Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar White Sand

Price per night from$676.66

Price information

If you haven’t entered any dates, the rate shown is provided directly by the hotel and represents the cheapest double room (inclusive of taxes and fees) available in the next 60 days.

Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (USD676.66), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.

Zanzibar White Sand Photos

Style

Harmonious hamlet

Setting

Spice Island sands

Explore

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Cast off your cares – and your shoes – at Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, a barefoot resort nestled in the palm-flecked fringe of Paje Beach, one of the most beautiful strips of sand on Zanzibar’s south-east coast. Traditional palm roofs and sun-bleached timbers make the villas look like they’re part of a rustic fishing village, separated by gardens of lush exotics and bright-blooming flowers. But as the hotel’s name suggests, it’s the sugary sands that take centre stage. Out on the beach and beyond, you’ll find plenty of diversions: open-air spa huts, for instance, or kitesurfing at the hotel’s expert-led school. In the evenings, toast the sunset on the rooftop champagne bar, before descending to dinners that make the most of Zanzibar’s spice farms, including saffron-dusted tiger prawns and fragrant fish curries.

Smith Extra

Get this when you book through us:

One 30-minute spa treatment and a local gift

Facilities

Photos Zanzibar White Sand facilities

Need to know

Rooms

21

Check–Out

Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More details

Rates usually exclude breakfast, but buffet and in-room options are available for an extra fee.

Also

All of the hotel’s furniture is handmade in an onsite workshop, ensuring the hotel supports Zanzibar’s craft community.

At the hotel

Beach, tennis courts, open-air gym, bikes to borrow, paddleboard and kayak rental, rooftop champagne bar, free WiFi throughout, laundry. In rooms: flatscreen TV, Bluetooth speakers, minibar, tea and coffee kit, free bottled water, fan, mosquito net, Mwani Zanzibar amenities.

Our favourite rooms

If it’s just the two of you, you can’t beat the one-bedroom beachfront villas, which are made up of two buildings connected by a large sun deck with a private plunge pool. The larger building is the bedroom and bathroom, which has an outdoor bath tub and shower. On the roof, there’s a spacious terrace with shady seating and sea views. The second, thatch-roofed building is the living and dining area, although sunsets are best enjoyed from the dining cabana on the terrace.

Poolside

The pool’s smooth, asymmetric curves and sandy base make it seem part of the landscape – a miniature oasis encircled by tall palms and neatly planted borders. There are cabanas with greenery-swathed roofs around the outside, each shading a few sunloungers.

Spa

Well aware that Paje is precisely the sort of place most spas could only hope to channel, the architects made it an open-air affair, with treatments taking place in open-sided huts with steep thatched roofs. You’ll feel the warm sea breeze as the therapist works out knots or rejuvenate world-wearied skin with the help of products from Healing Earth, who bottle up the best of Africa’s natural resources. Alongside the two treatment spaces (one of which was designed with couples in mind), there’s also a hammam, steam room, Jacuzzi and a sauna. Masseurs will also be happy to give treatments in your room.

Packing tips

Bring your finest tupperwares to fill with fresh spice from the markets in Stone Town.

Also

The sandy surrounds and lack of adapted rooms make the hotel unsuitable for wheelchair users. Extra beds for guests aged 15-and-up can be added to Cinnamon rooms (except the Quadruple) for €75 a night and villas and Deluxe rooms for €130 a night.

Pet‐friendly

Pooches welcome. See more pet-friendly hotels in Zanzibar.

Children

Welcome. There are several family rooms and plenty of activities to keep littles occupied, including an outdoor playground, a paddling pool and child-friendly watersports. Baby cots (free) and extra beds (€50-65 for under-15s) can be added to most rooms.

Food and Drink

Photos Zanzibar White Sand food and drink

Top Table

Go for a table on the terrace for the sunset views.

Dress Code

The evenings tend to be balmy, making a loose shirt, light dress or anything made of linen a good choice.

