Seven kilometres of near-pure silica sand so white it stays cool underfoot, swirling with the turquoise of Hill Inlet. Reached by boat or seaplane from the Whitsundays, it’s regularly named the world’s most beautiful beach — and in person it lives up to it.

Hundreds of low-lying islands ringed by white sand and house reefs, where the water glows in shades of blue you won’t quite believe. Choose a resort island for overwater villas and snorkelling straight off your deck, or a local island for a fraction of the price.

The dreamlike beach of a thousand screensavers: pink-tinged sand, shallow warm water and sculpted granite boulders. Rent a bike on sleepy La Digue to reach it, and pair with Anse Lazio on Praslin for two of the planet’s most photogenic shores.

Twelve miles of soft white sand and calm, impossibly clear turquoise water, protected by a reef that keeps it gentle for swimming. Consistently rated the Caribbean’s best beach, with easy access from the US and a string of excellent resorts right behind it.

Towering limestone karsts, jungle-backed sand and warm Andaman water make Railay and nearby Phi Phi some of the best-value tropical beaches anywhere. Accessible only by longtail boat, Railay feels gloriously cut off — and Thailand makes the whole trip affordable.

Hidden lagoons, sheer cliffs and dozens of deserted white-sand islands make Palawan a beach-lover’s fantasy. Island-hopping tours from El Nido reach secret coves you’ll have nearly to yourself — raw, spectacular and still relatively under the radar.

A rusting shipwreck on blinding white sand, hemmed in by towering cliffs and lapped by electric-blue water — reachable only by boat and one of Europe’s most dramatic beaches. Combine with the Ionian’s sea caves for an unforgettable day on the water.

The clifftop view over Kelingking Beach — a T-rex-shaped headland above a tiny strip of white sand and turquoise sea — is one of the most photographed in Asia. An easy day trip from Bali, alongside snorkelling with manta rays. Plan it with our things to do in Bali and Bali travel guide.

Powder sand backed by palms and Mayan ruins, warm Caribbean water and easy access from the US make Tulum and the Riviera Maya a top tropical pick. Snorkel cenotes and reefs by day, and base yourself anywhere from boho beach clubs to big resorts.

Talcum-soft sand, dhows on a turquoise sea and some of the best sunsets in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar’s northern beaches keep their swimmable water even at low tide, and the spice-island culture and seafood make the trip about more than just the beach.

Golden cliffs, sea arches and sheltered coves make the Algarve Europe’s best beach coast — and Praia da Marinha its poster child. Short flights, reliable sun and gentle prices make it the easiest beautiful-beach trip for UK and European travellers.

Matira Beach’s soft white sand slips into a lagoon so vivid it barely looks real, all under that iconic volcanic peak. Remote and a serious splurge, but for a once-in-a-lifetime South Pacific beach escape, nowhere does it quite like Bora Bora.