly to Santiago, Chile. Board a LAN jet and head straight into the Pacific for 5.5 hours. If the captain is worth their title, they'll find the most remote inhabited place on the planet, Easter Island. The next closest populated place is Tahiti, but that's almost 6 hours away.
Easter Island marks the southernmost tip of Polynesia and boasts a population just shy of 6,000. Surrounded by an azure-blue sky that stretches to the horizon, the water here is as clear as Bombay Blue gin and as refreshing as cool breeze of a hot day.
There are multiple beaches on the island worth visiting, some framed with the island's famed moai (giant statues) and others utterly deserted. The island also has an issue with wild horses, so if you're sunbathing and think you hear thunder, check behind you as a herd may be galloping past (note for parents: this fact should be shared with caution to your 10 year old daughter. Side effects can include endless pestering to visit.).
Easter Island: better recognized as that island with all the statues of the giant heads.
Fly to Santiago, Chile. Board a LAN jet and head straight into the Pacific for 5.5 hours. If the captain is worth their title, they'll find the most remote inhabited place on the planet, Easter Island. The next closest populated place is Tahiti, but that's almost 6 hours away.
Easter Island marks the southernmost tip of Polynesia and boasts a population just shy of 6,000. Surrounded by an azure-blue sky that stretches to the horizon, the water here is as clear as Bombay Blue gin and as refreshing as cool breeze of a hot day.
There are multiple beaches on the island worth visiting, some framed with the island's famed moai (giant statues) and others utterly deserted. The island also has an issue with wild horses, so if you're sunbathing and think you hear thunder, check behind you as a herd may be galloping past (note for parents: this fact should be shared with caution to your 10 year old daughter. Side effects can include endless pestering to visit.).
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| Easter Island |
2. Fiji
This south Pacific gem is more modernized and easier to access than the other islands on this list. That said, it's still a trek to get there. For North Americans, the easiest option is a direct flight on Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific) from LAX to NAN. This flight runs on a regular basis and prices tend to be lower than other options. In addition, Fiji Airways has flights continuing on to Australia which allow free layovers, an excellent break on the front or back end of a trip (or both!).
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| Fiji |
3. Giza, Solomon Islands
The Soloman Islands make up a small nation in the south Pacific. It is difficult to get to, which translates into a very low rate of tourism. Giza is one of the 922 islands that make up this nation, some hardly big enough to land a plane on, or so you'll think as your captain heads downwards.
The waters are crystal clear and chalked full of tropical fish. Many hotels simply dip a line off their pier to bring up a dinner of some of the most succulent fish you'll ever taste (note: if you don't like fish, you'll be challenged for options). Biking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and kicking back in a hammock are the most popular activities on this island paradise.
Imagine for a moment being stranded here, no internet or cellphone coverage, just peace and quiet. Not so bad, right?
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| Giza, Soloman Islands |
4. Champagne Beach, Espirito Santo, Vanuatu
Vanuatu is another fun one to find on a map. Like Soloman, it's made up of a series of 82 islands, not all of which are inhabited. Espiritu Santo is the largest of these islands (though oddly not where the capital is located or the main airport), and also one that lays claim to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Champagne Beach.
You can find this beach by driving down a long dirt road off the main highway (this highway is paved, luckily, and allows for two cars passing at most points). You might run into a couple other people there, but in general you'll have it to yourself. Bring a towel, some food and water, and a bottle of champagne to toast not just the beauty of the place but that you managed to make it all the way there!
Vanuatu is another fun one to find on a map. Like Soloman, it's made up of a series of 82 islands, not all of which are inhabited. Espiritu Santo is the largest of these islands (though oddly not where the capital is located or the main airport), and also one that lays claim to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Champagne Beach.
You can find this beach by driving down a long dirt road off the main highway (this highway is paved, luckily, and allows for two cars passing at most points). You might run into a couple other people there, but in general you'll have it to yourself. Bring a towel, some food and water, and a bottle of champagne to toast not just the beauty of the place but that you managed to make it all the way there!
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| Champagne Beach, Espiritu Santo |
5. Eritrea
My final choice on this list is also my favorite. Like the others, it's difficult to reach by entirely worth it.
Let's start with a geography lesson. Eritrea: located on the horn of Africa. It's surrounded by Ethiopia, Djibouti and Sudan, and sits across the Red Sea from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It's at war with the majority of its neighbours, and has strict requirements for tourists wanting to travel there. That said, it's 100% worth the effort.
Below are examples of two islands located off the coast of Eritrea in the Red Sea. Both were reached by power boat, both were entirely uninhabited, and on both we were left entirely to ourselves. The water was warm and filled with fish, the boats having to edge around the reefs to make their landings. Truly, I haven't seen anything to match the stunning beauty of these bits of sand. For the brave, this is an experience not to be missed.
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| Desert Island, Eritrea |
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| Sand spit, Eritrea |
Note: These are just beaches I've come across in my journeys. The fact is, the more remote you go the more spectacular they get. There are tons more out there, just waiting to be discovered!
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