Just outside of Hong Kong's concrete jungle lie a number of seriously gorgeous beaches. Dotted across the territory's islands and parks, Hong Kong's beaches offer the perfect respite from busy city schedules and high-rise living. We spoke to Martin Williams, founder of HKOutdoors.com, to get the low-down on his top five Hong Kong beaches.

1. Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung

Probably Hong Kong's most stunning and unspoiled beach, Tai Long Wan lies in a bay on the Sai Kung peninsula. Martin calls it a "stellar beach": the white sand, breaking rollers, turquoise waters and wild surroundings will blow your socks off wherever you come from. There are no buildings near the beach, just a couple of shacks that double up as restaurants, so you are guaranteed unspoiled vistas and peace and quiet.

Martin advises that the best time to go is at the weekend; there are no lifeguards on Tai Long Wan and there can be strong currents off the beach, so it is advisable to go when weekend hikers are in the area. The restaurants are not always open during the week, so if you do visit make sure you take something to eat and plenty of water.

Getting to Tai Long Wan isn't easy, but it is most definitely worth it. You can either hike in or cough up for a speedboat. Hikers should get the bus to Pak Tam Au (the highest point on the Pak Tam Road) or a speedboat or ferry from Wong Shek Pier to Chek Keng, then follow Stage 2 of the MacLehose trail towards Long Ke. If hiking doesn't appeal then you can get a speedboat from Sai Kung pier out to Tai Long Wan, but it will cost about HKD 1,000 for a return journey and involves a lot of haggling!

2. Cheung Sha, Lantau

If you want to "feel like you're on a South China Sea island" then head to Cheung Sha on Lantau. It is one of Hong Kong's longest beaches stretching 2 kilometres from east to west. Martin calls the sandy beach a "wild place" and a great spot to "get away from it all". Head to either the east end or the west end of the beach which is where the best swimming spots are. Cheung Sha is home to The Stoep, a South African barbeque restaurant and one of Hong Kong's most popular al fresco dining spots.

Cheung Sha is easily accessible by bus or taxi from Mui Wo and Tai O.

3. Cheung Chau Island

Martin recommends a visit to Tung Wan and Kwun Yam Wan beaches on Cheung Chau island. He says both are sheltered, accessible and have fantastic swimming. Quiet Kwun Yam beach also has a nice bar, perfect for hanging out at on a sunny afternoon. Martin recommends swimming at the beaches at high tide to avoid murkier waters when the tide is out. The island's main claim to fame is the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre where Hong Kong's only gold Olympian, Lee Lai-Shan, learnt to windsurf. Her uncle owns the centre and introduced her to the sport she went on to triumph in at the 1996 Atlanta games.

Ferries run to Cheung Chau from Pier 5 in Central. Fast ferries take 35 minutes, otherwise the journey takes an hour.

4. Shek O, Hong Kong

Just 25 minutes in a taxi from central Hong Kong sits sandy Shek O beach. Martin says Shek O is "great when there's an easterly wind" as the beach gets good surf. Shek O is very popular at weekends so it's best to visit during the week when the beach and village are quiet and sleepy. The beach has several lifeguard towers and shark nets so it's very safe for swimming.

Martin says one of the best ways to visit the beach is to hike the Dragon's Back first and then drop down to Shek O village from the end of the trail.

There are a few great places to eat in Shek O whilst you're there, The Black Sheep and the Chinese & Thai Seafood restaurant both come recommended.

5. Tung Ping Chau, New Territories

Far-flung Tung Ping Chau island is in Hong Kong's most easterly corner and is about as far as you can go before you reach Chinese waters. Martin says the island has a "Robinson Crusoe feeling to it", and calls Tung Ping Chau "a lovely island, curious, interesting, with a great atmosphere and unlike anywhere else in Hong Kong".

The island is small and the beaches very close to the ferry pier. Make sure you take a mask and snorkel with you as Tung Ping Chau is one of Hong Kong's top coral sites – you can see corals, colourful fish and urchins.

Although the island is no longer inhabited full time, at the weekends restaurants open up in old village houses across Tung Ping Chau. They make fantastic spots to relax and freshen up in once you've sated yourself on the fine white sands and clear waters.

To get to the island catch a ferry from Ma Liu Shui pier near University KCR station. The ferries only run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. To access the island during the week you need a private boat.

Photo Credits: Tai Long Wan by Justin Gaurav Murgai, Cheung Sha by Marc van der Chijs, Cheung Chau by randomwire, Tung Ping Chau by Verity.hk.

If you've ever wondered where the world's most secluded beaches are then look no further... Forbes has put together a top ten of the very best to whet your appetite for travel in 2009.

All of these beaches are public. They are harder to get to than their well-known counterparts, but they tend to be cheaper to stay at than nearby tourist hotspots.

