We’ve offered you the chance to own your own village, but how about your own island?

Yes, islands do come up for sale and in some gorgeously exotic locations, too. Not surprisingly, they (mostly) come at quite a price, so it’s not a purchase for the faint-hearted. But if you’ve won the lottery, are a self-made billionaire or simply fancy doing a Richard Branson, then owning your own island could be a distinct possibility.

One of the benefits of owning your own island is that it can be what you want it to be. You can set the rules and choose who comes to stay. You never need worry about getting a space on the beach, as you own it. You can grow what you want and build where you want. And if you simply want peace and quiet, you can head off to your island retreat on your own and not have to worry about noisy neighbours.

Sounds ideal? Here are some real life islands to get you dreaming.

Exuma Cays in the Bahamas is a 681 acre private island that’s up for sale at a price of £23,706,130. It’s surrounded by gorgeous turquoise sea, has plenty of secluded bays and beaches and tropical foliage. For those who own a private jet, there’s a 2,500 feet airstrip already in place, but there’s room to extend it further. The main property on the island is a two-storey house with six bedrooms, plus there are staff quarters nearby too. If you’ll only visit your island for holidays, this one comes complete with a resident caretaker – their quarters are at the other end of the island.

Bird Cay, part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas is a 250 acre island that’s on the market for £14,041,608. This lovely looking island is located 30 minutes away (by air) from Nassau and was originally developed in the 1940s by Francis Francis, heir to the Standard Oil Company. The island comes complete with a main residence, five waterfront cottages, a guest house and a boat house, plus it has the pre-requisite sandy beaches, ocean views and exotic planting. This could be your own private island retreat or work as a holiday business venture.

I bet you didn’t expect to find an island for sale in Italy? But, yes, you really could purchase a small, 6,000m island in the Venetian Lagoon. The island was once a fortified point, which has been restored by the current owners, and features a four bedroom villa. The island, which comes with all mod cons, is reached via two large navigable canals and there are two wharfs for mooring boats. It’s up for sale for £10,911,600.

Also in the Bahamas is Leaf Cay, part of the Exuma Cays. This lovely little 45 acre island has almost pure white, sandy beaches and is surrounded by stunning turquoise seas. It’s located between Lee Stocking Island (what a great name) and Norman’s Pond Cay and has excellent fishing opportunities. This gem will set you back £3,510,402.

White Island in Grenada could be yours for the somewhat more affordable sum of £3,047,931. This immaculate Grenadine island is located 35 miles south of Mustique and one mile south of Carriacou and a 15 minute flight from Grenada International Airport (a private jet would be handy). This untouched island, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, has its own mountains, woodland and 3000ft of coral sand beaches. It’s the ideal place to relax and unwind, or make the most of snorkelling and diving in the sea.