Locations
Alaia Beach Resort Zanzibar
Our Premier Zanzibar Location in Paje
Experience the ultimate island getaway at our beachfront Zanzibar location. Alaïa Beach Resort sits directly on the white sands of Paje beach along the southeast coast, offering instant access to world-class kitesurfing and traditional village life. Our prime positioning provides seamless connections to the island’s best guided excursions, all managed directly by our on-site team.
Experiences Available from Paje
Alaïa Beach Resort coordinates a full programme of guided island excursions for guests staying in Paje, covering reef snorkeling, wildlife, cultural sites, inland farms, and south coast marine encounters. Each excursion is arranged through the resort activities team with all logistics managed from the point of booking. Here are the guided experiences currently available from the resort:
- Blue Lagoon Beach Snorkeling Tour
- Kizimkazi Dolphin Encounter
- Jozani Forest Walk
- Mnemba Island Reef
- Stone Town Cultural Tour
- Tangawizi Spice Farm Tour
- Changu Island Excursion
Where Alaia Is
Alaïa Beach Resort Zanzibar is set on the beachfront in Paje, on the island’s south-eastern coast. The resort opens directly onto sand and lagoon, with the beach flowing naturally into the resort’s pools, decks, and open spaces. Paje is essentially a long strip of white sand bordered by a small village on one side and a collection of beachfront accommodation services on the other, with turquoise waters and a huge tidal range creating a constantly changing coastal environment.
Paje sits halfway down the east coast, directly opposite Stone Town on the other side of the island, and is the most southerly of the busy east coast beach towns. From the resort, the lagoon, village, and coastal walking routes in both directions are all within easy reach.
Why Paje
Paje has maintained a chilled atmosphere that other areas of Zanzibar cannot claim, with some of the most visually stunning beaches on the island stretching for many kilometres of white sand. It offers space, nature, and a consistent coastal rhythm without the concentrated nightlife and commercial development found further north.
Guests choose Paje for:
- A world-class kitesurfing lagoon with mirror-flat water and consistent trade winds, protected by an outer reef.
- A long, walkable beach with soft sand and open ocean views in both directions.
- Dramatic tidal movement that transforms the beach twice daily, with seaweed farmers working the shallows at low tide and swimming conditions opening up at high tide.
- A relaxed village atmosphere with local cafes, small shops, and a quieter pace than Zanzibar's northern beach hubs.
- Easy access to Jozani Forest, the Blue Lagoon, Kizimkazi, Stone Town, and the island's key excursion destinations.
Alaïa is positioned to enjoy the best of Paje, with beachfront openness, calm surroundings, and easy access to the village, while maintaining a sense of privacy within the resort itself.
Who This Zanzibar Location Suits
Paje suits a wide range of guests, from active water sports participants to those seeking a quieter, more settled beach environment than the island’s northern hubs provide.
- Kitesurfers and Water Sports Guests: Paje is the kitesurfing capital of East Africa, with a unique lagoon protected by an outer reef and consistent trade winds that make it one of the most reliable kite destinations in the Indian Ocean.
- Beach Seekers: Paje has some of the most visually stunning beaches on the island, with wide white sand stretching for many kilometres and crystal clear water transitioning from light turquoise to aqua depending on the tides.
- Wildlife and Culture Travelers: Guests using Paje as a base for day trips to Jozani Forest, Stone Town, the spice farms, Kizimkazi, and the island's reef sites.
- Safari Continuers: Guests combining a mainland Tanzania safari with a Zanzibar beach extension, for whom Paje's calm, settled pace provides a natural counterpoint to the intensity of safari travel.
Getting to Alaia
From Zanzibar International Airport
The drive from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport to Paje takes approximately one hour and covers around 50 kilometres on the main highway across the island. Private airport transfers can be arranged in advance through the resort activities team, providing a direct and smooth arrival from the terminal to the beachfront.
From Stone Town
Stone Town is approximately 50 kilometres from Paje, with the drive taking around one hour and fifteen minutes by road. Guests arriving by ferry from Dar es Salaam can arrange onward transfer from Stone Town directly to the resort.
