A salve for the stresses of modern life, these beach and island escapes promise the reset you’ve earned.

Is it just us, or is life getting faster? Between the pressures of work, social life and modern technology, it is increasingly difficult to truly switch off and find time to rejuvenate – immersed in nature and away from blaring screens. That’s exactly why we’ve curated 10 of the best beach and island holidays across the world to help you unwind, from floating in the turquoise waters of Sardinia and exploring lush landscapes on the remote Indonesian island of Sumba to lounging in an overwater villa in the Maldives. Guilt-free idling has never looked so good.

1. Find paradise in Palawan

With limestone cliffs heaving from the turquoise waters like ancient beasts awoken, the island of Palawan in the Philippines is a headliner in the region. Thickly forested and relatively affordable with achingly beautiful beaches, it still feels delightfully under-discovered. Huddled under soaring cliffs tufted with lush foliage, the extraordinary locale of the newly renovated Lagen El Nido resort is the sort of place you can imagine James Bond entering on his luxury speedboat. Built to extend the natural landscape into human spaces, it’s not even a bit hyperbolic to say jaws will drop on arrival.

2. Beach & safari in South Africa

It’s the ever-pressing holiday dilemma: do you opt for dissolving life’s little pressures in a beachside resort pool or outrun them with an action-heavy itinerary? In South Africa, trips usually centre around either surf or safari, but it’s possible to lean into both. Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari on Durban’s north coast has twigged to this double-attraction desire with its new concept that blends all-inclusive, beachside resort ease with an optional two-night safari at Vikela Safari Lodge in the savannah. You’ll need to pay more for the safari add-on, but this luxury dip into the bush gives you a concise experience of this stunning landscape without sacrificing poolside cocktails.

3. A double island escape in Hawai‘i

A dual island escape to the Islands of Hawai‘i lets you trade one extreme for its opposite in under an hour. O‘ahu crackles with a kind of kinetic energy, all lush, jungle-green vegetation, white-sand beaches and lively resort lagoons. A short flight away, Lāna‘i trades postcard palms for towering Cook pines and arid red-dirt roads. It offers untouched privacy, swapping crowded shorelines for secluded cliffside coves. To experience both, base yourself at the Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, then retreat upcountry to Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort, or the oceanfront Four Seasons Resort Lanai to decompress in pikake-scented sanctuaries.

4. Maldives: the ultimate reboot

For an escape that asks so infinitesimally little of you that your brain can properly power down, the Maldives is the ultimate soothe. Literally untethered to any major landmass, here you can repair frayed wirings by slipping into atolls and wandering wisps of silken sands in this Indian Ocean archipelago. Overwater villas are an iconic way to experience the oceanic dreamscape that is the Maldives. Spring for one at Soneva Secret, Soneva Jani, Centara Grand Lagoon or Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort and wake up with very little to do but plunge into those cerulean depths.

5. A slow Greek island escape

With its moon-like volcanic landscape, colourful traditional fishing villages and more than 70 pristine beaches, Milos is undoubtedly one of Greece’s most picturesque island escapes. Less crowded and slower paced than its larger neighbours, the island is a summer haven in the south-west Cyclades that oozes rustic, nostalgic Greek charm, where relaxed seafood tavernas and turquoise waters await. The place to stay? Eréma, a brand-new boutique retreat where suites feature private pools with panoramic views of the Aegean.

6. Sardinia, Europe’s next big thing

While technically Italian, Sardinian locals don’t necessarily concur with that identity graft. Here, the culture – and dialects – are their own. This same-same but different vibe, along with dreamy beaches and the pale, limestone hues of the Mediterranean terrain, make Sardinia something pretty special indeed. While it’s certainly not unknown, the island feels less-discovered than Italy’s tourist-heavy Amalfi Coast or Capri. Arrive to Costa Smeralda, where you’ll find chic seaside towns and pool-like beaches, and the newly opened W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu. Tucked at the end of a marina in a fjord-like village, the hotel is a good base from which to explore beaches such as the pretty Spiaggia Cala Granu.

7. The ultimate Pacific island getaway

While some may choose an island getaway to party, Samoa is the ultimate destination for those looking to disconnect and let this relatively untouched paradise wash over them. Soft, white-sand beaches ring Samoa’s islands, contrasting with the calm transparent waters that allow marine life spotting even without a snorkel. Inland, dense jungles and picturesque waterfalls take over, lending themselves to active adventures. In the villages (and its only city, Apia), a living culture thrives (siva afi fire dancing may have spread throughout the Pacific but it originated here, once performed by warriors to display strength and agility). Local fiafia nights invite travellers to connect, authentically.

8. Sumba, the Bali of the past

We’ll never stop loving Bali, but if you’ve wrung it dry for a while, remember, there are other Indonesian islands. Sumba is a memory of Bali that exists in real time. Remote, pristine and untrampled by perspiring tourists, this island east of Bali is much bigger, but much less populated and barely encroached upon by developers. Culture here is intact with ancient beliefs and customs still practised. So far, it seems hoteliers appear to have learnt lessons about acting sustainably and leaving a lighter footprint, with resorts like Cap Karoso giving back to local communities. Just a 1.5-hour flight from Bali, it’s the dupe set to become the scoop.

9. The Caribbean through a new lens

Made up of more than 7000 islands, reefs and cays, each offering its own rhythm, the Caribbean is a vibrant kaleidoscope of cultures, where tropical natural beauty meets a layered colonial history. Oceania Cruises has recently dropped a fresh menu of exciting itineraries that go deeper into the passions of food, wildlife and culture in the archipelago. From visiting a beekeeping collective in St. Lucia to an organic farm tour on Tortola and following a snorkel trail in idyllic Trunk Bay, choose from the seven- to 14-day trips designed to give cruisers lifelong memories.

10. Sail the Seychelles

Your screensaver rendered real, the African nation of Seychelles is dispersed across 115 Indian Ocean islands, each encircled by waters of unfathomable translucence. Milky-blue coral atolls, extraordinary biodiversity and the lullaby of swaying palm fronds all make this a destination where days may be curated with gentle aquatic adventure or not much of anything. Because of its scattered nature, one of the best ways to see it is by cruising. Aqua Expeditions includes Tanzania and a collection of Seychelles islands in its route. Drifting through these remote archipelagos on the superyacht Aqua Lares doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re going to do it, you may as well commit.

This article is part of International Traveller’s 100 Holidays You Deserve round-up. Visit the special 100 Holidays You Deserve hub to find inspiring adventures for every travel type.