Asia
Two inhabited coral islands, one lagoon and hardly anyone else around.
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean: a remote ring of coral islands around a turquoise lagoon, with only two of them inhabited. West Island holds the airstrip and most visitor accommodation, while Home Island is home to the Cocos Malay community. Direction Island's Cossies Beach and the drift snorkelling at The Rip are the main draws, and North Keeling lies apart in Pulu Keeling National Park.
Life is quiet: fishing, kitesurfing, snorkelling and a small ferry linking West, Home and Direction islands. The islands are reached by air from mainland Australia, so a visit is a deliberate detour. Food is simple, with Cocos Malay dishes and fresh fish. Trade winds blow for much of the year; September to November tends to be settled, while January to April is wetter, with some cyclone risk.
September, October, November.