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First, a confession — there is no ‘best’ beach destination. Every beach has its own personality, from secluded coves to wide swathes of golden sand to palm-shaded bays littered with volcanic stones. Your best beach is purely a subjective superlative. What’s more, an isolated villa on a private island might be perfect for a couple’s romantic beach vacation, but a few years later, you might prefer a slightly larger stay with plenty of children’s activities.

So, instead of a definitive list, consider this a starting place. Then, call to speak to one of our specialists — they’ve spent decades searching for the most beautiful beaches in the world and can help you find the best one for you, whether you're looking for a great family beach vacation or simply want to unwind under the palm trees for a week.

1. The Maldives

Snorkeling through shimmering shoals of fish and over rainbow-bright corals with a marine biologist. Relaxing into a massage in the wavering light of an underwater spa. Lazing away your days on a white-sand beach under the sun. Waking to the gentle sound of waves just a few feet from your bed. Few destinations so perfectly capture the languid pleasures of a tropical vacation than the Maldives.

This widely scattered archipelago in the Indian Ocean tops our list for many reasons, including exquisite beaches, lively corals, and reliable tropical weather. The islands also boast a wide range of exceptional hotels, from luxe overwater bungalows to tiny villas on remote islands.

In fact, much of your trip will be dictated by which island you choose to visit. This decision is a pleasantly agonizing task, but your specialist can help you match the right island with your style of travel.

Best time to visit the Maldives

The dry period, from January to April, is the best time to visit, with comfortably hot days and warm nights. You’ll be treated to tropical blue skies, low humidity, and ample sunshine.

Read our separate guide for more about the best time to visit the Maldives.

2. Mauritius

Few tropical destinations pack as much into a small island as Mauritius. The palm-fringed island is ringed with beaches, azure waters, and vibrant coral reefs that teem with turtles, dolphins, and fish of all stripes. You can easily while away your trip sunning on the sand, swimming in the shallows, or snorkeling in the marine parks.

However, the island offers so much more to do and see. You can follow a private guide through the ebony forests of Black River Gorges National Park, searching for any of the endemic bird species, including the rare pink pigeon.

Or you can explore the rich culinary heritage of the country, which has been spiced by the island’s Indian, European, African, and Chinese influences. We can arrange for you to share a meal with a local family in their home.

And in Port Louis, you can take a private tour through the market — the busy heart of the city — before visiting one of the country's oldest and most impressive mansions, Eureka, which has been converted into a museum showcasing the island’s history.

Best time to visit Mauritius

With sunshine, blue skies, and warm temperatures most months, Mauritius is a great destination almost year round. You’ll find the hottest weather in October, November, and December, though that coincides with the most visitors.

Read our separate guide for more about the best time to visit Mauritius.

3. Thailand

Stretched out along more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles) of coastline, °Õ³ó²¹¾±±ô²¹²Ô»å’s beaches vary wildly. You can find bays dotted with striking karst crags, swathes of pearly sand shaded by palm trees, and secluded islands where you feel pleasantly isolated from the world. Additionally, thanks to the climate patterns of the region, you can always find beach weather somewhere in the country.

Of course, Thailand is perhaps the most popular beach destination in Southeast Asia, bustling with visitors and stacked with anonymous hotels. Despite this, our specialists can point you to the quieter corners where you can still have a relaxing beach stay. We can recommend hotels with character and arrange experiences that help to illuminate the country’s coastal culture.

For instance, you can cycle, kayak, and hike through the coastal rainforest of Khao Sok National Park. Or we can arrange for you to paddle a canoe with a guide through the sea caves and limestone islets around Phuket. Or you might board a boat to explore Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, for some of °Õ³ó²¹¾±±ô²¹²Ô»å’s best snorkeling.

Best time to visit Thailand

With a very varied weather cycle, Thailand is a year-round beach destination, as long as you remain flexible about where you want to visit. The west coast is best from November to March, while the east coast has sunshine and clear skies the rest of the year.

Read our separate guide for more about the best time to visit Thailand.

