If a nuclear holocaust, pandemic, zombie apocalypse or other unthinkable doomsday scenario strikes, escaping to your very own remote private island will give you the best chance of staying alive should the worst happen. With that thoroughly depressing thought in mind, click or scroll on to see the best off-grid isles for sale to survive a global catastrophe...

A beautiful private island located in the lower part of the Exuma Cays, Hummingbird Cay is spread over 257 acres of unspoilt nature. Only five miles from Great Exuma, the island has easy access to the nearby mainland, which could be a vital lifeline in a time of crisis. 

Currently on the market for $35 million (£25.5m), Hummingbird is surrounded by crystal clear waters with views of the picturesque sandbars and reefs. A 2,500-square-foot white sandy beach sits alongside two smaller beaches, where the island's lucky residents can sail, dive and fish for recreation and food.

The ultimate luxury private retreat, the 1,700-square-foot main house sits on the very edge of the island and comes complete with a private swimming pool. The island also features three guesthouses, utilities buildings and staff accommodation, so there's plenty of room for everyone. 

Should disaster strike, the island can run off-grid from the solar energy system that's been installed. And with a helipad, boat dock, ramp and a harbour, there are plenty of ways to access the outside world, when it's safe of course.

Situated in the tropical Florida Keys, Pumpkin Key has 26 acres of private land, offering plenty of isolation and privacy. On the market for $95 million (£69m), it may be detached from the mainland but if need be, residents can reach Miami's South Beach in just 10 minutes by helicopter. 

Currently, the island has just one main home but has plenty of opportunities for development. Built in 1985, the home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as two caretakers' cottages and a dock masters' apartment. What more could you need in an apocalypse? 

Completely self-sufficient with electric and water sources in place across 12 bayfront lots on the isle, there's lots of scope for the construction of additional properties. Maybe an affordable bunker would be a good idea? 

Additional features include a 20-slip marina with space for a mega-yacht, tennis courts that also serve as a helipad, and golf cart paths that crisscross the island for easy access. If all that wasn't enough, the island is also surrounded by plenty of fishing and lobstering hotspots to help residents lead a self-reliant lifestyle. 

Sitting in between the towns of Trapani and Marsala in Sicily, Italy, the picturesque private island of Santa Maria is currently on the market for $20.1 million (£14.7m). The perfect tranquil hideaway surrounded by the sea, birds and nature, it's an idyllic bolthole to hunker down on should doomsday roll around.

Just 15 minutes by boat from Birgi in Marsala, the island boasts 28 acres of land teeming with pine and palm trees, flowers, and a working olive grove, which in 2016 produced an impressive 1,500 litres of olive oil. 

Home to a nearly 5,000-square-foot magnificent mansion and a small chapel from the 16th century, there's also a lodge for the island's caretakers, as well as shelters for any animals and livestock.

With electricity produced by a generator and a full rainwater collection system in place, there's no need to worry about utilities. On this picturesque isle, there's no pollution, while 100% of the produce grown here is organic. Talk about an eco haven!

For when one island just isn't enough to shelter from disaster, this next man-made lot just outside of New York City comes with two separates isles. Accessed via boat, Columbia Island and Pea Island are jointly listed for $13 million (£9.5m) and both function completely off-grid. 

The idyllic Pea Island boasts five acres of land and a small, sandy beachfront. It's the ideal place to take a dip or soak up the rays and escape the hustle and bustle of big city living – plus it might just give you the best chance of survival should a catastrophe strike.

Overlooking nearby Pea Island, Columbia Island features a large home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Imagine relaxing on this sandy peninsula, basking in the sunshine and listening to the rush of the open water.

For serious style points, the main home features exposed brick walls and exposed steel rafters for the perfect industrial-inspired look. The plush property also includes solar-supplied electricity, water filtration systems and even luxuries such as heated floors. 

Totally off-grid and self-sufficient, Zopango Island sits within Asese Bay, which is part of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. Made up of the main island and two smaller islets, the island is on the market for $1.5 million (£1.1m) and is spread over two acres of tropical land. 

At arm's length from the world, access to Zopango Island takes 15 minutes by boat from the luxurious Marina Cocibolca. Described as a sustainable paradise, the atoll has been well-maintained over the years and boasts a good quality water supply, pristine landscapes and relatively low-level humidity considering its tropical location. 

