10 Private Island Resorts for Leaving the World Behind

Nothing ruins an island vacation faster than jockeying for restaurant reservations or fighting for the best beach chair each morning. Enter: the private island resort. Luxurious, exclusive and often with just enough rooms to make it feel like you own the place, these are the spots in-the-know travelers have long relied on for pristine tropical vibes.

There’s the COMO Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos, where beach houses come with heated pools for even more privacy, and farther-flung options like Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia, with its secluded villas hovering over the Gulf of Thailand. Wherever you end up, you can expect excellent service, sublime cuisine and the distinct pleasure of being one of a select few guests at any given time. (Photo courtesy of Kokomo Private Island.)

COMO Parrot Cay (Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos)
Member of The Edit by Chase Travel

Few Caribbean airports are as well-connected to the East Coast as Providenciales (PLS). Once you’ve landed, it’s a quick drive and then a boat ride onward to Parrot Cay, where you’ll find this dreamy COMO resort. Here, the waters are crystal clear, and the crowds are quite literally nonexistent. This COMO is unique in that it offers a range of standard hotel rooms, as well as an assortment of sprawling beach villas, each with a private sun deck and heated pool. Guests also get 1,000 unspoiled acres, four miles of sparkling beach, a hidden mangrove forest and more all to themselves. 

The Brando (Tetiaroa Atoll, French Polynesia)
Member of The Edit by Chase Travel

This South Pacific icon is the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified resort. In addition to eco-friendly efforts like solar panels and on-site composting, you’ll notice nods to Polynesian culture throughout the property, including activities like traditional dance classes, palm frond weaving, ukulele lessons and more. Even the spa treatments incorporate local botanicals, while the cuisine is centered around Polynesian flavors. Another highlight? The villas are spaced so far apart, you’ll truly feel like you have the beach to yourself. 

Song Saa Private Island (Koh Rong Archipelago, Cambodia)

At Song Saa, you’ll have your pick of 24 spacious villas, all of which come with private pools. You might choose a jungle villa for its shaded sundeck or an ocean-view villa for its outdoor dining area. Or you might splash out with an overwater villa, which offers direct access to the emerald Gulf of Thailand. Either way, you’ll never want to leave your room, especially since the resort can set up in-villa cinema experiences complete with your choice of movie and all the complimentary popcorn you can eat.   

North Island, Seychelles (Île du Nord, Seychelles)

Privacy and panache are the names of the game at North Island, which was designed by two safari-camp architects using local materials. With just 11 villas flanking the beach—including the 8,000-square-foot Villa North Island—you’ll never have to compete with crowds at this Seychelles hideaway. Each villa comes with bikes and an electric buggy, so you can explore the island at your leisure, and you can customize activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and diving to your preferences. 

Kokomo Private Island (Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji)

Kokomo Private Island never takes Fiji’s natural bounty for granted. The chefs and bartenders incorporate South Pacific ingredients into their creations, and even the villas feature roof beams joined with coconut fiber and covered with local thatch work. Speaking of nature, there’s plenty of it to see here, whether you’re snorkeling the Great Astrolabe Reef or exploring nearby Kadavu, an undeveloped island known for waterfalls and colorful birds. Back at the resort, you can lounge poolside with a cocktail, take a private yoga class in your villa or indulge at the spa, which includes a wet and dry hammam and an outdoor relaxation pavilion.

Amanpulo (Pamalican Island, Philippines)

This resort, located in the Cuyo Archipelago of northern Palawan, is especially apropos for spa lovers, as it routinely invites visiting wellness experts to add their unique flair to the resort’s already robust offerings. For those wanting something more active, Amanpulo also has a large fleet of boats available for cruises, snorkeling excursions, fishing trips and more. Accommodations range from casitas perched in the forest canopy to beachfront villas with private pools, chefs and butlers, while dining options include a Mediterranean-style seafood spot, a Filipino steak house and more. 

Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina (Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands)

Many private island resorts require long-haul international flights—not the case here. To get to this BVI retreat, it’s just a 45-minute flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), and a 10-minute ride on the resort’s private ferry. Scrub Island is also a short boat ride away from many of the Virgin Islands’ other star attractions, including historic shipwrecks and surfing spots. So while you’re very much on a private island here, there’s still plenty to do, making it a great option if you’re traveling with kids. Suites with full kitchens and multi-bedroom villas further the family appeal. 

Isla Palenque (Boca Chica, Panama)

It’s hard to find a private island resort that doesn’t offer excellent service, but Isla Palenque’s is particularly noteworthy—with just eight beachfront casitas and one villa estate, the staff-to-guest ratio is nothing short of indulgent. Beach lovers in particular will fall for this one: The island has no fewer than seven secluded beaches, including the stunning crescent-shaped Playa Palenque. Spend your days here hiking through the jungle and learning island secrets along the way, snorkeling pristine coral reefs or watching for whales and dolphins right off the shore.  

Cape Fahn Hotel (Koh Samui, Thailand)

While this private island sits barely 1,000 feet across a small channel from the main island of Koh Samui, it feels worlds away from the partying crowds. The atmosphere here is serene and quiet to the extent that you don’t even need to talk to another human when ordering room service; there’s a hotel app for that. Lush foliage and the sound of birdsong surround the villas, each with its own pool, and gentle waves provide the soundtrack at the beach. Also on-site is a spa specializing in Thai massage, a main pool with ocean views and an air-conditioned reading room where you can curl up with a good book.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands (Fari Islands, Maldives)

There’s no shortage of amazing private island resorts in the Maldives, but few have the architectural chops and over-the-top amenities of this relatively new Ritz-Carlton. Every guest here is assigned a butler who can book spa treatments, make restaurant reservations and even arrange activities like catamaran cruises and snorkeling excursions. Overwater villas come with pools, sun decks and easy access to the azure water, while seven different restaurants and bars offer everything from southern Italian to contemporary Cantonese cuisine. Best of all, the resort celebrates local culture with bodu beru drum performances, flaming ceremonies and more.