29 Best Beaches

The solution to a bummed out summer? The Beach! We scope out top beach destinations and what makes them so sought after…

1 Party mavericks

Mykonos, Greece

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People head to this picturesque island for a relaxing and sun-soaked holiday, but just as many tourists go there for its (in)famous party scene. With more clubs and bars in the vicinity than resorts, Mykonos offers everything from real nightclub experiences to beach bar escapades. Don’t miss out on Paradise Club and Paradise Beach as these properties host the biggest names from the international DJ circuit. With more than 20 beaches on the island, you could head there for a nice tan after a heavy partying session.

Nearest Airport: Mykonos Island National Airport Best Time: August - November Flight Cost: ₹1,70,000 Room Rental: ₹5994/night

Koh Phangan, Thailand

If you happen to go there, then be prepared for sleepless nights, as this island is famous for its exhilarating full moon parties. Imagine a kilometer of beach lined with 40,000 people with everyone covered in neon paint, wearing ridiculous headbands and pumped up to have the best night of their lives — that is Koh Phangan for you. And that’s not all. We’ve heard that the afterparties are the perfect place to bring out your hedonist side.

Nearest Airport: Samui Airport Best Time: All year Flight Cost: ₹21,000 Room Rental: ₹60/night

Rabac, Croatia

This once a year party is a haven for progressive trance lovers. Music aficionados from across the world gather in the beach town of Rabac to get on with the serious business of non-stop partying and enjoying the Rabac Summer Festival and Sunrise Festival. Rabac is also blessed with a string of pebbly beaches, tiny coves, small bays, crystal-clear, clean and translucent sea water and lush Mediterranean vegetation.

Nearest Airport: Pula Airport Best Time: June - July Flight Cost: ₹83,000 Room Rental: ₹4795/night

Gordon Beach, Tel Aviv, Israel

It’s true that Tel Aviv’s beachfront parties are second to none. The relaxed, hedonistic air and gorgeous women flocking around in swimwear is a good enough reason for one to head there. More so, Israel is world famous for its underground music sensations and all of it starts right here at the beaches of Tel Aviv twice a week.

Nearest Airport: Ben Gurion Airport Best Time: May - September Flight Cost: ₹87,000 Room Rental: ₹2398/night

Tofo, Mozambique

Said to be the next Goa, Tofo has 8kms of beautiful, sweeping sand, swaying palm trees and gentle surfs that add to the mystic charm of this unprecedented African destination. By day, you can swim, explore some of the world’s finest dive sites, catch a wave or two on your surfboard, or just laze out on the beach; and at night, party till the sun comes up at any of the many beach bars.

Nearest Airport: Maputo International Airport Best Time: November - March Flight Cost: ₹1,06,000 Room Rental: ₹2098/night

2 Snorkeling

Huahine, French Polynesia

Wake up early, grab your gear and enjoy the short 20-minute paddle on the lagoon of this hidden gem in Tahiti’s Society Islands. The reef that surrounds the motu ripples with life, from clownfish to eels to gangs of yellow and white butterflyfish that love to pose for your camera. We suggest you take a piece of bread to see them swirl around you for hours.

Nearest Airport: Fare Airport Best Time: May - October Flight Cost: ₹2,78,250 Room Rental: ₹14,995/night

Dimakya Island, Philippines

If you want to brag — in a real snorkeling situation — then swim with the dugongs. In all likelihood, you might have an underwater encounter with this rare endangered marine mammal, who regularly feeds on sea grass beds. Besides that, a stroll down the bio rich house reef will be embedded in your memory forever.

Nearest Airport: Puerto Princesa Airport Best Time: March - June Flight Cost: ₹65,504 Room Rental: ₹8999/night

Uepi Island, Solomon Islands

An island covered in rainforest, flanked by a fringing reef and sandy beach, surrounded with the warm waters of the lagoon on one side and the oceanic depths enticing you to another world of colourful creatures — dive sites here vary from coral gardens with magnificent drop-offs to ledges and gutters featuring an enormous diversity of reef fish, turtles, mantas and eagle rays.

