25 destinations with amazing beaches

The Philippines are located in Southeast Asia, in the western Pacific, and has more than 7,000 islands. It would be therefore difficult to make a detailed selection, but personally I can advise you in particular those of Bohol, which in addition to its superb beaches, has other natural interests such as the Chocolate Hills or the Tarsiers. I also recommend Boracay Island with the sublime “White Beach”, which is probably the most popular beach in all the Philippines. This beach is well named with its enormous expanse of white sand, crystal clear water and palm trees. Other islands that I have not yet visited are also known for their beaches, among others, the islands of Palawan, Panglao or Coron. The best time to explore the Philippines is from mid-December to mid-May.

New Caledonia is a French territory composed of an archipelago of islands and is located in the South Pacific. This territory is renowned for its magnificent palm-fringed beaches, its lagoons and its great barrier reef. You can enjoy these natural beauties on each of the 5 main islands of New Caledonia: Grande Terre (the main island where the capital Noumea is located), Ouvéa, Maré, Lifou, and the Isle of Pines. I recommend in particular these last 2 islands which are sublime and whose inhabitants are very welcoming. The best time to visit New Caledonia is between July and January.

Cape Verde is an island state located off the northwest coast of Africa. It is made of an archipelago of ten islands. This magnificent country is renowned for its Afro-Portuguese Creole culture, its music and its many beaches. You will indeed find superb beaches on each of its islands. Some with black sand like on the island of Fogo and of Santiago, or yellow color like on the islands of Sal and Sao Vicente for example. On the island of Boa Vista, you can also discover its famous beaches with many dunes, as well as another natural wonder: the Viana Desert. The period from November to June is well suited for visiting its islands.

Mauritius is an island located in the western Indian Ocean, in the heart of the Mascarene archipelago, between La Réunion in the west, and Rodrigues island in the east. To let you imagine the landscapes of this island,  Mark Twain would have said about it: “Mauritius was created first, and then, paradise was copied on Mauritius”.

Mauritius has indeed paradisiacal beaches with clear and pleasant waters all around its coasts. In the north, I recommend in particular the beach of deer island which is about twenty minutes by boat from the main island, as well as those of “Trou aux Biches” and “Mont Choisy” lined with casuarina trees. On the west coast of Mauritius, discover “Flic en flac” beach, renowned in particular for its superb sunsets. Finally in the south, do not miss the Morne beach with the “Morne Brabant” mountain in the background which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is advisable to visit Mauritius between May and October.

The French islands of the West Indies archipelago are located in the Caribbean Sea. Among them, the island of Guadeloupe is divided in two regions (“Basse-Terre” and “Grande-Terre”), the island of Martinique, Marie Galante, La Désirade, the archipelago of Saintes, Saint Barthélémy and Saint Martin. All these islands have splendid sandy beaches, bordered by palm trees and with crystal clear water at a good temperature.

As for me, I can advise you in particular to go to the island of Saint Martin and the island of Saint Barthélémy where I stayed for several weeks as part of my work. These islands have many large and magnificent beaches bordered by coconut palms. I also had the chance to explore Martinique with a friend of mine native to the island, but it was quite a long time ago and we were not at all into photography yet at that time 😅. The best time to visit these islands is between December and April.

Thailand is located in the South East of Asia, a country knowned for its superb tropical beaches. The Kingdom of Siam offers indeed many idyllic beaches often bordered by lush nature, which will delight as much lovers of idleness, diving and even parties. With its 2 500 kilometers of coastline, it should be easy for you to find beaches that suits you, among the very touristy and the almost deserted ones.

Do not hesitate to explore its coastline on the side of the Gulf of Thailand with for example the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao or Koh Pha Ngan but also on the side of the Andaman Sea, with among others, the islands of Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi or the magnificent Railay Beach surrounded by majestic limestone cliffs. To take advantage of the clear sky and the pleasant temperatures of Thailand, I advise you to go there rather between December and March.

The Bahamas are an archipelago of coral reefs located in the Caribbean, which has more than 700 islands and islets. The number 1 asset of this country is of course its amazing white sandy beaches and lagoons with superb shades of blue. You will find in the Bahamas different types of beaches, those touristic, very animated with many services and activities, which are mainly on the big islands (Grand Bahama, New Providence, Paradise Island), and others more isolated but as beautiful (or even more), which are more in the “Out Islands”.

It would be very difficult to present all the beaches of the Bahamas but to name a few, we can speak of the wild and paradisiacal beach of Coco Plum in the archipelago of the Exumas Islands, the one of the island of Noname Cay with its wild pigs or finally the one of Emerald Beach with its emerald lagoon populated with multicolored fish.

