Escape to a private island in Cambodia where the only resort on the island – which shares the same name as the island – is an eco-friendly, sustainable place. Not only is it a romantic escape for lovebirds, but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint, especially if your 2020 resolution is to be more eco-friendly. The villas are made using timber and natural materials from the mainland, while the food served in the resort is all locally-sourced.
How to get here: Fly to Sihanoukville International Airport, and then take a 45-minute speedboat ride to the island from Sihanoukville Port.
Where to stay: Song Saa Private Island is the only resort on the private island.
A small area on Palawan Island in the Philippines, El Nido is home to some of the most beautiful beaches you can find in this part of the world. It’s also home to some interesting hiking trails, forests, and diving spots if you’re into that as a couple. It’s certainly not as touristy as other mainstream islands in the Philippines, with part of the reason being its inaccessibility. But get through that and you’ll be thoroughly rewarded with a good time.
How to get here: Take either an eight-hour drive from the Puerto Princesa International Airport or a chartered plane to El Nido.
Where to stay: There are a number of luxury resorts in El Nido to choose from including El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island, El Nido Mahogany Beach Resort, and El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Palawan.
Raja Ampat may be Indonesia’s diving paradise, but its relative exclusivity makes it a pretty good destination for a romantic getaway too. Flanked by breathtaking untouched nature, floating islets, fine sandy beaches, and clear turquoise waters, this Indonesian island is protected by an ecotourism concept to maintain its natural beauty.
How to get here: If there isn’t a direct flight to Sorong, you can get there via a domestic flight from Jakarta. From Sorong, you can get on a ferry to Wasai, the capital of Raja Ampat via the Sorong Harbour.
Where to stay: Check out our list of sustainable eco-resorts in Raja Ampat for your staying pleasure.
One of the rising island stars of Vietnam is Phu Quoc, which is why you need to get yourself (and your partner) here before it becomes too touristy. With an extremely appetising food scene that encapsulates the best of Vietnamese food as well as seafood and beautiful beaches to boot, you’re sure to have a fun time here.
How to get here: You can get to Phu Quoc on a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Where to stay: Check out our guide to Phu Quoc on places to eat, things to do, as well as resorts to check in to.
Surprise, surprise. You don’t have to get out of the boundaries of Malaysia for an island escape. Gaya Island in Sabah is a beautiful place to fly to, close to the capital of Kota Kinabalu. The nature is unspoiled, covered with centuries-old rainforests and a diving experience like no other. Needless to say, the beach is pristine and inviting – perfect for a romantic holiday.
How to get here: Get on a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Gaya Island is accessible via a 20-minute ferry ride from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal.
Where to stay: Choose from several five-star resorts including Gaya Island Resort, Gayana Marine Resort, and Bungaraya Island Resort.
While Komodo Islands is indeed home to the komodo dragons, don’t discount that fact for it’s a collection of gorgeous islands worth your time and money. It’s home to Komodo National Park, which is definitely worth a visit if you and your partner are adrenaline-junkies and enjoy traversing unspoiled nature. You can even book yourself a stay in a cruise while you’re there to amp up the experience.
How to get here: To get to the island, get on an international flight to Bali and then take a domestic plane to Labuan Bojo. From there, you can get to Komodo Island by boat.
Where to stay: There aren’t many accommodation options in Komodo Island itself, but you can stay at Ayana Komodo Resort in Pantai Waecicu. If you want to make things extra unique, get you and your partner a private charter with Rascal Voyages, where you’ll be able to stay aboard this luxury yacht close to Komodo Island.
Another island destination that’s extremely close to Malaysia is Koh Lipe. You’re perhaps well-acquainted with the likes of Pattaya Beach, which is admittedly more touristy than the rest of the islands in this listing, but it’s a stunning place to be all the same. Pristine white beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters make for great water activities during your time there, and the abundance of resorts in Koh Lipe means that you and your partner will be spoilt for choice picking one to stay in.
How to get here: Take a domestic flight to Langkawi. From there head to Kuah Jetty and embark on a ferry to Koh Lipe – the journey is approximately two hours.
Where to stay: Try Idyllic Resort, Serendipity Beach Resort for some swanky hilltop bungalows, The Cliff Sunset Beach Resort for amazing views, or Sawan Resort.
Need to get away for a trip less than four hours away by plane this Valentine’s? We’ve got you covered with these romantic islands in Southeast Asia.
Every day with a loved one feels like Valentine’s Day, or so the cliche adage goes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make this particular day a more special one. After all, nothing’s sexier than being whisked away to an exotic island (Southeast Asia is pretty exotic) and pampered senseless at a luxury resort.
But no – we’re not going to recommend extremely touristy islands in Southeast Asia. Forget the likes of Bali and Phuket – these islands may be slightly less popular, but they can guarantee you and your partner some quality time together without a throng of people shoving their selfie sticks in your faces.
If you’re ready to book your flight tickets to these islands, scroll through the gallery above for some of our recommendations.
