Anse Source d'Argent

If this slice of Indian Ocean perfection looks familiar, it’s for good reason: not only is it one of the most photographed beaches in the world, it was the backdrop of Hollywood films such as Tom Hanks' “Cast Away.” L’Anse d’Argent remains the Seychelles’ most popular stretch of shoreline, as its dazzling, reef-sheltered water and granite boulders atop bone-colored sand regularly prove too alluring to pass up.

The waters of this beach on the island of La Digue teem with marine life -- one can spot tropical fish and turtles without the need to swim or snorkel -- and its west-facing profile sets the stage for sensational sunsets. Novice swimmers and families with small children will feel at ease with the water depth, which is often no more than knee-high during low tide. While most visitors are ferry daytrippers, it’s worth staying on La Digue overnight to have more of it to yourself.