Just under 7 miles from Alappuzha (Alleppey) town, Marari Beach is one of Kerala’s largest and cleanest coastlines. The Arabian Sea is bathtub-warm, but the waves are strong; only the fearless dive in. Everyone else flies kites, scours the coarse yellow sand for lost rupees, or hangs out in the shade of overturned boats propped up with oars, sipping masala chai and munching on snacks from humble beach shacks. It never seems crowded and the sunsets are phenomenal. When you’ve grown tired of paddling around the backwaters on a houseboat, this makes for lovely, lazy afternoon getaway.

Thoppumpady Rd., Mararikulam, Alappuzha, Kerala, India; no phone.