Everyone's a bit of a beach bum. Between days of full-on hiking, climbing, and exploring, it's always nice to slot in a do-nothing day stretched out on the sand, soaking up vitamin D or having a relaxing swim in the sea.
But not all beaches are created equal. Here at Time Out Asia, we have our picks of the best beaches in the region, but it never hurts to follow the wisdom of the crowd. That's where Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards 'Best of the Best Beaches' ranking comes in handy. It's a compilation of the top 1 percent of beach listings on the travel review platform, based on the quality and quantity of reviews from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period.
The prettiest, sunniest, most exciting beach in all of Asia? It's Banana Beach, a little slice of paradise on Koh Hey. Expect soft, white sand and gin-clear waters here, with vibrant marine life to check out while snorkelling or glass-bottom kayaking. You could even parasail for a bird's eye view of the beach. You have to take a boat from the southern end of Phuket to get to Banana Beach, but that only means you'll have more privacy to enjoy this little bit of heaven.
No. 2 on the list is Nusa Penida's famous Kelingking Beach. You've seen it on Instagram: dramatic dinosaur-like rock formations framing a stretch of fine white sand and a yawning sea cove at the far end of the beach. There's a reason that thousands of tourists take on the long and steep flight of stone steps down to Kelingking Beach. It will soon be easier to visit this gorgeous spot, though. Bali has started building a (controversial) glass elevator to zip tourists up and down the cliff.
For a totally different vibe, visit Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea. This beach, ranked No. 3 on Tripadvisor's list, has a distinctly urban charm. Reviewers love the street performances along the promenade, local shops and restaurants just a stone's throw from the shoreline, and the backdrop of mountains and skyscrapers. It's perfect for city-slickers who want the option of a micro beach escape.
From tree-lined beaches in India to black sand shores in Bali, there are more stunning spots in Asia recommended by Tripadvisor reviewers. Check out the full list below and get more inspiration with our round-up of the best beaches in Asia.
These are Asia's top 10 beaches, according to Tripadvisor:
- Banana Beach, Phuket, Thailand
- Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Indonesia
- Haeundae Beach, Busan, South Korea
- White Beach, Panay Island, Philippines
- Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India
- Bentota Beach, Bentota, Sri Lanka
- White Sand Beach, Khao Lak, Thailand
- Nacpan Beach, Palawan Island, Philippines
- PhraNang Cave Beach, Ao Nang, Thailand
- Pantai Melasti Ungasan, Bali, Indonesia
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