Offering the largest beach of all the islands in the bay, the isle features two main homes – the main family house, Casa Zopango, and Zopango Birds Lodge, which is perfect for guests. The principal home has three bedrooms, two of which have their own terrace with views out across the lake. 

The island has four docks and a boat ramp, as well as three boats that are also included in the price. The off-grid island home generates its own solar power via 12 rooftop panels, plus there's a professional water filtration and purification system, as well as a buried septic tank. 

Living up to its name and then some, Dream Caye is a gorgeous three-acre island located eight miles east of the southern Belize mainland. Currently operating as an exclusive private resort, this piece of paradise is up for sale via 7th Heaven Properties for the sum of  $1.9 million (£1.4m). 

Offering a terrain of natural bays and tropical rainforests, the idyllic island has plenty of fertile land for cultivating crops of fruit and vegetables. Survivalists can also try their hand at fishing in the surrounding azure waters, which are rich with bonefish, tarpon and permit.

Living space on the island is also abundant. There are five colourful cabanas, as well as a restaurant and bar – just the place to calm the nerves with a cocktail or two while the rest of the world descends into chaos. Other handy amenities include a dock, dive shop and yoga deck. 

A bona fide turnkey island, the caye's buildings come decked out with furniture so you won't even need to bring any luggage. Rainwater can be used for cooking and bathing, while the island's electricity is generated by an array of solar panels installed on the roof of the restaurant.

Pepin Island in New Zealand's Tasman Bay comprises a vast 1,280 acres. The landmass has everything a doomsday prepper could ask for and a whole lot more besides. It also has the added advantage of being hilly, so unlike some of the other islands featured, it won't get swamped in the event of a tsunami or catastrophic global sea level rise.

Plus, should an all-out nuclear war devastate the northern hemisphere, New Zealand is well-positioned to survive the aftermath. Food certainly wouldn't be lacking on Pepin Island, which has a bountiful working farm with 100 cattle and 1,900 sheep, along with an orchard of fruit, macadamia and olive trees.

Accommodation-wise, the island has more than enough space to house a community of preppers, with the principal clapboard farmhouse offering seven bedrooms, together with three roomy cottages and an additional three eco-chalets, all of which function completely off-grid.

Water is abundant on the spectacular self-sufficient island, supplied by springs and gravity-fed water tanks, while the acreage is kept in tip-top shape thanks to the extensive irrigation system. Listed right now with Sotheby's International Realty, Pepin Island can be yours for $11.5 million (£8.4m). 

Staying in the Pacific, Nananu-i-Cake and the tiny Bua are captivating islands in Fiji off the coast of the nation's largest island, Viti Levu. Charmingly, the Fijian name Nananu-i-Cake translates to 'Daydream Upwind' in English. Together, the dazzling islands comprise 600 acres and are accessed by a jetty and helipad.

On the market with Knight Frank, the islands have all the necessary infrastructure in place for residential living, with an array of access tracks connecting the beaches with the accommodation and community buildings. The lot even comes complete with boats and jeeps!

Perched on a hill, the main house is based on a traditional Fiji bure hut and has two bedrooms. The property is connected to a large open-plan living area and two guest bures with further bedrooms. Adjacent to the house, there's also a pool and terrace, plus an additional dwelling that currently serves as staff accommodation.

The isles are perfectly geared up for self-sufficient farming, with a number of sheep paddocks and ample land to graze animals and grow crops – livestock are helpfully included in the sale. Power is supplied by generators, while 300,000-gallon storage tanks provide more than enough water to serve a community. The islands even have their own satellite and telecommunication facilities so you can stay in touch with the mainland.

Picturesque and idyllic, Duval Island is the ideal self-contained base if you're looking to escape from civilisation. Nestled on the edge of the Canadian-American border in Ontario, the magnificent island is on the market for $449,000 (£328k). 

Accessed via a short boat ride from Richards Landing Marina on St. Joseph's Island, the five-and-a-half acre atoll boasts abundant walking trails with access to every corner of the island. When it comes to accommodation, the isle features two cottages, with the main house offering four bedrooms and one bathroom, plus breathtaking views over the water.

The North Cabin, which would make the perfect guest cottage for any visitors, sits nestled in the trees and has access to its very own sandy beach, which is perfect for a spot of swimming.

With its own solar power array and back-up generator, Duval Island combines picturesque landscapes with essential off-grid amenities. We can just imagine sitting back and relaxing on this wraparound deck, watching the sun set over the peaceful waves.

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