If a good beach was once measured by the number of restaurants, bars and attractions around it, some travelers are now looking for exactly the opposite. A new list published by Travel + Leisure magazine ranks the world’s quietest beaches, with the top spot snagged by India’s Minicoy Island, a remote destination in the Arabian Sea that can be reached only after a long boat journey.
The ranking was compiled by betting site JB.com, which examined data including online search volume, visitor ratings, accommodation availability, summer temperatures and access to restaurants and bars. According to the ranking’s editors, the very difficulty of reaching some of the beaches, along with their distance from crowded tourist hubs, helps preserve the quiet atmosphere that draws travelers seeking more privacy and calm.
Minicoy Island, one of the southernmost islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago in the Arabian Sea off India’s southwestern coast, was ranked first. According to the ranking, a permit system that limits the number of visitors and the fact that reaching the island requires an approximately 18-hour boat ride help maintain its peaceful character.
Minicoy Island does have a holiday village
(Photo: sixpixx /Shutterstock)
Despite its remote location, Minicoy is not entirely unknown. According to the published data, the island receives about 78,000 online searches a month and has more than 80 reviews on Tripadvisor, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, a visit to a historic lighthouse built in 1885 and walks through the coconut groves scattered across the island. The island also has only four accommodation options.
Whitehaven Beach in Australia
(Photo: Juergen_Wallstabe /Shutterstock)
Cala Goloritzé Beach on the Italian island of Sardinia
(Photo: Tupungato/Shutterstock)
Pasjača Beach in Croatia
(Photo: Dreamer4787/Shutterstock)
Psiacha Beach
(Photo: Tupungato/Shutterstock)
Playa Tecolote in Mexico
(Photo: Emily Marie Wilson/Shutterstock)
In second place was Whitehaven Beach in Australia, located in the Whitsunday Islands National Park in Queensland. It is accessible mainly by boat or seaplane, and has almost no tourist infrastructure such as restaurants, bars or beach clubs. One of its standout features is its white sand, which according to the ranking is made up of 98% silica.
Third place went to Cala Goloritzé Beach on the Italian island of Sardinia, followed by Pasjača Beach in Croatia and Playa Tecolote in Mexico.