Islands and Beaches in Asia

The spiritual heart of Indonesian tourism blends surf breaks, emerald rice-terrace hinterland and living Hindu temple culture. Beach clubs and world-class waves cluster in the buzzing south, while clifftop temples like Uluwatu and quiet fishing villages reward those heading east. Inland Ubud offers yoga and art; visit May to September.

A four-kilometre ribbon of powder-soft White Beach has made this small Philippine island a byword for tropical bliss, its sand famously fine and pale. Swept clean after a landmark rehabilitation, it pairs postcard sunsets with gentle turquoise shallows. Sail a traditional paraw at sunset; November to May is calmest.

Thailand’s largest island fringes the Andaman Sea with beaches from neon-lit Patong to quieter southern coves. It works best as a launchpad, with boats fanning out to the towering karst islands and lagoons of Phang Nga Bay. The old town’s Sino-Portuguese shophouses add character; the dry, calm season runs November to April.

Gateway to Palawan’s Bacuit Archipelago, where sheer limestone islands rise from lagoons of almost unreal clarity, among the most beautiful seascapes on Earth. Island-hopping tours slip through hidden lagoons and coral gardens. Kayak into the Big and Small Lagoons at first light before the boats arrive; come November to May.

Vietnam’s largest island trades the country’s frenetic pace for palm-lined beaches, pepper farms and traditional fish-sauce factories. Long Beach delivers the sunsets and beach-bar scene, while the forested interior adds snorkelling and hiking. A record-breaking cable car strings across the sea; visit November to March for calm seas and reliable sun.

A duty-free archipelago of 99 islands off Malaysia’s northwest coast, backed by jungle-covered peaks and mangrove forest. The signature experience is the cable car and vertigo-inducing SkyBridge, climbing high into rainforest for views across the Andaman Sea to Thailand. Boat tours cruise the mangroves; the dry season is November to March.

Thailand’s second-largest island balances lively Chaweng Beach with coconut plantations, jungle waterfalls and boutique resorts in quieter bays. It is the comfortable, well-connected base of the Gulf, and the perfect springboard to the diving of Ko Tao and the parties of Ko Phangan. The driest weather falls December to April.

The twin islands made famous by The Beach ring some of Thailand’s most dramatic scenery, sheer limestone cliffs plunging into brilliant turquoise water. Maya Bay draws the crowds, but longtail trips to hilltop viewpoints and hidden lagoons like Pileh show their fame. The car-free village buzzes; visit November to April.

A compact granite island that has become one of the cheapest, most popular places on Earth to earn your first scuba certification. Warm, clear Gulf waters and dozens of dive schools draw a young, sociable crowd, with turtles and the odd whale shark. Best diving runs March to September.

Three tiny, car-free islands off Lombok, ringed by coral reefs and cruised by green turtles you can snorkel with straight from the beach. Bicycles and horse carts are the only transport, each island keeping its own tempo from party Trawangan to quiet Meno. Sunset drinks face Bali’s volcanoes; best May to September.

A rugged limestone island off Bali’s southeast coast that has exploded in popularity for its wildly cinematic, cliff-framed beaches. Kelingking’s dinosaur headland, Angel’s Billabong and the Broken Beach blowhole top itineraries, while manta rays cruise offshore. Stay overnight to catch the star sights at their quietest; best April to October.

A teardrop-shaped island in the southern Philippines that reigns as the country’s surfing capital, home to the fabled Cloud 9 reef break. Beyond the waves lie mangrove forests, tidal rock pools and island-hopping to sandbars that appear at low tide. Paddle the enchanted Sugba Lagoon; surf swells peak September to November.

A remote archipelago off southern Vietnam pairing a sombre past as a prison colony with pristine beaches and nesting sea turtles. Tour the harrowing prison museums, dive uncrowded reefs, and in season watch green turtles nest by night. It has a wild, end-of-the-line feel; calmest March to September.

This chain of granite-boulder islands in the Andaman Sea ranks among Southeast Asia’s best dive destinations. Liveaboard trips explore vibrant reefs and dramatic swim-throughs alive with reef sharks, manta rays and the occasional whale shark. Powdery beaches make it spectacular for snorkellers too. The park opens only mid-October to mid-May.

A remote Indian archipelago scattered across the Bay of Bengal, where dense rainforest meets some of Asia’s cleanest, least-developed beaches. Havelock’s Radhanagar Beach is the undisputed star, rated among the finest anywhere. Excellent diving and quieter islands reward those who venture on. Permits are required; best November to April.

Myanmar’s premier beach resort strings coconut palms and low-key hotels along a golden crescent on the Bay of Bengal. Fishing villages still work the shore and ox carts trundle the sand at dawn, a laid-back contrast to the country’s dusty temple trails. Snorkelling and grilled seafood fill gentle days.

Bali’s quieter neighbour offers empty white beaches, world-class surf around Kuta and the brooding volcanic bulk of Mount Rinjani rising inland. Secret surf coves and the untouched Gili islands make it a favourite for chasing the Bali of two decades ago. The multi-day Rinjani crater trek is a great volcano adventure.

Gateway to Japan’s subtropical Yaeyama islands, ringed by coral reefs and famous for reliable manta ray dives in the blue-green water of Kabira Bay. Star-sand beaches and a slow pace feel a world from mainland Japan, geographically closer to Taiwan. Ferries reach sleepy Taketomi’s water-buffalo carts; ideal March to October.

Cambodia’s backpacker beach idyll fringes the Gulf of Thailand with long stretches of soft white sand and, on dark nights, bioluminescent plankton glowing blue in the surf. Its quiet sister island and simple bungalows keep the pace slow. Days drift by snorkelling and hiking jungle coves; best November to April.

Part of a protected marine park off Malaysia’s east coast, this island is ringed by some of the country’s clearest water and healthiest coral. Sheltered bays make snorkelling wonderfully easy straight off the beach, with turtles and reef sharks just metres from the sand. Powder-white beaches suit families; visit March to October.