Nearest Airport: Gatokae Aerodrom Best Time: November - March Flight Cost: ₹1,89,231 Room Rental: ₹9078/night

Lord Howe Island, Australia

Declared as a world heritage site in 1982, the LSI is at the southernmost coral reef in the world. More than 490 tropical and temperate species mix and mingle in the pristine clear waters of the islands. And because only a limited number of guests are allowed on Australia’s Lord Howe Island at one time, you can witness the spectacle in what feels like total isolation.

Nearest Airport: Sydney Airport Best Time: November - March Flight Cost: ₹61,484 Room Rental: ₹6890/night

Andros Island, Bahamas

The cobalt blue waters of the Tongue of the Ocean stroke the eastern edge of Andros, separated from the “big island” by only one thing — the third largest barrier reef in the world! With the vast mangrove wetlands of the island serving as a huge nursery for tiny fish and invertebrates, Andros boasts a marine population second to none. Over 100 miles of healthy coral formations stretch between the island and the deep water, much of it found in waters shallow enough to satisfy even the most casual observer.

Nearest Airport: San Andros Airport Best Time: April - October Flight Cost: ₹1,06,185 Room Rental: ₹5932/night

3 Surfing

Isla Ensenada, Panama

The vilange located on a small island off the coast of Panama in the Pacific Ocean boasts of uncrowded, warm, water waves — which is the perfect combination for every surfer. Head to Surfer Paradise Surf camp, which nestles the accommodation — private cabanas located on the side of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The island is enclosed by left breaks and right breaks making it a exhilarating experience for each surfer.

Nearest Airport: Tocumen International Airport

Best Time: April - October Flight Cost: ₹1,21,287 Room Rental: ₹5332/night Biggest Waves: 12 feet

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

After the popular surfing film — The Endless Summer 2 — showcased Tamarindo’s goods, tourists were tripping over themselves trying to get to this Central American hotspot. Now developed into a full-fledged resort, Tamarindo has still not lost its edge as an exclusive surfing spot. Spots like Little Hawaii and Witch’s Rock are among the most legendary, thanks to aggressive swells and almost perfect weather. Longboarders and shortboarders alike are welcome here, as the river mouth opens to a world of waves accommodating both styles.

Nearest Airport: Juan Santamaría International Airport Best Time: April - July Flight Cost: ₹1,08,109 Room Rental: ₹4433/night Biggest Waves: 09 feet

Waikiki, Hawaii

No list about surfing would be complete without a top entry from Hawaii. True surfers will appreciate Hawaii’s, and especially Waikiki’s, deep history of the sport, popularised in the early 1900s on beaches that are still bustling today. There is a reason, other than lore, why Waikiki has become a surfing mecca. The clear waters, constant sunshine and enormous breaks are almost too awesome to believe. Beginners can learn to surf at Canoes, while pros can experience the waves that come crashing at the Queens section.

Nearest Airport: Honolulu International Airport Best Time: May - September Flight Cost: ₹86,315 Room Rental: ₹5994/night Biggest Waves: Over 20 feet

Cloudbreak, Tavarua Island, Fiji

The heart-shaped islands in the South Pacific offer something for everyone

— from the hardcore surfer, down to the waves you’d push your toddler onto. Cloudbreak, however, is strictly for experts. You’ll have a ride to remember on this brutal, hollow wave formed about 1,600 meters off the coast, which holds for up to 500 meters and reaches 10 meters in size.

Nearest Airport: Nadi Intl Airport Best Time: May - September Flight Cost: ₹91,631 Room Rental: ₹8688/night Biggest Waves: Over 20 feet

Killer Point, Taghazout, Morocco

Discovered by hippies in the 1960s, this southern Moroccan village makes for an utterly unique surf trip. Soak up the fusion of Middle Eastern and African culture and traverse perfectly peeling waves, breaking over a cliff shelf, which was named after all the killer whales spotted in the area. The combination of swell generated by the North Atlantic depressions, light offshore trade winds and a variety of point, reef and beach breaks make the region an exceptional surfing destination.

