Asia's Top 50+ Beaches

  • Emerald Beach // Japan

    Emerald Beach
    © shihina / 123RF

    Emerald beach is located on the tip of the Motobu Peninsula in the north of Okinawa's main island, Honto. The name comes from the beautiful greeny-turquoise colour of the clear waters here which are every bit as clean as they look. Emerald beach is actually part of the Ocean Expo Park which extends for 3km along the coast containing such… read more »

  • Azhimala Beach // India

    Azhimala Beach
    © Dr Ajay Balachandran / CC BY

    Just a short drive from Kovalam is the much quieter, laid back Azhimala Beach. Compared to the hustle and bustle along the coast this is a wonderfully peaceful and natural location.

    Gentle waves wash the long stretch of golden sand, and the backdrop is coconut palm trees with the odd cluster of boulders. Instead of a throng of tourists you can… read more »

  • Polem Beach // India

    Polem Beach
    © Goaforholidays / CC BY

    Polem beach lies in the south of Goa, and is the last beach in the state before the border with Karnataka. At 700 metres in length, it is considered small by Goa's standards.

    Its clean yellow sands are set slightly back from the surrounding coastline, in a small bay. Providing some shelter from the full strength of the Arabian Sea, it… read more »

  • Frishman Beach // Israel

    Frishman Beach
    israeltourism

    Frishman beach is one of the most central, and hence most popular, beaches in Tel Aviv. That is not to say it isn't one of the best though. A wide stretch of soft golden sand in front of the colourful facade of the Dan Hotel this is everything a city beach should be.

    Often cited as one of the best family… read more »

  • Pui O Beach // Hong Kong

    Pui O Beach
    Mark Lehmkuhler

    Pui O Beach on the southern coast of Lantau Island is a beautiful, long stretch of golden sand. Backed by fertile plains and a river the terrain rises up to either side with mountains providing a stunning backdrop. What makes this picturesque beach particularly interesting though are the roaming water buffalo, a legacy of the areas farming history. The sand… read more »

  • Maehama Beach // Japan

    Maehama Beach
    © eyeblink / 123RF

    Yonaha Maehama is often cited as Japan's best beach and it is easy to see why. The fine white sand of this beach stretches seven kilometres around the south west coast of Miyakojima island. Here the water is warm, calm and crystal clear with a hint of brilliant green / blue.

    Despite its tropical appearance this is not a desert… read more »

  • Kata Noi // Thailand

    Kata Noi

    Set just to the south of Kata beach, Kata Noi is like a smaller, undeveloped version of its bigger, brasher neighbour. It has the same golden-white sands that gently slope down to the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea, and as you would expect from a tropical island, the beach is lined with palm trees.

    Kata Noi beach is… read more »

  • Cherai Beach // India

    Cherai Beach
    © Jan J George / CC BY

    Located within a stone's throw of Kochi, Kerala's most populous city, is Cherai Beach. This long, golden sand beach sits on a 15-kilometer strip of coast backed by extensive backwaters. As the beach stretches off into the distance with a view of the Arabian Sea to one side and groves of coconut palms to the other it is hard to… read more »

  • Kappad Beach // India

    Kappad Beach
    © Sarah and Iain / CC BY

    With its long stretch of pale-golden sands backed by tall coconut palms Kappad Beach is as delightful as any in Kerala. It is also just the right combination of wild beauty but with all the amenities and conveniences close at hand.

    Long before the beachgoers, Kappad Beach was an important place in Kerala’s history. In 1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama… read more »

  • Thottada Beach // India

    Thottada Beach
    © Arjunmangol / CC BY

    Thottada Beach is located towards the north of Kerala near Kannur, and you can stay just steps away from this beautiful sandy beach. This quiet, serene beach stretches for around 800 meters with fine golden sand, a backdrop of tropical greenery and it also has great sunsets. Towards the northern end the beach has a small river which forms a… read more »

  • Muzhappilangad Beach // India

    Muzhappilangad Beach
    © Shagil Kannur / CC BY

    Muzhappilangad Beach is famous for the fact that you can drive your car along the beach and in the water. Out of a 5 km long beach there are four kilometers where you can drive along the sand. Whilst to me this sounds like a recipe for disaster it is apparently a lot of fun.

    If you do drive onto… read more »

  • Arambol Beach // India

    Arambol Beach

    Arambol Beach is situated in the North of Goa, and is widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in India. Set between Mandrem Beach to the south and Keri Beach to the north this is one of the most popular areas for travelers to Goa. Busiest during the winter season between November and March, Arambol is firmly… read more »

  • Mandrem Beach // India

    Mandrem Beach
    © Haakon Wibe / CC BY

    Compared to the frenetic pace at the neighbouring traveller / backpacker oriented Arambol and Anjuna, laid-back Mandrem Beach will seem something of a haven of tranquility.

    Situated in the North of Goa, Mandrem Beach has 800 meters of clean, white sand which is separated from the village by a shallow creek. Backing the beach are sand dunes and palm… read more »

  • Morjim Beach // India

    Morjim Beach
    © Agyar / CC BY

    Morjim Beach is one of the most Northern beaches in Goa. With its beautiful pristine sands and backdrop of palms it makes the perfect nesting and hatching site for the Olive ridley sea turtles. These creatures are an endangered species in India (though not globally) and are protected by law. This has done much to prevent development on the beach… read more »

  • Anjuna Beach // India

    Anjuna Beach
    © Praveen / CC BY

    Anjuna Beach is one of the best known in North Goa, with its reputation growing out of the halcyon hippie days of the 1960s. These days it is still pretty laid back but draws a much more diverse crowd, many of whom are here for the heady party scene.

    Anjuna Beach itself is everything you would expect from a Goan beach;… read more »