10 of the best - exotic beaches

1. Dinarobin Beach, Le Morne,Mauritius The wow factor: This crescent-shaped, white-sandbeach is situated on the most scenically-beautifulshoreline of Mauritius, with the spectacular LeMorne mountain rising dramatically behind it.The beach is fronted by a tranquil aquamarinelagoon created by the coral reef that fringes mostof the tropical Indian Ocean island and makes forsafe bathing. It is part of the all-suite DinarobinHotel Golf & Spa which offers four restaurants, a spa

and an 18-hole golf course shared with the neighbour-ing Paradis resort. Did you know? Le Morne mountain is a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, recognised for its cultural history.During the 18th and early 19th centuries, runawayslaves escaping from the islands sugar plantations usedto hide there, protected by the mountains isolation andits sheer, wooded cliffs. Le Morne became a symbol ofthe slaves fight for freedom and a focal point tocommemorate the abolition of slavery. Stay: Beachcomber Tours offers accommodation in ajunior suite at the five-star Dinarobin hotel

(www.dinarobin-hotel.com) for seven nights from1,920 per person, sharing on a half-board basis. Priceincludes international flights and private hotel transfers.www.beachcombertours.co.uk

2. Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USAThe wow factor: A half-mile stretch of soft, whitesand lapped by turquoise water and fanned by gentlebreezes, Kailua Beach lies at the heart of a public park30 minutes from Honolulu on Oahus Windward Coast.It is a previous winner of the prestigious AmericasBest Beach title by Dr Beach, aka Dr Stephen Leather-man, the countrys leading authority on beach quality.Kailua is a water sports hub and you can rent kayaks,windsurfers and body boards. Kailua Town has a laid-back feel with lots of restaurants and shops, whileKalua Beach Park has picnic benches and large, grassyareas which are perfect for an al fresco lunch by theocean.Did you know? Dr Beach has named 12 Hawaiibeaches as Americas Best since he began picking hisannual award winners in 1991 twice as many as thenext highest-ranked state, Florida.

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Looking to find that perfect desert island beach for your next holiday? Weve scoured the worldand found 10 that will take some beating

of the best:exoticbeaches

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10 of the best n exotic beaches

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Stay: Funway Holidays offers five nights staying at theOhana East on Oahu and five nights at the AstonIslander on the Beach, on Kauai, from 2,999. The priceincludes return international flights, inter-island flightsand is on a room-only basis.www.funwayholidays.co.uk

3. Velassaru, MaldivesThe wow factor: Velassaru is a 21-acre coral island ofglorious white sand, coconut groves and a luxuryresort set like a gleaming pearl in a crystal-clear,turquoise lagoon in the Maldives South Male Atoll.The island is a sophisticated, five-star resort compris-ing over-water bungalows and villas, with othersdotted among the trees. It has two bars and five restau-rants as well as offering private dining including on adeserted sandbank reached by traditional sailing boat.When not relaxing on the beach, you can enjoy watersports including diving and windsurfing, go big gamefishing or try traditional fishing methods and visitlocals on nearby islands.Did you know? The Maldives comprises almost 1,200islands in 26 coral atolls in the Indian Ocean. Thenations 350,000 population inhabits just 200 islandsand there are 99 resort islands.Stay: Seven nights with breakfast staying in a deluxebungalow on Velassaru (www.velassaru.com) start at1,249 per person for departures between May 3 andJune 21, saving up to 513 per couple,with Kuoni. That includes return SriLankan Airlines flights and trans-fers. www.kuoni.co.uk

4. Eagle Beach, ArubaThe wow factor: Close toArubas westernmost tip, EagleBeach gets rave reviews and it iseasy to understand why. Gnarled,windswept divi-divi trees providewelcome shade over powder-fine, whitesands which, together with adjacent Palm Beach, form apristine, seven-mile strip that has just been voted thesecond best beach destination in the world by users oftravel review website TripAdvisor. The clear, calmCaribbean waters are perfect for swimming andsnorkelling, while theres a plethora of water sports andactivities for beachgoers as well. Behind both beachesare a number of four and five-star hotels.Did you know? Tap water is safe to drink in Aruba; ithas been distilled by the worlds second-largest saltwa-ter desalination plant, as a by-product of oil refining atthe huge WEB plant on the south-west coast. Stay: Thomson Holidays has a seven-night package,including direct flights, hotel transfers and breakfast,staying at the five-star Westin Resort Aruba on PalmBeach from 1,026 per person, based on a May 5 depar-ture. A seven-night Kuoni package at the adults-onlyBucuti Beach Resort on Eagle Beach costs from 1,583per person, with flights, transfers and breakfast, depart-ing on May 8. www.thomson.co.uk,www.kuoni.co.uk

