Canada’s largest online travel website, Flight Network, recently consulted a total of 623 travel experts who were asked to rank a large number of beaches from all over the world in order to find out which of them were considered the best.
A total of 50 beaches were included in the list, and a number of them are from Asia, three of which are from Southeast Asia! #AsianPride
So, if you’re looking for a sunny place to spend your year-end holidays, check out these nearby beaches!
1. Maya Bay, Thailand (11th place)
Source: Tiny House Giant Journey
Thailand’s Maya Bay, located in Kho Phi Phi Le, placed 11th on the list, making it the highest-ranked Asian beach in the world.
It’s no surprise that this beach made it so far up the list, as it has often been used as a popular filming location for major Hollywood movies.
Source: Flight Network
Source: Riveting Trip
The entire beach is enclosed by stunning cliffs that are hundreds of metres high, making for a very unique view of the horizon. You can take boat rides, snorkel, and take a look at the colourful marine life swimming in the crystal clear water.
The best time to visit Maya Bay is between November and April when the sea is calmer, making the island more accessible. Be warned though, this is one of the most popular beaches in Thailand so expect some huge crowds! Hotels.com suggests tourists looking to avoid crowds to visit the beach early in the morning or after 5pm.
2. El Nido, Philippines (14th place)
Source: everchanginghorizon | Instagram
Located in Palawan province in the Philippines, El Nido is nestled in the Bacuit Archipelago, making it the perfect island-hopping destination.
El Nido, which was ranked 14th place on this list, is definitely a more lively spot too, as it’s pretty close by beach-side bars and restaurants, so you can enjoy the calming sunset while sipping on some margaritas!
Source: The Big Black Backpack
Source: Ocean Island Travel
The beach itself is pretty accessible, as it’s a ferry ride away from the country’s capital, Manila. Tourists can go explore local caves, kayak and snorkel in the famous Big and Small Lagoons, or simply relax on the white sands of the beach.
Between November and April is the best time to visit the Philippines, so you can get to enjoy their beaches during Christmas and New Year!
3. Ao Nang, Thailand (45th place)
Source: Met Office
One of the many attractions Ao Nang Beach in the island of Krabi has to offer is definitely their longtail boat rides around the island’s pristine blue waters.
This famous beach, which ranked 45th place on the list of 50 best beaches, is just a 20-minute ride away from Krabi Town and is surrounded by a bunch of smaller islands that make this another great spot for island hoppers.
Source: thiago.lopez | Instagram
Source: travel_awakening | Instagram
If you’re not in the mood for exploring, the beach also has a ton of massage huts for you to relax your muscles in a picturesque setting. Ahh… sounds like a dream!
Meanwhile, here are the other Asian countries that also made it to this year’s list!
1. Fulhadhoo Beach, Maldives (22nd place)
Source: Wild Maldives
This Maldivian paradise placed 22nd out of the 50 beaches, and it’s surrounded by shady coconut palms everywhere you look!
Located on Fulhadhoo Island, this beach has abundant blue lagoons as well as colourful coral reefs teeming with marine life including friendly dolphins and turtles.
Source: TripAdvisor
Source: Wild Maldives
This beach is perfect for those who love snorkelling and free-diving, and even for those just looking to laze around on the soft, pillowy sand.
Fuldhadhoo is about a 2-hour speedboat ride from Maldives’ capital, Male, so you definitely need to block an entire day for visiting this place in your travel itinerary if you’re planning a visit to the Maldives!
2. Dhigurah Island, Maldives (34th place)
Source: Mohamed Shareef | Flickr
Yet another Maldivian beach made it to this list at 34th place, and this time, it’s Dhigurah Island!
Being one of the longest islands in the Maldives, Dhigurah Island is one of the 18 inhabited islands among 81 islands that make up the Ari Atoll. This island has deep channel reefs, where you can spot giant whale sharks and manta rays!
Source: Maldives Travel Media
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This secluded island has long stretches of sand that seem to go on forever, and is just a 20-minute plane ride from Male.
The best time to visit beaches and islands in the Maldives is between December and March. So, you can pay these beaches a visit anywhere within the next few months!
3. Rhadanagar Beach, India (46th place)
Source: Flight Network
Coming in at 46th place is Rhadanagar Beach. Many of us probably haven’t heard of this beach, but it’s nonetheless incredibly stunning and worth the visit!
Located in Havelock Island among India’s Andaman Archipelago, Rhadanagar Beach is teeming with lush greenery and white sandy beaches, as well as diverse and colourful marine life.
Source: Flight Network
Source: Tour My India
Getting to the island is pretty accessible, as tourists often fly to Port Blair from Mumbai or Delhi, after which they travel to the island via seaplane, catamaran, or ferry.
The best times to visit Rhadanagar Beach is between October and February, so definitely pay this place a visit if you’re in the mood to chill out or even explore marine life.
So, if you’re interested in spending Christmas and New Year by the beach, you should definitely check out some of these beaches since it’s best to visit them in the near future! Brb, we’re booking our flights as we speak!
Also read: Expedia’s Having HUGE Promo If You Fly Before 31st December, Includes FREE Flights Too!