Molokai, Hawaii

Forbes says: This island, often called Hawaii's "real" island, is so laid back there's not a single traffic light and no building is bigger than a palm tree. Chances are, yours will be the only footprints you'll find on any of its deserted white sand beaches. Travel authority Pauline Frommer says Molokai's unspoiled, pristine beaches are among her favorites worldwide and she imagines they look a lot like the Hawaii Capt. Cook first laid eyes on. From Honolulu, it's a 25-minute and $135 flight to Molokai's Hoolehua Airport (MKK). A one-way ticket to Maui from Honolulu costs about $61. Unlike Maui, there are no direct flights to Molokai from the Mainland. For more info on flights click here.

The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica

Forbes says: This wildly beautiful region - with its pounding surf and prehistoric rainforests - is quite distinct from the others. Costa Rica surfers and expats have been flocking to in recent years. Not only are the music and food different (think Reggae and spicy jerk chicken), gorgeous white-sand, coconut-tree-lined beaches are peaceful and desolate. To get to Puerto Limon, the capital of Limon province, from San Jose, take Highway 32 (also known as the Guapiles Highway) that connects this region to the rest of the country. For more info on flights click here.

Holbox Island, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Forbes says: Holbox (hol-bosh) is part of the Yum Balam ecological reserve, separated from land by the Yalahua Lagoon. The 26-mile-long island boasts many secluded fine white-sand beaches peppered with beautiful seashells. The Gulf of Mexico's jade green waters are calm and swimmer-friendly. But don't expect nightclubs or wi-fi. Or cars, for that matter, as everyone travels in golf-cart buggies. From Cancun airport you can take a taxi to Chiquila, about two hours away, to catch a ferry; or hire a water taxi on the spot to take you to Isla Holbox, 14 km (nine miles) away. Total travel time from Cancun is about three hours. There's a rustic airport on Holbox for private planes. The more expensive hotels ($200 to $400 a night) will help arrange private launches. For more info on flights click here.

Whitehaven Beach, Australia

Forbes says: Nestled on Australia's dreamy Whitsunday Island (the largest of the Whitsunday chain), Whitehaven Beach offers four miles of silky soft, milky white sand courtesy of pure silica grains. A lush acacia forest backdrop keeps things as cool as the turquoise waters. Although this is one of Australia's most photographed beaches, it's also one of its less trampled thanks to strict visitation limits enforced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (you must register with a tour operator to access the area.) A number of tour operators offer daytrips, overnight stays or scenic flights to Whitehaven Beach from the islands, Shute Harbour or Airlie Beach. A catamaran trip from Shute Harbour is $100 per person.

Oswald West State Park, Oregon Coast, USA

Forbes says: At this state park south of Cannon Beach, the 15-minute walk through the woods to the beach keeps most people at bay—save for the die-hard surfers. The crescent-shaped beach is on a secluded cove backed by dense forest. If you like dramatic and desolate, this is your beach. Best bet is to fly into Portland, then drive a rental car to the coast.

Barbuda, Caribbean

Forbes says: Antigua may tout its beaches, but Caribbean travel expert Ryan Ver Berkmoes says it's her sister island Barbuda that's really got something to crow about: Its unspoiled beaches are natural, sprinkled with pink sand and miles long. On the deep blue Atlantic side expect driftwood and shells; on the calmer Caribbean side, you'll find turtles and tropical fish in calm, limpid turquoise waters. But don't expect to see anyone else. No wonder Princess Diana vacationed here several times. Fly to Antigua first, then hop on a small Carib-Aviation plane for the 20-minute ride—about $200 round-trip (two flights a day). For more info on flights click here.

Colombier Beach, St. Barth's

Forbes says: Accessible only by boat or a 25-minute hike along a rugged goat trail (take the path just beyond Flamands Beach), Colombier is a sweet little cove perfect for swimming, snorkeling or eating a French picnic. Private yachts and sailboats often moor here while their passengers frolic in the water. (If you have a boat or like to hike, this day beach is free.)

Playa Medina, Venezuela

Forbes says: Club Med has a reputation for staking out some of the prettiest beachfronts in the world, which is why it had its eye on this palm-fringed patch of sand on the isolated Paria Peninsula. Local opposition prevented it from happening. That, and the 10-hour drive from Caracas, explain why the gold-sand beach with placid waters remains as pristine as ever—save for a bunch of bungalows and a low-key restaurant. There is a very small airport in Carupano, an hour east of Playa Medina. The "fanciest" hotel on the beach—guest cottages about $150 a night—arrange for airport transfers. For more info on flights click here.

Pink Beach, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Forbes says: When people think of Bonaire, they think of scuba diving, says Ver Berkmoes, but this island's bountiful beaches should not be overlooked. Since people tend to spend their time underwater here, you can find miles and miles of desolate beach on the south side of the island. Pink Beach is particularly beautiful, its sand tainted pink by Bonaire's signature coral reef. Major airlines provide direct flights to Bonaire's Flamingo (also pink) airport from Houston, Newark, Atlanta, and San Juan. For more info on flights click here.

White Sand Beach, Bali

Forbes says: Most of Bali's beaches are layered in dark black sand with the exception of this gem, tucked in a tiny cove on the East Coast. When travel writer Ryan Ver Berkmoes first discovered it, there were only a handful of fishermen on the beach. Now that seafood grills and day beds have arrived, the crowds are sure to follow.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.