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n A dhoni onthe beach,Maldives

n Divi-divi trees onAruba's Eagle Beach

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5. Bottom Bay, BarbadosThe wow factor:A hidden gem tucked below coralcliffs, Bottom Bay lies on the Atlantic-facing south-eastcoast of Barbados away from the hotel and touristdevelopments facing the Caribbean Sea in the west.Few tourists go there. And with the mesmeric rhythmof the blue-tinged waves, luxuriant vegetation andstatuesque palm trees swaying in the warm trade

winds, you will want to keep it a secret yourself. Dont

venture in for a dip, however; the waves on this coastcreate rip currents. But it is great for surfing.Did you know? Barbados has 60 beaches dotted allaround the island and encompassing 70 square miles ofsands. All Barbados beaches are open to the public. Stay: DialAFlight is offering 30% off a seven-night stayat the adults-only Almond Beach Club in Barbados thissummer, with prices from 1,299 per person savingup to 315 per person. Valid for departures from June25-30 and August 14-31, it includes accommodation onan all-inclusive basis in a standard room and returnVirgin Atlantic flights. www.dialaflight.com

6. Bazaruto Island, MozambiqueThe wow factor: Mozambique, off the coast of Africa,has some of the most stunning and pristine beaches inthe world, little developed for tourism. Several are foundon Bazaruto Island, one of four unspoilt islandscomprising the Bazaruto Archipelago which lies 30kmoff the Mozambique coast in the Indian Ocean. Theluxury Indigo Island Resort and Spa on the island is aluxury tropical island retreat with 30 beach chalets andvillas offering a spa, diving and snorkelling, big gamefishing and horse rides on the beach. Did you know? The Bazaruto Archipelago is aprotected national park that boasts 180 species of birdsas well as butterflies, antelope and freshwater crocodiles.Its offshore waters and reefs support a myriad of marine

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10 of the best n exotic beaches

n Bottom Bay is on the quietsouth-east coast of Barbados

n Away from it all on Bazaruto Island, Mozambique

n Indigo Bay onBazaruto Island

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life including dolphins, dugongs, game fish and turtles.Stay: Five nights at Indigo Bay costs from 2,740 perperson with Africa Travel, full-board in a beach chaleton Bazaruto Island, including international and localflights, daily snorkelling trips and five spa treatments.www.africatravel.co.uk

7. Playa Juanillo, Punta Cana,Dominican RepublicThe wow factor: The Dominican Republic makes upthe eastern side of the island of Hispaniola, and itsbeaches are lauded as some of the best in the world.They dont come any finer than Playa Juanillo, close toPunta Cana on Dom Reps eastern tip. Alluringly-angledpalm trees sprout from dazzling white sands gentlywashed by azure waters in a bay protected from thepounding Atlantic surf by an offshore reef. The beach isclose to exclusive golf resorts and communities, withcelebrities owning homes including Julio Iglesias.Did you know?The Dominican Republic is very popularwith film makers. Scenes from famous movies shot thereinclude the Godfather II, Apocalypse Now, and Rambo II. Stay: Thomas Cook offers seven nights at the all-inclu-sive Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa from 932 perperson, including flights. www.thomascook.comAir Europa (www.aireuropa.com) flights serve PuntaCana via Madrid.

8. Ariara Island, PhilippinesThe wow factor: Created by British couple Charles andCarrie McCulloch, Ariara is a 125-acre private island

retreat in the Calamian Islands in the Philippinesprovince of Palawan. Just 17 guests areaccommodated in eight villas and suites situated on a600-metre beach on this jungle-swathed island, edgedby pristine beaches and surrounded by coral reefs teem-ing with marine life. All bedrooms have private terracesand gardens. In short, it is a