It’s hard to beat ‘island life’ for feeling a fresh sea breeze on your face, seeing unexpected sights along less-visited coastlines and immersing yourself in the cultural diversity found on isolated archipelagos.
In the past couple of years, our friends at Undiscovered Destinations have assembled an impressive collection of island-based and island-hopping trips which our clients have hugely enjoyed and given outstanding feedback upon.
Here are four current favourites of ours – each offering a very distinctive travel experience.
Sulawesi Explorer
The oddly shaped island of Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s cultural treasures, but is often neglected in favour of better-known Bali or Java. Yet it holds a wealth of treasures that should be on the itinerary of every serious traveller, with fascinating ethnic groups following elaborate social practices, which cannot be seen elsewhere.
This trip encompasses both the north and south of the island, starting in the bustling capital Makassar and heading into Tanah Toraja, an area of highlands where traditional architecture and practices are at their strongest. Explore villages with amazing carved houses visit incredible ‘hanging graves’ and walk along picturesque rice terraces to reach little visited communities.
Visit parks and reserves in the island’s north in search of unusual wildlife, including the tiny Tarsier, and enjoy traditional meals cooked by the inhabitants of local villages. See the unusual ‘waruga’ sarcophagi of the Minhasa Highlands and explore colourful local markets.
This is an intriguing and rather mysterious part of the Indonesian archipelago with unique and complex social customs that are unlike anything you will have seen before.
14 May to 28 May 2027 | £2345 per person | £525 single supplement
Caribbean Island-Hopping
The adventure starts in St Kitts from where a luxury catamaran takes you to its sister island Nevis with the chance along the way to snorkel and view the rich marine life.
Next stop is Antigua to explore the bustling capital of St John’s, with its English Harbour, historical forts and other vestiges of the colonial past. The next hop continues south to Dominica to enjoy its lush rainforests and natural hot springs. Then by local ferry to Saint Lucia to explore the island including the one-of-a-kind Sulphur Springs and the world’s first ‘drive-in Volcano’.
The adventure continues with a short flight to St Vincent and the Grenadines – a place of white-sand beaches, sky-blue water gently lapping the shores and barely a soul around. Then onwards to Trinidad and Tobago to discover the country’s cultural and religious diversity before heading to the Dutch Antilles for the final leg of the trip. With its delightful Dutch colonial architecture, thriving art and culinary scenes and excellent history museums, Curacao feels like a little piece of Europe at the edge of the Caribbean.
Finally a short hop to Aruba, where the adventure ends travelling by off-road vehicle across the rugged terrain of Arikok National Park.
16 Feb to 7 March 2027 | £9950 per person | £1995 single supplement
Indian Ocean Explorer
This exceptional journey offers a rare chance to explore some of the least visited islands of the Indian Ocean.
Starting in Zanzibar, with its rich spice trading history and the atmospheric alleyways of Stone Town, the adventure continues via Dar es Salaam to the Comoros to explore lush landscapes at the base of Mount Karthala and search for elusive lemurs.
A short hop onward then to Mayotte, where mangroves, volcanic lakes, and mudflats await, before moving on to the dramatic scenery of Reunion, with its waterfalls, volcanic coastline, and lava-surviving church, Notre Dame des Laves.
Next, fly to Rodrigues – isolated, enchanting, and untouched – where Creole charm and a slower pace define one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands. In Mauritius, the itinerary includes stunning beaches, sugar cane fields, waterfalls, and colonial-era Port Louis, along with time to relax.
The final leg of the tour lands in the Seychelles on Mahe Island, where you’ll visit botanical gardens, heritage sites, a rum distillery, and a tea factory, with time for swimming and snorkelling.
14 June to 1 July 2027 | £9950 per person | £1995 single supplement
East Timor Discovery
East Timor is a proud nation now at peace after many years of an independence struggle. It is a land of amazing variety with fine examples of its Portuguese colonial past awaiting discovery by the intrepid traveller. This tour takes in its highlights, starting in the relaxed capital Dili, a lovely place to wander around and soak up the East Timorese atmosphere.
Next there is an ascent of imposing Mt Ramelau, with its superb views over the surrounding area, before exploring delightful old colonial towns and spending time on the idyllic Atauro Island, home to a great eco-lodge with good opportunities for hiking and meeting local people.
Next head to the east of the island to relax on gorgeous beaches and visit remote islands before returning to Dili.
This trip shows the curious traveller the very best that this enchanting nation has to offer.
3 July to 16 July 2027 | £3495 per person | £815 single supplement
Trip costs exclude international flights and tours are subject to availability.
Contact us for more details.
Happy travelling!