The Most Colourful Beaches in the World

Not to be confused with Ramla Bay in Malta, it’s Malta’s sister island in Gozo that is home to Ramla Bay, popular for its glowing red-orange coloured sand. Set in northern Gozo between the villages of Nadhur and Xaghra, the best way to reach Ramla Bay is via Nadhur’s main road. Although this is the largest and most popular beach in Gozo and is frequented by Gozitans and tourists alike, it is never overcrowded, even in high season. If the sand isn’t eye-catching enough, the beach also has a statue of Holy Mary holding a baby Jesus, paying tribute to the Gozitan’s strong religious beliefs. Take a walk up to the purpose-built viewing gallery, close to Calypso Cave, and take in the impressive views all in one location.

One of a mere four green sand beaches in the world, Papakōlea Beach is located at the south point of Hawaii’s Big Island and is enclosed in a cinder cone of the Mauna Loa volcano. Also known as Mahana Beach and The Green Sand Beach, there is only one way to reach the rich green sands, and that is via a somewhat rugged trek. However, the sight before you makes it worth your while. The cylinder cone formed approximately 49,000 years ago and it is from the olivine-rich lava that once poured out that the green sand is produced. The beach trapped the olivine crystals, which are coarse and dense and cover the beach, giving the green appearance. The locals commonly refer to this unique sand as “Hawaiian Diamond” and on close inspection, it is easy to see why.

As far as stunning locations go, Reynisfjara Beach is close to perfection. Lying next to a small fishing village named Vík í Mýrdal, this beach was used as one of the locations for Game of Thrones. The unusual black sand throughout the beach is enclosed by natural formations of basalt rock columns, towering cliffs, caves and volcanic structures. The black sand derives from volcanic lava hitting the surrounding cold Atlantic ocean and instantly cooling to form what is today known as the black sand. Rather than fine, the sand here has a coarse and pebbly consistency, not too unlike gravel and making Reynisfjara Beach more of a sight-seeing place rather than a sunbathing one. Like stepping into another world, it is hard to believe that this black sand beach was purely formed naturally.

A visit to this otherworldly natural phenomenon is part of our five-day Epic Trip in Iceland.