Arambol, Goa, India

6. Arambol, Goa, India

"There ain't nothing worse than some fool lying on some third world beach wearing spandex, psychedelic trousers, smoking damn dope pretending he's gettin' consciousness expansion," sang Alabama 3 on their hilarious Ain't Going to Goa. Indeed Goa certainly divides opinion. For some it is the holy grail of hippy hedonism for others it represents the worst excesses of modern travel. Arambol, the state's northernmost beach has its share of ageing hippies and seasonal expats, but the spectacular, sweeping stretch of sand is so beautiful it wins over even the most jaded and cynical of travellers. It is so vast that it´s easy to find your own private corner of sand. Around the rocky headland there is another beach where you can walk for miles without coming across a soul, or hang out at the freshwater lake backed by a small jungle. Old-timers will tell you the original hippies would sometimes get a nasty surprise here from the odd wild tiger.

Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania

No 5. Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania

The beaches of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania are the only ones I've ever walked on where the powder-white sand is so fine it literally squeaks between your toes. The island of Zanzibar is the jewel of the east-African coast, with its spice trade, labyrinthine old Stone Town and, of course, around 30 beaches, nearly all of which are to die for. One of the best is Nungwi, near the northern tip of the island. The coastline has a shallow slope so the sapphire water, white sand and coral build-ups forming a calm sea which stretches for miles and is home to thousands of marine animals. Dotted with tiny fishing villages that have barely changed in centuries, the Zanzibar coastline has a dreamy timeless air.

Millions of people travel to Africa on a yearly basis, but going to a beach is usually not on the list of things to do when you are in Africa. In Zanzibar, there are around 30 wonderful beaches, all which are fitting of a place on this top ten list. For many, Nungwi is the pick of the 30 beaches, with terrific water quality alongside wonderful sands. On top of what you would expect, you will also find wonderful fish and marine life, which make this breathtaking beach ideal.

Nearby Hotel

Double Tree Resort by Hilton Zanzibar - Nungwi - Nungwi

Location:

This Zanzibar hotel is close to Nungwi Beach and Kendwa Beach.

Sunset Beach Resort

Distance : Under 1 Mile Away

Anywhere on Palawan, the Philippines

Top Ten Beaches

No # 4. Anywhere on Palawan, the philippines

Although Alex Garland's backpacker odyssey The Beach is set in Thailand, he took much of the inspiration for the location from the Philippines. The reason? As anyone who has been to Thailand in the last decade will tell you, the chances of finding your very own deserted island paradise in a country that has become synonymous with the backpacker superhighway are close to nil. The Philippines, on the other hand, has over 7,000 islands, a fraction of the tourists and so many deserted beaches that it's easy to hire a fishing boat, sail off into the sun and create your very own "Beach".

The western island group of Palawan, which even Filipinos describe as their country's last frontier, is inconceivably exotic and tropical. It's an archipelago of jagged limestone islands with underground rivers, rocky coves, virgin rainforest and, of course, sugar-white sandy beaches. Honda Bay, which has several islets including Cannon Island, Bat Island and Starfish Island, is one of the most popular but the fun in Palawan is in discovering your own deserted stretch of sand.