The best beaches in the world

We're all dreaming of our next overseas adventure. For many of us, that will involve a beautiful beach somewhere hot. To aid those daydreams, we’ve put together a list of the best beaches in the world so you know exactly where to look when you’re booking your next sunny escape.

Whether you prefer white sandy beaches with calm balmy waters, beaches with the best surf or the perfect beach to snorkel and discover beautiful coral reefs - we’ve got you covered! Here are 5 of the best beaches in the world:

Grace Bay

Location: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The pristine white sand and turquoise water at Grace Bay will leave you absolutely breathless. Step onto the soft sand and go for a relaxing swim in the balmy waters that bathe the beach. You will never want to leave this little piece of paradise on Earth. Take a look at our selection of Turks and Caicos holidays.

Rabbit Beach

Location: Lampedusa, Islands of Sicily. Rabbit Beach, voted one of the world’s best beaches in 2013 by TripAdvisor, is an incredible gem on the Italian coast. Housing a magnificent nature reserve, the beach is actually one of the few places in the Mediterranean where loggerhead turtles lay their eggs and it is an exquisite spot for snorkellers due to the amazing variety of fish that swim through these pristine waters. Take a look at our selection of Sicily holidays.

Rainbow Beach

Location: Queensland, Australia. This unique beach on the Australian coast derives its name from the rainbow-coloured sand dunes which are believed to have been coloured when Yiningie, a spirit represented by a rainbow, plunged into the cliffs that surround the beach after battling with an evil spirit. The scientific explanation is that the sand is actually extremely rich in a variety of minerals including rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite which give it the interesting colour changes. Take a look at our selection of Queensland holidays.

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Location: Malibu, CA, USA. Leo Carrillo State Beach is every surfer’s paradise. The 1.5 mile stretch of rocky beach found at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains creates the perfect breakpoints for great waves! Plus, the beach’s great location set in a cove makes for an incredibly scenic view.  Take a look at our selection of LA holidays.

Vik

Location: Iceland. Who said the world’s best beaches had to be found in tropical locations? In Iceland’s southern coast lies the town of Vik which is a small settlement in Iceland with a magnificent stretch of a truly unusual beach. Named in 1991 by US Journal Islands Magazine as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, the stretch of sand in Vik is actually made of black basalt sand surrounded by great cliffs and a stormy dark sea. While not the best spot for lounging on the beach, Vik is definitely an interesting sight! Take a look at our selection of Iceland holidays.