a boat in the lagoon in Rangiroa in French Polynesia

Palafitos Houses, Patagonia, Chiloe, Chile

bathers lazing on a bamboo raft at the Tinago Falls in the Philippines

the landscape near the Marojejy National Park in Madagascar

Dhow in the harbour on Masirah Island, Oman

Natural landscape on the south coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands in Spain

a Faroese girl with her horse in Saksun, Island of Streymoy in the Faroe Islands

a helicopter on Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

a hiker climbing along the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea

seals off of Seal Island in South Africa

Silverskaer Island, Aland Islands, Baltic Sea, Finland

Volcanic Air Bubbles at Champagne Beach, Caribbean Sea, Dominica

Malaysia, Borneo, Santubong National Park

Mumbo Island Camp, Lake Malawi National Park, Malawi

a Galápagos hawk and Scalesia, a daisy tree, on Isabela Island in the Galápagos Islands

hikers descending from the summit of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania

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Remote Rangiroa is the world’s second largest atoll; all of Tahiti—French Polynesia’s largest island—could fit inside. Stroll a deserted pink sand beach. Or head to the area around Tiputa Pass, an inlet that funnels clear water and wildlife into and out of the lagoon with the tides, to spot a bevy of marine creatures including schooling grey reef sharks.

Photograph by Marco Moretti, Anzenberger/Redux

These 20 islands are an adventurer’s dream

From offshore waters to inland wilds, these isles offer activities for every explorer.

ByMeghan Miner Murray

April 29, 2019

2 min read

By virtue of their geography, islands are natural havens for adventure seekers: Surrounded by water, a voyage is required just to reach them.

Yet some islands are a cut above. These places are extra remote, have wild natural features, or rare (and sometimes dangerous) creatures that lend a particular allure. Some have existing infrastructure making the adventure experience as seamless as booking a tour, while others require a little more effort for the reward. (See 21 of the world’s best island escapes.)

From swimming through teeming reefs to trekking up jungle volcanoes, from skydiving and rock climbing to surfing alongside penguins, these extraordinary islands all but guarantee adventure—you just have to be bold enough to seek it.

Meghan Miner Murray is a contributing researcher for National Geographic Traveler, a freelance writer, and a scuba guide based on Hawaii Island. Follow her on Instagram @meghanminermurray.