Hotel restaurant

The dining room of Doors to Zanzibar has a soaring conical ceiling with a chandelier dangling from its centre beam. Simple wooden tables and chairs keep things restrained – all the decoration come from the various Zanzibari artefacts ranged about the room, including two ornate doors that are bolted onto the walls – the sort you can expect to see in Stone Town. With the climate as warm as it is, most guests tend to go for a table on the terrace, where you get a view of the pool and surrounding palms. There are plenty of traditional Zanzibari dishes on the menu, including flavoursome fish curries, grilled rock lobster and tiger prawns dusted with local saffron – one of the many dishes that make the most of Zanzibar’s plentiful spice farms. If you’re after something more familiar, go for their comfort food, which includes club sandwiches and chicken wraps. The Beach Restaurant has you covered with fresh pastries, juices and sparkling wine for breakfast and the likes of tuna tartar and grilled slipper lobster for lunch. 

Hotel bar

There are three. The main Lounge Bar is just off the restaurant, and has a lounge area with stone-coloured sofas – but many people choose to take their drinks out onto the terrace, too. The Beach Bar is open from noon till sunset, ensuring you don’t have to stray far from your lounger for a cold beer or piña colada. Up on the roof of the restaurant is the Sunset Bar, open for sundowners each evening.

Last orders

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10am (5.30am for sunrise breakfasts); lunch from noon to 3pm; dinner from 7pm to 10pm. The Beach Bar is open from noon to 6pm; the Sunset Bar serves from 5pm to 10pm; the Lounge Bar serves till 10pm.

Room service

The room service menu is made up select dishes from the main menu, and includes chicken curry, the fish of the day and club sandwiches.

Location

Photos Zanzibar White Sand location
Address
Zanzibar White Sand
Paje Beach, Paje, Tanzania
Zanzibar
Tanzania, United Republic of

Zanzibar White Sand is on Paje Beach, a long stretch of sand on Zanzibar’s southeast coast.

Planes

Zanzibar International Airport is closest. Flights from the UK involve a stopover – the fastest routes often go via Istanbul or Muscat. It takes around an hour to drive from the airport to Zanzibar White Sand, and luxury transfers with onboard wifi can be arranged by the hotel. For up to four guests, transfers are available upon request for €90 each way. Transfers for five or six guests can be arranged for €160 each way; for seven to ten guests, it's €230 each way.

Automobiles

Most people choose to leave the driving to the locals, who’ve grown up with the oft-chaotic conditions on the roads. Driving along the coast and rural areas tends to to be calmer, but Stone Town should be avoided unless you’re a veteran driver with experience negotiating Zanzibari roads. (If you do decide to hire, the Smith24 team can arrange it.)

Worth getting out of bed for

As its name suggests, this hotel’s all about the beach. The long, flat strip of sand that runs along the coast is what put Paje on the sun-seeker’s map, sought not only for its forget-the-world character and suitability for sunset walks, but because of the crystal clear water that laps the shore. This makes for excellent snorkelling – for the best experience, get the hotel to take you out the reef on a boat. The southeast coast’s diminutive waves have also led to the Zanzibar becoming one the world’s best kitesurfing destinations. The hotel has its own highly regarded kitesurfing school, open from 15 June to 15 September and 15 December to 15 March. Zanzibar’s Unesco-protected capital, Stone Town, is on the island’s west coast, around an hour’s drive from the hotel. The rich history of this Swahili trading town is written on its walls, with buildings cycling between Indian, Arabic, European and East African architectural styles. One of the city’s most famous features are its ornate doors, which grace nearly every building of note. Many are carved from thick slabs of teak or mahogany and decorated with artwork that reflected the occupation and social status of the owner that commissioned them. Another Zanzibari hallmark are the pungent spice markets, which have been a mainstay in Stone Town for as long as people can remember. The best way to get to grips with this rich heritage is on a spice tour – they can be a little touristy, but most involve a visit to a spice farm in a local village, making them one of the best ways to experience rural Zanzibari life. For more natural thrills, journey into Jozani national park, a sometimes swampy landscape that allows the trees and ferns to thrive, supporting a large population of indigenous red colobus monkeys.

Local restaurants

You’re unlikely to find anywhere local that does better food than the hotel.

Reviews

Photos Zanzibar White Sand reviews
Omenaa Boakye

Anonymous review

By Omenaa Boakye, Travel, but make it fashion

After a whirlwind few days in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I found myself craving stillness and sea air. Zanzibar, just a 90-minute ferry ride from the mainland, felt like the perfect escape — close yet worlds away. I spent a few nights at Zanzibar White Sand near Jambiani, a peaceful stretch along the south-eastern coast.
 