As for me, I spent my stay in the Bahamas on the small island of San Salvador, because of an all-inclusive trip (for once) very inexpensive, organized by my works. The climate is generally good over most of the year, but prefer the dry season between December and April to make the most of it.

French Polynesia is a French overseas territory located in the South Pacific Ocean. This territory which stretches over 2 000 km, includes 118 islands (34 high volcanic islands and 84 atolls) which are divided into 5 archipelagos or administrative subdivisions: The Marquesas Islands, the “Tuamotu-Gambier” Islands, the “Sous-le-vent” Islands, the Austral Islands and the Windward Islands.

Between the warm welcome of its inhabitants and its exceptional natural landscapes such as its mountains, valleys, waterfalls and of course its white or black sand beaches, you will certainly spend an unforgettable holiday in French Polynesia. You will also be able to discover a rich culture, a tasty gastronomy, an exceptional and often endemic flora and fauna (more than 800 species of fish, turtles, ground crabs, bougainvillea, hibiscus…), as well as ancestral traditions which will completely disorient you. For my part, I had the chance to work for a month on the main island of Tahiti and to discover during my weekends the islands of Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea and Fakarava. The period from June to October with its dry climate is ideal for exploring this territory.

Iceland is a Nordic island country with spectacular landscapes located between Greenland and Europe. If you are looking for natural landscapes of breathtaking and atypical beaches, Iceland is an excellent choice. On the other side, if you want to sunbathe or go swimming in the sea, go rather to a country located further south! 😅

Iceland has indeed some of the most beautiful beaches I have seen. We can cite for example is the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, which has huge piles of basalt, on which you can observe thousands of sea birds such as puffins. Do not miss either Diamond beach, which is one of the most beautiful and atypical places I have visited in the world, with these blue and white icebergs of all shapes and sizes on this black sand. Finally, it is only at Sólheimasandur in Iceland, that you can observe the carcass of an airplane over a huge black sand beach. You can see all of these places in my video of Iceland. Regarding the best time to go to Iceland, please see the page When is the best time to visit Iceland for a detailed explanation depending on the season.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, stretching from the Amazon in the north to the Iguazu Falls and Sao Paulo in the south. With more than 7 400 km of coastline and generous sunshine, Brazil is an ideal destination for beach lovers. They also often have a unique atmosphere between party and relaxation, as on the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro.

You will also find many quieter beaches, with wild vegetation, along the Brazilian coasts or on its islands such as for example on the sublime island of Morro de Sao Paulo. If you can, don’t miss Fernando de Noronha, a Brazilian archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the magnificent Porto de Galinhas beach near Recife, just to name a few. Brazil is such a large country that it is difficult to advise precisely when to go there, it will actually depend on your itinerary.

France is located in western Europe and has a magnificent and varied coastline, over 3 400 km long and providing access to 5 maritime façades: the North Sea, the English Channel, the Iroise Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In France, you will have many choices between the immense sandy and pebble beaches, those surrounded by cliffs, trees, or even small coves with their turquoise waters..
The beaches in France are sometimes part of exceptional natural landscapes such as the one at the foot of the Pilat dune, or the one along the cliffs of Etretat. Others will welcome you like stars, like in Deauville or Saint Tropez for example, or in a paradisiacal and quieter setting like in the Glénan Islands or on the island of Porquerolles.

France also includes the sublime island of Corsica which is located in the Mediterranean Sea and where you can also enjoy amazing beaches with crystal clear water like those of the Caribbean or Southeast Asia. I recommend, among other things, the beaches of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, bordered by maritime pines, with their fine sand, their breathtaking crystal clear turquoise waters. The most pleasant time of year to discover France and its beaches is rather between May and September when the temperatures are warmer, the days longer and with better sunshine.

Ireland is an island country located next to Great Britain in the west of Europe, between the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. I guess you weren’t expecting to see Ireland on this list right? Well, for me it largely deserves its place because it has really beautiful beaches. Obviously you can’t swim there all year (and even in summer, you must not be chilly 😅), but they are really remarkable.

All Ireland actually has magnificent natural landscapes, such as the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara National Park and Burren National Park just to name a few. Concerning the beaches, I advise you for instance the one of Keem bay located on the island of Achill with its breathtaking panoramic view, as well as the one of dog’s bay and its rocks that would make you think that you are in Seychelles. Summer, between June and September, is the best time to travel to Ireland with pleasant temperatures.