India’s Havelock Island Makes The List Of The World’s Most Peaceful Getaways

For travellers craving a break from packed beaches, busy city streets and the constant hum of everyday life, an island escape can offer something increasingly valuable: space to slow down. A new global ranking has put India’s Havelock Island, officially known as Swaraj Dweep, among the world’s top destinations for a more peaceful getaway.

The island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has secured ninth place in BookRetreats.com’s 2026 Unspoilt Index, which assessed 100 islands worldwide. New Zealand’s Stewart Island took the top spot, followed by Greece’s Anafi and Brazil’s Ilha Grande. Havelock is one of four Asian islands to feature in the global top 10.

The ranking comes at a time when interest in less crowded holidays is rising. According to data analysed by BookRetreats.com, global searches for “quiet destinations” increased by 1,268 per cent year on year, while its State of Retreats report found that 56 per cent of surveyed US travellers were interested in retreats centred around spending time in nature.

What The Index Measures

Rather than relying solely on visitor numbers, the Unspoilt Index looked at several elements that can influence how removed an island feels from the bustle of modern life. The study assessed 100 islands using satellite and open mapping data, examining naturalness, population density, airport and air-traffic noise, main-road density, night-sky brightness and coastal characteristics.

The methodology also considered research around natural soundscapes and the relationship between human activity and environmental noise. Islands with extensive natural areas, fewer roads and lower levels of air traffic generally performed better.

Stewart Island, also known as Rakiura, scored 94.6 out of 100 to lead the ranking. New Zealand’s third-largest island spans around 1,680 square kilometres but is home to only about 500 people. Much of its landscape is protected, with around 85 per cent forming part of Rakiura National Park. It also has around 280 kilometres of walking tracks and is recognised as the world’s southernmost International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Anafi came second with a score of 93.8, while Ilha Grande scored 93.4 to take third place. Lord Howe Island in Australia and St Martin’s in England completed the top five.

Why Havelock Stands Out

Havelock Island scored 87.9 out of 100, helped by its natural landscape and relatively limited infrastructure. Located in the Andaman group, the island covers approximately 113 square kilometres and is known for its dense tropical forests, beaches and coral-rich waters.

Its official name is Swaraj Dweep, following its renaming in December 2018. Despite becoming one of the better-known destinations in the Andamans, the island retains large stretches of forest and areas where development is limited. It does not have an airport, and visitors generally reach it by ferry from Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly Port Blair.

The island’s beaches are a major draw. Radhanagar Beach, on the western coast, is among its best-known stretches of sand, while Kalapathar Beach is popular for its scenic shoreline. Elephant Beach is another favourite, particularly for snorkelling and marine activities.

For travellers who would rather spend their time underwater, Swaraj Dweep has long been regarded as one of India’s leading scuba-diving destinations. Its surrounding waters are home to coral reefs and diverse marine life, with dive sites such as Dixon’s Pinnacle attracting experienced divers.

The Global Top 10

The remaining spots in the top 10 went to Tioman Island in Malaysia, Koh Chang in Thailand, Koh Rong in Cambodia and Santa Catalina Island in the US. Together, the ranking offers a useful reminder that the most restorative island escapes are not necessarily the ones with the biggest tourism infrastructure.

Elsewhere on the list, the UK’s Isle of Skye ranked 11th, Mexico’s Isla Holbox came 12th and Australia’s Magnetic Island took 13th place. Herm in the Channel Islands ranked 14th, while Croatia’s Mljet and Vis placed 17th and 19th respectively.

At the other end of the ranking, some of the world’s most popular island destinations struggled to score well. Santorini ranked 99th out of 100, while Phuket came 95th and Ibiza 85th. Malta occupied the final position.

For Indian travellers, however, the headline is closer to home. Havelock’s ninth-place finish places the Andaman island alongside some of the world’s most sought-after nature-led escapes, making Swaraj Dweep one of the most compelling destinations to consider for a slower island holiday in 2026.

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