The best beach holidays ever, from Maldives luxury to Thailand eco-friendly havens

With sun, sea, and sand as the top necessities for a relaxing escape, we've compiled a list of the world's top beach destinations.

Looking for a guide to some of the world's most breathtaking and distinctive beach vacation spots? Our list will help you discover hidden treasures like the Philippines' diving paradise of Puerto Galera, experience the thrill of surfing at one of Asia's top surfing beaches, and explore the most high-end resorts the Maldives has to offer. Take the plunge, the water's inviting.

1.

Explore the ultimate Maldives retreat as we compare two five-star resorts that blend sun, sand, surf, and opulent luxury. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Raffles Maldives Meradhoo each boast distinctive atmospheres, breathtaking locations, and world-class amenities, so which one is the perfect island haven for your next relaxation escape?

2.

This Filipino municipality, just off the northern tip of Mindoro Island, boasts coral reefs renowned for their vibrant colours, and is thus designated as a UNESCO protected marine biosphere. Featured attractions in Puerto Galera include a dive site considered amongst the world's best, as well as hidden beaches, stunning waterfalls, quaint dining spots, lush rainforests, and an active local culture that thrives in the area.

Our new platform of carefully selected content, including explanatory articles, frequently asked questions, in-depth analyses, and informative graphics, has been created by our team of accomplished experts.

3.

We feature eight top Asian surfing destinations with stunning beaches, rich cultural heritage, and exceptional wave breaks to suit every level of surfer, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. Among them are Phuket's beginner-friendly waves, Indonesia's thrilling barrels, and Yomitan's lesser-known shores in Japan. For the adventurous, Siargao's Cloud 9 is a must-visit, while Malaysia's Cherating offers a serene environment to learn the sport.

4.

Find out about the world's 8 top beaches to get that perfect all-over suntan, ranging from famous Haulover Beach in Florida to secluded Praia do AbricO in Brazil. Given that nude sunbathing isn't widely accepted in Asia, naturists should look farther afield, and this article reveals the top international nudist destinations.

5.

This secluded resort on Thailand's Loh Ba Gao Bay is a haven of luxury and sustainability, situated on a serene shoreline and a pristine 800m white-sand beach. As an eco-conscious resort, it is at the forefront of marine conservation, with initiatives such as bamboo shark and clownfish breeding programmes, mangrove planting, and coral restoration.

Some of the content within this article was produced in collaboration with generative artificial intelligence.

More Articles from SCMP

Japan's 'pro-China' prime minister faces WWII anniversary predicament: must he show remorse or remain silent?

Malaysia's Lunar New Year dirty little secret: Leaving elderly relatives in hospitals.

Seventy-one Hong Kong teachers have been removed from the teaching profession due to misconduct, including romantic relationships with their students.

What will it take for China to create the next generation of revolutionary technology, mirroring the impact of the DeepSeek discovery?

This article was first featured in the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a prominent news outlet providing coverage on China and Asia.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.