Everyone loves lazing on some of the world’s best beaches in Southeast Asia. Most holidaymakers have their favourite beach and are happy to express an opinion. The best beach may not be the one with the finest sands and ‘clearest, pristine, crystal clear, turquoise waters’. Often, it’s the resort located there, the hawker food available, the watersports, the sunset, or whatever criteria you want to apply.
Here are 10 beaches that have captured my attention over the years.
Hua Hin, Thailand
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Thailand has some of Asia’s best beaches, from Phuket to the remote and picturesque islands like Koh Lipe within Tarutao National Park, just north of Langkawi. While Hua Hin is commercialised now, it has long been a personal favourite, as I’ve enjoyed many memorable visits there.
The waters aren’t as pristine as beaches along the Thai coast, but they’re still refreshing, and the hawker seafood served direct to your beachside deckchair is superb, offering great value. The beachfront is home to the historic Centara Grand Beach Resort, where guests retreat after a day’s beach relaxation.
Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
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Like many Asian beaches, you have to wonder what Kuta looked like when international travellers first arrived in the 1960s. Today, Kuta offers spectacular sunsets, but it has been well and truly discovered and offers every conceivable recreational activity. Development extends along much of the southwestern coast from Jimbaran in the south to Seminyak in the north.
Dining at dusk along the Jimbaran sands isn’t to be missed, while Seminyak appeals to those seeking relaxed sunbathing. Beachfront resorts like The Legian, Anantara, and Alila appeal, while in the evening, beachside bars/restaurants like KU DE TA and Potato Head, attract cool crowds.
Koh Ngai, Thailand
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Koh Ngai (or Koh Hai) is one of many small islands dotting the Andaman Sea off Trang. If you’re seeking solitude with comfortable but basic facilities, this could be the beach for you. The last time I visited, a generator provided electricity at Koh Hai Resort in the evenings, but this didn’t detract from its enjoyment.
The beach has clear water and is especially safe for children. There are just a few chalet complexes on the island, and each resort has its own semi-private beach. Many come to dive or take a trip to Emerald Cave.
Langkayan Island, Sabah, Malaysia
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There are few beaches in the region with such fine white sand as this speck in the Sulu Sea. Being 90 minutes by speedboat from Sandakan, it’s one of Malaysia’s quietest outposts, with just 23 beachfront and over-water chalets. Step from your beachfront chalet into the shallow turquoise waters and watch harmless black-tip sharks in the shallows.
Ngapali, Myanmar
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While Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) may not currently be on most travellers’ radars, political situations are cyclical, and the country will re-emerge as a tourist destination. Myanmar’s archaeological sites, like Bagan, are better known than its beaches, but Ngapali Beach is a secluded gem.
Located on its western coastline, Ngapali has long beachfronts facing the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. It appeals to intrepid travellers, although several deluxe resorts, like Bayview – the beach resort, feature a vast expanse of palm-fringed beachfront.
Stay in one of 45 private bungalows or rooms and discover real Burmese charm. Ngapali is included for its sheer beauty and for adventurous travellers to note for a future trip when security in the country can be assured.
Cam Ranh, Vietnam
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With long white beaches like Bai Dai (Long Beach) on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Peninsula, Vietnam’s beaches will soon become as famous as those in Thailand. While Vietnam is still an adventurous territory for some, there are many wondrous attractions and superb beaches, like those fronting the waters off Alma Resort Cam Ranh, south of Nha Trang.
Traditional sampans and coracles ply these waters, and picturesque islands loom offshore. Cam Ranh has some of Vietnam’s most idyllic weather. This is a location to enjoy full facilities in 14 dining and drinking outlets, Le Spa, a waterpark and endless watersports.
Pantai Tengah, Langkawi, Malaysia
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Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s premier islands, with an international airport, duty-free shopping, and designer resorts. Its picturesque beaches include Pantai Cenang and Datai Bay with Pantai Tengah, a semi-lively beach with several resorts, restaurants, and bars.
The just-opened PARKROYAL is making its mark, while the adjoining Cottage by the Sea by Frangipani has long sandy expanses, shallow waters, and swaying palms. Eco warriors will choose the latter for its green initiatives. You’ll also find Ambong Pool Villas perched atop Pantai Tengah, offering breathtaking sunsets you can take in from the comfort of your own pool.
Pamalican Island, Philippines
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If a committee were to design an idyllic tropical island hideaway, they would name it Pamalican Island. Located one hour by private flight south of Manila, Pamalican and the Amanpulo appeal to discerning guests seeking to be blissfully marooned on one of the Cuyo Islands of the Sulu Sea.
Guests are immersed in this private and exclusive retreat surrounded by glistening turquoise waters, shimmering fine white coral sand, and verdant coastal rainforest. Amanpulo guests enjoy nothing but the finest hospitality.
Koh Rong, Cambodia
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The beaches along the Cambodian coastline are attracting global attention. Sihanoukville was the first in the sights of developers, and sadly, the port town has taken the seedy route, with wall-to-wall casinos now luring Asian gamblers. For those seeking a tranquil seaside escape, Kep is a possibility, while offshore islands like Koh Rong offer an experience more suited to sun worshippers.
Choose comfortable, petite resorts at Sunrise or Sunset Beaches, or the exclusive Song Saa Resort on an offshore private island. Like Vietnam, now’s the time to visit Cambodia’s finest beaches before the rush starts.
Satang Kecil Island, Sarawak, Malaysia
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Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, is renowned for its wild places and adventurous activities. However, deserted beaches on the islands of Talang Satang attract intrepid travellers who visit to observe turtles that lay eggs in the soft sands. Life moves at a turtle’s pace, but night landings are common, with dawn being the best time to see the laggards returning to the sea.
