There are numerous elements that play a part in finding the ideal beach. To some, this may imply turquoise waters with snow-like sand, while for others, the most epic beaches may be secluded and have a rocky coastline, with pebbles in the water. Some choose beach-bars and music, while others like peace & quiet.
To each, their own beach!
We’ve personally travelled to all of these beaches, and all 27 of them (in no particular order) are awesome places to soak up some rays, chill-out and delight in the sand and sea.
1. Morne Rouge beach (BBC Beach), Grenada
One for the “home” team! We’ve now lived in Grenada for practically a year and love it for numerous reasons, but one of the best things about living in this West Indies island is that it is fringed by spectacular beaches. Morne Rouge is pristine, and is always quiet. There are a couple of hotels, some residential homes and a handful of small restaurants. Almond trees offer outstanding shade, the sand is soft and the sea is perfectly calm. This is our preferred beach in Grenada for sure!
2. Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
There are three Gili Islands, and Gili “T” is the most developed of the three. aside from lounging on the white sand, you can climb up the only hill on the island to delight in sunset, go scuba diving and snorkelling or circumnavigate the island on foot.
3. Holbox Island, Mexico
This is certainly an underrated place in Mexico. While many people are heading to Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, you ought to head here and have the whole island essentially to yourself! The Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean waters meet at Holbox creating a beautiful colour. here you can Laze on the sand, go swimming, see Whale Sharks, view sunset, go fishing, and more.
4. White Sands Beach, Koh Chang, Thailand
Koh Chang located on the northeast coast of Thailand is a beautiful island. There are numerous beaches here, but White Sands beach is a beauty! many of the attractions and beaches are on the western side of the island, but the eastern side is wonderfully unexplored. try to get a bungalow/hut on White Sands Beach, and delight in sunset from your room!
5. long Beach, Koh Rong, Cambodia
This is probably our preferred beach to date, but part of that has to finish with the fact that we were there in 2008, before there was any development. It was certainly an adventure getting out to Koh Rong. long beach is a long stretch of squeaky-clean, soft, white sand with flawless aqua-marine waters. Although there is some development now, it’s still quiet compared to many of the other beaches in the region. There wasn’t much to do when we first came here, but nowadays you can go snorkelling, hike to a nearby waterfall, play beach volleyball, go swimming and do a lot of relaxing.
6. Carriacou, Grenada
The main beach is located best at the town of Hillsborough, on the island of Carriacou, which is a part of the nation of Grenada. If you’re taking a ferry, you’ll be greeted by this long stretch of sand as soon as you arrive. While in the town, you can see this beach from practically everywhere. delight in a rum punch from one of the waterfront beach bars, walk the long sandy stretch, or just chill out. However, if you want a quieter beach experience, check out Paradise beach or the nearby White and Sandy Islands.
7. big Sand Beach, Union Island, The Grenadines
This place is gorgeous! There’s one bar/restaurant located on the beach and if you purchase a drink or a meal, you can use the lounge chairs and beautiful gazebos for free. The sand here is an amazing silky white and the water is beautiful! rent a kayak or paddle board, get a massage, or just chill out and read a book. There’s just something special about Union Island.
8. Sao Beach, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
There are numerous beaches on the island of Phu Quoc, but this one is said to be the best. It’s located on the east side and is quite deserted and a little bit challenging to find. There are a couple of restaurants and bungalows here, so you won’t be completely alone. Swimming and unwinding are high on the agenda on Sao Beach.
9. palm Island, Grenadines
This is an exclusive, luxury island near Union Island in the Grenadines, and you’ll need to be staying at the palm Island resort in purchase to delight in the beach. However, if you take a sailing trip from Union Island, you will stop here for a little while! The beach is phenomenal and the slope into the water is at a good gradient for swimming. This is the supreme place to lay in a hammock with a rum punch in hand, but you better start saving if you want to stay here overnight because rooms start at $2,500 / night!
10. Tobago Cays, Grenadines
The Tobago Cays is a spectacular archipelago comprising 5 uninhabited islands. To get here, you’ll need to have your own boat, or rent a catamaran/yacht or sailboat. This isn’t one beach in particular, but a string of beautiful jewels and it is a place like no other. Snorkelling with turtles and the occasional reef shark, chillin’ on the beach and swimming in the clear waters are the highlights here.
11. Grand Anse Beach, Grenada
This beach is amazing. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever seen, yet it’s not overly busy or overdeveloped. Spanning for 3 kilometers, you can either walk the length of the beach, go swimming, try scuba diving, hangout at one of the beach bars, or, bring your own cooler of food and drinks and make a picnic. This is also an outstanding spot to view the sun set.
12. Playa Carrizalillo, Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Ah, the ideal cove! The beaches in this area of Mexico are known for being good spots for surfing, as are many of the beaches on the Pacific Coast. However, Carrizalillo beach is in a cove, which means it’s sheltered from the big waves. The sand is golden here, and you have to descend over 100 stairs to get to the beach (and then back up!), but that’s what is so special about it. The water is great for swimming, you can rent paddle boards, delight in a beer or a snack from the beach shacks and view the sun set.
