Five breathtaking beaches worth visiting

September 20, 2020November 26, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

We all love the seaside. We flock there in our droves to find relaxation, sunshine and good times. The world has an endless choice of beaches from palm-fringed idylls to wild inlets. Here’s five of the best beaches that left me with lasting memories. Please share your favourites too!

JOKULSARLON, ICELAND

This isn’t a beach to pop your towel down and sunbathe. Wrap up warm and marvel at the fragments of glacier scattered over black sands, giving it the popular name of Diamond Beach. Chunks of ice pepper the shoreline here on the southern Icelandic coast. A must-see on any trip to Iceland. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE ICELANDIC LANDSCAPES

PRAIA DE CHAVES, CAPE VERDE

A dramatic stretch of sand on the island of Boa Vista in this Atlantic archipelago, with crashing waves on one side and dunes on the other. There’s plenty of warm weather and delicious sunsets. You can explore or simply crumple into a sun lounger. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE

KHOR AL ADAID, QATAR

This is a corner of the Arabian Peninsula where the desert dunes meet the sea. The chances are you’ll arrive in a four-wheel drive buggy after some stomach-churning (but fun) ‘dune bashing’. The swathes of sand and bright blue sea will relax you, while picnics and paddling are also options. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE

NINETY MILE BEACH, NEW ZEALAND

As the name suggests, this is one heck of a stretch of sand in the far north of New Zealand. With its huge blue skies and wide horizons, this place is a tonic for the soul. You might zoom along the beach in a bus and end up dune boarding. The Kiwis like to relax and exhilarate you in equal measure. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE OF NORTH NEW ZEALAND

PLAGE D’AGADIR, MOROCCO

This Moroccan seaside resort may not have the wow factor of some beaches, but has stuck in my mind as my most recent overseas destination. It’s an admirable stretch of Atlantic sand with plenty of life. It’s surprisingly photogenic and puts on marvellous sunsets. Paddling in the sea or ambling along the corniche make it a worthy destination. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE ON AGADIR

Dune walk

November 30, 2014November 30, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 19 Comments

Boa Vista in Cape Verde seems like a chip of the Sahara that floated out into the Atlantic Ocean. On the west coast, the lush beaches are fringed with sand dunes, ripe for exploration but not too large to get lost in.

In one direction, you’ll suddenly find the chimney stack of an old pottery factory, long since lost to the sand. An old look-out sits on top of a dune, equally abandoned, while the vast Riu Touareg hotel emerges from the desert like a palatial oasis.

Venture south, and you’re only likely to encounter scuttling sandpipers. The prize at the end of the trek is a lovely view of the entire west coast. Worth leaving your sunbed to see…

Click first image to view this selection

Click to enlarge

Ocean spray

November 2, 2014November 11, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 18 Comments

Tropical islands make you think of warm, still waters and sheltered coral reefs. But the west coast of Boa Vista in the Cape Verde archipelago off Africa faces the full might of the Atlantic Ocean, and quite often the sea is king.

During my recent stay the nearest stretch of Chaves Beach was red-flagged at all times – too dangerous for swimming. This didn’t stop holidaymakers edging close to the crashing waves and others – including myself – from taking photographs. Even I lost a shoe, although the sea spat it back in disgust.

While it was hard to take a dip, the pounding ocean was welcome. I could hear the ebb and flow of the robust tide while I was heading to sleep, which turned out to be oddly soothing.

Click first image to view this selection

Cape Verde gold

October 26, 2014November 11, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 15 Comments

A temporary silence descended while I went away for some rest, relaxation – and of course to gather the rich photographic rewards of a new place.

I went to the little island of Boa Vista, the easternmost of the Cape Verde islands which are scattered off the Atlantic coast of West Africa.

We start at the end of the day, on a beach for golden hour and then sunset. This was the best one, a tropical show by the strong currents of the sea. It was that moment of the holiday where my mind cleared of everything else.

One to savour.