Arriving After a Safari
For guests combining a mainland safari with a Zanzibar beach stay, Alaïa works naturally as a coastal extension before or after time on the mainland.
Common routes include:
– Domestic flights from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar
– and direct connections from safari regions via Dar es Salaam or Arusha.
The resort team can assist with arrival coordination to ensure a smooth transition from safari to beach.
A Place That Feels Easy
Alaia Beach Resort Zanzibar is intentionally positioned to feel accessible without feeling busy, and peaceful without feeling isolated.
Whether you’re arriving from a long journey, transitioning from safari, or settling in for days by the sea, the location supports a stay that feels natural, fluid, and grounded in the rhythm of the island.
This is a place where arrival feels like exhale.
Around Alaia
Alaia’s location allows guests to choose how connected or independent they want their stay to be.
Within walking distance:
- Paje beach and lagoon
- Kitesurfing schools and water sports operators
- Local village cafes, shops, and the coastal walking route
Short drives or arranged excursions offer:
- Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park (20 minutes)
- Blue Lagoon reef excursion (departure from the beach)
- Stone Town cultural tour (75 minutes)
- Tangawizi Spice Farm (50 minutes)
- Kizimkazi dolphin encounter (45 minutes)
- Prison Island excursion (via Stone Town)
- Mnemba Island reef snorkeling (via north-east coast)
Many guests choose to spend the majority of their stay within the resort, using the beach, pool, dining at Kaio, and water sport activities without needing to travel further.
Nearby Areas to Explore
Paje sits at the centre of a connected stretch of east coast destinations, all reachable by road or beach walk. Here are the location guides available through the resort:
Why Stay at Alaïa Beach Resort in Paje
Alaïa’s position directly on the Paje beachfront gives guests the most immediate access to the lagoon, the village, and the east coast excursion network of any resort in the area. The activities team manages the full island excursion programme from on-site, removing the need for guests to coordinate with external operators independently. Kaio, the resort’s beachfront restaurant, runs from 7:30 AM to 10 PM daily, giving guests a reliable dining option whether returning from an early morning dolphin tour or a full-day Stone Town and spice farm combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is Alaïa Beach Resort located in Zanzibar?
Alaïa Beach Resort is located directly on the beach in Paje, on the south-eastern coast of Zanzibar’s main island, Unguja. Paje sits halfway down the east coast, directly opposite Stone Town, approximately 50 kilometres from the airport and Stone Town by road.
2. How far is Alaïa from Zanzibar International Airport?
The drive from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport to Paje takes approximately one hour and covers around 50 kilometres on the main highway across the island. The resort team arranges private airport transfers on request.
3. What is Paje known for?
Paje is the kitesurfing capital of East Africa, known for its unique lagoon protected by an outer reef with consistent trade winds, shallow flat water, and a seaweed farming culture visible at low tide along the shoreline. It retains a relaxed village atmosphere compared to the busier northern beaches of the island.
4. Is Paje beach good for swimming?
Swimming conditions at Paje are tide-dependent. High tide fills the lagoon and provides easy swimming close to shore, while low tide reveals wide sandflats extending several hundred metres out from the beach. The resort team provides tidal schedules to guests planning beach and water activities.
5. What excursions are available from Alaïa's location in Paje?
The resort coordinates a full programme of guided island excursions from Paje, including the Blue Lagoon reef snorkeling tour, Jozani Forest walk, Stone Town cultural tour, Tangawizi Spice Farm visit, Kizimkazi dolphin encounter, Prison Island excursion, and Mnemba Island snorkeling tour. All excursions are arranged through the resort activities team.
6. Can non-resort guests visit Kaio restaurant at Alaïa?
Yes. Kaio is open to all guests whether staying at the resort or visiting from elsewhere on the island. The kitchen runs from 7:30 AM to 10 PM daily with no reservation required for breakfast or lunch, and advance booking recommended for dinner during peak season.
