Which are the best white-sand beaches in the world?

Pristine white-sand beaches across the globe entice both visitors and residents with their powdery-soft shoreline and turquoise blue seas. These sugary coasts, formed mostly from rocks and minerals such as quartz that have been crushed down over millennia, provide the ideal beach experience.

These 10 gorgeous white-sand beaches, found in the United States, Italy, the Maldives, and Australia, are the stuff of holiday fantasies.

Angaga Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives

The Angaga Island Resort spans all of South Ari Atoll, yet the island’s natural Maldivian beauty is the true star here. The island is surrounded by pearly white sand, and luxury beach bungalows rise above the stunning blue Indian Ocean.

Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles

Anse Source d’Argent is a popular beach in the Seychelles, and for good cause. Towering granite boulders and palm trees along the edge of this stunning white-sand beach, and a neighboring coral reef keeps the waters quiet while great for wading.

Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town, South Africa

This secluded beach on South Africa’s Cape Peninsula was built from finely powdered granite, and leftover stones may still be seen in the surrounding region. Boulders Beach, located inside Table Mountain National Park, is a famous meeting dordle area for endangered African penguins. Touching or feeding the birds is not permitted, but nature enthusiasts may see them from specially constructed boardwalks along the beaches.

Hyams Beach, Shoalhaven, Australia

Hyams Beach, located around 120 miles from enormous Sydney, has gorgeous white sand. Not only is it a popular beach location, but it’s also a great place to observe whales. Jervis Bay is the midway point on the “Humpback Highway,” which sees hundreds of whales move back and forth from Antarctica each year between May and November.

Luskentyre Beach, Harris, Scotland

Luskentyre is a length of beach on Scotland’s western coast in the Outer Hebrides. The milder temperature of this white-sand beach distinguishes it from others on our list, as do the wild white ponies that sometimes stroll its beaches.

Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

This is Bora Bora’s biggest public beach, stretching one mile down the island’s southern edge. Perfectly white beach contrasts with the beautiful blue Polynesian ocean. A adjacent park provides a picnic spot. This beautiful beach also serves as the finish line for the world-renowned Hawaiki Nui, an annual va’a (outrigger canoe) race held in the autumn.

Kauna’oa Bay, Kohala, Hawaii

Kauna’oa Bay on Hawaii’s Big Island is the epitome of a white-sand beach, with its crescent shape and palm palms framing it. The historic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is located on one of the few light-colored sections on the western side of the island, when others are black or gray due to lava and coral.

Rabbit Beach, Pelagie Islands, Italy

One of Europe’s most remote locations is between Malta and Tunisia. Rabbit Island (known in Italian as Isola dei Conigli) is located off the shore of Lampedusa, a bigger island to its north. Visitors to these beaches will find some of the purest seas and whitest sands in the Mediterranean.

Radhanagar Beach, Swaraj Dweep, India

This lovely beach on Swaraj Dweep (previously Havelock Island) is still unspoiled and undeveloped. Radhanagar Beach’s fine white sand spans between the dazzling seas of the Bay of Bengal and rich tropical foliage, providing an idyllic setting for relaxation. Snorkelers like exploring the bay’s marine life and beautiful coral, but make sure to come up for air at the end of the day to see the breathtaking sunset.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Whitehaven Beach’s pure white look is due to its silica-rich sand. Even in the fiercest sun, the silica never overheats, so you won’t burn your feet. This secluded beach can only be accessed by boat, helicopter, or small aircraft.