Holidays: Top 10 beaches in the world revealed – best beach holidays for 2020
BEACH holidays are beloved by Britons on the search for sun, sea and sand. The best beaches for 2019 have now been revealed in new research to help give you some holiday inspiration. Here are the top 10 best beaches in the world.
Holidays: Travel website Big Seven Travel has now ranked the best beaches in the whole world (Image: Getty Images)
Beach holidays leave travellers spoilt for choice with so many stunning shores to choose from across the globe. Sun, sea and sand are the perfect cocktail mix for the holidays of many British tourists. Travel website Big Seven Travel has now ranked the best beaches in the whole world. Researchers used votes from readers, aggregated scores from previous media results, official Blue Flag locations and contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team.
These are a list of the top 10 beaches – and the good news is that three of them are in Europe.
1. Zlatni rat (Golden Horn Beach) – Brac, Croatia
Zlatni rat, voted the number one best beach in the world this year, is a spit of land that juts out into the Adriatic Sea.
The beach – backed by pine groves – is around a mile to the west of the harbour town of Bol on Brac Island’s south coast.
According to Big Seven Travel, the crystal clear sea “goes from turquoise blue to dark blue in just 10-20 meters.”
It boasts white pebbles rather than sand and is a popular spot for windsurfers. Lifeguards are present throughout the summer.
2. Whitehaven Beach – Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Whitehaven Beach in Queensland, Australia was named the second-best beach in the world.
The bright white colour of the beach is thanks to white silica sand – and it’s among the purest in the world.
The silica also doesn’t retain heat, making it ideal for beach walks even when it’s hot.
Backed by tropical forest, Whitehaven Beach is only accessible by helicopter or seaplane and benefits from 290 days of sunshine a year with an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.
Holidays: Whitehaven Beach in Queensland, Australia was named the second best beach in the world (Image: Getty Images)
3. Fig Tree Bay – Protaras, Cyprus
According to the Cypriot tourist board, “the popular beach of Protaras – better known as Fig Tree Bay – boasts fine, golden sands and crystal-clear waters.
“It takes its name from a single, solitary fig tree that has been there since the 17th century.”
There is an uninhabited islet that strong swimmers can swim over to, while umbrellas and sun beds are available for those looking to relax. “The general area has a variety of accommodation, restaurants and kiosks,” said Visit Cyprus.
4. Grace Bay – Turks and Caicos
This famous beach boasts a rainbow-coloured reef just off the shore and is home to thousands of sea creatures.
Just over 3km long, Grace Bay is ideal for swimming and snorkelling thanks to its white sand and clear water. Plus, it has sunshine 319 days of the year.
5. Secret Lagoon – El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
El Nido is made up of a cluster of 45 islands off the tip of Palawan island, “which is famous for its Secret Lagoon,” said Big Seven Travel.
Visitors can “swim through a hole in the limestone rocks to enter a hidden bay with crystal clear water and soft sand.”
Travel & Leisure magazine has named Palawan the world’s “best island” three years in a row.
Holidays: A day trip from Nassau or The Exumas can take in the swimming pigs on Big Major Cay (Image: Getty Images)
Instagram model Michelle Lewin gets bitten by pig in Bahamas
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6. Reynisfjara Beach – Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland
This beach is somewhat out of the ordinary in that it boasts black sand rather than golden.
For those looking for something a bit different, Reynisfjara Beach features huge basalt stacks that rise out of the sea.
Games of Thrones sand might recognise the Icelandic beach from season seven of the HBO Series.
7. Anse Source d’Argent – Seychelles
Anse Source d’Argent is one of the most photographed beaches in the entire world. It’s home to white sands, crystal clear shallow waters, granite boulders and coconut palms.
According to the Seychelles tourist board: “To reach Anse Source D’Argent you must pay an entrance fee to L’Union Estate of 100 SCR (Roughly £5) which also entitles you to explore their park and museum, where you can see the old coconut mills and giant turtles.”
8. Playa Ruinas – Quintana Roo, Mexico
Playa Ruinas, in eighth place, is considered one of the best beaches in the Riviera Maya.
Expect white sands and dramatic cliffs as well as a backdrop of the famous Ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum.
9. Kanuhura Maldives – Lhaviyani Atoll Maldives
“One of the Maldives’ more natural islands, Kanuhura combines blends rustic elegance with laid-back luxury living,” travel company Kuoni said of this paradise.
“A secluded paradise of not one but three private islands, linger on deserted white sands at tiny sister islands Jehunuhura and Masleggihura, and spend time exploring the region on a catamaran or sunset dhoni cruise.
“There’s no house reef here but the island has access to some of the atoll’s most spectacular underwater sites. With most reachable by boat, we recommend heading to the Maa Giri and Kanuhura Corner reefs – incredible spots which teem with turtles, rays and grey reef sharks.”
10. Pig Beach – Bahamas
The Exuma Cays in the Bahamas are well known for their pristine waters, flawless coastlines, and endless natural beauty.
A day trip from Nassau or The Exumas can take in the swimming pigs on Big Major Cay – the only inhabitants of the island.
The pigs are not native so it’s unknown how the porcine creatures got there
