The World's Best Unspoilt Beaches

East coast Zanzibar

The east coast of Zanzibar isn’t the place to go to for bland, international beach-resort luxury. Although its sandy palm-lined beaches are as idyllic as they come, the east coast offers visitors much more than just pretty beaches.

The seafront is studded with traditional Swahili villages, including Bwejuu (above), Paje and Jambiani, each one smaller and more rustically somnambulant than the one before, making it a great place to experience rural Africa on its own terms.

In keeping with this, accommodation tends to be low rise, low key, low impact and low cost – it’s the ideal place to relax after a costly safari. Look out for the endangered Kirk’s red colobus, a fringed monkey endemic to Zanzibar.


Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

North Island's Coromandel Peninsula is an ecological paradise renowned for its marine wildlife and beaches, the most beautiful of which is Cathedral Cove. Whether taking the coastal path from Hahei or arriving by boat or kayak, time a visit here with low tide for the essential photo opportunity under the spectacular limestone archway that divides the beach.

Barleycove Beach, Cork, Ireland

Between two craggy headlands on the Mizen Peninsula, Barleycove is a remote horseshoe of golden sand. A bracing walk in the fresh Atlantic air takes you to nearby Mizen Head, Ireland's most southwesterly point. The region has some of the country's best weather, but the beach is rarely busy, though the sea is sometimes flecked with surfers enjoying the large waves.

Bangaram Beach, Lakshadweep Islands, India

This teardrop of lush green coconut palms fringed by creamy sand in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean is uninhabited, with the exception of one low-key resort. Bangaram Island is surrounded by a lagoon, and its main beach boasts wonderful snorkelling, with abundant puffer, parrot, angel and clown fish, as well as manta rays and moray eels.

Palawan, Philippines

Palawan, an island province comprising one main island and thousands of smaller islets and outcrops, is located between Mindoro in the Philippines and Borneo in Malaysia. It is an area of extraordinary natural beauty, its sloping white-sand beaches slipping down into still turquoise waters, and towering forested cliffs jutting dramatically into the ocean.

The main island is long and narrow, and surrounded by coral and limestone offshore reefs. With over 1,000 miles of coastline here, you are bound to find your own little piece of paradise.

Muri Lagoon, Raratonga, Cook Islands

Surrounded by a lagoon that stretches to an offshore reef, and with forest-clad mountain ridges, Raratonga is the most dramatic of the Cook Islands. Muri Lagoon, to the southeast of the island, boasts a beautiful stretch of pristine sand. From here, you can paddle into the shallow water to the uninhabited islets beyond, which are excellent for snorkelling.

Oxwich Bay, Gower, UK

The Gower Peninsula in Wales, which juts into the Bristol Channel, has a coastline pitted with secluded bays, rocky bluffs and sweeps of golden sand. Oxwich is a 2.5-mile sandy stretch, backed by dunes and a salt marsh, and is popular year-round for windsurfing, sailing and water-skiing. The quietest part of the bay is on the eastern side, at Nicholaston Burrows. If you have time, walk on the coast path to Oxwich Point, from where there are great views back over the bay.

Ofu Beach, American Samoa

The jagged, forested peaks of Piumfa and Sunuitao mountains loom over the two-mile stretch of coral sand on Ofu Island’s south coast. The offshore reef is home to 150 species of coral and 300 species of fish, but you’ll need to bring your own snorkelling equipment if you want to see them – there is little in the way of tourist infrastructure here.

Lopes Mendez, Ilha Grande, Brazil

Lopes Mendez, a stunning two-mile stretch of white sand that is so bright you have to squint as you make your way across it, is the highlight of this lush island. The beach is buffeted by the Atlantic, but the water is shallow and safe for bathing.

Isle of Harris

The Isle of Harris has some of the finest beaches you’ll see, yet the Scots manage to keep them relatively secret. Strung out along the island’s southwestern coast, these jewels shimmer beside the roaring Atlantic Ocean. Harris is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. It offers some of the best climbing, hiking, fishing and surfing in the UK. There is a wonderful golf course beside Scarista Beach, and it harbours a dazzling array of wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins and golden eagles.

Playa de Cabo de Gata, Almeria

In contrast to much of Spain’s overcrowded coastline, the southeast coast of Almeria remains relatively neglected by tourists. The region has volcanic terrain, and many undiscovered beaches lie tucked beneath its craggy cliffs. Most impressive is Playa de Cabo de Gata, a three-mile beach that is buffeted by open sea. You’re unlikely to see many other people here.


Noirmoutier, France

The west coast of this island is dominated by great curves of golden sand, while its northern Atlantic shores are home to craggy cliffs, secluded bays and creeks. This small island lies three miles from the mainland and can be reached by the Passage du Gois, which becomes submerged at high tide. Don’t miss the island’s 12th-century castle and church, once a Benedictine priory.