5 Unusual islands for your ultimate bucket list
The bucket list concept may be slightly morbid since it does concern one’s eventual demise, but it also is inspirational. The idea that you could truly live the life you dream of is something to motivate us to accomplish our goals. Some people dream of business success. Others long for exciting, thrill seeking experiences. For many, however, travel tops the bucket list.
These 5 unusual islands for your ultimate bucket list are fit for anyone who loves special places with unique stories. Some are a bit spooky and some are incredibly stunning, but all have a bit of mystery in their history. You don’t have to visit them yourself. Just looking at these beautiful, foreboding, unusual places is fodder for the imagination.
Are you ready to pack your bags and take off to one of these weird islands?
1. Svalbard Island, Norway
Norway is a great vacation spot because it’s friendly to English speaking folks and often overlooked for tourists. If you’re ever nearby, try to have a stop by the incredibly remote Svalbard Islands, just stay on the lookout for polar bears.
These arctic islands have become a tourist spot themselves because people love to watch the polar bears in their natural environment. It’s a bit dangerous, however. Visitors are legally required to carry a firearm to protect themselves from a potential attack.
2. Ni’ihau, Hawaii
Visiting an island is fine, but what about owning one? Who doesn’t dream of the kind of financial security it would require to achieve that goal! Elizabeth Sinclair made that dream a reality in 1864 when she purchased Ni’ihau from the Kingdom of Hawaii.
The island’s nickname is The Forbidden Isle because visitors are rarely allowed outside of a few safaris that take place on the island. Fewer than 200 people call Ni’ihau home.
3. Tristan da Cunha, UK
This unusual island in the South Atlantic is the definition of isolation. The population is under 300 people who like the kind of excitement that living next to an active volcano brings. It is extremely remove with the nearest mainland city being Cape Town, South Africa nearly 2,000 miles away.
It’s only accessible by boat, has no hotels, no restaurants, and terrible weather. It rains almost every day. The island is a vacation destination not in spite of these complications, but because of them. If you really want to get away, you can’t get much further than Tristan da Cunha.
4. Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima Island stands as an eerie reminder of the thriving economic motions of the coal mining industry. The spot was home to so many Japanese coal workers at one point in its history that it was the most densely populated place in the world.
After WWII, however, Japan transitioned to petroleum from coal and Hashima became obsolete. Thanks to good old fashioned workmanship, many of the concrete structures on the island still stand. Some believe it looks like a battleship, but it unfortunately couldn’t withstand the battle ground of history.
5. Monuriki Island, Fiji
Would you like to castaway to a remote location but prefer something stereotypically tropical? Monuriki Island is uninhabited and most of it’s existence has been pretty peaceful. Then, it was chosen as the setting for the Tom Hanks movie, Castaway. Now it has a bit of notoriety to add to its natural mystique.
Unlike the film, however, you would have some neighbors if you visited Monuriki. There are small islands around Monuriki that are populated with real people- not just volleyballs with faces. Travelers can reach this destination by boat and explore without worrying about getting stranded. Most who do no doubt enjoy reenacting a few scenes from the movie while they’re on location.
Time To Travel
Did one of these unusual islands strike your fancy? Maybe looking at exotic places and learning about their history has gotten your wanderlust going. If you’re thintking about planning a trip to one of these destinations or anywhere else in the world, you want to know how to save more on travel, don’t you?
Enrico & Zuzana
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Hey Alexa,
these islands are great! Thanks for sharing. We would suggest you to consider visiting Phu Quoc. It’s a small Vietnamese island, in the South.
Not many tourists, amazing beaches and a lovely atmosphere :)
Happy travelling!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Small islands are always the best, thanks for the tip ;)
Shweta
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wow that place of Island is looking great. its full with beauty and crown is looking so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it.