Nearest Airport: Agadir Airport Best Time: September - April Flight Cost: ₹75,898 Room Rental: ₹3595/night Biggest Waves: 15 feet

4 Scuba

Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

With the fringing reefs off Roatan only a 300-yard swim from the shore, many of the island’s resorts offer 24/7 diving on reefs just a few fin kicks from their docks. It’s a leisurely swim to the Prince Albert, a 140-foot-long island freighter located in CoCo View Resort’s “Front Yard” on Roatan’s south-central coast. Just east of the Bay Islands Beach Resort is Spooky Channel, a huge and otherworldly tunnel in the reef that begins off Sunnyside pier and bottoms out at about 95 feet. Anthony’s Key Resort’s house reef is packed with blue tangs, parrotfish, angelfish and damselfish.

Nearest Airport: Roatan International Airport Best Time: Jan - April Flight Cost: ₹1,24,115 Room Rental: ₹3716/night

Bonaire

Also known as the underwater art museum, Bonaire island draws divers from around the world to its reef-lined coast. With an unbroken string of worldwide acclaimed awards, Bonaire is definitely the Las Vegas for scuba enthusiasts — all you have to do is rent a truck, load it with tanks and pull off at any of the yellow-painted stones that mark dozens of sites, most of them along Bonaire’s leeward west coast. On every site on the island, which enjoys strictly enforced marine park protection, you’ll find abundant grunts, yellowtail snappers, angelfish, parrotfishes, rock beauties, squirrelfish and butterflyfish, and dense stands of corals and gorgonians.

Nearest Airport: Flamingo International Airport Best Time: March and April Flight Cost: ₹1,15,868 Room Rental: ₹4735/night

Curaçao

With outstanding reefs close to shore and a conservation-minded marine park authority, it’s no surprise to find Curaçao on this list. Nestled in the enchanting beauty of the Caribbean, the island offers shore divers numerous beach-accessible sites from its southwestern coast. A shallow shelf leads to Oswaldo’s Drop-off, only a few minutes swim from the shore. Piles of varied corals make it an interesting dive and the site is jammed with blue Chromis, yellowtail snappers and sergeant majors. Divers find easy entries and exits at Janthiel Baai. The drop-off is similar to other sites off the island with lots of star coral, gorgonians, sponges and wire coral.

Nearest Airport: Curaçao International Airport Best Time: March and April Flight Cost: ₹1,16,185 Room Rental: ₹5692/night

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Also known as the worldwide Mecca of scuba divers, the place enthralls you with its dazzling marine wildlife. Galapagos features numerous sites for scuba, some easy and others challenging. Many islands offer off-the-shore snorkeling — this is the easiest, as you can come and go if you get tired and the currents aren’t a factor. Despite spotting the usual parrot fish, colored wrasses and schools of surgeonfish, you have to be lucky enough to have an encounter with the likes of a hammerhead shark, a penguin, an octopus, a diving booby or even sea lions.

Nearest Airport: Flamingo International Airport Best Time: April Flight Cost: ₹1,60,102 Room Rental: ₹5154/night

The Red Sea, Egypt

It’s not only THE destination to crop up in the list of wow diving conversations, but also among the first 5. It is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the underwater world, harbouring more than 1,000 species of invertebrates and over 200 species of soft and hard coral. Red Sea scuba diving offers you unobstructed opportunities to spot tropical marine life in crystal clear waters, ranging from sharks and dolphins to Gorgonian fans. Our to-dive list consists of these places that shouldn’t be missed — Sharm El Sheikh, Ras Mohammed, Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas.

Nearest Airport: Cairo International Airport Best Time: June - August Flight Cost: ₹37,723 Room Rental: ₹1918/night

5 Nudist beaches

Playa de Maspalomas- Grand Canary, Spain

Known for the crystal clear silver beaches the Canary Islands, this one’s an ideal place for a beach holiday. If you want to get an even sun-tan, visit the Playa de Maspalomas beach, one of the better known nudist beaches of the island. The beach takes care of your privacy as it has unofficial demarcations for nudist sun bathers and gays.

