The sound of waves washing against the shore, sand crumbling under your feet, and the warm sun kissing your skin. If that sounds nice to you, then maybe now is the time to pack your swimming trunks, slather yourself in sunscreen, and hit the beach.
The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of Earth's surface, meaning our planet is home to thousands upon thousands of stunning beaches, so choosing the very best piece of sandy real estate in the world is slightly subjective, but we have gone to great lengths to compile a list of the some of the best beaches in the world.
So, whether you're seeking solitude or a party, shallow waters or pounding waves, find the perfect beach from the grassy dunes of Denmark to the rugged coastline of Iceland, the tropical beaches of Seychelles to the crystal-clear waters of Greece; here are some of the best beaches in the world.
Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles
Famed for being one of the most photographed beaches on the planet (and appearing in the original Bounty advert), Anse Source d'Argent is a sight to behold. Its pink-hued sands are lapped by shallow emerald waters, bookended by large granite boulders and shaded by craning coconut palms. This secluded cove, located on the southwest coast of La Digue, is one of the Seychelles' most famous attractions and one of the most picturesque beaches anywhere in the world.
It is not, by any stretch, deserted, getting crowded later in the day when the sun is at its highest. If you visit early in the morning, you'll get there before the daytrippers from Mahé and Praslin. For your own pocket of paradise, walk southwards through the shallows past the first set of boulders. The bay opens up for added breathing space.
Unless you are willing to wade through the island's watery depths, you'll need to pass through the old L'Union Estate coconut plantation to access the beach, which has an entrance fee of SCR 100 (£6.47). We suggest you stop by and say hello to the friendly giant Aldabra Tortoises housed at the enclosure. Large tortoises are among the longest-lived animals, with some Aldabra giant tortoises having lived over 200 years. If you want to get further out to sea, why not experience the Robinson Crusoe kayak tour, which takes place in 100% transparent kayaks. The transparent kayaks allow visitors to discover and explore the marine life below while enjoying the breathtaking scenery and panoramic views of the coastline and granite rock formations.
Dune du Pyla, France
At the entrance to Arcachon Bay, near the commune of La Teste de Buch, the Dune du Pyla is Europe's largest sand dune, towering at over 100 meters. In fact, it continues to move, up to 5m a year, as the particles of sand - up to 60 million cubic metres - are blown upwards by the wind.
During the summer, the beach is cloaked in a shimmering heat haze, giving the illusion that this sprawling French beach is scattered with gleaming treasure. The sand is as finely milled as flesh flour, perfect for rolling down to the tussocky shoreline and standing to gaze at the pine forests behind the beach. After you have taken in the panoramic views of the Atlantic, there are miles of beaches along the Bassin d'Arcachon that are ripe for exploring. You'll find a jumble of huts along the beaches where fishermen set up tables to sell oysters, pâté and prawns.
While you can climb the dune on the soft sand, unless you're extremely fit, we suggest you take the wooden steps that have been built on the steeper inland side. You can also descend via the steps or do as most people and either run full pelt down the dune or roll the way down it - something which is particularly popular among children. The fastest and most exciting way to get to the beach is to surf down on a bodyboard or, if you are particularly adventurous, paraglide down.
Glass Beach, California
A beach made from years of dumped litter may not sound particularly appealing, but at Glass Beach, on the Mendocino coast in California, the result is remarkably beautiful. From 1906 to 1967, glass, appliances, and even vehicles were chucked into the ocean only to be washed ashore years later. When dumping was prohibited in the late 1960s, cleaning programs took place across the West Coast, removing all metal and non-biodegradable waste. The natural pounding force of the waves began to break apart the glass debris and smoothen it before washing ashore as jewel-like translucent stones.
Today the beaches are wonderlands of completely smooth 'sea glass' - shards of broken bottles, windows, and other glass debris that have been worn down over the decades by the rolling surf. While it may not be the best beach for sunbathing, it is quite a sight to behold. Don't let the name put you off; the beach is perfectly safe, with no fear of cutting yourself on a shard of broken glass.
