Anse Source d'Argent is a stunning slice of paradise located on La Digue, one of the largest public islands of the Seychelles. Shallow lagoon waters and fine white sand are punctuated with towering palm trees and weathered granite rock formations, making it a highly photographed location. The Seychelles Islands are also the only mid-oceanic granitic islands in the world, making the beach a unique geological gem.

With its stunning white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Queensland, Australia’s Whitehaven Beach is often regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Its famous sand is made of nearly pure silica — that not only gives it a vibrant white color and ultra-fine texture but it also means it doesn’t hold much heat (making it easier on your feet).

Matira Beach, located in the southern corner of Bora Bora, is one of the island's few public beaches. Below the sapphire-blue lagoon waters lives a rich marine ecosystem, including stunning coral reefs that draw snorkelers from all around. The beach is narrow and only about a mile long.

Shipwreck Beach — known officially as Navagio Beach — is located on the Greek island of Zakynthos. The beach is named after the rusted remains of the shipwreck that has been stranded on its gleaming white sands since 1980. Navagios (the Greek word for shipwreck) is in a picturesque isolated cove, surrounded by towering cliffs and the crystal-clear water of the Ionian Sea.

Dune du Pilat, located about 37 miles southwest of Bordeaux, is the tallest sand dune in Europe, reaching a height of 360 feet and extending over 1.7 miles along the coast. The dune offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding beauty and nearby Banc d'Arguin nature reserve, and provides a glimpse into its unique ecosystem, home to rare species of beetles and lizards.

Puka Beach is a highlight of Boracay Island in the Philippines. Even among the restaurants and food stalls, the beach’s natural charm and tranquility is still intact. Visitors can explore nearby rock formations and the diverse marine life of the tidal pools, while also spotting plenty of sun-bleached puka shells and coral fragments.

Cathedral Cove, named after the natural rock archway that leads to it, is a popular beach on the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. The massive cliffs surrounding the cove are the result of volcanic eruptions that happened around 8 million years ago. At the base of the cliffs are several caves that have been carved over time by the sea.

Playa d’en Bossa is one of the most popular resort areas of Ibiza. Stretching 1.6 miles, its sandy shoreline is also the longest on the sun-soaked Mediterranean island. Its pristine shore caters to sun worshippers during the day, but at night, the strip is party-ready, as it’s lined with various night clubs.

Tasmania is revered for its natural beauty, and Wineglass Bay Beach, located on the Australia state’s Freycinet Peninsula, is one of its crown jewels. Its crystal-clear turquoise waters, fine white sand, and surrounding pink granite cliffs make it one of the most picturesque beaches in the world. Wineglass Bay is part of Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park.

Located about 30 miles southeast of Phuket Island in Thailand, the Phi Phi Islands are home to the stunning Maya Bay Beach. Characterized by dramatic steep limestone cliffs that tower high above the sand and shore, Maya Bay became world-famous after being featured in the movie “The Beach,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Maho Beach on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten is adjacent to Princess Juliana International Airport, close enough to the runway that beach goers can be blown about by the jet blast. This up-close-and-personal proximity makes the beach popular with aviation buffs as well as sun worshippers, and plane spotters come from all over the planet to take in the iconic site.

Playa del Amor, also known as Hidden Beach, is a secluded beach located on one of the Marieta Islands off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The natural wonder was formed in part by underwater by volcanic eruptions, but it’s also believed the unique landscape resulted from military bomb tests in the early 1900s. Playa del Amor is protected as part of the Marieta Islands National Park.

Papakolea Beach, located on Hawaii’s Big Island, is one of only four green sand beaches in the world and one of only two in the United States. The sand’s color comes from broken olivine crystals that were created from the lava of the Pu‘u Mahana volcanic eruption about 50,000 years ago. The other green sand beaches are in Guam, Norway, and Ecuador.

Boulders Beach, located in the Cape Town suburb of Simon's Town, is one of the only places to see African penguins up close in the wild. The birds are endangered and live within a protected area, so while they often come close to swimmers, visitors are not allowed to touch them. Boulders Beach, located in the Cape Town suburb of Simon's Town, is one of the only places to see African penguins up close in the wild. The birds are endangered and live within a protected area, so while they often come close to swimmers, visitors are not allowed to touch them.

Santa Monica State Beach, a two-mile-long shoreline located off the Pacific Coast Highway near Los Angeles, is home to the iconic Santa Monica Pier. Visitors can ride the historical Santa Monica Pier Carousel or take in the view from the top of the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel at Pacific Park.

On a rocky outcrop in the village of Northumberland, England, Bamburgh Castle has stood over its namesake Bamburgh Beach for over 1,400 years. While the beach is best known for this historical backdrop, it’s also a great spot to spot the northern lights on clear winter nights, thanks to low levels of light pollution.

Iceland’s Reynisfjara is famous for its jet-black sand, which gets its color from volcanic rock. The beach is dotted with volcanic basalt columns on the beach, geometric in shape and striking in size, as well as sea stacks just off the shore. Reynisfjara’s black sand contrasts starkly with the powerful white waves, making for a unique beach going experience.

La Concha is one of the most popular beaches in San Sebastian, Spain. Framed by two scenic mountains at either end, called Urgull and Igeldo, the beach gets its name from its shell-like shape. (“Concha” means shell in Spanish.) The serene waters and soft golden sand are offset by a busy backdrop where locals and visitors can enjoy restaurants and cafes with a view of the shore.

Bondi Beach is one of the world’s most famous beach destinations. Located five miles from downtown Sydney, the iconic coastline is less than a mile long but draws major crowds, including year-long surfing enthusiasts. Founded in 1929, the historic Bondi Icebergs ocean pool overlooks the crescent-shaped stretch of sand wedged between rocky coastal cliffs.

Located on the island nation’s southern shore, Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay Beach is known for its pastel-pink sand. The beach’s color is the result of crushed coral and shells, as well as calcium carbonate made from microscopic marine organisms. The beach’s famous sand, clear turquoise Atlantic waters, and dramatic rocky outcrops make the half-mile long shore a popular destination for swimming and snorkeling.