Nearest Airport: Gran Canaria Airport Best Time: All year long Flight Cost: ₹76,041 Room Rental: ₹3716/night

Praia do Pinho, Cambori, Brazil

Located in the southern state of Santa Catarina, this beach opened in 1987 as the first sanctioned all-natural beach. Its regulars are keener on nudity than people on other beaches and the dental-floss (barely-there) bikini originated at the Praia do Pinho Beach. Do keep in mind though that if you are not with a female, you might not be able to take a sneak peak at this pristine beach.

Nearest Airport: Madeira Airport Best Time: November - April Flight Cost: ₹94,587 Room Rental: ₹5337/night

Maspalomas, Gran Canary Islands

Probably one of the best known nudist beaches in Europe, Maspalomas is the ultimate carefree beach. With miles and miles of sand dunes, there’s plenty of places to enjoy your privacy or just head to the main nudist stretch, which is clearly signposted. There is even a dedicated nudist resort in Maspalomas with 28 bungalows around a pool and a jacuzzi with an on-site restaurant.

Nearest Airport: Gran Canaria Airport Best Time: November - April Flight Cost: ₹76,041 Room Rental: ₹7495/night

Montalivet, France

Surely you knew that in this roundup, the number one spot would have to go to ze French, and the spot we highly recommend is Le Centre Hélio Montalivet — a place that many purists would claim to be the birthplace of the international naturist movement. The resort dates back to 1950, when the area on France’s Atlantic Coast began to accommodate nudists with a safe, and for once, legal area. Go camping and live in the wild, the way we were meant to be. Not recommended for family vacations.

Nearest Airport: Gran Canaria Airport Best Time: November - April Flight Cost: ₹76,041 Room Rental: ₹7435/night

Es Trenc, Majorca

Probably one of the oldest nudist beaches in Europe, Es Trenc is located on the south east coast of Majorca close to the resort of Colonia Sant Jordi. The whole beach is clothing optional, although certain areas seem more nudist than others. Regular visitors suggest walking to the west when you approach the beach from the main village to find a more private spot.

Nearest Airport: Palma de Mallorca Airport Best Time: March - September Flight Cost: ₹58,498 Room Rental: ₹7793/night

Beach etiquette

• Parading around the beach while looking for a place to sit and wearing your flips is rude: all you are doing is annoying those around you and flicking sand everywhere.
• Make sure when shaking the sand from your towel, never shake it too near people and beware of which way the wind is blowing, so that you do not blow sand into your neighbor’s face.
• Remember that your voice carries in the wind, so there is no need to yell at your partner in crime.
• Place your beach paraphernalia a minimum of 15 ft. from anyone already in an established spot.
• Food just tastes better on the beach, but if you’re going to eat along the shore, be sure to clean up after yourself.

Indian beaches you must visit

Varkala Beach, Kerala: Situated 51 km away from Thiruvananthapuram, it’s famous for its vertical cliffs.

Agatti Island, Lakshadweep: India’s own Great Barrier Reef, the place will endow you with its turquoise azure lagoons, glittering coral reefs, and shiny sand.

Serenity Beach, Puducherry: The beach is ideal for adventure sports like boating, canoeing, kayaking etc.

Mandarmani, West Bengal: Located at the northern borderline of the Bay of Bengal, this shoreline is considered to be the longest walkable coastline in India.

Top 5 beach apps

Anti Mosquito

On: Apple and Android Price: Free The perfect lazy man app. It produces a sound in the range of 16KHz to 20 KHz that repels mosquitos. It actually works.

UV Index

On: Apple and Android Price: Free The last thing you want is to get sunburnt at the wrong place, so keep this app handy and enjoy the sunbathe.

Tides Near Me

On: Apple and Android Price: ₹110 and ₹117 Imagine a situation where you sleep under the sun, and get swooped by high tides. This app updates you with vital tidal updates of your location.

Wi-Fi Finder

On: Apple and Android Price: Free The uber cool man will have the babes, cars and gadgets. But even Warren Buffet will dig a free wi-fi. Use this app to locate the nearest wi-fi zones.

Evernote Food

On: Apple and Android Price: Free Get instant recipes, become an impromtu chef and flaunt your sexy cooking skills with this app. And this is much faster and legit than Google!

From the July 2013 issue of FHM India.