Islands & Beaches

The Best Beaches in Southeast Asia

Ringed by karst mountains and lush jungles, the beaches of this region provide ideal places to escape from the world.
Nature the Best Beaches in Southeast Asia Outdoors Sea Water Coast Shoreline Boat Transportation Vehicle and Land
Getty

As summer begins to draw to a close, some of us may find that we aren’t ready yet to put away our beach towels and let go of sun-kissed days on beautiful white-sand beaches. Among the hundreds of thousands of beaches in the world, one region has a remarkable number of seaside paradises—Southeast Asia. After taking a look at some of the most spectacular beaches found there, it’s easy to understand how the region has emerged as one of the world’s most popular destinations.

Malaysia and Thailand lead the region in terms of annual visitors, followed by Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos. All these countries have an enviable combination of appeals that help explain why they fascinate so many travelers. In terms of cultural tourism, these countries have remarkably varied histories and even languages while their architectural wonders including ancient palaces and temples inspire generations of travelers. And Southeast Asia’s natural beauty is also a draw with its verdant and green landscapes hugged by an almost uncountable number of beaches. The Philippines alone is home to more than 7,600 islands; some have beaches lined with resorts while on others you may find yourself alone with only the local seabirds as company. Whether by providing some much-needed R&R, thrilling adventure, or total immersion in wildlife, the diverse shorelines across Southeast Asia do their part in drawing in millions of travelers each year.

Tonsai Beach, Krabi, Thailand

Thailand is home to some of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful beaches, and Tonsai Beach earns its place at or near the top of many lists of the country’s most stunning ones. To get there, most visitors drive about a half-hour from the town of Krabi to Ao Nang. That’s where the road ends, and from there you’ll have to continue to Tonsai Beach by boat or on foot following the Monkey Trail. Ringed by towering karst mountains, Tonsai feels like—and is—a small remote village with only a handful of guesthouses and small shops. If you get bored with relaxing on the sand and swimming, opportunities to go rock climbing are just a few steps from the sand.

After driving from Krabi to Ao Nang, travelers have their choice of arriving at Tonsai Beach by boat, or by foot on the Monkey Trail.

Getty

Coral Bay, Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

Pulau Perhentian Kecil (in English, Little Perhentian Island) is located off the northeast coast of Malaysia, next to its sister Pulau Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian Island). For centuries, the Perhentian Islands were mostly visited by traders traveling between Thailand and Malaysia. That historical fact explains their name—perhentian means “resting place” in Malay. Long popular with backpackers, Perhentian Kecil is home to some of Malaysia’s most beautiful beaches. Coral Bay, on the west coast, is a stretch of white sand and crystal clear water, and a quieter alternative to the bustling Long Beach on the island’s east coast.

The coral reefs that surround both islands, as well as two shipwrecks, make the Perhentians one of the best places in Malaysia to go snorkeling and diving. Several excellent dive sites are located off of Coral Bay. In addition to sea turtles and clownfish, you can also spot black-tip reef sharks here.

With its diverse coral reefs teeming with colorful fish, the waters of Coral Bay are a diver's playground.

Getty

Bawah Reserve, Bawah Island, Indonesia

Bawah Island sits in the Anambas Archipelago of Indonesia, between the southern tip of Malaysia and Borneo. It’s an idyllic place to relax, connect with nature, and digitally detox. It took five years to build the Bawah Reserve resort by hand without using heavy machinery. It includes 36 individual suites, 11 of them overwater bungalows. The final result is a near perfect combination of nature and architecture. The gin-clear and calm water is teeming with a remarkable variety of corals and colorful marine life. It’s easy to explore the reef in a kayak with a transparent bottom or by snorkeling. The resort also offers opportunities to go windsurfing and try other water sports.

The Bawah Reserve resort is entirely hand-built and features 36 suites, 11 of them being overwater bungalows.

Bawah Reserve

Cat Co 3, Cát Bà Island, Vietnam

Cát Bà is the largest island in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay and an excellent base for exploring this famous natural wonder. Much of the island is a national park with a wild and rugged natural beauty. There are also three small sandy beaches just a short walk from the town of Cát Bà, the largest settlement on the island. Cat Co 3 is a curve of fine sand and clear, calm water, overlooking one of the limestone islets of Lan Ha Bay. The beach is an ideal place to relax and swim. Although it is adjacent to a resort, the beach is open to the public.

Cat Co 3 is just a short walk from the main town of Cát Bà and the island's national park.

Getty

Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia

Often overshadowed by the many beautiful beaches of Thailand, Cambodia’s shores receive only a small fraction of the tourists who visit its neighbor. If you’re looking for a place to rest and relax away from the crowds, the island of Koh Rong Samloem is an excellent choice. The island paradise is located about half an hour by boat from Sihanoukville on the mainland. Its largest beach, Saracen Bay, is a stretch of dazzling white sand and warm, shallow, and clear water, providing a serene setting for a few days at the beach.

There is a good selection of accommodations and restaurants running along the bay, each offering picture-postcard views of the sea. For those looking for some exercise, you can rent a kayak, or stand-up paddle board, or head to Lazy Beach on the other side of the island—about 30 minutes on foot—to go snorkeling or swimming.

Cambodia's island of Koh Rong Samloem is home to Saracen Beach and Lazy Beach, which are best known as places to rest and relax away from the crowds.

Getty

Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines

The rocky coastline of Moalboal’s Panagsama Beach, located just two and a half hours from the international airport in Cebu in the Philippines, may not be the best place to travel to if you are looking for a silky sand beach. (If that is what you’re searching for, we suggest visiting White Beach on the same island.) It’s not the beach itself, but what lies in the nearby in the sea that earns it a place as one of the best beaches in Southeast Asia.

Roughly 100 feet from the shore, the coral reef drops off dramatically, reaching a depth of up to 230 feet. The setting offers perfect conditions for observing the colorful and abundant marine life here. The star attraction are the many sardines that gather near Panagsama Beach. The schools can include millions of fish that move together as one in a fascinating display. Sardines can be found here all year round, although the peak season is from November to April.

Panagsama Beach is known for the colorful and abundant marine life that gathers in its waters.

Getty

Buffalo Bay, Koh Payam, Thailand

Returning to Thailand and visiting one of the islands that flies under the radar of most tourists, Koh Payam is located a stone’s throw from the border with Myanmar. Koh Payam can be reached after a long bus ride from Bangkok to the port of Ranong followed by a 40-minute boat ride. After you step on shore, head to the northwest corner of the island to find Buffalo Bay (or Ao Khao Kwai). The vast white-sand beach is lapped by the beautiful blue waters of the ocean. It is a perfect place to spend lazy days swimming or relaxing.

Although there are some lodging and dining options, much of the beach is undeveloped and tends to be blissfully uncrowded. The sunsets from the Hippy Bar, a favorite of the few backpackers who come here, are needed reminders of the simple pleasures of life.

This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller Spain.