{"id":16478,"date":"2015-11-14T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-14T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=16478"},"modified":"2023-01-31T03:36:30","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T03:36:30","slug":"the-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/the-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The most beautiful beaches in the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travel is about dreaming, and nowhere makes us dream more than a beautiful beach. When we think of a beach vacation, we picture white sand, beach umbrellas, and beautiful scenery. But beaches can be beautiful in all forms and climates. Who would have thought that one of the most striking beaches on Earth can be found in\u00a0Iceland<\/a>? Or how about a beach surrounded by a medieval village like one we stumbled upon in\u00a0Spain<\/a>?<\/p>\n

From South Africa<\/a>\u00a0to the Bahamas<\/a>, and New Zealand <\/a>to the Gal\u00e1pagos<\/a>, we have had the pleasure of witnessing some of the most jaw-dropping beaches in the world, taken long sunset walks on them, and sat on their shores watching wildlife play before our eyes.<\/p>\n

Each beach is unique and has its own reason for being one of our personal favorites, but the one common thread for all is that they are breathtaking. A beach holiday takes us away from all our worries, and as we bask in the sun and listen to the ocean, we literally feel the stress melting away.<\/p>\n

As winter approaches, we know you\u2019ll be dreaming of warmer climates, so we\u2019ve rounded up our photographs of the most beautiful beaches we\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n

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Oamaru, New Zealand<\/h2>\n

New Zealand is filled with deserted beaches. We camped our way through the South Island, and each evening, we had the pleasure of setting up our tent beside an incredible beach. While New Zealand beaches could be a photo story unto itself, it was this picture of an unnamed beach near Oamaru that always sticks out in our memory. We had just finished setting up our tents when the sky burst into a display of flaming color. We ran to the edge of our camp to quickly snap shots of this memorable scene.<\/p>\n

Exuma Cays, Bahamas<\/h2>\n

We had been to the Bahamas once before on a four-day cruise, but our only view of the island nation was Paradise Island and the capital city, Nassau. When visiting the Exumas, a half-hour flight away, we could not believe the transformation before our eyes. The Exuma Cays are one of the most picturesque locations we have ever seen. They are postcard perfect and remind us of the images we\u2019ve seen of the Maldives or Tahiti. Imagine having perfection like this right off the coast of the United States. Even better, most of the beaches are completely void of people, so you will have them all to yourself.<\/p>\n

J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n, Iceland<\/h2>\n

Iceland is a polar country, but it has an endless rugged coastline. There are spectacular sea cliffs, sea arches, and sandy beaches. But it\u2019s the beach at J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n that stands out in our memory. Located just outside a glacier lagoon, this beach is cluttered with broken icebergs that have run aground on the shore. It\u2019s awe-inspiring to see giant chunks of ice living out their days on the deserted beach.<\/p>\n

Fiji<\/h2>\n

Fiji is a dream destination, and when we were invited to enjoy all the adventure activities of the main island, we couldn\u2019t believe our luck. It\u2019s that beach destination that you see in all the magazines and drool over. And we drooled over our beach directly in front of our suite. Each evening, after a day of adventure, we looked forward to quiet time on our very own secluded oasis.<\/p>\n

Napili Beach, Hawaii<\/h2>\n

A beach photo roundup would not be complete without a mention of Hawaii. There are so many beautiful beaches there that it\u2019s difficult to choose a favorite. While we loved the endless sand of Paia on Maui and the private coves on Lanai, we chose Napili Beach near Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui for its authentic Hawaiian ambiance and perfect crescent shape.<\/p>\n

The Gold Coast, Australia<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s home to Surfers Paradise, and this never-ending beach is lined with skyscrapers and shops for as far as the eye can see. While many of the most beautiful beaches we mention are secluded or deserted, the Gold Coast of Australia gets our vote because of its massive urban setting. We loved our morning walks from our ocean-view suite to the pedestrian street in the heart of the action each day. Even though the beach lines the city, it is so huge that it feels deserted in most places. The Gold Coast has the best of both worlds\u2014surfing, sand, and sun mixed with fine dining, nightlife, and shopping. Who could ask for more?<\/p>\n

Koh Lipe, Thailand<\/h2>\n

Thailand probably has the best beaches in the world. There\u2019s a reason people flock to this friendly country in Southeast Asia. What make beaches in Thailand stand out are the karst formations that jut out of the Andaman Sea, creating a scattered mountainous landscape. Phra Nang Beach used to be on our most beautiful beach list, but now it is overrun with day-trippers from neighboring islands, and the beauty is lost due to the crowds. If you make your way farther south, you\u2019ll find the island of Koh Lipe that probably has the whitest sandy beaches we have ever seen, and it\u2019s still quiet enough that you\u2019ll feel a hint of privacy.<\/p>\n

Zanzibar, Tanzania<\/h2>\n

When we first laid eyes on the beaches of Zanzibar, our jaws literally dropped. Never had we seen such layers of white sand, turquoise water, and green algae. At low tide, fishing boats rest on the ocean floor and locals hunt for mussels and clams. Nowhere else has such blue water, at least from what we have seen. The beaches are a stark contrast to the city. The city is a maze of stone walls protected by thick wooden doors. A walk through town is an interesting historic stroll, but after the heat of all that cement, you\u2019ll yearn to be back in paradise near the sapphire water.<\/p>\n

Simon\u2019s Town, South Africa<\/h2>\n

Staying on the continent of Africa, we head to South Africa to explore the picturesque beach of Simon\u2019s Town. We love this beach because of the boulders and sand, but most importantly, we love the resident penguins that bask on the shore. How can you not include a beautiful beach filled with the cutest animals on Earth? A boardwalk weaves through their habitat protecting them from intrusion, but onlookers can get a good view of their life in the water.<\/p>\n

Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, Ecuador<\/h2>\n

There isn\u2019t one beach in the Gal\u00e1pagos that stands out above the rest. They are all spectacular. What makes the beaches of the Gal\u00e1pagos so perfect? It\u2019s the fact that nobody is on them. Many beaches can only be reached by boat, and once you are there, you have them all to yourself. The Gal\u00e1pagos Islands are located on the equator, so the sun is excruciatingly hot. A reprieve from the heat is a must, and the cool waters of the Pacific instantly wash away the sweat. Going for a walk may lead you to an iguana or a sea lion\u2014you never know what you\u2019ll come across. The Gal\u00e1pagos have the most unique wildlife in the world, and because they are a nature preserve, there is plenty to see.<\/p>\n

Tossa de Mar, Spain<\/h2>\n

Spain is full of stunning beaches, but it was this one in Costa Brava that really caught our eye because of how unique it is. I have not been to any other place where you can walk in the sand and take a dip in the sea right beside a castle. In the seaside town of Tossa de Mar, you can do just that. Stroll along the beach, take a dip, enjoy great seafood, and visit a castle all in one afternoon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rounding up the most jaw-dropping beaches on Earth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1819,1820,1813,1782,1778,1821,1797,1822,1774,1823,1824,1818,1825,1776],"tags":[33,1264],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-16478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-bahamas","category-beach","category-destinations","category-features","category-iceland","category-luxury","category-new-zealand","category-occasions-and-seasons","category-south-africa","category-spain","category-summer","category-tropical","category-type-of-vacation","tag-couples","tag-islands","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe most beautiful beaches in the world | Expedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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