Calm blue waters, as most are located in bays, impressive seabed and pale sand are the main "ingredients" of success for the ten beaches you will see next, which make proud not only the places where they are located, but also the thousands of visitors who discover them from time to time. From Australia and America to Thailand and France, these coasts offer brilliant natural beauty, being the strong "tourist" cards of every country, while a dip in their crystal clear waters is never enough! Among them, a famous and beloved Greek beach of the Ionian Sea dynamically gives its mark on the world's aquatic beauty.
10) Villefranche Bay (Nice, France)
Villefranche may be in tenth place on the relevant list, but it holds the first choice for divers around the world. Mainly due to its” polymorphic " bottom, but also the famous water gorge of the same name that hides in its bays, about a nautical mile from the coast. Rich marine life and exceptional natural beauty are the key features of Villefranche Bay Beach, which becomes the attraction of many tourists every year.
9) Hanalei Bay (Hawaii, USA)
Hanalei is one of the most impressive beaches on the northern coast of the island of Kauai in Hawaii, which is surrounded by mountains and stretches about three kilometers in length. It dominates the center of an almost circular Bay of the same name and is distinguished for its white sand and green-blue waters, which promise a unique aquatic experience. In some places, the landscape becomes appealing, as waterfalls end up in the sea, making Hanalei Bay one of the most photographed coasts of Hawaii. Numerous hotels and tourist facilities offer high quality accommodation for discerning guests.
8) Phang Nga Bay (Thailand)
Phang Nga Bay in Thailand covers an area of 400 square kilometers in the Andaman Sea, between Phuket and the mainland, becoming since 1981 a protected part due to the caves and archaeological sites that exist there. The Bay includes 42 islands with impressive shallow beaches and many wetlands. 88 species of rare birds, 82 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians and 17 species of mammals endemic to the area, which is famous for its crystal clear waters and unusual natural landscape.
7) Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh, Vietnam)
Ha Long Beach belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage List and is located in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The bay has thousands of rocky islands in various sizes and shapes (over 3,000!) and is known for its geological and geomorphological alternations. This beach is one of the hidden diamonds of the area, as the dense vegetation reaches to the sea and the “golden” sand extends over several kilometers. Many of the islands are "hollow", forming huge caves, giving visitors the opportunity to admire a unique landscape.
6) Maya Bay (Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand)
Impressive beach with extremely glassy waters, well hidden among the rocks, is one of the many tourist attractions of the area, with silky white sand, colorful underwater corals and exotic fish. Hot destination for adventure lovers but also for those who enjoy underwater exploration, Maya Bay fulfills every fantasy.
5) Hanauma Bay (Hawaii, USA)
When the sea penetrates into a volcanic cone, then the images speak for themselves and words are useless! This eerie beach is located along the southeast coast of the island of Oahu (east of Honolulu) in Hawaii, being one of the most popular tourist destinations, hosting over three million visitors annually! About 400 species of fish are endemic to the bay, with the unusual parrotfish dominating the list, while Hanauma Bay is also known for the abundance of the green sea turtle, the famous Honu, which lives there. The landscape is completed by coral reefs that protrude from the sea, but also tall palm trees that reach the shore.
4) Bay of Islands (New Zealand)
The whole Bay of Islands region is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand, and beyond. And how else, after all, since 144 green islands with many sandy beaches compose an otherwise enchanting natural landscape, which immediately wins the impressions. In addition, the bay of the same name presents an abundance of marine life, with whales, penguins and dolphins discreetly appearing close to the bathers!
3) Palm Bay (Long Island, Australia)
"Nestled" among the tall palm trees of the area and the turquoise waters of Long Island (Whitsunday Islands) is Palm Bay Beach. A narrow picturesque bay offers a safe anchorage to visitors who want to explore the entire area, while a key feature of the coast is the white sand that in many places enters into the blue, creating a magical landscape. Many small secluded beaches for all tastes are created along the bay, while hiking trails in the dense forest that “embraces” give the visitor the opportunity to admire the rich flora and fauna of Australia.
2) Navagio (Zakynthos, Greece)
The second place in the list is occupied by one of the most famous and most beloved beaches in Greece, the famous "Navagio" (Shipwreck) in Zakynthos, which is a trademark of the island and perhaps the entire Mediterranean and owes its name to the shipwreck of a ship that happened near coast in 1982. Eerie, unique, impressive, offers visitors a magnificent landscape, as it is enclosed among the towering white limestone rocks, with deep, blue and crystal clear waters, while the "trunk" of the ship "sunbathes" in the center as the "absolute star" of the coast! Internationally photographed by the world's largest and most authoritative travel guides, " Navagio" continues to "pose" undisturbedly to its fanatical fans, writing its own unique story on the most stunning beaches on the planet.
1) Wineglass Bay (Tasmania, Australia)
The beach "wine glass" (due to its shape) is one of the most isolated in the world, while it is classified as one of the most charming landscapes on the planet due to alternating colors: white for the sand, blue for the water and green for the small forest that surrounds it. This dual reputation makes it first on the list of preferences mainly for "privacy", but also for a dip in the crystal clear waters, while hiking lovers will love it without a doubt. Wineglass Bay is located near Hobart, an island off the southern tip of Australia, constituting for Melbourne residents (and not only!) an escape to adventure.
Of course, for us Thessalonikians there is no better place than Halkidiki!!
