Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

Mirissa is the south coast at its most sociable, a photogenic palm crescent that has become the region's whale watching capital and a magnet for younger travelers. Blue whales and dolphins pass offshore in season, and the harbour next door sends out boats at dawn to find them. Back on the sand, the bay curves between Parrot Rock, a little islet you can walk to at low tide, and the headland that holds the much photographed Coconut Tree Hill.

By day the bay is for swimming corners, gentle beginner surf and lazing under the palms; by night it turns into a strip of beach bars, lights and music that runs late. There is genuine charm here, from the view off the headland to the seafood grills on the sand, and it pulls a steady crowd that keeps the energy high. It is the south coast beach most likely to feel like a holiday party.

The honest note is that Mirissa's popularity is also its catch. The bar strip can feel crowded and loud, the central beach has shore break and currents that demand respect, and the whale watching boats vary a lot in how they treat the animals, so choose a responsible operator. For a calmer, wider beginner surf bay you slip west to Weligama; for quiet and wild, you head east to Tangalle.