In 2002 the land was sold to State Parks and opened formally as a part of MacKerricher State Park. As one of the few remaining deposits of sea glass still left in the United States, it is well worth a visit for a unique experience. While the glass has depleted over the years due to visitors taking the pebbles home, the kaleidoscopic effect of a multicoloured beach remains.
Søndervig Beach, Denmark
White, wide sand beaches with the roaring North Sea surrounded by giant grassy dunes; Søndervig beach is different from other beaches in that it is rich in history. If you were to stand atop the grassy dune to take in the grand panorama of Søndervig, you would see numerous bunkers dotted along the coast, remnants from the Second World War. The Axis forces built them as part of the Atlantic rampart to protect the German army against an Allied invasion. While the bunkers were initially built several hundred metres up in the dunes, the sea has since eroded the coast and laid bare the bunkers, so almost all are now down on the beaches. Rumour has it some of the bunkers are still well hidden up in the dunes, and it can be fun to try and find them. Although some of them are on private property, so you need permission from the owner to go exploring. While the bunkers are fascinating to explore, they are incredibly old, so you must be cautious when examining them. You should also be careful when swimming because some bunkers are underwater. If you want to get close to the bunkers and learn about their history, you can enjoy a guided tour.
Not too far from the beach, you will find the town of Søndervig, which also has a rich history. The town has been the most visited beach town in Denmark since the 19th century, offering cosy shops, quaint restaurants, holiday homes and, of course, its fantastic beach.
Playa del Amor (Hidden Beach), Mexico
A gaping hole in the surface of a lush green island opens onto a secret beach with ample shade, sun, and crystal-clear water. Playa del Amor, locally known as the Hidden Beach, sounds like something out of an adventure novel: a wide, sandy cavern with the azure waters of the Pacific rushing in. The origins of the beach are shrouded in mystery, but the Marietas Islands were used as a military testing ground by the Mexican government throughout the 1900s, so it is widely believed that an explosion may have created the crater in which the beach sits.
The Hidden Beach is invisible from the outside and is only accessible by swimming through a long water tunnel. Don't worry; this special swim has a few feet of air above your head, and it's all part of the adventure! Once you've crossed through, you'll find yourself in paradise.
While the islands themselves remain uninhabited, they are frequently visited by tourists who come to enjoy the diverse marine life and the unique tropical Eden of Playa del Amor. While Hidden Beach is no longer a secret, becoming one of the most desirable places to visit for travellers around the world, the Mexican government has been restricting access to preserve the island's flora and fauna and prevent erosion of the coral reefs below. We recommend booking with Mike's Charters and Tours or Vallarta Adventures for private eco excursions, hidden beach visits, snorkelling and even some onboard pampering. If you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a humpback whale.
Ses Salines, Ibiza
Ses Salines is a place of lush beauty, a wide crescent of pale sandy beach bordered by pine woods with crystal clear waters and breakers that appear on windy days, perfect for body-surfing. Small catamarans sit on the sand at the southern-most end of the beach. While walking towards the pirate tower, you will pass a string of popular bars and restaurants that play a quality selection of dance and Balearic music, which spills out onto the beach and often brings cocktails and food orders out to you on the sand!
Although set within a peaceful nature reserve, this little piece of paradise comes with a soundtrack of gently thudding bass drums, with a licensed to party to go on until sunset. Bikini-clad dancers mingle with sunbathers on the delicate soft sand as the sun dips towards the horizon.
It is common to watch a parade of models stroll with their sculpted bodies while their footballer boyfriends show off their skills. Ses Salines is a popular beach, particularly for the rich and famous, who flock here to enjoy this jewel of the Mediterranean and bathe in its privileged waters. Those seeking something a little more intimate will be happy to know that the secret beaches of Punta de Ses Portes are just a short stroll along a footpath from the far end of the beach. Although, you may want to avert your eyes when encountering the nudists who frequent the shores. For those of you after something a little more exclusive, try Melon Bomb DJs' secret parties at the Jockey Club for an afternoon of classic, bouncy house.