13. Koh Lanta, Thailand
The island of Koh Lanta is not as popular as many of the other islands in Thailand, which is why its beaches are so unspoiled! Hiring a motorbike is the best way to see all of the stretches of sand, both hidden and popular. The water around this island is calm and safe for swimming. some of the beaches are undeveloped, while others are built up and offer numerous amenities for tourists.
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14. Railay, Thailand
Railay West beach is beautiful, but don’t expect a secluded spot, as this is where the boats arrive. Regardless, it’s still a beautiful setting, with massive limestone karsts jutting out of the ground. The nearby beaches of Tonsai and Haad Phra Nang are also incredible. Although Railay is attached to the mainland, it’s only available by boat, making it feel like you’re on an island. This is the place to come for rock-climbing, hiking, island-hopping and swimming.
15. Unawatuna Beach, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s beaches are golden and beautiful. some of them can be harmful at times due to rip-tides, so always heed the guidance of locals before heading in for a dip. However, the beach at Unawatuna is a beautiful bay that is completely safe for swimming. At one end there is bleach-white stupa set on the cliff, which is a great spot to view sunset. There are restaurants, small guesthouses and palm trees lining the shores here. The waves at the beach are fairly small, but some days they are a bit bigger, making it a good place to do some boogie-boarding!
16. Kuta Beach, Lombok, Indonesia
If you come to Lombok island, you have to visit Kuta. There’s a main beach in the town, but that’s not the one that you want to see. Take a motorbike and head off through the countryside, past herds of buffalo, to the top of a very rocky road. Down below, you’ll see a beautiful cove! The water here is fantastic blue, and the seas are calm. pack a picnic and water, as there aren’t any restaurants here.
17. Borneo, Malaysia
The island of Borneo provides outstanding beaches. Tanjung Aru beach is located near Kota Kinabalu, and is very popular with locals. However, to find the secluded beaches, head to the islands and beaches just off the coast of Semporna! The island of Sipadan is one of the best dive spots in the world…but it’s a very exclusive spot. Luckily, there are numerous snorkelling, diving and island hopping opportunities on the nearby atolls. The water here is serene and the marine life is abundant.
18. Dahab, Egypt
Dahab is an awesome place for backpacking, but it’s mostly well-known for the blue hole dive site! There’s not exactly a beach here per se, but after finishing your meal at a restaurant, you can literally just walk straight into the water. everything is built up best along the water’s edge, making all over a great spot for swimming. It’s a bit rocky, but the Red Sea is very clear, the coral is some of the best anywhere and the sea life is plentiful.
19. Red Beach, Crete, Greece
The aptly named Red beach is a must-see on your trip to Crete. This beach has the typical see-through waters that one concerns expect from the Mediterranean, but it also has some rocks in the water, which is common of this area. Regardless, the rusty coloured cliff, reddish sand and beautiful water makes this a ideal spot to spend the afternoon. This is one of the most unusual beaches anywhere.
20. Balos Beach, Crete, Greece
Ah, Balos Beach! This place stole our hearts. It’s not easy to get here, so you have to really want to put in the effort to visit this off-track gem. After driving along a rocky cliff edge, past various sheep and goats, you’ll finally arrive at a dirt parking lot. You then need to walk down a steep path before reaching one of the best beaches in the world. wear good shoes for the walk down, but bring flip-flops for enjoying the sand, or just go barefoot. There’s nothing here except a sand bar with a few chairs and umbrellas, and a beautiful cove for swimming.
21. Kabak, Turkey
Turkey has various beaches. numerous people spend their time in Marmaris or Ölüdeniz, which are busy spots and have a lot going on – think jet skiing, boat tours, parasailing and other water sports. but if you want to visit a pristine, secluded beach, check out Kabak! as with some of the beaches in the Mediterranean, this one has more rocks than sand, but that doesn’t take away from its beauty.
22. Olympos, Turkey
Not only is this beach beautiful, but there are numerous things to see and do in the area. This is a popular backpacker hangout as well, with guesthouses providing trips to see the eternal flames of Chimera and hiking excursions as well. Kayaking is also an option, as is checking out some of the numerous Roman ruins and artifacts. during the day, everyone is at the beach!
23. St. John’s, South Africa
South Africa’s rocky coastline is epic! There are loads of beaches in S.A. providing some great waves for surfers and underwater life for divers. numerous of the beaches aren’t safe for swimming due to rough waters, and the presence of harmful sharks. always ask before going in the water. Regardless, the beaches are still beautiful to look at and are ideal spots to get away from it all and delight in a picnic, or a stroll. You cant beat the feeling of strolling along the long stretch of beach at St. John’s – just don’t go in the water there!
24. Matemo Island, Mozambique
When our rickety sailboat pulled up at this exotic island in the Quirimbas Archipelago, we thought we’d died and gone to heaven. Seriously, this place is a dream! On one end of the island, you’ll find an exclusive fly in / fly out resort, while on the other end, there is a local village. In between is nothing but towering palm trees, delicate white sand and refreshing waters for swimming.
25. Paje Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar is one of those places that just sounds exotic. There are quite a few beaches on the island, but we recommend Paje. This town is small and the beach is practically empty. There are just a few restaurants and a couple of hotels to meet your needs. You can mingle with the local Swahili population, go swimming, unwind on the squeaky white sand with a book in hand, or just walk up and down the shoreline.