As the climate continues to cool and we start to reach for thicker jumpers and more layers, it’s only natural that our thoughts are turning to sun, sea and sand.

So, when travel website FlightNetwork released their first annual list of the world’s 50 best beaches in 2017, the photos alone were enough to start warming our cockles.

By consulting over 600 travel journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies, the site has whittled an extensive list of coastlines down to the absolute best. 

“For the past two months we’ve been reaching out to the best, and most experienced travel journalists, agents and bloggers to get their expert-opinions of the best beaches on the planet,” they told the Metro.

“This is truly the most up to date and definitive list in the world and will help your readership decide their winter holidays in the coming months.”

By looking at destinations across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, the beaches were ranked by annual days of sunshine, the quality of their sand and water, average temperature, remoteness and how well they’ve remained reasonably untouched. 

And they all look like a small piece of paradise. 

Here are the top 10 beaches in the world right now (just in case you needed some travel inspiration):

10. Trunk Bay

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 7/10

Sand and water quality: 10/10

Annual days of sunshine: 140 

Average annual temperature: 27C

9. Hidden Beach

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 10/10

Sand and water quality: 8/10

Annual days of sunshine: 299

Average annual temperature: 25C

8. Hyams Beach 

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 8/10

Sand and water quality: 9/10

Annual days of sunshine: 251

Average annual temperature: 17C

7. Playa Paraiso

Sheer untouched beauty: 9/10

Remoteness: 8/10

Sand and water quality: 10/10

Annual days of sunshine: 290

Average annual temperature: 20C

6. Baia Dos Porcos

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 10/10

Sand and water quality: 9/10

Annual days of sunshine: 258

Average annual temperature: 27C

5. Navagio Beach, Greece

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 8/10

Sand and water quality: 8/10

Annual days of sunshine: 275

Average annual temperature: 19C

4. Pink Sands Beach

Sheer untouched beauty: 8/10

Remoteness: 8/10

Sand and water quality: 10/10

Annual days of sunshine: 223

Average annual temperature: 28C

3. Anse Lazio

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 7/10

Sand and water quality: 9/10

Annual days of sunshine: 226

Average annual temperature: 29C

2. Whitehaven Beach

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 10/10

Sand and water quality: 10/10

Annual days of sunshine: 292

Average annual temperature: 27C

1. Grace Bay

Sheer untouched beauty: 10/10

Remoteness: 8/10

Sand and water quality: 10/10

Annual days of sunshine: 319

Average annual temperature: 29C

Anyone else off to book a last-minute vacay to lay around in turquoise waters and a powder white beach?

You can see the full list of the world’s 50 best beaches here.

Images: iStock / UnSplash