Yyteri, Pori, Finland
If you were to picture a beach holiday, Finland probably would not be the first country to come to mind. Yet the Nordic country is home to one of its finest stretches of coastline in northern Europe. Yteri beach is a 5km stretch of powder-soft sand backed by dunes and pine forests. During the summer, the shallow waters of the Baltic are surprisingly warm, and the offshore breezes attract surfers from across Scandinavia.
Being so close to the Bothnian Sea National Park, the beach and its surrounding area are protected, with one of the cleanest beaches and oceans in Europe. The beach is also frequently visited by rare seabirds, especially during the migration seasons, with several observation towers and bird-watching huts set up to spot them.
While many go to the beach to relax, Yyteri is a paradise for water and beach sports enthusiasts. Activities include beach volleyball, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing and many others. Yyteri is especially famous for the small but passionate Finnish surfing movement as one of the best destinations in the whole of Scandinavia for surfing. The waters are some of the warmest in the Baltics at around 20° Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer. Surf shops are typically open during summer for rentals of surfboards, mountain bikes, and other sports equipment.
Vestrahorn Beach, Iceland
When one envisions going to the beach, one might picture a tropical island with wild azure waters and strips of golden sand tucked away by palm trees and small huts. The beaches of Iceland, however, are much more enigmatic. As an island at the Arctic's edge, Iceland exhibits many enchanting beaches that circumvent its coastline.
On the headland of Stokksnes in the desolate East Fjords region, you will find a magnificent black beach that unfurls in front of Mount Vestrahorn—one of Iceland's rare gabbro rock mountains. This panoramic beach is every photographer's dream, as natural forces continually shape the landscape yielding different scenic results.
Exploring the beach, you'll find a Viking village made for a film set that got abandoned, remains of a NATO radar station, an ancient shipwreck and a small lighthouse. On the shore, you'll find lava dunes coated with deep-green grass, while the wet sand reflects the dramatic mountain that looms large over this natural wonder. While admiring all of this natural splendour, remember to respect the environment; incautious visitors have sometimes trampled the grass that serves to protect the dunes.
Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece
As one of the world's most famous, picturesque beaches, you will have undoubtedly seen the sandy shores of Naviago Beach before as its photograph is widely used to inspire and entice people into taking the tropical holiday escape of their dreams.
Also known as Shipwreck Cove on account of the rusted freighter buried at its centre, Navagio is easily the most beautiful stretch of sand in Greece. It is sheltered by sheer limestone cliffs and is so isolated that you can only reach it by boat. While you could easily spend all day sunning on its powdery sands, its beauty is best appreciated from the viewing platform on the cliffs above - simply follow the signs to the Agios Gergio Kremnao monastery.
While Navagio Beach is famous for its impossibly blue Ionian water and the blindingly white pebbly sand, it is most famous for the ghostly remains of the Panagiotis stranded on its shores. Legend has it that it was a smuggler's ship working on behalf of the Italian Mafia. The boat is believed to have been smuggling cigarettes from Turkey when it was spotted and pursued by the Greek Navy off the shores of Zakynthos. Unfortunately, the ship ran on shallow ground, and the sailors were forced to abandon ship, and she naturally ended up in the centre of Navagio.
While this story does add excitement to the location, any sceptic would be quick to point out how perfectly the ship fits into the beach, and now it's a common belief that the shipwreck was planted there instead to promote tourism. Either way, it is certainly a sight to behold.
ENJOY YOUR TRIP TO THE BEACH!
Planning your next coastal escape? Why not visit one of the destinations above. Whether you want to visit one of the beaches above or somewhere else, we can get you there.
With access to 7000+ private jets worldwide, Astute Private Jet Charter offers the smoothest private jet charter experience, organising arrangements that best suit your needs.
If you would like us to look into your travel arrangements for summer, click below to contact one of our many experts.