4. Seychelles

Powder-soft sands dotted with boulders shaped by time and tides. Crystal-clear shallows and pristine waters that shelter thriving reefs. Vibrant-green jungles thrumming with endemic bird species, including the flamboyantly gothic-looking black parrot. Tiny private islands where the only traffic is the giant tortoises. Few places so perfectly capture the ideal of barefoot luxury as the Seychelles.

Deep in the Indian Ocean, this archipelago offers exceptional diving and snorkeling. Many of the stays have vibrant house reefs just offshore, or you can head to more remote hot spots. You can also spend a day on a catamaran hopping between sandy bays and remote islets on a trip.

For on-land adventures, follow a private guide into the islands’ jungled mountains to see rare birds and plants. On a private tour of Praslin Island, you can explore traditional Creole homes and enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking mangroves.

For the best experience, we suggest combing a few stays, like a beach-side villa on the laid-back main island of Mahé followed by a few days on Denis Island, where you can stay in one of a few spacious cottages on a wild and remote private island.

Best time to visit the Seychelles

It's best to time your Seychelles trip in April, May, October, or November. You can visit during the rest of the year, but that’s when trade winds can push seaweed up onto the beaches, though your specialist will point you to the best hotels to avoid this.

Read our separate guide for more about the best time to visit the Seychelles.

5. Hawaii

Scattered like emeralds across the sapphire depths of the Pacific, the islands of Hawaii are best known for their palm-shaded beaches, clear waters, and the bright leis everyone gets at the airport. It’s easy to simply spend your whole trip here bouncing from beach to beach, admiring the different shades of gold, white, black, and even green and red sands — the kaleidoscopic palette is a result of the volcanic forces that are still shaping this island chain today.

You can also explore those same forces on a private tour through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Your expert guide will take you into the park to see fields of black lava cooled into otherworldly ripples. Or you can take a guided hike into the deep-green misty heart of the rainforests.

For more watery experiences, you might visit Molokini, a partially submerged caldera that shelters a bustling underwater ecosystem, including whales if you visit between January and March. For a more intimate encounter with marine life, you can strike out under the cover of starlight to go snorkeling with manta rays.

Best time to visit Hawaii

Hawaii is a year-round destination, with pleasantly tropical weather whenever you visit. For the warmest temperatures and sunny skies, go between March and September.

Read our separate guide for more about the best time to visit Hawaii.

6. Greece

Sprawled across the bright azure waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas, Greece is a strong candidate for the best beach destination in Europe. There are more than 6,000 individual islands and islets, as well as innumerable coastal towns and villages, each with its own distinctive style.

You can find beaches made from glittering white stone, pumice pebbles, or black or red sand. For a relaxing stay, you might visit a sleepy village like Hydra, where there are no vehicles allowed. Mykonos is best known for its nightlife, but we can introduce you to the island’s authentic culture, away from the bustle, with a cheese-focused cooking class. On the mainland, you can visit Nafplio to explore Venetian architecture and the nearby ancient city of Epidavros.

Or you might consider a visit to Milos, another caldera island like Santorini, though this one is known for its more laid-back atmosphere. Here, you might relax on any of the islands’ 72 different beaches, like the soft sands of Papikinou or the wave-sculpted white stone shore of Sarakiniko. You can also explore the island’s many coves and inlets on a private sailboat.

Best time to visit Greece

The best time to explore the Greek islands is May, June, or September. You’ll have warm and sunny weather without the summer throngs or heat.

Read our separate guide for more about the best time to visit Greece.

7. French Polynesia

Tahiti. Bora Bora. Moorea. Taha'a. The very names of the French Polynesia's islands conjure images of jungle-topped volcanoes, sun-gilded lagoons, and long lazy stretches of silky white sand. This remote archipelago within an archipelago promises languid days soaking up the South Pacific sun and sultry nights in thatched-roof bungalows overlooking the starlit sea.,

The neon-blue waters off the islands are bursting with marine life — brightly scaled tropical fish, sleek sharks, mysterious and graceful mantas, and (from July to November) humpback whales. You can opt for a catamaran tour to explore the hidden bays and coves of the different islands and watch the sun sink into the Pacific.

