Top 10 Island Destinations Less Than 8 Hrs Flight From India
Are you looking for an international vacation to gorgeous, sun-kissed islands with exhilarating water sports? Or maybe you just want to explore ancient ruins and old temples and relax on serene, sandy beaches on a calm weekend getaway.
As a busy professional, you might wonder if it’s possible to fit an international vacation into your super-hectic schedule or if you’d have to let go of your dreams of flying to an exotic island destination this year.
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with the 10 best islands that are less than an 8-hour flight from India, offer great activity options, and are dotted with awesome hotels to stay! Get ready to be serenaded by sultry beaches, pristine blue waters, and a balmy ocean breeze on your next trip abroad.
Check out these 10 best island destinations that offer you everything from majestic temples, ancient ruins, glittering nightlife, glamorous bazaars, and the quintessential tropical beaches with a range of exciting water sports to exploring!
10 Breathtaking Island Destinations You Shouldn’t Miss!
1. Maldives – Haven of Pristine Beaches
Underneath the azure blue waters of the Maldives thrives the most enrapturing waterworld you’d ever see.
Sure, the islands are chock-full of white sands, mimosas, and tropical resorts. But it’s the coral walls, manta rays, reef sharks, and the most vibrantly coloured tropical fish you should look forward to in your Maldives escapade. If you get lucky on your sunset cruise into the deep sea, you might even spot playful dolphins lurking around your boat!
The Maldives also offers island-hopping adventures for explorers. Your visit to Maldives can be more than baking golden sand, pretty blue lagoons and seafood – this island destination can unlock new discoveries for you.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: November to April
Things to do in Maldives:
Maldives is big on activities having to do anything with water. You can try scuba diving, jet skiing, snorkelling, kayaking and deep sea cruises. Usually, the resort you book arranges these activities for you – all you have to do is sign up for participation.
2. Bali, Indonesia – The Land of the Gods
Yes, Bali sounds like so much fun in the sun. But did you know that in the dead centre of this city are situated some of the most riveting volcanoes that nonchalantly dot the central mountains? The highest peak, Gunung Agung, is where Bali gathers for its spiritual ablutions and activities.
If you have to sum up the quintessence of your Bali visit, you’ll find yourself thinking about the countless temples and imagining flower offerings scattered around the city.
It’s in its hospitable people that Bali’s sun truly shines bright – whether you’re frolicking in the coastal waters, hiking up its mountains, visiting its temples or enjoying the local food.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: July to August
Things to do in Bali:
For a wholesome Bali experience, opt for the Mount Batur Sunrise trek to take in the views. Benoa beach offers some adrenaline-spiking water sports, which can’t be missed. You can also consider hiking in Nusa Penida.
3. Mauritius – The Land of The Seven-Coloured Earth
Mark Twain said this about Mauritius: “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius,” and he was right.
Although its natural beauty is what gets travellers’ attention, Mauritius emerges from a dark history of human struggle – which contrastingly happens to be what gives it its cultural richness.
The interiors of this island offer rewarding hiking experiences in the Black River Piton and Trois Mamelles. For coast lovers, there’s so much more than sand and water: the snorkelling experiences are one-of-a-kind.
Having experienced a mass arrival of people from around the world during its course of history, Mauritius is an amalgamation of cuisine and culture.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: April to June and September to December
Things to do in Mauritius: A culinary experience in Mauritius will enhance the beauty of your visit. Try eating local after a tiring session of mountain hiking or water sports. You can also take a full-day tour of Port Louis.
Our recommendation for 2023: North Island, South Island and Ile Aux Cerfs
4. Seychelles – The Island of Hills and Beaches
For those who dream of beaches, blue waters, and nothing but beaches and blue waters – Seychelles answers your desire, and with panache.
This is the Island of islands – where sand has an exquisite, lush texture, to be found nowhere else. At a stone’s throw away is La Digue, a safe sanctuary for countless endangered and endemic wildlife, like the paradise flycatcher.
For the island-city experience, you can visit the capital city of Victoria any day, but that is beside the point when Seychelles’ dreamy beaches lay naked with Mother Nature’s ample bounty. The blue-and-blush coastline of Seychelles is truly unbeatable.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: April to May and October to November
Things to do in Seychelles: When in Seychelles, make it a priority to experience its coastal beauty. You can even hire a bicycle in La Digue and explore the entire island. Get your binoculars and spot the rare wildlife you won’t see anywhere else.
Our recommendation for 2023: Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue
5. Phuket – Ridiculously Diverse
Phuket: the largest Thai island that shadows its own cultural beauty with beaches. Phuket is a contrast in itself. While the golden sand and voluminous waters draw your attention, the latent contiguity of the Peranakan city centre is missed by the dazed traveller.
Phuket offers a stunning walk through the Sino-Portuguese shophouses, intricate, architecturally staggering temples in Chalong and Thalang, and even national parks in the far north of its borders.
