Sri Lanka · Asia
Sri Lanka packs a continent's worth of experiences into an island the size of West Virginia. The south coast — Unawatuna, Mirissa, Tangalle — has the classic palm-lined beaches and the best surfing. Mirissa is also one of the best places on Earth to see blue whales, especially from November to April. The east coast (Arugam Bay) draws serious surfers from May to September. But the beaches are almost secondary here — the cultural triangle up north has 2,000-year-old ruins, Kandy has the Temple of the Tooth, the hill country has tea plantations wrapped in mist, and Sigiriya is a fortress on top of a 200-meter rock column. Sri Lanka is absurdly underpriced for what you get.
Vietnam has no nude beaches and no naturist resorts. What that means on Vietnamese beaches, where bikinis are fine and where to cover up, and the nearest legal alternatives.
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Thailand has no nude beaches. Section 388 of the Criminal Code fines indecent exposure in public up to 5,000 baht. What that means on Thai beaches, and the nearest legal alternatives.
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The Maldives has no nude beaches, and official UK advice says nudism and topless sunbathing are not allowed anywhere, including on resort islands. What you can wear where, and the alternatives.
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India has no legal nude beaches. Public nudity falls under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly IPC 294), Goa's Arambol included, and the Maldives and Sri Lanka ban it too.
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There are no legal nude beaches in South or Southeast Asia. Public nudity is an offence from India to the Philippines. The rules country by country, and the real alternatives.
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Japanese beaches operate by different rules — designated swimming zones enforced by whistling lifeguards, beach house etiquette, tattoo considerations, and strict trash protocols. This guide covers the norms that make a Japanese beach day run smoothly.
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