The Best Private Islands Available to Charter

Encompassed by luminous white sands and sheer granite peaks, North Island offers 11 luxurious villas for an exclusive takeover. The island boasts a star-studded guest list including George and Amal Clooney and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as its own fleet of yachts for exploring the surrounding waters.

This slice of paradise in the Seychelles is ideal for travellers who want to prioritise sustainability without forfeiting five-star service. For over a decade North Island has been actively protecting the natural flora and fauna, meaning that species such as turtles, tortoises and tropical birds can flourish there. Alongside enjoying the Island's natural beauty, guests can spend their day scuba diving amidst colourful corals or receiving custom-tailored treatments at the island's sea-facing spa.

Buyout price: Bookings for North Island can be made through private members travel club Little Emperors, which offers a special buyout package including full board and selected activities starting at €185,000 for a minimum stay of three nights.

How to get there: A scenic helicopter ride will transfer visitors from Mahé International Airport to North Island in less than 20 minutes.

After a 10 year development, Banwa opened its shores in early 2019. Available only for exclusive use, the six-hectare island can host your nearest and dearest in a mixture of contemporary beachfront villas and garden residences, complete with private infinity pools and hot tub decks. Tailored service is the order of the day – from private Pilates to personalised meals using produce grown on the island’s own organic farm – but it’s Banwa’s natural beauty that makes it stand out.

Sitting within the marine protected area of Palawan archipelago, which is famed for its pristine habitats, the island’s perfect white sand beaches offer sea views across distant verdant mountains. Divers, swimmers and snorkelers will also be delighted with sightings of local wildlife including hawksbill turtles and black tip reef sharks, plus rare birds, such as the white collared kingfisher, may be spotted flying overhead.

Buyout price: Starting from $50,000 per night, up to 22 guests can make Banwa their own private paradise.

How to get there: Fly by private jet from Manila to either San Vicente or Puerto Princesa and then enjoy a short helicopter hop to the island.

With a $1,000,000 price tag, Raffles' private island could give some of the world's most expensive charter superyachts a run for their money. For five days up to 70 guests can take over this oasis and enjoy Raffles' renowned butler service in complete privacy. While staying in the 21 luxurious villas that overlook the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, guests have exclusive access to the spa, gym and indulgent beachside restaurants during their stay.

This retreat is particularly appealing for dive enthusiasts who want to enjoy their own piece of paradise. Located among waters teeming with colourful marine life and unspoilt reefs, the resort boasts a world-class dive centre complete with an on-site marine biologist. If that still doesn't satisfy your wanderlust, a nearby deserted island can be transformed by the Raffles team to create an unparalleled event space during your stay – use it to experience a sunset concert hosted by a celebrity DJ or take in a champagne-and-stargazing session guided by a personal astronomer.

Buyout price: For a cool $1,000,000, elite travellers can charter the island resort for four nights and five days. The rate includes a 5% charitable donation to the Maldives’ Marine Center and the Olive Ridley Project, an NGO that works to protect sea turtles.

How to get there: Take an hour-long flight from Malé to Kaadedhdhoo, where you will be met by the Raffles team and whisked away to Meradhoo island via speedboat.

Originally bought by reclusive writer, poet and painter Ian Alstergren in the 1960s, Satellite Island is a rugged spot tucked into the south of Tasmania alongside Bruny Island. Wild and picturesque, this 34 hectare paradise is the perfect rural getaway. Guests can spend their days exploring the various walking trails around the island, head out into the surrounding waters atop kayaks to see the island from the sea or even go diving for abalone, urchin and mussels. Those who fancy exploring further afield can travel over to Bruny Island to visit the winery, take a private air tour or go on a nature safari.

Additionally, guests can go fishing in the afternoon before heading up to the top of the island for a bonfire while watching the sunset. The unspoilt nature of the island means that seafood is abundant - dinners can be expected to feature the day's catch of wild salmon or freshly shucked oysters paired with fine Tasmanian wine.

Buyout price: To hire the entire island exclusively, rates begin at $,1950 a night for two guests with a two night minimum stay. Extra guests are $300 per person per night.

How to get there: Cruise south from Hobart and anchor off the island, or moor up in Elizabeth Street Pier in Hobart and travel by private car or helicopter.

Nestled within the constellation of islands that form the Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, Velaa is a private island designed for those who want to be waited on hand and foot. The island maintains a ratio of eight staff to one guest, and each of the luxurious over-water bungalows are equipped with their own personal butler. Highlights of the island that can be enjoyed by guests include the indulgent spa - offering everything from a chardonnay body scrub to a green caviar facial - a private yacht for sunset cruises and even an on-site submarine for exploring the vibrant marine life around Velaa.

Buyout price: The buyout rate for Velaa starts from $1,000,000 (approximately £802,675) per night, with a minimum booking of 4 nights.

How to get there: Guests will be escorted by private limo from Malé International Airport to board a seaplane, which will arrive at Velaa after a 45 minute flight.