If you want to head inland, there’s plenty to discover there, too. You can hike through the mountains, take a food tour, or enjoy a song and dance performance — traditional Polynesian culture still underpins every aspect of life here, including songs and dances. To dig into the roots of this culture, you can take a tour of ancient sites like Puamau and the Royal Village of Maeva, where hundreds of stone structures still stand.

Best time to visit French Polynesia

May and September offer the best combination of low humidity, comfortably hot temperatures, and fewer crowds. If you’re looking for steamy days and don’t mind more visitors, consider visiting between June and August.

Read our separate guide for more on the best time to visit French Polynesia.

8. Cook Islands

There’s getting away from it all and then there are the Cook Islands. Deep in the wild blue of the Pacific, this clutch of small islands seems almost entirely undiscovered by outsiders. The pace of life is unhurried, there are no buildings higher than a palm tree (by law), and everyone seems to know everyone else.

A visit here calls for slowing down and appreciating the natural glories of the archipelago — sparkling aquamarine waters, alabaster beaches, and remarkably healthy coral reefs where rainbow-bright fish wheel around in flashing schools.

You might go diving or snorkeling, cycle along the only road on the main island of Rarotonga, or hike along the Cross Island Trek. May to October, you might try your hand at windsurfing, and in July and August, you can look for the huge numbers of migrating humpbacks who swim by.

Best time to visit the Cook Islands

For the best combination of tropical temperatures and comfortable humidity, visit between April and November. The rest of the year sees occasional bouts of heavy rain, with long stretches of sunshine in between.

Read our separate guide for more on the best time to visit the Cook Islands.

9. Iceland

Riding horses along the waterline, strolling on black sands, and embarking on maritime adventures — Iceland may be an unusual destination for a beach getaway, but it’s a fun alternative. The ocean waters can be chilly, but you’ll have ample sunshine — the country sees more than 21 hours of daylight on the summer solstice.

You might visit Diamond Beach, a stretch of land between the ocean and Jökulsárlón. This glacial lake is known for its profusion of icebergs and bergy bits — floating ice that’s calved off the glacier but is too small to be considered a full-fledged berg. The beach is dotted with icy chunks that are perfectly clear and glitter in the summer sun.

If you want to get out on the water, there are plenty of options. You might board a fishing boat and sample the day’s catch mere moments after it’s spilled from the nets, a delicacy called Viking sushi. Or you can take a boat to explore rocky islets that thrum with sea birds. For more wildlife, consider a guided hike to see puffins or a whale-watching tour.

You can also mount one of Iceland’s sturdy, shaggy horses — a breed known for its unique gaits. A horse ride along the glittering black sands of Vík offers a different way to experience the island’s south coast.

Best time to visit Iceland

Iceland is a year-round destination, but for the least rain and most sunlight, head there in June and July, when the midnight sun gives you ample time to enjoy the outdoors.

Read our separate guide for more on the best time to visit Iceland.

10. Zanzibar

This sun-gilded archipelago off the coast of Tanzania is surrounded by balmy turquoise waters, lively reefs, and pale sand beaches shaded by mangroves. Zanzibar is an ideal spot to spend a few days unwinding after the rigors of an African safari.

There’s plenty of snorkeling and diving right off the islands, but for the most spectacular corals, you might opt for a guided dive in the conservation area around Chumbe Island. You can also take a sailboat safari to try spotting humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins that frequent these waters.

To explore the islands’ blend of cultures, you can take a guided tour of Stone Town. For centuries, this was one of the world’s most important hubs for the spice trade, a legacy that still influences the cuisine. The archipelago is also the only remaining home to the red colobus monkey. You can look for this rare primate on a hike through the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, a compact but well-preserved rainforest inland.

Best time to visit Zanzibar

The dry season usually falls from July to September, which corresponds to when the Great Migration herds cross the Mara River into Kenya. During those months, you'll have dry skies, sunshine and hot temperatures.

Read our separate guide for more on the best time to visit Zanzibar.