World Best Beaches in the Month of August
If you are the kind of person who loves the smell of the ocean, the feel of saltwater and spray on your skin, and the warmth of the sun, and you believe that sandwiches actually taste better with a little real sand in them, read on.
To begin with, there are many different kinds of beaches. If your idea of a perfect beach is a groomed sandy expanse with calm, translucent water in front and a resort in back where waiters and cabana boys attend to your every whim, you may not enjoy some of the more rugged shorelines of Africa.
Esperance beaches, Western Australia, Australia
Esperance is on the south coast of Western Australia, a good eight-hour drive from Perth (the state capital), but the drive is worth it. There are so many spectacular beaches in the area that you would be hard pressed to visit them all. Close to town, there's Twilight Cove, and a host of other beaches along the Ocean Drive, while further out of town in Cape Le Grand National Park, Lucky Bay and Thistle Cove will take your breath away.
The sand is startlingly white, so fine it squeaks under foot. The water is a deep turquoise colour, graduating to a sparkling sapphire colour further out. There are lots of islands in the bays and huge granite rocky outcrops standing sentry at the ends of the smaller coves. At Cape Le Grand beach you can drive a four-wheel drive for about 40kms along the white sand back to Esperance town, or take the road out to Rossiter Bay where, in every likelihood, you can have the entire 15kms of beach to yourself (even in the middle of summer).
United Arab Emirates: Khorfakkan beach
Khorfakkan is on the eastern side of the UAE looking out over the Indian Ocean. It is a 50-mile stretch of virgin sand, almost untouched, with little tourist industry. There are superb coral reefs off the coast and the breakers coming in off the Indian Ocean are excellent for wind and body surfing. There is a good 4-5 star hotel at Khorfakkan so there is somewhere nice to stay.
Hayle beach, Cornwall, UK
In Cornwall the best beach has to be the Hayle beach - three miles long and good surf, especially down by the Godrevy lighthouse. It also has the benefits of fewer tourists and fewer die-hard surf dudes than in St Ives.
UK: Loch Brittle beach, Isle of Skye
Loch Brittle is at the Southern end of the Isle of Skye looking out across the Atlantic Ocean. With the menace of the Black Cuillin hills behind, contrasted against the sea glittering in the sunset, this sandy bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The feeling of tranquillity and serenity is wonderful.
USA: Juno beach, Florida
Juno is also one of very few Florida beaches that allow dogs, and the people who bring their dogs are always conscientious about whom their dogs are bothering. The water is clean and clear and beautiful all year round and it's a good beach — all in all the best ocean beach Florida has to offer.
USA: Santa Cruz, California
The beaches in Santa Cruz, California are great. There's pretty good weather, good for surfing and boating. There is the boardwalk, a lighthouse, and some beautiful sunrises. The sea air is great for allergies, and you can find some great salt water taffy there.
Thailand: Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui
Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui's east coast used to get my vote (until I went to the Maldives). When I went there a few years ago the southern end was still remarkably quiet - the further north up the beach you went the more hotels and hawkers you found. With the bars, shops and restaurants just a hundred metres or so inland, Chaweng was a great place to spend a month. I've heard that it's become more and more developed now though, but I'm still going to go back.
Myanmar (formerly Burma): Sandoway beach
Sandoway beach on the East coast of Myanma (formerly Burma) has got to be one of the most perfect beaches in the world. The only sign of development is the row of wooden beach huts that line the paths along the length of the beach, and the small hotel, built in the same style as the beach huts to the southern end. The sand is pure white and as fine as talc. The sea is not blue or green but clear as glass, allowing the visitor an unbelievable view of the tropical corals below, even from the water's edge.
Indian Ocean Beaches:
· Banyan Tree, Cocoa Island, Nika, Soneva Fushi etc., Maldives [islands]
· Diani Beach, or Serena Beach, Kenya. Kenya Travel.
· Ile Souris, east coast of Mah island, Seychelles.
· Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue Island, Seychelles.
· Muscat beaches, Oman.
· Palolem Beach, Goa, India.
Caribbean Beaches:
· Varadero, Cuba.
· Little Bay, Anguilla.
· Pink Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas.
· South Water Caye, Belize.
· The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.
· Anse la Roche, Carriacou, Grenada.
· Ste-Anne beach, Grande-Terre Island, Guadeloupe.
· Les Salines Beach, Sainte-Anne, Martinique.
· Diamond beach, Martinique.
· Englishman's Bay, Tobago.
· Grace Bay, Provo Island, Turks and Caicos.
· Trunk Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands.
· Casuarina Beach, Palm Island, St Vincent & the Grenadines.
· Islas Los Roques, Venezuela.
Mexico Beaches:
· Tulum, Caribbean coast
· Playa del Carmen, Caribbean coast
· Puerto Escondido, Pacific coast
· Puerto Angel, Pacific coast
· Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California
· Bahia de Matanchen, San Blas, Pacific coast
· Puerto Vallarta to Acapulco, Pacific coast
· Baha Concepcin, Baja California
Malaysia Beaches:
· Pantai Teluk Belanga [Emerald Bay], Pangkor Laut.
· Datai Beach, Langkawi Island.
· Tioman Island.
· Long Beach, Kecil Island, Perhentian Islands.
· Redang Island, Redang archipelago.
· Turtle Beach and Golden Beach, Similajau National Park, Sarawak.
Philippines Beaches:
· Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines.
· Malapascua Island, Cebu.
· Bantayan Island, Cebu.
· Muelle Bay, Puerto Galera, Mindoro Island.
· Puraran Beach, Catanduanes Island.
· Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol.
· Boracay Island, Philippines* [Sulu Sea].
Vietnam Beaches:
· Mui Ne Beach, Mui Ne, near Phan Thiet.
· Hon Chong Beach, Ha Tien.
· Bai Tam [Long Beach], Phu Quoc Island.
Thailand Beaches:
· Khao Lak, Andaman coast north of Phuket.
· Nai Thon, NW Phuket.
· Nai Harn, SW Phuket.
· Ko Phi Phi.
· West Railay, the Krabi Coast.
· Khlong Dao and Phra-Ae beaches, Ko Lanta, near Krabi.
· Ko Tarutao National Marine Park, Ko Tarutao.
· Hat Farang, Ko Mook.
· Hat Sai Kaew, Ko Samet.
· Hat Chaweng, Ko Samui.
· Hat Rin, Ko Pha Ngan.
· Hat Sai Ree, Ko Tao.
Atlantic Ocean Beaches:
· Grayton Beach, Florida, USA. USA Travel.
· La Gomera, Canary Islands.
· Essaouira, Morocco.
Pacific Ocean Beaches:
· The Rock Islands, Palau.
· Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia.
· Yasawa Island, Fiji
Mediterranean Beaches:
· Nearly in season, but the weather's still erratic and the sea's cold.
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