ALL over the planet are incredible islands – but these ones have been declared the best in the world.
Travel + Leisure has found the very top destinations from Asia to Africa and Australia – not to mention one spot went to the UK.
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Koh Samui has been named the ‘best island in the world’Credit: Alamy
The best islands were declared from reader votes of which there were hundreds of thousands.
In top spot was the Thai island of Koh Samui which got a top score of 95.64 out of 100.
The publication said: “This first-time winner in the Gulf of Thailand—with an array of elevated accommodations, luscious jungles, and roaring waterfalls—has become a leading destination for self-care.”
It was also praised for its beaches, vibrant culture and waterfalls.
“But the realThailandis in the busy beach bars flogging happy-hour deals, tiny restaurants with garish tablecloths, and the constant thump of Thai boxing promotions from crackling loudspeakers.“
In second place was the beautiful Maldives followed by the Galapagos Islands and Bali.
But in 13th place is the first and only UK island to make the list – Skye and the Hebrides.
The wild Scottish archipelago is known for mountainous landscapes, rugged coastlines and rare white-sand beaches.
Skye and the Hebrides came 13th in the list of the ‘world’s best islands’Credit: AlamyThe Greek island of Crete in Greece also made the listCredit: Alamy
She said: “Whilst there isn’t much to do on the island, it is the perfect retreat away from the modern world and the stresses of day to day life.
“The island has an endless amount of walks you can take, and a couple of mine included heading to the summit and to the opposite side of the island where I found Shoe Bay, with a white sand beach and crystal clear waters.
“And whilst exploring the island, make sure to keep an eye out for wildlife as birds of prey often circle overhead.
“In less than 24 hours I had completely fallen in love with the island.”
Other top islands close to the UK include Malta which is dubbed one of the ‘jewels of the Mediterranean’.
Its capital, Valletta, is one of the sunniest cities in all of Europe – it gets on average 3,000 hours of sunshine each year.
The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily which are a short flight away for Brits also got high marks.
Beautiful Sardinia in Italy achieve a mark of 91.57 out of 100Credit: AlamyThe Maldives known for overwater bungalows came in second placeCredit: Alamy
In Greece, Milos and Crete placed in the top 25 – as did Paros, which was last year’s winner, some of which are set to be the next big Greek island holiday destinations.
It still warns that the situation is “unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice”.
However, the lifting of the ban means holidays can resume to the region.
A drone attack hit Dubai’s main airport back in MarchCredit: AFP
Last year, 1.4million Brits visited Dubai alone, which have since massively dropped due to the travel ban.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have already suspended flights to Dubai until October 2026 and winter 2027, respectively.
However, Emirates continues to operate flights between the UK and the UAE.
The travel ban being lifted also affects Abu Dhabi, where holidays can also resume.
The UK Foreign Office has lifted the travel ban for Qatar as well, which includes flights going through Doha.
In response, Qatar Airways has increased the number of flights operating between the UK and Doha, including 49 flights a week from London Heathrow and 14 a week from Edinburgh.
What does this now mean for your holiday?
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explains more:
It’s back!
Travel to the Middle East plummeted in the wake of the Iran war and our Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel to the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
For decades, British sun-seekers have been used to flying via the Middle Eastern hubs. Airlines like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar aggressively took on the legacy carriers like British Airways and Singapore Airlines with value flights and unbeatable service.
All that came shuddering to a halt when the war in Iran saw missiles fired at the glitzy skyscrapers of Dubai and drones were shot down over Qatar’s major hub airport in Doha.
Overnight, hotels emptied and travellers scrabbled for direct flights to destinations in the Far East and Australia, or switched to the traditional hub airports in Singapore and Hong Kong.
With the peace plan now agreed, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It is fantastic news that the Foreign Office has moved swiftly to lift the blanket ban that threw the holiday plans of millions into chaos.
Demand to Dubai and its neighbouring emirates including Abu Dhabi will no doubt bounce back quickly.
Those tourism-dependent countries are desperate to tempt us back. Expect a wave of great holiday deals and rock bottom fares in the coming weeks to encourage us to pack our bags.
But there is still a sting in the tail – the shocking rise in oil prices due to the closure of the Hormuz Straits hit the industry hard. Airfares will have to rise as airlines attempt to balance their books after such a sustained period of unrest.
But for now, for those who loved the Dubai beach clubs or appreciated the chance to travel seamlessly across the globe via the Middle East, there’s cause for celebration.
The gateway to these sun-drenched spots is open once more.
This affects long-haul holidays to places like Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Australia, who often use these Middle East hubs as stopover destinations.
Many destinations have seen a drop in tourism because of the war – Thailand predicted as many as 11million long-haul arrivals this year, but has since dropped this to 10million.
Tens of thousands of people marched in central London on Saturday in two protests: one against high immigration levels and another supporting Palestinians. Police deployed 4,000 officers, marking their most significant public order operation in years, and made 11 arrests by noon.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the Unite the Kingdom march for spreading hate, which was organized by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson. The government prohibited 11 foreign far-right figures from entering the UK to address the protest. A previous Robinson-led march attracted around 150,000 participants and resulted in over 20 arrests. Supporters at the recent march waved British and English flags, expressing concerns about high migration numbers and criticizing net-zero policies.
Protesters take part in a “Unite the Kingdom” rally organised by British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in London, Britain, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Annual net migration peaked at nearly 900,000 in 2022 and 2023 but dropped to around 200,000 last year due to stricter visa rules. Immigration issues have impacted Starmer’s popularity and helped right-wing parties like Reform UK gain support. Some protesters expressed hostility towards Starmer, while Robinson called for peaceful actions during his rally.
Nearby, pro-Palestinian demonstrators commemorated Nakba Day, marking the loss of Palestinian land during the 1948 conflict. This march attracted those opposing Robinson’s protest and included displays of Palestinian flags. London has seen increased anti-Jewish incidents, leaving many Jewish individuals feeling unsafe in the area. The police have been making arrests for various public order offences related to these protests, and the government warned against antisemitic chants. Some slogans during the protest included calls related to the Israeli army that have led to previous arrests.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to continue as leader, despite heavy losses in local elections raising doubts about his ability to govern. Critics within the Labour Party have suggested he should resign, but currently, there is no leadership contest. Starmer’s personal approval ratings are among the lowest for a British leader, and Labour is trailing behind the Reform UK party in opinion polls, indicating a potential loss in the national election scheduled for 2029. However, some cabinet ministers have publicly supported him, and calls for his resignation mostly come from fringe party members and opposing parties.
The lack of immediate challenges to Starmer arises from several factors. Labour is facing significant domestic and international issues, such as financial constraints and rising living costs, that a new leader would also have to address. Among the possible successors, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham lacks a parliamentary seat, and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is still dealing with unresolved tax issues. The third candidate, Wes Streeting, is currently serving as health minister.
A leadership challenge can occur if there is enough support within Labour for a new candidate. However, it is generally more difficult for Labour to remove a sitting prime minister compared to the Conservative Party. Any candidate wishing to challenge Starmer must secure support from 20% of Labour Members of Parliament, which would mean around 81 backers. Candidates also need backing from grassroots Labour Party organizations and affiliated groups. Starmer would automatically be on the ballot if he chooses to contest. Some lawmakers suggest Starmer should establish a timeline for his departure to allow for a smooth transition. Starmer insists he intends to lead the party into the next election.
