Islands You Can Walk to at Low Tide

Looking for an island adventure but don’t want to get your feet wet? Here are some of the world’s most beautiful islands that you can walk to at low tide.

Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Scotland

The tidal island of Eilean Tioram can be reached by a stone causeway when the Loch Moidart tides are at their lowest. Visitors who travel on foot are rewarded by the slow reveal of the Castle Tioram as they get closer to the island. Invisible from the sea, the ruins of the 15th-century castle are a dramatic sight and provide further access to Loch Shiel.

After a day of walking and exploring, head to Mingarry Park for a hearty evening meal and a glass of the local distillery’s finest.

Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France

One of the best-known and most-visited tidal islands in the world, Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy lives up to the hype. The Abbey of Saint-Michel was originally built on the mainland but rising sea levels eventually isolated the abbey, turning it into a tidal island at the mouth of the Couesnon River.

Today the island is connected to the mainland by a winding footbridge. Farther inland, along the Couesnon River, you’ll find that a lot of riverside accommodations have rooms with views of the Mont Saint-Michel, like Le Relais Saint Michel.

Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, India

Located on an islet off the coast of Mumbai, the Haji Ali Dargah is a beautiful mosque built in 1431 by a Muslim merchant looking to give away his wealth before making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

A narrow causeway about half a mile long links the island to the mainland and is submerged at high tide, limiting access to the mosque. Visitors will see the influence of the Haji Ali Dargah’s distinctive architecture on many buildings on the mainland, including The St Regis Hotel.

Koh Nang Yuan in Koh Tao, Thailand

Even though many tidal islands are connected to the mainland by an artificially-created causeway, the islands of Koh Nang Yuan are connected by a long, white sand bridge. At low tide, the islands look like an extension of the Koh Tao province and visitors can explore the area on foot.

At high tide, however, the bridge is covered by seawater and three distinct islands appear. Catch this rising tide by staying just a 5-minute walk from the beach at Monkey Flower Villas.

Enoshima in Fujisawa, Japan

The small tidal island of Enoshima is linked to the Japanese city of Fujisawa by a 1,968-foot-long bridge. During low tide, you can also walk to the island across the newly exposed sandbars.

Enoshima attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year since it’s conveniently located right next to Tokyo’s closest beach. Spend a few hours wandering around the island’s botanical gardens before heading across the bridge to spend the night at the IZA Enoshima Guest House and Bar.

Jindo and Modo in South Korea

The South Korean islands of Jindo and Modo are only accessible on foot once a year, when extremely low tides reveal a natural causeway connecting the islands to each other. Not only is this causeway rarely seen, but it also stays open for only 1 hour. This phenomenon led to the founding of the Jindo Sea-Parting Festival, also known as the Jindo Moses Miracle.

On the day of the festival, it’s traditional for visitors from both islands to walk across the causeway and meet in the middle. Don’t miss the parting of the sea by staying just down the road at the Familiar.