Asia Beaches

Asian beaches turn the heads of even the most dedicated sun-worshippers. Asia is a continent filled with colorful backdrops, from lively markets to tiny and irresistibly charming fishing villages. There are as many amazing beaches as there are amazing destinations here—tropical Thai paradises, exotic Vietnamese hideaways, and expanses of shore in the Philippines are just some of the best places to go. Asia is also home to many world-class cities, including Tokyo, Beijing, and Hong Kong, which often have beach access within a few hours by car or train.

China’s sunny Sanya on Hainan Island ranks as one of the best beaches in Asia. South East Asian beaches comprise some of the best beaches in the region, from Vietnam’s legendary China Beach to the famous party beach in Thailand, Koh Pha Ngan, and the renowned beaches of Phuket island including Kata, quiet Bang Thao, and Patong.

Aptly named Dreamland Beach in Bali is unforgettable, with an endless stretch of white sand, cliff-lined beach magnetic to surfers and sunners alike. Another of Bali’s secluded, end-of-the-road haunts is Perasi Beach, ripe with home-grown cafes and vibrant fishing fleets. Hotel-free Balekambang Beach in Indonesia’s East Java is blissfully free of mass commercialism, instead filled with small Hindu temples offering more solace within a peaceful backdrop. In the Philippines, Borcay Beach on Borcay Island has been called one of the best beaches in the world, and certainly one of the best Asian beaches, but choosing which amid more than 7,000 islands is a near-impossible feat.

With a region renowned for captivating, charismatic coastlines favored for gorgeous scenery and inexpensive amenities and services, one can simply not go wrong planning travels to discover the best beaches in Asia, all the while discovering that all around the best beaches are some of the most interesting sites and sounds of the region.