A Beach That Blushes at Sunrise
Of the tens of thousands of beaches scattered across the Indonesian archipelago, only one glows with the soft, ethereal blush of crushed coral — and it lies hidden along the south-eastern shore of Komodo Island, accessible only by boat. Known locally as Pantai Merah, and to the world as Pink Beach, this extraordinary stretch of coastline is one of just seven pink sand beaches on the entire planet. The delicate rose tint is not a trick of light or a filter on your camera — it is the result of millions of microscopic fragments of red coral (Foraminifera) blending with fine white sand, creating a colour that shifts from soft salmon to vivid magenta depending on the angle of the sun and the wetness of the shore.
The magic of Pink Beach begins the moment you step off the tender boat onto its impossibly soft surface. The sand feels almost powdery beneath your feet, and as the warm Flores Sea laps gently at the shoreline, the wet band of sand at the water's edge glows an intense strawberry pink — the perfect frame for one of the most photogenic scenes in Southeast Asia. Behind you, rugged volcanic hills draped in dry savannah grass rise sharply, while ahead, the sea transitions from shallow turquoise to deep cobalt within just a few metres — a visual indicator of the extraordinary reef drop-off that lies directly offshore.
It is beneath the surface, however, that Pink Beach reveals its greatest treasure. The coral reef system here is among the healthiest in the entire Coral Triangle. Snorkellers need only wade chest-deep before they find themselves floating above gardens of branching staghorn coral, massive brain coral domes, and delicate purple sea fans swaying in the current. The reef teems with life: schools of neon-blue fusiliers, parrotfish that crunch audibly on the coral below, ornate sweetlips hovering near cleaning stations, and the occasional hawksbill sea turtle gliding serenely past. Advanced snorkellers and freedivers can follow the reef slope outward to encounter larger pelagics — giant trevally, reef sharks, and the shimmering curtains of barracuda that patrol the deeper water. The visibility here routinely exceeds 15 metres, making it one of the most rewarding shallow-water snorkelling sites in all of Indonesia.
Aboard Behike Cruise, the Pink Beach experience is curated for pure indulgence. While you explore the underwater world, our crew sets up a private beachside lounge — umbrellas, mats, chilled coconut drinks, and a tropical fruit platter arranged on the sand. The phinisi anchors just offshore, her elegant silhouette framed against the green hills of Komodo Island. After your swim, relax on the warm pink sand and savour the moment: you are on one of the rarest beaches on Earth, in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, with nothing but the sound of gentle waves and distant birdsong for company. Pink Beach is not just a destination — it is a sensory experience that stays with you long after the footprints fade.