The Best Beaches in the World

Beach holidays are still a popular choice among those heading abroad, where sunbathing or heading into the crystal clear ocean to enjoy water sports can be the perfect getaway from the demands of work. Many countries boast magnificent beaches, but following is a selection of beaches widely considered to be among the best the planet has to offer.




The Far East has long been a region associated with exotic and captivating holidays, and cheap flights and growing tourism opportunities have seen destinations such as Thailand booming in popularity in recent years - especially islands such as Koh Samui, home to magnificent beaches such as Chaweng Beach.




While some Thai destinations tend to be overrun with noisy holidaymakers, and their natural beauty spoiled by high-rise hotels, Chaweng Beach still holds on to its charm and seclusion - and is still only a short distance from local shops and eateries further inland.




A little further south, New Zealand has many idyllic beaches around its twisting coast, one of the most remarkable being the so-called '90-Mile Beach' (in reality, around 54 miles) towards the northern tip of the country on the western coast. A popular destination for surfers due to its huge rolling waves carried by the prevailing wind, especially during the winter months, the beach has all the family amenities visitors would expect from a world-class holiday destination.

New Zealand's neighbour Australia is a country famous for its beaches, partly thanks to exported soaps burning the image of bronzed beach bodies permanently into international visitors' minds when thinking of the nation.




The reality matches the perception, with beaches in areas such as Esperance and Cape Range National Park, both in Western Australia, being home to an impressive number of beautiful beaches and coves - whether you desire to get away from it all at Rossiter Bay or prefer to stay in bustling resorts along Ocean Drive, where you'll find it easy to find restaurants and hotels and stay in touch with friends and family who call Australia to find out what they're missing.




Just remember, you might not have to travel too far to find a world-class beach, with many destinations around the UK's coast being highly competitive choices for beach breaks on a budget - from Hayle beach in Cornwall and the Isle of Wight in the south to some of Scotland's beautiful beaches in the north, such as Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull.