Eco-conscious beachfront hideaway
Thatched roofs and winding sandy paths blend low-impact architecture into four hectares of beachfront tropical gardens along Paje Beach.
Where it shines
Notable
Dedicated butler service coordinates private dining and island excursions across expansive pool villas with outdoor soaking tubs.
Notable
Open-air thatched spa pavilions host restorative therapies crafted with locally harvested seaweed, virgin coconut, and island spices.
Notable
An on-site kitesurfing school, padel and tennis courts, and low-tide marine safaris anchor the coastal activity programme.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
UK Readers' Choice Awards – Africa
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
Size and privacy are the keywords here, enough that a freestanding outdoor tub and a private pool can be comfortably concealed.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Paje's shallow, trade-wind lagoon sits directly outside, famous for world-class kitesurfing and shifting sandbanks revealed at low tide.
The rooms
Villas conceal private plunge pools, open-air bathtubs, and rooftop terraces tucked within expansive, secluded tropical garden plots.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A freeform outdoor pool winds through coconut palms and garden paths, bordered by cushioned loungers.
The spa
Thatched open-air and draped indoor pavilions host massages beside a hot tub, steam room, and infrared sauna.
The gym
Open-air thatched platforms and an indoor fitness studio look out over the gardens with cardio machines and weights.
At the table
Open-air bars and dining pavilions pour evening drinks alongside seafood and produce picked from the organic gardens.
How it began
Conceived after a 2010 family journey across Tanzania, the retreat was constructed with hand-hewn local timbers and renewable solar energy.
Good to know
Stay here
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.