Three Philippine destinations made it to the “The Best Islands in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards” under the Asia category as voted by readers of the New York-based magazine luxury and lifestyle travel Magazine Condé Nast Traveler.
1. Siargao, Philippines
We like to say that surfers are the vanguard of travelers, scoping out some of the more remote parts of the world for surf breaks before the rest of us get there. Take Siargao: The "teardrop-shaped Philippine island home to more than 15 separate surf breaks, including the legendary Cloud 9, which counts Kelly Slater and Anthony Kedis among its fans" has been popular for a few years, writes Verena von Pfetten for Traveler, but our readers, an adventurous sort, have caught on. There's enough white sand to go around.
2. Boracay, Philippines
This itty-bitty island (just under four square miles) in the Western Philippines is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and made-for-Instagram sunsets. Fold in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region. Unfortunately, it's become too touristed—the island closed for "rehabilitation" in April to compensate for overcrowding and unregulated development, reports Traveler's Cynthia Drescher; the tentative "reopening" date is October 26.
3. Palawan, Philippines
A regular on our list of the world's best islands, Palawan is home to the otherworldly Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth the trip alone. Many make El Nido and its blue lagoon their base, though, to explore the Bacuit Archipelago.
Pro tip: Puerto Princesa is one of the longest underground rivers in the world, traveling five miles through a subterranean cave system. Guided boat tours take visitors down a portion of the waterway, where karsts, natural rock formations created by dissolving limestone, loom in every direction.
Getting there: From Manila, it’s an hour-and-15-minute flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s main airport. Alternately, ferries travel between Manila and the island several days a week (about 24 hours each way).
4. Langkawi, Malaysia
"Travelers to Southeast Asia often flock to Bali or Phuket for the food and beaches, but Malaysia has an underrated island that's been called the 'Jewel of Kedah,' says Traveler's Cynthia Drescher. "Langkawi itself is actually a collection of 99 islands, an archipelago of geologic and ecologic significance showcasing a purity of nature not necessarily seen on Malaysia's mainland." Its Sky Bridge, pictured, is a main attraction, but those in the know come for the national sport: eating. Don't leave without trying the spicy peanut satay (several times—for research purposes).
5. Bali, Indonesia
There's nothing quite like Bali. It's the kind of place where you'll eat the best fresh fish of your life on the beach with your feet in the sand. You'll watch whole families zoom by on motorbikes, or maybe a monkey will steal your glasses at Uluwatu temple. Despite high—and still growing—tourist numbers, you can still find vestiges of old Bali in small villages surrounded by rice paddies, where you'll hear the twinkling chimes of neighborhood gamelan ensembles rehearsing at all hours of the day and night. Note: Mount Agung, the volcano considered holy by the Balinese, has been even more active than usual for the past year, so double-check the latest seismic and volcanic activity before departing.
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