Passikudah, The East Coast, Sri Lanka

Passikudah – a serene curve of translucent blue water and golden sand – is the loveliest of the beaches on the east coast. A small cluster of mid-sized resorts have sprung up behind it since the end of the war, but they’re low-key and Uga Bay is the pick of the crop. Crossing mostly open paddy fields and palm groves, the drive down from Trincomalee is a delight, and the studios themselves cool, stylish hideaways. Most enjoy uninterrupted sea views; some have direct access to the sand from their private sundecks. Meals are served in a cosy communal restaurant or on your own terrace, only a stone’s throw from the waves – the perfect wind-down after a tour of the island’s cultural treasures inland.