{"id":809,"date":"2015-01-23T01:00:28","date_gmt":"2015-01-23T01:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/asias-secret-islands\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11T17:24:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T17:24:26","slug":"asias-secret-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/experience\/asias-secret-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"Asia\u2019s Secret Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s everyone\u2019s dream. A deserted island. Warm sand. Lush trees. Clear blue water as far as the eye can see. A place where you and your loved one can relax in your own private version of paradise.<\/p>\n

We give you four secret islands in Asia where you can do just that.<\/p>\n

Yakushima, Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Arriving at this World Heritage Site in south Japan is like stepping back in time. Everything is impossibly peaceful.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s the presence of some of the world\u2019s oldest trees or the wild deer and monkeys that roam free (and in fact outnumber the island\u2019s inhabitants). Perhaps it\u2019s the sound of the waves or the awe-inspiring mountains.. You can decide for yourself as you luxuriate in the hot springs, see giant turtles or meet the oldest \u2018being\u2019 you\u2019ll ever meet: Jomonsugi, a tree that\u2019s estimated to be between 2600 and 7200 years old.\"Yakushima<\/a><\/p>\n

Getting There: Fly direct from Osaka<\/a> or Fukuoka<\/a>. Otherwise you can fly, ferry or take a high-speed boat from Kagoshima.<\/em><\/p>\n

Accommodation: Options run the gamut from deluxe ecologies to traditional guesthouses and modern hostels.<\/em><\/p>\n

Con Dao, Vietnam<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Con<\/a>This archipelago 177 kilometres off Vietnam\u2019s southeastern coast has an unlikely history.\u00a0Once the home of political prisoners and other undesirables, it is now a scenic chain of 16 islands and islets ringed by breathtaking beaches, coral reefs, bays and thick virgin forest that is yours to explore.\u00a0Hike on deserted beaches and dive among the best marine life in Vietnam. The most remote places on the island can also be seen with a local guide.<\/p>\n

Be warned though, that since the arrival of the swanky Six Senses Con Dao resort<\/a>\u00a0(pictured below),\u00a0the island is getting the attention it deserves, and while the number of tourists remains small, who knows how long it\u2019ll last.<\/p>\n