10 secluded islands to escape the winter blues
What better way to escape the winter woes than by visiting one of these dreamlike island retreats?
Islands hold an eternally precious place in our wanderlust – they are escapism encapsulated. There’s just one problem: many of us feel the same way, and fleeing to an overcrowded isle feels like a kind of cruel irony we’d rather avoid right now. Privacy is the key to unlocking an inimitable sense of peace; be it forgoing a bustling hotel for your very own island home, or staking out a standalone villa at an exclusive resort. Here, we gather a selection of the most enticing island stays around the world to drown out the background noise, avoid the madding crowds, and take a deep-dive into the splendid sense of isolation we’re craving.
Forte San Giorgio, Capraia, Italy
Set on the island of Capraia in the Tuscan Archipelago, this beautifully reimagined fort underwent a decade-long metamorphosis to emerge as one of Italy’s most extraordinary private rentals. While the earliest remnants of construction date back to the 13th century, the fort itself was built in the 16th century before stints as a German wartime base, a hotel and even a ’70s disco. Stone ramparts and a soaring watchtower are testament to this storied past; the fort now blends vaulted stone and frescoed ceilings with Venetian briccole (woodblock) floors, two pools, a yoga studio and a wealth of outdoor lounging and imbibing spaces (fabulous in-house chef included, grazie mille). Despite the grandeur of the endeavour, the property emanates warmth, serenity and a gloriously cosseted sense of retreat.
Rates: From around $32,000 per week for 11 bedrooms (sleeps up to 21 people), inclusive of meals (six days a week), staff, daily cleaning and more.
Best for: Families or groups wishing to holiday together in majestic surrounds.
Amanwana, Moyo Island, Indonesia
This dreamy tented camp resort, set in dense greenery on the private island of Moyo, takes escapism to the next level (Princess Diana reportedly escaped prying eyes here). Surrounded by the azure waters of the coral-rich Flores Sea, your immersion into the life aquatic is expertly guided by the instructors at the dive centre. There’s plenty of untamed wilderness on firm ground, too. Hike through teak, fig and banyan trees, discover pristine waterfalls or tackle coastal Trails. The spa offers traditional smoking ceremonies and Javanese cleansing treatments. Choose between oceanfront or jungle tented suites, designed to enhance the real star of the show – the living, breathing nature around you.
Rates: From $6,800 for three nights (minimum stay) including full board for two and return car and boat transfers between Sumbawa Besar’s airport and Moyo Island.
Best for: Castaway couples looking to reconnect with each other, and nature, in soothing island luxury.
Pangolin, Mustique, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
On an island whose exclusivity is perhaps rivalled only by its residents’ charming (and often flamboyant) character, Pangolin is the perfect stylish home base. Now managed by the Mustique Company, the island was bought in 1958 by aristocratic Scotsman Colin Tennant, who gifted Princess Margaret one of the original plots and cultivated Mustique’s rock-star (Bowie, Jagger …) and royalty-laden scene. No ATMs or traffic lights here; tortoises have right of way. Philippe Starck refurbished the legendary Basil’s Bar for the island’s 50th anniversary. Built by Swede Arne Hasselqvist, one of the two original architects on the island, Pangolin is perched atop a hill to capture sea breezes, its pink bougainvillea popping against ocean views. The location can hardly be improved upon; a refresh last year focused on the interiors and added bedrooms to this ultra-special slice of mythical Mustique.
Rates: Weekly rates start from around $107,000, inclusive of all food and beverages.
Best for: Gathering colourful friends for your own Big Chill remake, island-style.
Kolokithi Bay, Alonissos, Greece
This seven-bedroom gem will have you ensconced in island life the second you clap eyes on that infinity pool with its ocean views beyond. The house treads an expert line between lived-in comfort and island minimalism, with polished-concrete floors, well-stocked kitchen cabinets, and plenty of stone and wood. Pared-back yet impactful artworks and furnishings from B&B Italia and Boffi make considered appearances. Outdoors, a treasure trove: fireplace chill-out zone, fragrant gardens, multiple dining areas – and that’s before you discover the private jetty, beckoning you to explore the crystalline waters of Alonissos Marine Park. With a chef on hand to whip up feasts worthy of your heartiest post-swim appetite, it’s peak Greek islands getaway. The diminutive isle has beautiful beaches, and the region is rich in marine life, including endangered Mediterranean monk seals.
Rates: From $49,000 per week, including some meals, daily cleaning and more.
Best for: Groups seeking deliciously sun-dazed days and lingering nights.
Gladden Private Island, Belize
Crowd-phobes take note: this small jewel in the Belize Barrier Reef may be the ultra-exclusive tropical bolthole of your fantasies. This is all yours – creamy sand and swaying palm trees encircle your villa, with partially open-air rooms, thick beams, thatching and a plunge pool. A rooftop terrace is perfect for soaking up the dazzling surrounds. Meals feature fish plucked from your doorstep and organic island produce. Discreet staff arrive from a nearby island to cater to every desire (a “privacy metre” tells you they’ve arrived), from spa treatments to ocean excursions such as swimming with whale sharks. Other than that, it’s just you and paradise until the spell breaks.