If you want to go one better than Leonardo DiCaprio, Pippa Middleton and President Barack Obama then take over the whole of this world-famous paradisiacal retreat for 60 of your closest family or pals (you might suddenly find you have more friends than you think). The best part is that you can lounge guilt-free by your sparkling pool overlooking the spectacular lagoon, because the resort prides itself on being the most environmentally friendly in the world (the air-conditioning is created by a pioneering deep seawater system, solar heating provides all hot water and the resort is fully biofuel capable). Set in the Tetiaroa Atoll, once a favoured holiday retreat for Tahitian royalty, the resort was the passion project of the late Marlon Brando, who discovered the islands in 1960 while filming Mutiny on the Bounty.

Bikes are the best way to navigate your way through its palm-tree-lined sandy tracks and days can slip by paddleboarding to one of the neighbouring motus (small islands) or kayaking above the rainbow-coloured coral gardens. Adding a touch of French flair, the island’s restaurants are overseen by Guy Martin, the chef behind two-Michelin-starred Le Grand Véfour in Paris. The Brando’s fine-dining Les Mutinés restaurant – which is surrounded by a moat and shaped to resemble the upturned hull of a boat – features Martin’s classic dishes with an emphasis on local ingredients such as papaya and reef fish. And, in case you get peckish on your tipsy cycle back to your villa, you leave armed with a patisserie gift.

Buyout Price: Rates start from €79,200 per night to takeover the 30 one bedroom villas, for a minimum stay of three nights.

How to get there: Just a 20 minute flight will bring you from Faa’a International Airport in Papeete, Tahiti to Tetiaroa.

For an experience that combines the Maldives' natural beauty with unparalleled service, buyout the 15 over-water villas that make up Kudadoo Maldives Private Island. The exclusive retreat is the smaller and more exclusive sister branch to the neighbouring Hurawalhi Resort, famed for its underwater restaurant.

From scuba and fishing excursions, to ocean-facing spa treatments, the Kudadoo staff are on standby to organise experiences that will satisfy every one of their guests' whims. As an added bonus, the island's communal area, which houses the bar, restaurant, spa and gym, is both stylish and eco-friendly. Designed by Japanese-American architect Yuji Yamazaki, the interior is decorated with tropical orchids and elegant teak furniture, while the roof is covered in solar panels that power the entire resort.

Buyout price: Kudadoo can accommodate up to 34 guests, with buyout rates starting at $80,000 per night.

How to get there: Superyachts can sail the 80 nautical miles from Malé to reach Kudadoo, but the quicker alternative is a 45 minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport.

A secluded spot in the South Pacific off the north coast of Fiji, Dolphin Island gives guests the chance to unwind in a stunning spot where you’re never too far from the sound of ocean waves. This private luxury wellness and fitness retreat is an ideal destination for those in need of a reset.

Up to eight guests can be hosted in traditional thatched-roof bungalows with elegant yet rustic interiors and open walls, perfect for watching the sunrise or falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. Spend your days diving, snorkelling and kayaking, or simply enjoy the treatments available, such as manicures, pedicures, body wraps and scrubs, facials and massages.

Buyout price: A minimum of two guests can have the island all to themselves from NZ$2,000 per person per night. A total of eight guests can buy out the island for NZ$1,500 per person per night.

How to get there: Travel by private superyacht helicopter or seaplane transfer from Nadi Airport.

Set off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea lies Royal Belize, a beautiful and tiny island getaway only available to one party at a time. Up to 16 adults can lap up the stunning surroundings while shading themselves from the blazing sunshine beneath lofty palm trees. Get your wellness fix with a yoga class, or venture out onto the ocean atop a kayak, catamaran, paddle board or water skis. Royal Belize is also a five star PADI diving resort, where underwater explorers can enjoy trips to the second largest barrier reef in the world and the famous diving site of the Belize Blue Hole.

Buyout price: Prices start from $10,000 per night for an all-inclusive exclusive island rental for 10 travellers. For groups over 10, an additional $150 per person per night is added to the rate.

How to get there: Guests can arrive from Dangriga by 25-minute boat ride or by private helicopter from Belize International airport.

This private island can host up to 22 guests and is expertly managed by the Four Seasons brand. It opened its shores in December 2016 and is the first exclusive-use UNESCO World Heritage site getaway. Vibrant jungles surrounded by white beaches and complete exclusivity makes this one of the best ways to see the Maldives when away from your superyacht.

Keep active with the multitude of watersports on offer, such as kitesurfing, kayaking, sailing, jet-skiing and fishing. The Maldives is famed for its extraordinary marine life and divers of all levels can explore boat wrecks and swim alongside sharks, turtles and manta rays. Additionally, Voavah is one of the best hotels with luxury yachts - their private 19 metre luxury yacht Voavah Summer can whisk guests away to spot dolphins and turtles.

The Ocean of Consciousness Spa offers bespoke beauty and wellness treatments, as well as yoga, meditation, hairdressing and acupuncture. Relax at the spa or enjoy one of the private pools on the island to fully unwind in the sunshine.

Buyout price: Rates for the island buyout experience start at $37,500.

How to get there: A 40-minute flight on a private jet will take you from Malé to Voavah Island.