5 serene beaches worth visiting in South East Asia

In a season a lot of people want to escape from – something I also wished for years ago, there is no shortage of tropical destinations awaiting the winter crowds. Whether you want to experience the Southern hemisphere summer in Australia, South Africa and South America or roam around the Caribbean or Pacific Islands, there are some incredible beaches to discover and explore.

Lately, I see more and more people in my bubble making their way to Asia for their tropical winter getaways and it’s certainly a fantastic choice. South East Asia, in particular, has gorgeous beaches, outstanding prices and kindhearted people. All great ingredients for an unforgettable vacation.

Because a lot of these destinations have become more and more popular and I’m generally looking for less crowded, more quiet, but still accessible spots, I want to share the 5 most serene beaches I explored in South East Asia.

1. Lonely Beach, Koh Rong Island, Cambodia

An incredibly serene place. There were very few people on the beach when I was there last May and I couldn’t see or hear them. There is a restaurant nearby, as well, although it doesn’t play any music, so you’re truly immersed in the sounds of the waves and the breeze. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had – just laying in a hammock between palm trees, listening to the gentle waves and really relaxing. A moment of pure bliss.

^{Lonely Beach}

How to get there

To get to Koh Rong, you have to make your way to the town of Sihanoukville and find the pier where speed boats depart for the islands. There are several speedboat companies that operate at different times. The one I went with was Speed Ferry Company and it cost 100k KHR* (approx 25 USD) for a 2-way journey, open return time (meaning you message them on whatsapp at least 24 hours in advance with the day and time you want to return).

Depending on where you’re staying in Koh Rong, there are 2 main ways to get to Lonely Beach: by motorcycle + hike or boat taxi. I rented a motorcycle from the guesthouse I stayed at. It was 10 USD* for the day and there is a designated parking area which costs 2000 KHR* (0.50 USD) . From there, I hiked through the jungle for 20-30 minutes before I made it to the beach. Lovely hike, by the way.

Tip: make sure it’s the right pier in Sihanoukville. I went to an old pier where the ferry terminal was located before and realized I was in the wrong place. Luckily, I had plenty of time to make it to the correct departure pier.

2. Adam & Eve Beach, Perhentian Island, Malaysia

Another astonishingly serene experience was on Adam and Eve Beach, where I basically had the beach to myself for a couple of hours. I went for a swim, chilled in the shade and read and listened to the sea.

^{Adam & Eve Beach}

How to get there

To get to the Perhentian islands, you have to make your way to the town of Kuala Besut, on the north-eastern coast of Malaysia. The nearest airport is in Kota Bharu, which is about 1 hour north of Besut. There are speed boats going to both islands. Adam & Eve beach is on Perhentian Kecil Island, which is where I stayed for a few days.

Depending on where you’re staying, you can choose to walk (hike) or take a boat taxi. There is no motorized traffic on the island, so be sure to arrange a boat taxi if you don’t want to walk. The beach is on the northwestern side of the island. I decided on the long and hot, but fun hike through the jungle. I met some lizards on the way, too.

^{One of the lizards}

After the long hike, I wanted to have some food at a beach nearby, so I took about a 10-15 minute jungle walk to get there. The restaurant was closed, so I ended up taking a boat taxi to another beach nearby where I had dinner.

Tip: carry a lot of water and snacks (and other supplies: sunscreen, external battery charger, bug spray etc). There are no services nearby.

Another tip: have offline maps, or whatever maps show you the trails around (I use mapout). The trails are marked, but they’re not always super obvious.

3. Pearl Beach, Koh Muk Island, Thailand

With tons of spectacular islands in Thailand, it’s tough to choose where to go. When traveling around, you meet a lot of people and a friend of mine had heard about Koh Muk, Koh Ngai and Koh Kradan from some fellow travelers she met. We ended up choosing Koh Muk and it was a fabulous choice. 

Went to Pearl Beach for sunrise, when there were just a handful of people around. It was super peaceful, just the sound of the waves, some dogs running around digging in the sand for crabs and a couple of cute wooden swings. It was very blissful.

^{Sunrise at Pearl Beach}

How to get there

The nearest town to Koh Muk Island is Trang. We arrived there from a different island, but when we left, we took a boat to Khuan Tung Ku Pier and then a van, which dropped us off at the Trang Bus Terminal (this cost 500 THB*/person, which is about 15 USD). From there, we traveled in a minibus to Krabi (112 THB*/person – 3 USD), which is the nearest airport in the area.

Pearl Beach is very close to the pier in Koh Muk. We ended up walking to it for about 15 minutes from where we stayed. It’s about the same from the pier. If you are staying in a different part of the island, there is always the tuk-tuk option. Your host should be able to help you with arranging a ride.

Tip: if you want to swim, be sure to check the tide times. You will need to walk pretty far for a nice swim when the tide is low.

We also ended up visiting Koh Kradan for half a day. Not as serene, as there were quite a lot of tourists visiting from other islands, but still pretty.

^{Koh Kradan}

4. Guyam Island Beach, Siargao, Philippines

I got to Guyam Island during a tour. It is one of the stops of the island hopping tour from Siargao. A super small, super cute island, covered in palm trees. I fell in love right away. Although not as quiet as the other ones, because of the tour boats coming in, it really is a tropical oasis.

How to get there

Siargao has an airport, so the easiest and fastest way to get to the island is by plane. There are direct flights from both Manila and Cebu.

Most people stay in the General Luna area in Siargao. It’s where most restaurants, surf bars and activities are. It is also the nearest point to Guyam Island and where the island hopping tours begin. You can either go as part of the island hopping tour, or try to arrange a private boat to take you there. The tour was around 1500 PHP/person*, which is around 25 USD.

^{Guyam Island Beach}

5. Dreamland Beach, Bali, Indonesia

Also lower on the “serenity index” is Dreamland Beach in south western Bali, where I spent a lovely morning with a friend. There were some people surfing, others just chillin’ on the beach, dogs running around, but a great vibe all around with the sound of the waves in the background and the stunning shades of turquoise.

How to get there

Bali has an international airport with direct or connecting flights from all over the world. It’s a highly popular destination and sadly, overcrowded with tourists.

Dreamland beach, though, is a gorgeous oasis that feels way less crowded than other spots on the island. It’s on the southwestern shore of the island, in the Uluwatu area and you can get there by scooter. The parking costs 5000 IDR*, which is about 0.30 USD.

^{Dreamland Beach}

Tip: don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach, as sometimes the stronger waves reach very far and may soak or wash them away.

If you make your way to any of these countries in South East Asia, make sure you stop by these gorgeous tropical beaches for your dose of serenity. It’s the best way to relax and recharge whether you’re backpacking around or just taking a vacation.

What other serene beaches have you discovered in South East Asia? Let me know in the comments.

*All prices and info are as recent as May 2024