Which is the best island in southeast Asia for you?

The region tempts with sandy beaches fringed by palm trees and lapped by turquoise waters, but there’s more to look out for, from the multicultural cuisine of Penang to the limestone cliffs of Cat Ba.

Any Southeast Asian adventure, whether a shorter trip or a cross-country odyssey, will likely take in some of the region’s 25,000-plus islands. You’ll find plenty of coral-sand bays, seaside bars and swaying palms no matter where you go, but there’s far more to see beyond the beaches. Indonesia and the Philippines are entire island nations built on millennia of history, with countless Indigenous peoples and languages, and architecture that honours the gods. On the islands of Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and even landlocked Laos, you’ll find thrilling scenery, fragrant street-food markets and irresistible villages. Here are eight of the best to explore.

Cat Ba, Vietnam

Best for: adventure
At 101sq miles, Cat Ba is the largest island in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. While many pause here for just a day en route to the group’s smaller islands, adrenaline addicts tend to stick around. The limestone karst cliffs are a climbers’ playground; Butterfly Valley, rippling with caves and overhangs, is a popular spot for deep-water soloing (bouldering without ropes over deep water). A safer yet no less spectacular alternative is hiking Ngu Lam Peak, or paddling a kayak through bioluminescent plankton.

Source: National Geographic   By Sarah Gillespie