The unending coastline is splattered with luxurious, water-dipping resorts and a flurry of adventure hands ready to take you on day tours to the Phi Phi and the Floating islands.
Give Phuket a chance to show you its shier side – don’t just go there for a good tan.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: November to April
Things to do in Phuket: Take a day tour to the neighbouring islands, like Ko Phi Phi. You can explore the cave structure while on the ferry tours and dive into the shallows for a stellar view of the coral life. Take a walk into the city to experience fresh local food, and maybe visit the temples.
6. Phu Quoc – Beauty in Chaos
Phu Quoc can be conveniently synonymized with your typical Goan vacation – but there is a different kind of beauty here; the experiences are also unique in their own charming way. From diving opportunities in the reefs to motorbiking along the backroads of the island, there’s ample time for making merry memories that last you a lifetime. Grab a kayak and enter your explorer avatar or lounge on your sea-view deck chair sipping on a bubbly.
Phu Quoc also has its own store of tropical jungles you can scout on your days off. Not surprisingly, the island is full of western expats just as much as locals – so there’s an opportunity to mingle with the social butterflies.
Minimum Duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: February to April and August to October
Things to do in Phu Quoc: The best thing you can do in Phu Quoc is rent a motorbike and set yourself free. Explore every nook and cranny. You can also go on hikes, kayak in the waters, or just explore the city.
7. Koh Samui – Enchanting Sunrises and Dazing Sunsets
Koh Samui is an idyllic destination for a world-class spa experience to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. Sure, there’s the sun and sand – but that experience is seasoned with time-based escapades.
There’s Chaweng Beach to catch the most beautiful beach sunrise ever. Then you can move on to Fisherman’s Village for food, fun, and cocktails. Later, you can head over to the Mae Nam beach to relax and ready yourself for a stunning sunset and a night full of partying. Explore Koh Samui’s hole-in-the-wall eateries to find the most delicious meals hiding behind the razzmatazz street lights.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: December to March
Things to do in Koh Samui: Gear up for your most experiential, scintillating spa sessions in Koh Samui. Try to capture your sunrise moments because the island is towards the east of Phuket, offering truly beautiful sights. Relax on the beach, go snorkelling, and eat! Our recommendation for 2023: Koh Samui
8. Koh Rong – The Party-Pad Island
What once was a peaceful island escape has now quickly ascended into a backpacker-hosting, flurried island loaded with unassuming pubs. The Koh Tuch village offers a stretch of coastline with powder-white sands and a shaded blue sea, but the idle tourist eventually finds his way into the deeper reaches of the destination, vying for the sight of glowing phytoplankton in the sea, cradled by entwining forests that block out the party-owl shenanigans.
It may not be your best family island, but for a trip to remember between friends or when on a honeymoon, Koh Rong packs a punch.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: December to February
Things to do in Koh-Rong: When in Koh-Rong, go beach hopping. Explore the Son Sak beach – the most touted one out of all the sands the island offers. The easternmost point would lead you to the coconut beach.
9. Palawan – The Land of Water
Palawan has a beauty that is yet to be explored. The island’s interior reaches feature an almost pristine coastal experience that’s unadulterated by tourism’s vices. Palawan provides a sea view like none other, with its deep blue hues of Cadlao island and the far greens of Long Beach. You’ll also discover that Palawan is sparsely populated for being such a beautiful island destination – which is what makes it so pleasing to visit.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: December to February
Things to do in Palawan: When in Palawan, make sure to visit the Puerto Princesa subterranean river – a river that flows underground! Beach and island hopping are the best experiences in Palawan.
10. Langkawi – The Jewel of Kedah
Give yourself a little bit of every experience with Pulau Langkawi. Splattered with forest-hugging valleys, beach bars and shacks, hot springs, waterfalls, parks and extreme-bargain shopping, Langkawi will test you to the limit of holidaying.
For an island destination, Langkawi is brimming with lush experiences of the tropical forest than any other island place. It’s an extremely family-friendly destination. Famous for its SkyCab, Langkawi offers sweeping views of expansive forests and shared borders with the deep sea from high cables up in the air.
Minimum duration: 4 nights
Best time to visit: November to April
Things to do in Langkawi: Don’t miss the SkyCab experience in Langkawi – to see how things look from a bird’s eye, this is the most memorable thing you will do here. You can also explore the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park for its mangroves.
Wrapping Up:
There are so many spectacular and thrilling island destinations, hardly a few hour’s flight from India. Why should you have to choose between gorgeous emerald-green beaches with tranquil waters or vibrant, sunny ones with shimmering nightlife when you can have both? Whether you’re a dreamy-eyed honeymooning couple seeking a romantic getaway or a bunch of adventurous friends looking to get the best out of a weekend retreat, there’s something for everyone. Get in touch with our expert holiday planners at GoTraveLab to plan your next dream vacation!