The drive from Stone Town, where the ferry docks, to the resort took just under an hour, meandering through sleepy villages and lush palms until we pulled up to a tall, wooden gate. As it opened, I felt like I was crossing into another realm. Behind it lay a sanctuary of serenity. White Sand is less of a resort and more of an oasis. The grounds are vast, filled with palm trees, winding sandy paths and beautifully landscaped gardens, each corner whispering calm.
 
I was greeted at reception with warm smiles and a welcome drink of fresh pineapple juice served straight from a coconut, complete with a bamboo straw. It was a small gesture that immediately set the tone: unpretentious, thoughtful luxury. I already felt lighter.
 
Soon after, I was introduced to Joseph, my butler for the stay. From the moment we met, he made it his mission to ensure every detail was flawless. Nothing was too small or too much — whether it was scheduling a spa treatment, personalising my dining experience, or arranging last-minute excursions, Joseph was always one step ahead, which added a level of comfort and ease that elevated the entire experience.
 
As Joseph walked me to my villa, we passed through shaded paths, birds chirping overhead, and glimpsed monkeys darting around the resort’s organic garden. When we arrived, he opened a gate into a private world: a plunge pool, cushioned loungers, and two beautifully designed villas — one housing a spacious living room, the other a bedroom suite. The interiors felt like a home — only better: high wooden ceilings, earthy tones, rich African textiles, and modern comforts. My bedroom had a plush bed, floor-to-ceiling windows that invited in soft natural light, and elegant details such as handcrafted furnishings and curated local artwork. Waiting for me on the bed was a chic fedora hat and a printed sarong — both gifts from the hotel. As someone who loves fashion (and a good hat), I was delighted. It was such a thoughtful and personal touch.
 
One of my favourite features was the luxurious outdoor shower and bath tub — perfect for a moonlit soak or refreshing rinse under the sky — complementing the indoor facilities and blending indulgence with nature. Above my bedroom, there was a rooftop terrace with a panoramic view of the beach, ideal for watching the sun melt into the ocean or simply lounging with a book.
 
Mornings began slowly, as they should in a place like this. The restaurant sits right on the beachfront and offers spectacular views of the ocean. Breakfasts became a cherished ritual of fresh tropical fruits, warm pastries and strong Tanzanian coffee. The culinary offerings here are worth highlighting. The Afro-fusion menu leans into local flavours with a global touch — grilled seafood, coconut curries, handmade pastas — all crafted with an emphasis on freshness and presentation. In the evenings, the vibe shifted slightly; lantern-lit ambience and occasional live East African music added cultural rhythm to the night.
 
The resort offers several experiences to make the most of its setting. One morning, I took one of the electric bikes out for a spin. Gliding silently down the beach, I passed people sailing on the calm sea, and — more memorably — a herd of cows sunbathing by the shore. It felt surreal and cinematic. For the adventurous, the resort offers snorkelling, diving, kitesurfing and more. And for a more leisurely activity, there’s a boutique on-site showcasing handcrafted goods from local artisans — handy for picking up thoughtful souvenirs. If you're in the mood for a peaceful stroll, the beach just steps from the resort is blissfully quiet. I would stroll barefoot along the white sand at sunset, watching the sky blush in shades of peach, lavender and gold. Zanzibar’s famed sunsets truly live up to the hype.
 
Tucked among the gardens is the resort’s serene spa, with both single and couple's treatment rooms, plus an outdoor Jacuzzi that was especially magical at night. Whether I was enjoying a massage scented with eucalyptus or soaking under the open sky, it was the ultimate indulgence.
 
As my time at Zanzibar White Sand came to an end, I found myself savouring the quiet moments, the unhurried rhythm of Jambiani village. Unlike Zanzibar’s busier northern beaches, this stretch of coast invites you to slow down and simply be. The atmosphere leaves the deepest imprint, the kind that gently urges you to pause, breathe and take it all in. When I left, I didn’t just feel rested — I felt genuinely renewed. This isn’t just a getaway, it’s a state of mind that follows you home, and a memory that lingers long after your feet reluctantly leave the sand.
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Price per night from $666.66

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