Rates: From $5,694 per night, all-inclusive (there may be additional charges for special-order items).
Best for: Romantic souls looking for the ultimate seclusion.
Como Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos
Como Parrot Cay is arguably the poster-child for contemporary colonial Caribbean style. This private island resort with its alternating layers of white and turquoise blend and blur to the horizon, drawing boldface celebrities, the fashion set and top-tier travellers for its exclusivity, seclusion and exquisite design. From light-soaked ocean-view rooms to private houses and sprawling estates, this is the place to find your personal paradise. Wellness is high on the agenda (the extensive offering is complemented by regular yoga retreats), but there’s plenty of scope for indulgence, too. Adventurous types might try diving off almost vertical reef walls into mysterious blue depths. A weekly seafood market offers your choice of the day’s catch from local fishermen, before it’s prepared just how you like it. You can also expect private tiki hut dinners, beach picnics and much more.
Rates: From $1,214 per night (two-night minimum), including breakfast.
Best for: The impeccably dressed, looking to decompress.
Islas Secas, Panama
An eco-luxe adventure awaits at this hidden Pacific archipelago. The privately owned scattering of 14 islands in the Gulf of Chiriquí is home to a maximum of 24 guests in its thoughtfully – and impeccably – designed lodgings. The tented casitas are airy delights featuring roll-up canvas sides and outdoor tubs, while others have plunge pools and private beach access. Sustainability and conservation are the heart of this special place: all energy is solar-powered; water and food scraps are reused, and guest facilities are built from sustainable wood. Expect to come away both refreshed and inspired.
Rates: From around $3,600 per night (minimum stay applies) on an all-inclusive basis, including food and drinks, one spa treatment per guest per stay, and a variety of activities on and off the island.
Best for: Eco-minded sunseekers.
Lopud 1483, Lopud Island, Croatia
This painstakingly restored 15th-century monastery on an island off the coast of Dubrovnik is utterly captivating – a living art gallery infused with ancient spirituality and a beguiling sense of calm. While it’s been resurrected as a space for everything from concerts to seminars and film festivals, it can also be hired on an exclusive-use basis for a truly spectacular stay. A 20-year revamp undertaken by creative director Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza and her family transformed the 13 former cells into five sublime suites, impeccably furnished with a blend of handmade furniture from Italian designer Paola Lenti and handpicked antiques from the family collection. The walls you’ll glide past (on your way to a morning meditation in the fragrant medicinal garden, perhaps, or sundowners on the rooftop terrace) are equally intriguing. Highlights include a magnificent Renaissance tapestry from France, The Liberation of Saint Peter by Mattia Preti oil painting, and modern photographs from Thyssen-Bornemisza’s contemporary art foundation, TBA21.
Rates: From around $14,700 per night on a half-board basis (sleeps 10).
Best for: In-the-know culture vultures seeking a group getaway in Croatia.
Naladhu Private Island, Maldives
This Maldivian treasure (“beautiful little island” in the local Dhivehi language) manages to stay relatively under-the-radar yet top of the list for those in the know. With a stunning refurb from designer Yuji Yamazaki unveiled last year, now’s the time to discover this private island on South Male Atoll for yourself. Set on the edge of a lagoon, Naladhu’s 20 private houses (each named after an indigenous plant) come with private pools and personal kuwaanu (butler-cum-travel curator) to help you customise the resort’s “no menu” dining concept, ensuring a highlights reel of private beachside sunset dinners, meringue-sand picnics and yacht-based sundowners. The Gulhifushi experience involves a full day of barefoot indulgence on a pristine island, where beach breakfast gives way to a private snorkelling tour before a fire-cooked lunch (think wagyu, lobster and chilled Champagne). A heavenly massage, afternoon tea and sundowners on the way home will probably spoil you for life, but you’ll dine out on the memories for years to come.
Rate: From around $1,989 per night for a beach house with private pool.
Best for: Barefoot food fans with impeccable taste.
Magic Famara, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
We’re a little bit bewitched by Magic Famara. Every element of this bolthole is designed to inspire, soothe and delight its guests, who tend to be creative types. “The light on this island is phenomenal,” says owner Luc Carpentier. Set on Lanzarote’s remote northwest coast, where surfers seek out the break at Famara Beach, the volcanic landscape is dramatically beautiful: jagged mountains evoke Cape Town’s Clifton and Camps Bay beaches, the vast, unspoilt beach mirrored in the sky at low tide. The villa, in a small gated community metres from the surf, is inspired by César Manrique, the Spanish artist and architect who protected Lanzarote from ruinous overdevelopment. It’s brimming with character and charm – that cerulean garden gate, the rock-hewn outdoor bath – echoing the island’s colour scheme of dark rock, dazzling white, cactus green and oceanic blue. Carpentier calls Magic Famara “your antidote to stress”. We’ll take it, stat.
Rates: From $3,070 per week (seven-night minimum stay).
Best for: Star-gazing lovers and dreamers; surfing design enthusiasts.
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