Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific
Slide Nr 1September is the perfect time to experience even busy seaside resorts in their quiet season. For those who really want to go off the beaten track, it’s an opportunity for a blissful beach escape without the crowds. In most Northern Hemisphere countries, the worst of the heat has died down and the school holiday crowds have dispersed, while the Southern Hemisphere is slowly headed into spring. However, beware the rainy season across much of Asia, and check local travel conditions before booking. These lesser-known coastal destinations across Asia and the Pacific are perfect for a quick getaway or weekend break. If you’re feeling more adventurous and willing to travel further afield, check out our lists of small seaside escapes in the Americas and Europe.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 2Côn Đảo, Vietnam – The Con Dao Islands aren’t so much a well-kept secret as an out-of-the-way destination that many travellers don’t have the time, money or inclination to detour to. The group of 16 islands off the southeast coast of Vietnam served as an offshore prison under colonial rule. Today, they are known for their beautiful beaches (including turtle breeding grounds), tropical forests and excellent waters for diving and snorkelling, but also historical sites documenting the island’s grim past. [Photo: Binh Huynh/Flickr]
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 3Kaôh Rŏng, Cambodia – Cambodia has a relatively short coastline, so it’s hardly surprising that none of its most well-known destinations are seaside resorts. However, efforts are being made to develop its underrated coast and islands, so now is the time to visit before they become popular. Kaôh Rŏng (or Koh Rong) is the place to truly unplug – literally. With no roads (yet), no ATMs, unreliable electricity (although a solar power plant is currently under construction) and spotty WiFi, you have to be willing to brave some hardships to enjoy the island’s natural beauty.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 4Pulau Sumba, Indonesia – The country with the world’s third-highest total length of coastline has, of course, got more than its fair share of beaches. Pulau is only an hour’s flight from Bali, but nowhere near as busy (or flooded with yoga retreats, coworking spaces and hip vegan cafés). You’ll still find the same white beaches, excellent surf and spectacular cliffs its neighbouring islands are known for, and there’s also a whole lot of wildlife to discover, from turtles and manta rays in the ocean to rare bird species on land, protected by two national parks.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 8Bekal, India – Think ‘beach’ in India, and most people’s minds will jump immediately to Goa. However, it should come as no surprise that a country with more than 7,000 kilometres of coastline has a lot more seaside variety to offer. Northern Kerala sits just to the south of Goa, but is less busy and developed. The beaches around Bekal tick all the boxes – golden sand, swaying palm trees, the warm Arabian Sea – but the region also offers caves, temples, mosques and a famous historical fort.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 9Ibusuki, Japan – Japan has beautiful beaches a-plenty, many of the tropical variety, but for a truly unique experience, seek out a seaside spa resort and enjoy a relaxing bath in geothermally heated spring water – with an ocean view. Ibusuki in Kyushu province on the Satsuma peninsula is not only famous for its spectacularly situated onsen with a view, you can also let yourself be buried in hot volcanic sand. These ‘sand baths’ are said to have a detoxifying effect; we can’t confirm this, but they sure are relaxing. [Photo: shin–k/Flickr]
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 10Koh Kood, Thailand – Ever since The Beach, travellers have been looking for that elusive hidden beach, an island utopia far from the backpacker crowds. Unhappy ending notwithstanding, the book and film seemed to depict an idyllic ideal that many travellers to Thailand still chase. The fact that the actual beach from The Beach is now just as overrun as the country’s most well-known resorts probably tells you all you need to know about the achievability of that ideal. However, maybe Koh Kood (also written as Ko Kut) can come close to offering a similar experience. The island is all rainforest, coconut plantations and, of course, beautiful beaches – and yes, there’s a good chance of getting one of them to yourself.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 11Moorea, French Polynesia – Polynesia is made up of over 1,000 islands, ranging from the famous Tahiti and Bora Bora to numerous largely unknown and uninhabited ones. The discerning traveller is likely to be looking for something that hits the sweet spot in between: not so popular to be inundated with honeymooners and chain hotels, but enough to make exploring a breeze. Moorea is a great place to start. The small island just a short flight away from Tahiti offers majestic mountains, lush vegetation, stunning beaches and even the overwater bungalows the region is known for. It’s also a great place to immerse yourself in Polynesian culture with a local guide.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 12Exmouth, Australia – Beaches are one of the top reasons visitors come to Australia, and yet many congregate at a handful of the big-name ones, with others left all but deserted. This is largely due to logistics. While Australia’s East Coast is easily accessed by rail, road and air, the West Coast is one long stretch of under-explored coastline, where many beaches are several days’ drive from the nearest city. The sparsely populated Central West Coast is nonetheless well worth the long journey – for example, Exmouth, which is the gateway to the Ningaloo Marine Park with its spectacular fringing reef and migratory whale sharks.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 13Taranaki, New Zealand – Famously home to more sheep than people, it goes without saying that Aotearoa has more than its fair share of hidden beaches, including countless ones that can only be reached via hiking tracks or by boat. However, at the end of ski season, perhaps you’d enjoy a combination of activities only possible in a select few locations worldwide? In the Taranaki region on the North Island, you can ski and surf in one day. Base yourself in any of the seaside towns along Surf Highway 45, explore the coast and beaches, then head inland to Manganui Ski Area for a day.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 14Panjin, China – For a picture-postcard beach holiday, head to Hainan. If you want a different type of seaside escape, try the Northeast Provinces, a region formerly known as Manchuria. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Panjin Red Beach, a protected wetland area that changes colour over the course of the seasons. The Suaeda seepweed that grows in the saline-alkaline soil of the Liaohe Delta turns from green in spring to an unusual shade of red by October.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 15Tongyeong, Korea – Tongyeong is a port city that serves as a gateway to hundreds of islands and islets. These range from larger islands connected to the mainland by road or regular ferry services, to ones only accessible by private tour. Take your pick between isls offering nature, hiking, wildlife, art or history. The city itself boasts numerous seaside walkways and parks, plus stunning views across the bay and islands, as well as a vibrant arts scene.
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Travel with a small 't'
Hidden Gems: Secret Seaside Escapes Across Asia-Pacific.
Slide Nr 16Sanxiantai, Taiwan – Don’t come to Taiwan’s East Coast for a seaside holiday that involves swimming. Many of the beaches are dangerous, and entering the water is often prohibited. However, there are other attractions, both natural and manmade, to make up for the lack of swimming spots. In Sanxiantai, a headland and island that share the same name, there is one that attracts hordes of tourists. The distinctive bridge built to resemble a dragon connects the mainland with the small island, where crowds quickly thin out on a beautiful hiking trail.
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